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I like watching TV. Clearly, the people at ZeeVee do, too, because their ZvPro 250 and ZvBox 150 turn TV viewing into an all-you-can-watch, anywhere-you-can-watch-it-in-HD experience. Suffice it to say, I really liked my time with the ZvPro 250. I like that the ZvPro 250 turned my condo’s coaxial network into a high-definition video distribution system. ZeeVee says there’s no limit to the number of HDTVs that can receive content from a single ZvPro 250. Connected to a cable or satellite box, the ZvPro 250… View this story
Multiroom Video • Web Services • Reviews • Product News

Netflix’s Watch Instantly support in CE devices has been a recurring theme this week. Roku has announced two new Netflix-capable boxes. Sony will soon be adding it to the PS3. Nintendo will likely be following suit on the Wii or upcoming Wii HD. And Best Buy’s Insignia brand is even in on the action with its $99 Blu-ray player. But LG was the very first to bring Netflix support to a Blu-ray player, and one of the first to free Watch Instantly from the confines… View this story
Blu-ray • Web Services • Deals • Product News

Roku is adding two set-top boxes and new content channels in the coming weeks. The step-up Roku HD-XR ($130) and Roku SD ($79) will join the popular Roku HD Player. The Roku HD-XR, like the Roku HD, features 720p HD playback, optical audio output and HDMI connection. However, the Roku HD-XR has upgraded the WiFi to b/g/n and added a USB 2.0 port, which Roku says there currently is no use for. The Roku SD loses the HD outputs of the other two models, offering… View this story
AV Components • Digital Media Stores • Set Top Boxes • Miscellaneous • Web Services

The success of Hulu has largely stemmed from being able to watch your favorite shows anywhere, anytime ... for free. However, it appears free content is not for long on the popular video-viewing site. According to NBC Universal TV chief Marc Graboff, Hulu is experimenting with different business models, including subscription-based content “to turn those digital pennies into digital dollars.” Hulu is jointly owned by General Electric Co’s NBC Universal, News Corp’s Fox Entertainment and Walt Disney Co’s ABC. “I know [Hulu is] looking at… View this story
Web Services • Movies and Music • Product News

It’s been a good couple of months for Blu-ray. Aside from the recent news that sales have been pretty healthy in 2009 compared with last year, there were some good-looking and full-featured players announced at the CEDIA Expo last month. After what the likes of Sony, Sharp and LG have released, it looks like Best Buy wants in on the Blu-ray streaming capabilities too. The company has released two of its Insignia brand Blu-ray players to feature Netflix streaming as well, the NS-BRDVD3 and NS-WBRDVD… View this story
Blu-ray • Web Services • Product News

For starters, I’m going to let my Facebook status update regarding my review experience with VTech’s IS9181 Wi-Fi Internet Radio speak for itself: “Testing out VTech’s Wi-Fi Internet radio. Pretty much a magical music box. Already found a great Beatles-only station streaming from Russia, and it only took a few minutes to add gdradio.net and Live Phish Radio streams. Sleep can wait till tomorrow night, right?” In the tabletop evolution from the old AM/FM-only radios to the cassette boomboxes of the 80s to CD/radio boxes… View this story
AM and FM Tuners • Web Services • Movies and Music • Reviews • Product News

Samsung has added Amazon Video On Demand and officially rolled out Blockbuster OnDemand to its LCD and Plasma HDTVs Series 650 and above and LED HDTVs Series 7000. Owners of those select HDTVs can download the Amazon Video On Demand widget, which supports HD, for free from Samsung’s Internet@TV service. Amazon Video On Demand offers more than 50,000 movies and TV shows that are available for rent or for purchase. There is no subscription for Amazon On Demand, users only pay for what they watch.… View this story
Displays • Flat Panel • HDTV • LCD • Plasma • Blu-ray • Web Services • Product News

Internet streaming in a TV isn’t the foreign concept it was just a year ago. Want proof? An Internet connected, or “broadband,” set has made its way into the deal of the day!  The LG 47LH50 47-inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV is currently available from Frys for $999 with free shipping or in-store pickup. The next lowest authorized price is $1,278 shipped, and most authorized dealers are firmly in the $1,300 to $1,500 range for this set.  The LG Netcast feature currently supports streaming (via… View this story
LCD • Web Services • Deals • Product News

If your electronics don’t stream content directly to your living room, they’re just plain lazy. TV, Blu-ray player, receiver and media server manufacturers are pairing up with content providers to cut out the middleman — that being the consumer who actually has to go to a store to get movies or music. Manufacturers at CEDIA Expo 2009 announced partnerships with Netflix and Vudu, showing off the fruits of their collaborations. Vudu had a huge presence in LG’s booth. LG kicked off the show by announcing… View this story
Flat Panel • Blu-ray • Receivers • Web Services • Product News

LG Electronics and on-demand movie rental service Vudu are covering their bases pretty well these days. LG announced at CEDIA Expo 2009 this week that the company will add Vudu to its very full-featured BD390 Blu-ray player as a firmware upgrade later this month. That just adds to the crazy amount of video streaming and viewing options available for the wireless BD390 ($399), to go with YouTube, Netflix, CinemaNow, your networked video files supported and, of course, actual 1080p high-def Blu-rays (and regular ol’ DVDs).… View this story
AV Components • Blu-ray • Digital Media Stores • Web Services • Product News

You already know that YouTube is your source for watching awesome skateboarding moves, Sarah Palin blunders, cute pet tricks and Joe Biden gaffes. Soon it might be your source for watching recent full-length movies, according to the New York Times. YouTube, by far the most popular video Web site, is negotiating with major Hollywood studios to allow its visitors to pay to watch full-length movies, according to “people briefed on the negotiations” cited by the New York Times. Details are sketchy. Spokespeople for Warner Brothers… View this story
Web Services • Product News

Is Vudu giving Netflix a run for its money? The movie service, which includes more than 2,200 high-def titles within its 16,000-plus library, continues to extend its reach in Netflix-like fashion. After teaming up with LG earlier this week, Vudu has announced that it’s on-demand library will be available on Mitsubishi’s Diamond Unisen Immersive Sound LCD sets. It was made available on Vizio TVs earlier this year. Of course, notable about Vudu is that the service also streams YouTube, Flickr, Picasa and Pandora services, plus… View this story
LCD • Digital Media Stores • Web Services • Product News