bd550
Latest
DivX TV launched on LG Blu-ray players, mixes up the internet-to-TV wars a bit more
We've already lost count of all the internet TV platforms that launched this fall, but that hasn't stopped DivX (even after the company was recently purchased) from throwing its hat into the ring by officially launching as a streaming internet video front end on several LG Blu-ray players. Available in the latest BD.8.31.317.C firmware update for the BD550/BD570/BD590 line, DivX TV lets users browse internet shows (including The Engadget Show, Revision3 and others -- full list and a quick introduction video follow after the break) and create customized channels of the content they want to watch. We'll wait and see if DivX TV pops up on any other hardware, but at least LG owners can check off yet another source of videos after Netflix, VUDU, CinemaNow, YouTube and of course, Blu-ray discs. [Thanks, Nigel]
Apple TV vs. the competition -- how does it stack up?
Although it's only just been revealed and won't actually go on sale for four long weeks, Apple's new hockey puck is far from the only media streamer on the market -- and with Sony's Netbox and the Boxee Box on the way, the sub-$200 set-top box market is exploding with options. So let's line up the revised Apple TV against the (post-price cut) Roku HD-XR, Popbox, and even an LG Blu-ray player in the same price range and see what you're actually getting -- and more importantly, getting access to -- on each device. Oh, and there's some choice words from Roku after the break. Update: You asked for them, so we added the PS3, Xbox 360 & WDTV Live as well, after the break. Device: AppleTV Roku XR Pop Box LG BD550 Price: $99 $99 $129 $130 - $150 Form Factor/Size: 3.9 x 0.9 x 3.9 5 x 5 x 1.75 8 x 1.4 x 6 inches 16.9 x 1.8 x 7.9 Available Content: HD TV shows from ABC & Fox ($0.99), HD Movie rentals ($4.99/$3.99), Netflix, iTunes, YouTube Netflix, Amazon VOD (now with $0.99 HD TV show purchases from Fox & ABC), MLB.tv, UFC, NBA GameTime, YouTube, Pandora YouTube, Revision3, Blip.tv, h.264 / XviD / MPEG-4, MKV / AVI / WMV Blu-ray discs, VUDU, Netflix, CinemaNow, YouTube, Pandora, Napster Apps / SDK: N/A Roku Channel / SDK available Popapps Store / SDK available NetCast widgets Connectivity: WiFi N, Ethernet WiFi N, Ethernet Ethernet, optional WiFi adapter Ethernet, Disc Video Quality: 720p, 5.1 audio 720p (1080p upgrade coming soon), 5.1 audio 1080p, 5.1 audio 1080p, 7.1 audio, DTS-HD MA / Dolby TrueHD audio
Latest round of LG, Panasonic and Samsung Blu-ray players begin retail invasion
We've already seen Sony's newest Blu-ray players turn up at retail, and it looks like they've now been joined by LG, Panasonic and Samsung's latest offerings. Those include the BD590, BD570 and BD550 from LG, the DMP-BD85 and DMP-BD65 from Panasonic, and a lone BD-C6500 from Samsung, although that's just the first of more to come from the company. No surprises with the prices or specs, but you can check out a slew of in-the-wild shots at the link below, or head down to your local Best Buy (or other retailer) to see if you're able to spot any of them first-hand yourself.
LG BD550 Blu-ray player manual pops up on support site
We're still eagerly awaiting all the 2010 hardware that debuted at CES to show up on store shelves, so until then we'll take what we can get and today that would be an instruction manual for LG's BD550 Blu-ray player. Filling out the low end of the company's Blu-ray player lineup for this year there's no real surprises here: NetCast access means VUDU, Netflix and the works, but only two channel analog audio out and no video via USB. We're honestly more interested in the BD570 and 250GB hard drive packing BD590 but that shouldn't stop you from discreetly browsing this PDF for now and imagining setting up your Pandora accounts via its sleek remote -- so dirty.
New LG BD590 Blu-ray player sports a 250GB hard drive
Like the LG BD390, the new LG Blu-ray player has WiFi, BD Live, VUDU and DLNA, what's new is the 250GB hard drive. Now the first thing we thought of when we heard LG was including a hard drive was Managed Copy, but there's no mention of it in the press release. What is in there though is the ability to download VUDU movies, pictures, music and more to it. This is especially useful if your Blu-ray player isn't well connected since it allows you to sneaker net your content or to copy it over and play it back later. There's no mention of price or availability, but this guy does have two little brothers, the BD550 and BD570, that feature many of the same internet features, but don't have a hard drive.
