The amateur, highly compressed Youtube videos on small screen is tolerable, anything bigger than 50-inch is completely useless, the expanded low quality picture surfers, more like pixilated boxes all over the screen. But they do have HD version now , and yesterday, LG has released software upgrade to enable Youtube streaming on their networked BD300 Blu-ray player.
LG Electronics dished out a pair of “connected” Blu-ray players, LG BD370 and LG BD390, at CES 2009 with estimated shipping date of Q2 and Q3 respectively for US region, but decent debut in Japan with imminent release suggests US buyers may get their hands-on early than expected.
At a press conference at CES 2009 today, Samsung announced the latest generation of their Interactive TV Experience, with HDTVs integrating DLNA media streaming, online video from sites such as YouTube, streaming movies from Netflix and similar providers, connected Yahoo! Widgets, and media such as photos, video, music and stocks. Yahoo! are calling this Cinematic Internet, bringing user choice, openness, community and customization to the television screen, controlled solely by a remote control.
LG today announced their new NetCast Entertainment Access system that brings Yahoo!, Netflix and YouTube content directly to selected models in the company’s HDTV range. Both LCD and plasma TVs with the NetCast technology will be available, starting with the 47- and 42-inch LH50 LCD models and 60- and 50-inch PS80 plasma models.
Minimalist movie buffs, rejoice – you’ll soon be able to stream Netflix movies without the clutter of a set top box. LG will unveil a new line of HDTVs this week with instant Netflix movie streaming built right in.
As tipped back in November, Roku have begun streaming Netflix content in high-definition. Owners of the Netflix Player by Roku will find their media players automatically updating to firmware version 1.5 over “the next few weeks”, at which point the will be able to access Netflix’s catalog of “hundreds” of high-definition titles.
With just a few weeks until CES 2009, we’ve been seeing hints of what tech will be showing its head at the biggest consumer electronics event of the year. Unsurprisingly, netbooks are taking top billing, with MSI confirming three of them. In fact the budget ultraportables are selling so well, they bested the ever-popular iPhone 3G in Summer sales. Acer are sitting pretty in the top spot, with their latest model – a 3G-integrated Aspire One – launching this weekend.
Now we know why TiVo were so keen to deny that Amazon HD rumor: heaven forfend it should over-shadow today’s announcement of Netflix SD and HD on the Series3, TiVo HD, or TiVo HD XL DVRs. First promised back in October, the service offers Netflix’s 12,000-strong catalog of movies and TV episodes direct to your TiVo, with no premium above the standard $8.99 subscription. A mixture of standard-definition and high-definition titles are available.
Boxee is pretty much brand new, but they’re already releasing an update to add new features to the mix. The company’s media player software that’s currently in an alpha version for Macs and Linux only, just got an update that adds the ability to stream Netflix movies and videos from sites such as the WB network, MTV and offers up photos from the Boston Globe.
TiVo aren’t the only ones getting a streaming HD update: Samsung have released a firmware upgrade for their BD-P2500 and BD-P2550 Blu-ray players that enables high-definition streaming from on-demand partner Netflix. Version 2.1 also “improves playback compatibility” of some content.
JP
