LG is set to launch its awaited Super Multi-Blue, dual format high definition DVD player into the Middle East market. Able to play both Blu-ray and HD-DVD films, it was unveiled at the beginning of the year at CES in Las Vegas.

With the format war on-going between the Blu-ray and HD-DVD standards camps, it has left consumers with the choice of backing one format knowing that if it ultimately falls from favour and dies, they have invested money in a dead technology. HD-DVD took an early lead, but Blu-ray, with its backing from Sony and inclusion in PlayStation 3 games consoles is now outselling its rival.

Whether one format will fall by the wayside – and if so which - is still the subject of much debate, and LG is attempting to capture a share in the HD market by releasing a hybrid machine. It has also developed hybrid Blu-ray/HD-DVD optical drives for PCs.

The unit displays film in 1080p resolution and will write Blu-ray discs, but does lose some controls available to HD-DVD-only players. The price was not announced, but at launch in the US it cost around $1,200.

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