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.

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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…

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2010 will be the year that web TV set-top-boxes start to make it into the mainstream. The recently announced Popbox priced just shy of $130 has received a lot of promising buzz, but does it deliver?

The PopBox is replacing its predecessor, the Popcorn Hour box with newer features and a sleeker interface.

Content Partners

The PopBox has partnered with a number of companies to bring a variety of video. It’ not got everything, but it’s got decent selection to keep you busy.

• Netflix – rent and buy movies instantly.
• Crunchyroll (Asain entertainment site)
• BlipTV – video clips and independent episodes
• NextNewNetworks – independent web TV shows
• Revision3 – independent web TV shows with a tech focus
• Livestation – live TV from various worldwide sources
• Internet Video Archive – archive of public domain video and old movies.
• MalaysiaKini – Malaysian videos

App Innovation Myth?

Apps were certainly big in 2010 on cell phone devices, and Popbox is trying to cash in on the app craze for the set-top-box.

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