Cost: $500

What to enjoy:
Apple’s newest innovation sports a glossy screen that surfs the internet, checks email, provides access to movies and television. The device works through a wireless connection or a 3G version, with data plan, is available for an extra 129 dollars.

Features:
With a number of applications made and many more in the works, the apple iPad offers a variety of options for the consumer, including a easy to use Netflix application as well as Apple’s own iTunes.

Video:

Editor’s Assessment:
The iPad seems to be the magical product that Apple claims, building more and more applications every day. While the 500 dollar price may be high for some consumers, the Apple iPad shows to have multiple uses, from a media player to ereader to a home entertainment remote. And with over 3 million ipads sold, it seems like Apple has found another winner.

Cost: $200

What to enjoy:
After connecting to your tv, viewers get the easy to use Boxee menu system that plays content partners (Netflix, MLB, Wired, Clicker and even Suicide Girls).

Third-Party Features:
The Boxee Box has an HDMI output, an analog RCA audio, two USB ports, and a SD slot. It also has Wi-Fi, Ethernet and can be used anywhere in the house.

What can’t you get with Boxee? Primarily, it does not support DRM files”files protected by Digital Rights Management. This includes iTunes downloads (prior to Apple going DRM-free earlier this year), and downloads from MSN Music and Audible.com.

The big site not found on Boxee is Hulu. Both companies are in the midst of a battle and the much-ado, which really is about nothing more than the right to display content, can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Video:

Sales Info & Figures:
Video Business (08/13/2009): Boxee streams in $6 million for funding – “Internet TV software startup Boxee — which is hoping to score partnerships with cable and media companies — closed $6 million in financing led by venture-capital firm General Catalyst, with participation by prior investors Spark Capital and Union Square Ventures.” {Read more}

Latest Press Releases:

Editor’s Assessment:
Boxee is looking to be a big player in the getting internet television and movies to your tv industry that has boomed over the recent years and, with an easy to use interface and a very customer friendly approach, it’s easy to see why. Crowned Last Gadget Standing at the 2009 CES Conference, the Boxee Box is a set top box to eagerly anticipate in 2010.

Cost: $200

What to enjoy:
After connecting to your tv, viewers get the easy to use Boxee menu system that plays content partners (Netflix, MLB, Wired, Clicker and even Suicide Girls).

Third-Party Features:
The Boxee Box has an HDMI output, an analog RCA audio, two USB ports, and a SD slot. It also has Wi-Fi, Ethernet and can be used anywhere in the house.

What can’t you get with Boxee? Primarily, it does not support DRM files”files protected by Digital Rights Management. This includes iTunes downloads (prior to Apple going DRM-free earlier this year), and downloads from MSN Music and Audible.com.

The big site not found on Boxee is Hulu. Both companies are in the midst of a battle and the much-ado, which really is about nothing more than the right to display content, can be found here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Sales Info & Figures:
Video Business (08/13/2009): Boxee streams in $6 million for funding – “Internet TV software startup Boxee — which is hoping to score partnerships with cable and media companies — closed $6 million in financing led by venture-capital firm General Catalyst, with participation by prior investors Spark Capital and Union Square Ventures.” {Read more}

Latest Press Releases:
08/12/2009: Boxee gets a $6M catalyst

08/03/2009:

Cost: $179.95

What to Enjoy:
The Insignia NS-BRDVD3 has a built in WiFi connection, Dolby TrueHD decoder and low price tag that will provide Blu-ray capability to the masses.

Third-Party Features:
Insignia just added Netflix Instant to the model which makes it one of the least expensive Blu-ray’s on the market to have online streaming capability.

Product Reviews:
CNET Reviews: Insignia NS-BRDVD3 – Blu-Ray disc player

Cost: $225.95

What to Enjoy:
The Samsung BD-P1590 does not comes with a USB dongle, but it is Wi-Fi compatible. The USB dongle is sold separately but this fine machine has enough features to note, including on-board decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, speedy load times and operational speed, and excellent image quality.

Third-Party Features:
Netflix, Blockbuster OnDemand, YouTube and Pandora are available for streaming through an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi (via the USB Dongle).

Product Reviews:
CNET Reviews: Samsung BD-P1590 – Blu-Ray disc player

Buy: Samsung BD-P1590 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player with Bonus HDMI Cable

Cost: Between $315 – $400.

What to Enjoy:
The LG BD370 has on-board decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio Essential and relatively quick load times. The image, though, is a definite step down from the LG BD370.

Third-Party Features:
The LG-BD390 streams Netflix, YouTube and CinemaNow through an Ethernet cable. Unfortunately, no Wi-Fi option is available.

News & Updates:
HDTVlounge.net: HDTVlounge.net review – Like most other companies, LG are updating their Blu-ray player offerings for 2009. Building on their popular BD300 blu-ray player, the first to offer netflix streaming via the Internet, LG have announced two “networked” blu-ray players, the LG BD370, the LG BD390. {Read more}

Product Reviews:
PC World (03/20/2009): PC World Review review – The LG BD370 is a great entry-level Blu-ray player that has excellent picture quality and DVD upscaling, as well as BD-Live support, USB playback and the ability to display YouTube videos. {Read more}

Latest Press Releases:
(1/07/2009): LG ELECTRONICS DEBUTS FULL LINE OF NETWORK BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS AND HOME THEATER SYSTEMS – Building on the success of its BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player – the world’s first Blu-ray player to instantly stream Netflix – LG Electronics introduced two new Network Blu-ray Disc Players (BD370, BD390) and three Network Blu-ray Disc Home Theater Systems (LHB954, LHB977, LHB979) with expanded content options and wireless connectivity. {Read more}

Buy:
LG BD 370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player

Cost: $199.95 – $319.95.

What to Enjoy:
The Samsung BD-P1600 does not comes with a USB dongle but it is Wi-Fi compatible. The USB dongle is sold separately, but this fine machine has enough features to note, including on-board decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio, speedy load times and operational speed and excellent image quality.

Third-Party Features:
Both Netflix and Pandora are available for streaming through an Ethernet cable or Wi-Fi, if you purchase the USB Dongle.

Product Reviews:
CNET News (05/5/2009): Review: Does a cheaper PS3 make standalone Blu-ray players overpriced again? – “For most of Blu-ray’s existence, the PlayStation 3 has easily been the best value in home theater. Only recently have we reviewed Blu-ray players that come close to matching its performance, speed, and functionality, while costing about the same amount.” {Read more}

Cost: $307 – $379.99

What to Enjoy:
The Samsung BD-P3600 comes with a USB dongle that adds 802.11n Wi-Fi to a machine loaded with features, including DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD decoding, topside button placement, 1GB onboard memory and Samsung’s trademark “Touch of Color” accenting.

Third-Party Features:
Both Netflix and Pandora are available for streaming and the BD-P3600 also allows streaming media directly from a PC.

Product Reviews:
CNET News (05/5/2009): Review: Does a cheaper PS3 make standalone Blu-ray players overpriced again? – “For most of Blu-ray’s existence, the PlayStation 3 has easily been the best value in home theater. Only recently have we reviewed Blu-ray players that come close to matching its performance, speed, and functionality, while costing about the same amount.” {Read more}

Latest Press Releases:
(2/26/2009): SONY ADDS NEW BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS WITH ADVANCED INTERACTIVITY – “Sony updated its Blu-ray Disc player line today with two new models that will be capable of accessing advanced interactive features such as BonusView and BD-Live. The BDP-S350 and BDP-S550 models both support BonusView (Picture-in-Picture) featured on some of the new Blu-ray Disc theatrical releases. The BDP-S350 model is BD-Live ready featuring an Ethernet port for an easy firmware update and access to Internet-based interactive content features.” {Read more}

Cost: $238 – $399

What to Enjoy:
The BDP-S550 offers excellent image quality, on-board decoding for Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio and a 1GB USB drive.

Third-Party Features:
The lack of Wi-Fi is glowingly apparent in this model especially since its price is very similar to the Samsung BD-P2550, which offers Netflix and Pandora streaming.

Product Reviews:
CNET News (03/30/2009): Review: Sony BDP-S550 offers solid Blu-ray performance and 7.1 analog audio outputs – “Sony has made standalone Blu-ray players since the format’s inception, but they’ve always been overshadowed by the company’s game console, the PlayStation 3. In many ways, the Sony BDP-S550 is the company’s first standalone that might be a smarter buy than the PS3 for non-gamers.” {Read more}

Latest Press Releases:
Blu-ray Technology is Even Easier to Enjoy with Samsung’s Trio of Home Theater Systems. Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, today debuts its new line of award-winning home theater offerings, including the HT-BD8200 Blu-ray Home Theater Sound Bar, HT-BD7200 Blu-ray 2.1 channel Home Theater System. {Read more}

Buy:
Sony BDP-S550 1080p Blu-ray Player