LG to offer dual format HD DVD / Blu-ray player

File this one under "well, duh."

LG Electronics will begin selling a dual-format high definition player designed to call a truce in the continuing war between rival DVD formats.

The model BH100, dubbed "Super Multi Blue," will play discs in the Blu-ray format, backed by a group led by Sony Corp. LG is a member of the Blu-ray consortium. It will also play discs in the rival HD DVD format, which is backed by a consortium headed by Toshiba Corp.

The plot thickens, however:

But while it will display the full range of interactive features contained on Blu-ray discs, such as menus that appear while the film is playing, it will not play similar interactive elements contained on HD DVD discs.

It remains to be seen whether such "interactive features" really matter in the format war between HD-DVD and Blu-ray. How many people actually listen to the commentaries or fiddle with the DVD-ROM features of the regular DVDs they buy now?

If I had to make a guess as to which format will be left standing when the dust settles, I'd have to put my money on Blu-ray (despite its stupid name). Sony is really getting its foot in the door with the Blu-ray drive in its PS3 systems, in terms of mindshare if not in terms of units actually shipped. More telling is the fact that Apple Computer has put its flag down on the side of Blu-ray – I wouldn't be surprised see some new Pro level Macs with Blu-ray drives introduced when Steve Jobs gives his big Macworld keynote address on Tuesday. Apple may not be the biggest computer manufacturer around, but the eyes of the tech world are definitely upon them.