Ok, lots of players can actually flash a polite “Hello” when switched on (and unlike you, they never forget to say “goodbye” when turned off), but LG’s new flagship Blu-ray player does bring a few new features to the table. Besides its programmed politeness, the BD590 is listed as the only BD player to pack an integrated 250GB hard drive. As a bonus, it also comes with a connection to Vudu’s online service and a CD-ripping function.
Networking company D-Link is all set to show off a couple of new networked media hubs at CES. The main draw should be the Boxee Box, a rather interestingly-designed (a cube that looks like it’s sinking? That’s interesting, right? We’re definitely interested.) kit that ports Boxee’s media streaming-slash-social network interface straight into your home entertainment system.
Cisco has just introduced the FlipShare TV, a set top kit that that streams HD home movies stored in a computer wirelessly to a TV.
LaCie has just announced ther LaCinema Classic HD, a media server/player that can store photos, music and videos into its 1TB drive, and play them back to an HDTV via an HDMI connection.
JVC has announced the XV-BP11, a low-cost slim-line Blue-ray player that recognizes only the Blu-ray 1.1 Profile, dropping internet features for a reduced price. Measuring only 1.5-inches high, the player sports a USB port for connecting external digital media sources, and recognizes the AVCHD (H.264) format used by HD camcorders.
