If you really want a combo player, the Samsung BD-UP5000 is $799.99 with the same basic feature set – fully HD DVD and Blu-ray support, with Profile 1.1. And Profile 2.0 expected in an update. (Again, it has the hardware required.)

LG’s press release:

Dec 10, 2007 10:55 ET

Second-Generation ‘Super Blu’ High-Definition Disc Player Available From LG Electronics Retail Partners

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics’ second-generation LG Super Blu(TM) Player (model BH200) is now available nationally at leading consumer electronics dealers. This advanced multi-format disc player (suggested retail price $999) lets consumers choose from the widest variety of high-def video content as it is the only player capable of playing both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs.

“LG introduced the BH200 to focus on consumer needs by ending the confusion caused by the current format war,” said Allan Jason, vice president of consumer electronics marketing at LG Electronics USA, Inc. “This second generation, dual-format player allows consumers to enjoy their favorite movies, features and extras, regardless of format, on the best-in-class high-definition media player.”

One Player, Latest Technology

The Super Blu Player offers consumers increased HDTV entertainment choices because it provides access to between 50 and 70 percent more high-def movie titles than any single-format player.

The multi-format combination ensures users of the BH200 the latest technology available from both high-def disc formats. The LG Super Blu Player features the “BD Standard Profile,” and is also ready for “BD Profile 1.1″ when Blu-ray discs with the new profile become available in 2008. When such Blu-ray discs begin to be distributed, viewers will be able to enjoy advanced options, such as “Picture-in-Picture”, for an expanded viewing experience. In addition, the Super Blu Player provides access to web-connected interactivity available from a number of current HD DVDs. Access to these features enables viewing of storyboards, production videos and director’s commentary, as well as up-do-date and real-time information, while the movie is playing.

In addition to supporting the latest high-def disc technologies, the Super Blu Player is the ideal match for movie enthusiasts and even music enthusiasts as it supports audio CDs and has the ability to up-scale standard DVDs to Full HD 1080p resolution bringing new life to existing DVD movie libraries.

“The BH200′s enhanced features and functionality eliminate the need for a second or third player and the additional cables and remotes that those units would require,” said Tim Alessi, director of consumer electronics marketing at LG Electronics USA, Inc. “Its full support for features available on both Blu-ray discs and HD DVDs makes the Super Blu the flagship of the LG home video product line and complements the company’s expanded line-up of ‘Full HD’ 1080p flat-panel HDTVs.”

The Ultimate Movie Viewing Experience

The LG Super Blu Player can output video resolution up to 1080p via the HDMI connection, delivering an outstanding image quality that is ideally suited to LG’s line of 1080p plasma and LCD TVs. The unit includes multiple inputs/outputs such as HDMI 1.3 with Deep Color, component/composite video outputs, digital optical and analog audio outputs as well as a LAN Ethernet port for network interactivity. The player’s USB Media Host port on the front panel provides access to digital music and photo slideshows, making it a powerful and versatile media center for high-def home theaters.

The LG Super Blu Player features Qdeo(TM) advanced video processing from Marvell for superior up-scaling accuracy, improved noise reduction and consistent color precision. Featuring advanced per-pixel motion-adaptive 3D de-interlacing for HD and SD video, as well as per-pixel noise and compression artifact reduction, Qdeo removes “jaggies,” feathering, video noise, and compression artifacts for quiet, natural images without distraction. The Super Blu player’s Qdeo technology also delivers details in darker scenes with Adaptive Contrast Enhancement (ACE) and renders vivid colors through Intelligent Color Remapping (ICR), providing a rich video experience from Blu-ray discs, HD DVDs and standard DVDs.

The new Super Blu Player also incorporates LG’s SimpLink(TM) connectivity solution, which enables easier control of other LG SimpLink-compatible equipment. SimpLink units are connected with an HDMI cable and use the HDMI-CEC communication standard, which allows the user to control other components on-screen or directly from each component.

About LG Electronics USA, Inc.

LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $48.5-billion (2006 consolidated worldwide revenues) global force in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications. In the United States, LG Electronics sells a wide range of digital appliances, digital display and digital media products, and mobile phones under LG’s “Life’s Good” marketing theme. For more information, please visit http://www.lgusa.com/.

Source: LG Electronics USA, Inc.

CONTACT: John I. Taylor, +1-847-941-8181, jtaylor@lge.com, or Clara
Chang, +1-201-816-2011, clarachang@lge.com, both of LG Electronics USA, Inc.;
or Ojas Naik, +1-312-397-6008, ojas.naik@ogilvypr.com, for LG Electronics USA,
Inc.

Web site: http://www.lgusa.com/