The new Iomega Screenplay Director HD media player is an internet TV and home network set top box that offers HD online movies, YouTube & web TV, and access to media stored on devices on your home network.

The device replaces the old Screenplay TV link which came out in 2008. I got a hands-on look at the new media box while at CES 2010 and it certainly delivers on what it promises with a very reasonable price tag.

You can watch HD movies purchased or rented from Cinema Now, an online movie rental service similar to iTunes and Amazon Video-on-Demand.

Other online content includes YouTube, Flickr, Internet radio, RSS feeds, or podcasts, all accessible through the easy-to-use user interface and remote. Check out the GUI in the video below:

It also comes with a healthy 1TB internal drive and uou can also hook up additional storage via the 3 USB ports.

Home Network Media

The HD Media Player also gives you access to videos and media on your home network in a wide variety formats.

It can connect via Ethernet or Wi-Fi and has DLNA support making watching videos across your home network relatively seamless.

Unfortunately for WI-FI wireless access you’ll need to purchase the Iomega 802.11n Wireless Adapter separately or one of the following supported USB Wi-Fi devices which can be hard to get hold of:

• Trendnet TEW424UB (USB)
• Edimax EW-7316UG (11g USB)
• Encore ENUWI-G (USB dongle)

You could try your luck with another USB Wi-Fi device but quite often they’ve been reported not to work.

Wi-Fi networks tend be a bit sluggish for copying large files and playing HD anyway so you may want to look into a home plug adapter or CoAX adapter to extend your internet connection. These are usually offer a faster and more reliable connection compared to Wi-Fi, but are more expensive.

Full Specs

Media Formats

• Audio Formats – MP3, AC3 (Dolby® Digital Encoding), WAV, OGG, WMA
• Video Formats – MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB), MPEG-4 (AVI/DivX®/XViD), H.264, WMV, AVCHD
• Photo Formats – JPEG, BMP, GIF, PNG and TIFF
• File Types – .mkv, .avi, .asf, .iso, .vob, .mp4, .mov, .wmv, .flv, .ifo
• PAL/NTSC – Full 1080p high definition (24 fps)
• AV Connections – HDMI, Composite video and audio R/L; Component video: Y, Pb, Pr, optical audio
• Hard drive format: NTFS (default), FAT32

Interfaces

• 1 x RCA Component Video Out – Rear
• 1 x Composite Video Out – Rear
• 1 x Stereo Audio Line Out – Rear
• 1 x HDMI Digital Audio/Video Out – Rear
• 1 x RJ-45 Network – Rear
• 3 x USB – Rear
• 1 x Toslink S/PDIF Out – Rear
• EthernetWireless
• IEEE 802.11b/g/n
• DLNA support

Other

• Versatile Supports many CODECs and file types including H.264 so you can enjoy your entire media collection
• Access online content on internet sites such as YouTube, Flickr, Internet radio, RSS feeds, or podcastsLarge capacity
• Save up to 1500 hours of video, 4,000,000 photos,or 18,500 hours of music on the  1 TB drive
• DivX Home Theatre Certified Includes Iomega Protection Suite anti-virus and backup software solutions

Pros

• Full HD support
• Supports lots of file formats
• 1TB storage included
• Rent movies online and YouTube access

Cons

• Needs separate adapter for Wi-Fi support
• Would like to see more online TV and internet features

Bottom Line

Retailing at $250 the Iomega Screenplay Director HD (model number 34650) is a healthy price when you consider the 1TB storage included (an external Iomega 1TB hard drive is typically $100 or more).

With full HD support, ability to watch videos on the home network, and online TV, movie rentals and internet functions it has a good amount to offer. Lack of built-in Wi-Fi is a real shame though.

Iomega Screenplay Director HD Marketplace – Deals & Discounts

On Amazon:
Buy it on Amazon.

On eBay:

Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player 2TB NEW US $218.75   Auction Ends: 3d 20h 21m Make it yours…

Iomega ScreenPlay Director 1TB HD Network Media Player US $207.99   1 Bid Auction Ends: 2h 13m Make it yours…

Iomega ScreenPlay Director HD Media Player 2TB FREESHIP US $209.99   Auction Ends: 1h 43m Make it yours…

Also See

• The Monsoon Volcano which offers internet TV, placeshifting, home network media playing and more.
• More Internet TV Set Top Boxes
• Homeplug Ethernet Adapters on eBay

The ZeeVee ZvBox allows you to watch streaming online content from your computer on your home HDTV with a remote control.

What the ZeeVee System is All About

ZeeVee ZvBox allows you to stream any HD content from your computer to your HDTVs. It’s a clever system in which the computer broadcasts into the television via an unused cable channel.

Once running, you can basically sit on your couch and use the ZeeVee remote to view online content from your PC. Various sources of ZeeVee ZvBox content from your computer can include:

• Streaming television content from major networks, most in HD (e.g. shows from ABC online like ‘Lost’)
• Movie download services, like NetFlix and iTunes
• The computer’s DVD player, that can be controlled by the remote with any of your HDTVs
• Content from YouTube and BitTorrent peer-to-peer sites
• etc.

Using the ZeeVee System

Using the remote control with the system, surfing the web becomes a lot easier. The ZvBox gives you access to watching any number of online TV shows and films, stream music with iTunes, browse the web or even check your email. Being able to do this from your HDTV is a convenient novelty.

Setup seems pretty straight-forward: Your computer basically just needs to be hooked up to your existing in-home TV cable wiring, and doesn’t interfere with regular cable-based broadband services.

Video Review of the ZeeVee ZvBox

Online Reviews of the ZeeVee ZvBox

The reviews I read were more or less favorable to this system.  PC Magazine praised the device’s ability to display high-definition video from PCs to TVs throughout your house, with no limitations or monthly fees, but they also ripped into the expensive of the system and the complex setup required, as well as the fact that the system isn’t compatable with Mac and Linux.

Reviews from CNET said mostly the same thing, that the system is good in that you can watch web or tv-based video around the house on multiple TVs, but also noted the expensive price as well as it’s setup complexity.

Specs

• USB: USB V2, full speed and high speed, Type B connector
• VGA1: High-density 15-pin male DSUB
• VGA2: High-density 15-pin male DSUB
• Cable: F-type female cable TV
• Compatible TVs: HDTV with digital cable ready tuner
• Compatible Computers: Fully tested and qualified for the PC. Mac not supported at this time
• Audio: PCM and Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound over USB
• Video Input: VGA (or DVI-A connectors with VGA adaptor)
• Video Output: Up to full HD (1080i)
• Localcasting: RF modulation
• Encoding: MPEG-2
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2; Microsoft Windows Vista
• Processor: 2 Ghz CPU
• Memory: 2 GB DRAM
• Disk space: 50 MB
• USB: Two free USB 1.0 or 2.0, high-speed or full speed ports

ZeeVee ZvBox – Prices, Deals and Discounts

On Amazon:
Available to buy at Amazon

On eBay:

ZeeVee ZvBox 150 HD 720P 30fps Over Coax Cable NEW US $999.01   Auction Ends: 15d 7h 13m Make it yours…

ZeeVee ZvBox 170 Broadcast Digital Signage and HD Video US $1,499.01   Auction Ends: 15d 7h 13m Make it yours…

You Might Also Be Interested In

• The PopBox – Cheap alternative device for Internet TV on a HDTV
• Other Media Extender Reviews on WebTVWire
• Media Extenders Available on Ebay

Sherwood is better known for its high quality audio equipment, but it has recently crossed over into the Internet set-top-box space mixing high quality audio and high definition internet TV.

As an amplifier the Sherwood box packs the goods with 700 watts of amplification, a pair of coaxial audio inputs, three HDMI 1.3 inputs, one Toslink input, and support for Dolby Volume, Dolby TruHD and DTS-HD Master high-res audio formats.

Hate those excessively loud adverts? Well the Netboxx also has Dolby Volume which eliminates volume fluctuations between channels, commercials and between Internet sites.

It also has an FM radio tuner built in.

So it’s got sound covered, but what can it play?

Internet TV

The Netboxx can connect directly to the internet via Ethernet or wireless connection and gives you access to a suite of online video content.

• Search and watch videos from the major video sites including YouTube, Daily Motion and Myspace.
• Rent and buy online movies to download from Cinema Now
• A variety of video and live stream from various websites.
• Shoutcast support for online radio.

PlayOn Support

That’s not a bad round-up of online video content to start with but the NetBoxx also supports PlayOn. For an extra $40 for the third party PlayOn service you can get access to Hulu, Netflix, CBS, CNN, ESPN, and Amazon Video On Demand.

The NetBoxx is designed for use with PlayOn and it works directly from the user interface on your TV.

While at CES 2010 I managed to get to check out the NetBoxx in action:

Revision3 also had a hands on look:

Local Media

With UPnP and DLNA support the Netboxx can play content on your TV from a variety of compatible sources in your home network. In plain English that means you can play videos, pictures and music off laptops, computers, and Network Attached Storage (NAS) on your home network.

It will also play media off a storage device you attach via USB.

It doesn’t play well with iTunes however which is typical of non-Apple media centers, and to play from a PC it uses the Windows Media Player library.

No Hard Drive or DVR

There’s no mention of a hard drive meaning you’ll need to rely on external storage devices for your media collection.

With USB hard drives been relatively cheap this is not a big deal, but it does mean there’s no DVR functionality. So recording your favorite TV shows from satellite or cable is out of the question with this device.

If you already have a DVR then the NetBoxx will hook up with it allowing you to play recordings off your DVR and give you much better sound quality through it’s amp.

NetBoxx Features Roundup

- Connects to the Internet without a PC for video, audio and media streaming
- Content available from You Tube, Cinema Now, on-line TV channels, Shoutcast “Internet Radio”, etc.
- Supports PlayOn to stream Hulu, Netflix, CBS, CNN, ESPN, Amazon Video On Demand and more from a local network
- Streams audio, video and photo media files from a local network direct to the receiver
- High-performance audio/video in a new, highly compact form factor
- HDMI 1.3, Dolby and DTS Lossless Audio for the highest quality sound
- Dolby Volume eliminates volume fluctuations between channels, commercials and between Internet sites
- High-efficiency “Green” Ti digital amplifiers

■AMPLIFIER SECTION

• Power output, stereo mode, 6 Ω, THD 0.5%, 1 kHz | 2× 100 W
• Total harmonic distortion at -3 dB, 6 Ω, 1 kHz | 0.5%
• Input sensitivity/impedance
Line (CD, AUX, VIDEO) | 200 mV/47kΩ
• Signal to noise ratio, IHF “A” weighted
Line (CD, AUX, VIDEO) | 100 dB
• Frequency response
Line (CD, AUX, VIDEO), 20 Hz ~ 70 kHz | +0, -3 dB
• Bass/Treble control, 100 Hz/10 kHz | ±10 dB
• Surround mode, only channel driven
Front power output, 6 Ω, 1 kHz, THD 0.7 % | 100 W / 100 W
Center power output, 6 Ω, 1 kHz, THD 0.7 % | 100 W
Surround power output, 6 Ω, 1 kHz, THD 0.7 % | 100 W / 100 W
Surround back / ROOM2 power output, 6 Ω, 1 kHz, THD 0.7 % | 100 W / 100 W

■DIGITAL AUDIO SECTION

• Sampling frequency | 32, 44.1, 48, 96, 192 kHz
• Digital input level
Coaxial, 75 Ω | 0.5 Vp-p
Optical, 660 nm | -15 ~ -21 dBm

■VIDEO SECTION

• Video format | NTSC
• Input sensitivity(=Output level), 75 Ω
Video (Composite(normal)) | 1 Vp-p
Component video (R-Y signal) | 0.5 Vp-p
(B-Y signal) | 0.5 Vp-p
(Y signal) | 1.0 Vp-p
• HDMI connector | 19 pin

■FM TUNER SECTION

• Tuning frequency range | 87.5~107.9 MHz
• Usable sensitivity, THD 3%, S/N 30 dB | 9 dBf
• 50 dB quieting sensitivity, mono/stereo | 20.2 / 45.3 dBf
• Signal to noise ratio, 65 dBf, mono/stereo | 70 / 65 dB
• Total harmonic distortion, 65 dBf,1 kHz, mono/stereo | 0.8 / 1.0 %
• Frequency response, 30 Hz~15 kHz | ±3 dB
• Stereo separation, 1 kHz | 30 dB
• IF rejection ratio | 70 dB

■GENERAL

• Power supply | 120 V ~ 60 Hz
• Power consumption | 120 W
• Dimensions (W× H× D, including protruding parts) | 430 x 72 x 306 mm(17 x 2-7/8 x 12 inches)
• Weight (Net) | 4.58 kg (10.1 Ibs)

The Pros

• Great audio support
• Good selection of online content, especially with PlayTV
• Share media on home network via DLNA or UPnP
• Easy to use user-interface
• FM Radio support

The Cons

• No hard drive
• Only 720p HD
• Expensive
• No DVR functionality
• Not Mac or iTunes friendly.

The Bottom Line

The Sherwood retails for $650 but you can pick it up on for under $600 on eBay (see auctions below). Also bear in mind the additional $40 one-off cost for the PlayOn service for the extra

I’ve got mixed feelings about the device, I wonder if it would be better to buy the Monsoon Volcano and get a decent amplifier separate – then you’ve almost got everything the Netboxx can do and more, including a DVR. You’d just be missing the PlayOn support (which is a big deal for Hulu fans), but the Volcano may add that as an app later.

The ideal situation for the NetBoxx would be if you don’t care about cable TV (so don’t need a DVR), use windows PCs, and want awesome sound quality and lots of online TV. If you already have a DVR then the NetBoxx would also be a great choice to boost your sound and brind internet TV to the living room.

Available on eBay:

SHERWOOD R 904N BLACK NETBOXX A V RECEIVR US $457.69   Auction Ends: 26d 17h 35m Make it yours…

Sherwood NetBoxx Internet AV Home Theater Receiver US $599.95   Auction Ends: 20d 16h 56m Make it yours…

Netboxx 71 Receiver w Internet Radio Sherwood NEW US $437.95   Auction Ends: 19d 19h 13m Make it yours…

Also See:

• The PopBox HD – An low-cost internet TV set top box.
• More internet TV set top boxes on WebTVWire
• More Sherwood products on eBay

ConnecTV is billed as the world’s first social media center for MIPS Android-based embedded platforms. Today it provides an insight into how the digital home may evolve over the next few years as more powerful internet frameworks are rolled out.

Today I got a hands-on preview of the ConnecTV platform produced by Home Jinni. At first it looks like just another GUI for a home media center like you’d see on the AppleTV, Boxee or PopBox. However, after a while you realize this media center software is incredibly powerful and packed with potential.

The platform would be used by any TVs, media centers, cell phones and set top boxes that wanted the technology. There’s also the possibility it would be released as a standalone open-source software for compatible computers reminiscent of Boxee.

Let’s take a hands-on peak…

A Media Center for the Future

Essentially it has the potential to create a set-top-box that has everything. A couple of years ago I dreamed about the DVR of the future, now ConnecTV looks like the platform that could pull it off.

Times are changing though with on-demand web video sneaking into the mainstream, which would make DVR functionality mostly redundant. At least that’s how Shidan Gouran of Home Jinni sees it.

What makes ConnecTV stand out is the speed and seamless integration between devices. It is built for MIPS Android based systems and for use with the faster and more powerful internet framework IMS/4G which looks set to become mainstream over the next 5 years.

Placeshifting, Broadcasting & Home Networked Video

For example, you could flip the video you are watching onto any DLNA device on your home network, or to any other compatible Android device in the world without the need to install additional software. It’s a media extender and placeshifter in one.

The idea is you could literally login from anywhere and move your media between any DLNA devices on your home network.

So imagine you are watching a cool video. Using the social networking feature you could almost instantly stream the video to a friend’s smartphone where it would pop-up right on their screen.

It’s Slingbox and Slingcatcher functionality all in one. Watch your home video collection from anywhere, and send media and video (including live video) to anyone with a compatible device.

Platform Built for Apps

ConnecTV for the most-part is open source allowing anyone to create Apps for the platform.

It is likely that some (probably most) of the manufacturers that would use the platform would decide to lock out third party apps. A cable provider for example would want tight control over what you could do on your media center.

However, it is very likely some forward thinking company would embrace the open source aspect allowing an array of hacks and apps to do almost anything you could imagine with ConnecTV.

Designed for Consumer Electronics

Built from the ground up for Androld, ConnectTV can be embedded directly in all Blu-Ray players, digital TV sets and set-top boxes that support the MIPS Android platform.

Internet TV

• Search and browse for TV content from thousands of websites.
• Stream directly to the TV set without needing a PC or media adaptors.
• Just input what you want to watch and have ConnecTV find it for you across all Internet sources. This can include virtually any online video source the set-top-box manufacturer wants.
• Play media from devices on your home network.
• ConnecTV claims it is the most advanced client for online movie databases and TV meta-data lookup, for example showing a movie synopsis from the IMDB database.

Social Networking

• ConnecTV comes integrated with all popular Soclal Networks including Facebook, Myspace Twitter, Ning, Orkut and all Opensocial sites.
• Social Recommendation Engine, watch what your friends recommend.

DLNA Network

• Discover aggregate and search all media in your home network from DLNA devices.
• Just enter what you are looking for and ConnecTV will look for it on your home network and on the net.
• Seamlessly play media on any DLNA device in the home.
• ConnecTV is a full featured DLNA Controller, Media Player and Media Server

Application Framework

• A rich application framework for unified search discovery and aggregation of content from Internet TV and DLNA media sources.
• Plug-in Container
• A powerful component architecture to extend the ConnecTV Internet TV and DLNA framework.
• Example TV application plug-ins include:
  - Non Web TV media sources (1MS/Open IPTV, P2P-Next, etc)
  - Network IP Camera Controller/NVR
  - Chrome Energy Management / Home Automation

The ConnecTV Low Down – Where it Could Go Wrong

ConnecTV certainly makes a promising media center, but it is a long way of from becoming a reality.

The first hurdle is the uptake of the underlying technology. 4G/IMS internet would need to become more mainstream, and the device hosting the software would need to use a MIPS Android platform.

With Google being such a fan of the Android platform, and with 4G/IMS currently looking like the favorite technology for the next internet framework things do look promising in that respect.

However, the key for ConnecTV is partners that would manufacturer devices which use the media center platform. Right now ConnecTV does not have anyone signed up, but CES is the first time the product has been unveiled.

It should be available to OEM partners by the summer of 2010, at which point we’d hope to see ConnecTV finding some solid partners.

Also See

• Monsoon Volcano HD Review | Slingbox Placeshifting, YouTube Streaming Internet Video & TiVoToGo All-In-One
• More CES 2010 Coverage
• Unlocking Android: A Developer’s Guide (Book)

A new promising placeshifting device with the potential to become the ultimate all-in-one home TV device is due for launch in March 2010.

The ‘Volcano’ from Monsoon Multimedia (the makers of the HAVA placeshifting line) is WebTVWire’s favorite device from the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show. Quite simply this slimline set top box is packed with a variety of promising features.

It is essentially does all of the following:

• HD placeshifter – Allows you to view 720p high definition streams of your home Cable TV connection and home video library over the internet.
• DVR – Plug in your cable box or other TV source and you have the typical DVR functions of recording and playing TV.
• Internet TV – Right not its YouTube for online video and CinemaNow for paid movies. In the works are many other web TV services including Boxee and Netflix.
• Apps – The device should also allow you to play on Twitter and Facebook as well as do a lot of other stuff like play games and check the weather through third-party apps.
• Live Broadcast - It can even broadcast video from your home live across the internet.
• Home Network Media – Access and share video and media across your home network wired or wirelessly.

Soak up some pics and watch a video of it in action…

An Internet TV Set Top Box

In addition to placeshifting the device also tries to be an internet enabled set top box like the Roku. It can play a variety of content including videos from YouTube and on-demand movies from CinemaNow.

Simply putting YouTube on the TV screen will make a lot of people happy, and makes the PopBox, which lacks YouTube streaming, look a lot less appealing when this slim little box can access the biggest video site on Earth.

Digital Video Recorder

Monsoon describe the DVR feature as being akin to TiVo with a recommendation engine that records your favorite TV for you. The typical DVR features of pausing and rewinding live TV are also present.

It doesn’t come with an internal tuner so you will need to hook it up to your cable box or other TV source. Lacking a tuner will mean that you probably won’t be able to record and play different TV stations at the same time.

The DVR can also be accessed remotely so you can manage your recording schedule.

A Media Extender

It doesn’t end there however! The Volcano can also play videos off local storage media via USB, eSATA and UPnP. It even crosses into media extender territory with support for DLNA meaning it can access DLNA compatible devices on the home network.

It can also stream files over a home network over UPnP, and video streaming in this fashion is also planned.

To be clear you can both access media on other devices and play them, and other devices can access the Volcano and play the media stored on it.

App Crazy

Monsoon is very keen on getting as many apps for the Volcano as possible. Already guaranteed for launch are YouTube and CinemaNow, but also planned is Twitter, Netflix, Facebook, Last.fm, Boxee and many more.

App production is open to third party developers.

A TiVoToGO-esque Function

No it doesn’t stop there either! You can copy videos from an attached set-top-box (say your recorded programs on your DVR) and quickly export them to external media, or the integrated storage that is planned on later models. This is a bit like TiVoToGo.

A Placeshifter

Simply connect to your home theater using the software available ot PC, Max OS X, iPhone, Symbian, or Windows Mobile smartphone.

To stream content over the net it uses a 150kbps uplink speed, as well as H.264 video compression technology developed by Monsoon

A Live Broadcaster – aka SlingCatcher

Also planned for the Volcano is the ability to stream live (or recorded) video from your home across the internet. This is what the SlingCatcher does.

If the Volcano can pull all this off it will be a media extender, Slingbox, SlingCatcher, Internet TV set-top-box & TiVoToGo machine all in-one!

Monsoon looks set to take the place of Slingmedia as the innovative company coming out with ground-breaking disruptive technology. Slingmedia seems to have lost its disruptive passion when it was taken over by Echostar (aka DISH Network).

Volcano Features Overview

• All-in-One video convergence device combines major features of TiVo, Slingbox/HAVA, Roku and Remote DVR features for a fraction of the cost
• High-quality video playback
• Includes hardware remote control; smartphones and computers have on-screen remotes
• Free app with EPG supports Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Symbian and Windows Mobile smartphones
• Streams high-quality video at H.264 and MPEG-4 standards at 150kbps
• Enables full remote control and channel changing capabilities of any TV source such as Cable, Satellite, DVD or TiVo
• Wireless N for video uplink and broadcast throughout the home
• Smooth video over 3G as well as Wi-Fi
• Browse EPG for schedules, series and episode descriptions
• Built in infrared to control set-top box remotely
• Multiple users can have recordings on the Volcano hard-drive and access them independently

GUI Let Down?

According to Dave Zatz the GUI is a little rough around the edges so usability could be an issue, although Monsoon did say the interface is stll being worked on and improved. The media interface is Cover Flow-esque (like how you browse albums on the iPod) which looks promising.

The box design however is certainly very sleek (pictures coming shortly), it is a thin black design with a healthy selection of inputs and outputs on the back.

How Much?

The Volcano is expected in March in a 4GB flash memory version for $199. A Pro edition will also be sold for $299 which features a more healthy 250GB drive. A lifetime or term-based subscription will also be needed, but details on this have not yet been released.

Buy Monsoon Volcano

As soon as the Monsoon Volcano is available to purchase it will be listed here:

Also See

• DISH Network DVR with Slingbox technology
• More Slingplayer & Placeshifting News
• Monsoon HAVA placeshifters on eBay

The service comes as part of the 9.4 software update, and means that all YouTube videos will now be viewable on TiVo in H.264. This is the first time TiVo has rendered content in anything other than MPEG-2.

Streaming YouTube On TiVo

TiVo owners can now stream all YouTube videos, watch them in full-screen, and fast forward, pause and rewind them in the same way as any other video on your TiVo.

Here is a video demonstration of the service in full, working order, courtesy of Dave Zatz. It shows a very successful marriage of the TiVo interface with all YouTube content.

Video Demonstration

At the moment, account information isn’t part of the deal, so you still need a PC to rate and save favourites. Interestingly, there are no display ads visible on TiVo YouTube, but if the rumoured pre-roll adverts make an appearance, they would show up.

YouTube Does Deals

This is a clever move, both on the part of YouTube and TiVo. YouTube benefits from having its content accessible by more than just computer, while TiVo continues to build more content partnerships.

TiVo isn’t the first DVR to partner with YouTube though, and in that respect, it is playing catch-up. According to NewTeeVee, has already done deals with Apple TV, HP MediaSmart Connect, Sony Bravia and Panasonic TV sets, and Verismo.

DVR’s are becoming increasingly important in the US, and usually sit side by side with a cable or satellite television subscription. Deals such as these are likely to make them even more appealing to mainstream consumers.

Related Ad

Get the Latest TiVo DVR Box from TiVo.com

The player launched at the incredibly low price of just $99, and allowed users to stream movies and television from Netflix to their TV using the Instant Viewing feature. It’s been a sales success, with the device already hard to come by.

However, demand for the boxes is likely to increase even more with the news that the box is going to soon be compatible with more content providers than just Netflix, and these are going to be high-profile names.

New Content Partners

According to CNET, Roku’s vice president of consumer products, Tim Twerdahl, has stated that more content partners are coming, but refused to name names, which has obviously lead to huge amounts of speculation.

YouTube would seem to be the first, and most obvious target. The Google-owned company has been looking at new ways of making some revenue of late, and this would provide such an opportunity. Plus, it has already partnered with other hardware-makers of late.

Then there is Hulu, which is a possibility, but would be a strange choice for a box which is trying to make you buy content, seeing as the service offering premium content completely free.

Another possibility is Amazon Unbox, though some think the chances are not good seeing as it is a direct competitor to Netflix, but if it were to happen, it would be a massive coup

Digital Trojan Horse

As Venture Beat argues, the adding of new content partners could turn the purchase of the Roku box from a cheap treat in to a kind-of trojan horse designed to persuade consumers about the ease and possibility of digital content.

This is what has happened with the Playstation 3, which was used by Sony as a trojan horse to get Blu-ray accepted as the high-definition format of choice in the DVD war.

PS3 & Xbox 360 Netflix Support?

Speaking of the PS3, there is speculation that the console will start to support Netflix’s ‘Watch it Now’ feature soon, with an announcement possible at this month’s E3 conference. Microsoft could also follow suit with the Xbox 360.

Whoever it is, the fact that a set-top box available for under $100 could soon be carrying multiple streams of online video content has got to be good for the uptake of digital content amongst more than just technology geeks and early-adopters.

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