brite-View's CinemaTube adds 1080p streaming, YouTube XL to the mix

We're not sure who decided to follow up the award-winning brite-View CinemaCube with something called the CinemaTube, but the latter certainly lives up to its change of a single letter, adding full 1080p streaming and embedded YouTube XL to its predecessor's already potent mix of supported video and audio formats (including H.264, XviD, and MPEG1/2/4), a bit.torrent engine, and USB storage support. Shipping on September 21, it'll retail for $129.99 -- but if you pre-order now you get it for $99.99. Hit the read link for all the gory details. We're praying that the company's next device is not called the CinemaRube -- that would be just plain mean.

[Via GizmoScene]

[Ned Scott Posted Sep 1st 2009 4:22PM]

I caved and pre-ordered one. I can't even build an HTPC with these specs for $100.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 1st 2009 8:33PM]

No wireless HD streaming, I'm guessing it's because
1. the local networking bandwidth is not guaranteed
2. the chip has to allocate resources to deal with networking, that's why no full resources to decode full 1080p hd
3. 720p should be ok, some 1080 i and p with lower bit rate should be ok, too

[Fant Posted Sep 1st 2009 9:23PM]

Damn and I just bought a WDTV for $88 shipped after bing rebate .. if this thing does what it says its easily worth $99 ... but from what i've heard the specs dont necessarily give the true picture of its ability to play videos ... guess we'll see the reviews when it comes out ... i'm a bit worried that they offer a discount for preordering .. that usually means they want people to buy it before reviews are out ... if this thing does everything it says there is no reason they couldnt price it a $129 ...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 2nd 2009 12:12AM]

Any ideas on what chipset this uses?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 2nd 2009 12:09PM]

There so many out there now. I wish I new which one was the best.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2009 8:50AM]

This just in from my pre-order from Amazon for this thing....

Dear Customer,

We apologize to bother you again via Amazon's alert email.

This is to inform you that for some legal issues, we are requested by YouTube to disable the YouTube XL feature on the CinemaTube. We need to adpot YouTube new codes to redeisgn this feature.
As of now, it's not confirmed that if this is achievable by software update. So when we ship the CinemaTube, it might not come with YouTube XL. However, you can always have 3rd parties applications like PlayOn installed in your computer and the CinemaTube will stream its video services like YouTube via UPnP in the Media Center Menu.
Except for YouTube XL, we are developing other features like flickr allowing you to view flickr's photos on your TV and these bonus features under development will be avaiable via software update in the near future.

If the feature of YouTube XL is your main reason to purchase the CinemaTube, we apologize for this change and you can cancel your order and get full refund.

Thank you again for choosing the CinemaTube and please feel free to let us know if you have any other question.

best,

brite-View
[e-mail]
follow us on twitter : @briteview

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 26th 2009 6:06PM]

A simple question: I have pre-ordered the CinamaTube, but can anyone suggest how I can get my bluRay collection on to a harddrive? Are there additional sources of HD material?

Thanks.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 30th 2009 11:43AM]

Got mine last week.

So far I'm quite happy with it.....it plays ISO files properly (displaying dvd menus and such) rather than just playing the largest video file like the WDTV.