VUDU

You can now get the streaming movie service VUDU, as well as new sports and entertainment services - SnagFilms, XOS College Sports, SEC Digital Network, Comedy Time and Watch Mojo - on Western Digital's WD TV Live and WD TV Live Hub media players, the company announced this week.

The company also announced the new WD TV Remote app, an app that turns your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, or Android device (coming soon) into an advanced remote control for your WD TV. The new WD TV Remote app has all the features of the standard WD TV remote control but adds in a gesture pad to navigate menu screens and services with intuitive touch gestures, as well as QWERTY keyboard support. In addition, a favorites screen gives you quick access to entertainment services. The WD TV Remote connects over your wireless home network and can work with multiple WD TV media players. Read more

Have you been eyeing all the smart TVs in the marketplace but don't want to buy one because your current TV works perfectly fine? Netgear has your solution – just add NeoTV. Priced at only $79.99, the NeoTV streaming player (NTV200) turns any television with an HDMI port into a smart TV, allowing you to stream movies, TV shows, music and more from Netflix, Vudu, and YouTube (to name a few). The device comes with a free NeoTV Remote app as well, which turns your iPhone or Android smartphone into a remote control for the NeoTV. No smartphone? No problem. The NeoTV Player comes with a regular remote control too.

The NeoTV Player connects to the Internet through built-in high-speed 300Mbps WiFi or through an Ethernet cable. An optical audio out (S/PDIF) is also included so you can connect your surround sound.

"There's no longer any reason to miss out on all the new entertainment choices streaming to homes through the Internet," said Damir Skripic, Product Line Manager for Connected Entertainment at NETGEAR. "The NETGEAR NeoTV Streaming Player is an easy, affordable way to transform the television you already own into a smart TV."

The NETGEAR NeoTV Streaming Player (NTV200) will be available in late September for $79.99 and can be pre-ordered now from major retailers and online stores. Go to www.netgear.com/ntv for more information.

Sony's 2011 connected Blu-ray players will have the VUDU streaming movie service, both companies announced this week.

VUDU is a subscription-free service that provides instant streaming of 1080p movies with Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The VUDU library boasts the most extensive collection of HD and HDX movies from all major Hollywood studios, offering most titles the same-day as DVD release. On Sony's 3D enabled devices, users can also access 3D content.

All 2011 Sony Blu-ray Disc Players and Blu-ray Disc Home Theater Systems feature VUDU, including:

• BDP-S280
• BDP-S380
• BDP-S480
• BDP-S580
• BDP-S780
• BDV-E280
• BDV-E580
• BDV-E780W

Panasonic this week announced that their 2010 line of VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray Players are now offering instant streaming of VUDU's movie library, including more than 4,000 Full HD (1080p) movies.

VUDU's video-on-demand service offers instant streaming of movies and TV programs through IPTV-enabled HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc Players with no computer or cable/satellite TV service required, and no subscription or monthly membership fees. Most new release titles are available the same day as the DVD release. New to VUDU? You'll snag a $5.99 credit once you're set up on your VIERA CAST-enabled Blu-ray player, allowing you to watch your first HD movie on the service for free.Read more

Sony adds even more entertainment options to the PlayStation 3 with today's announcement that VUDU will launch on PlayStation Network later this month. The VUDU application will allow true 1080p HD and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound streaming to the PS3. VUDU features a massive library of movies, and when it launches on November 23, 2010, the PS3 system will be the first dedicated gaming system to offer this service.

Using the VUDU streaming movie service, PS3 owners in the United States will be able to access more than 4,000 HD movies, including new releases available the same day they are released to DVD or Blu-ray Disc. Many titles will be available for only $2 for a two night rental.

The VUDU application can be downloaded in the "Media" category on PlayStation Store and then accessed under the "Video" icon on the XMB (XrossMediaBar) menu. New VUDU customers receive a $5.99 credit, basically allowing them to watch their first HD movie on the service for free.Read more

Mitsubishi on Thursday unveiled its 2010 lineup of 3D-enabled DLP TVs. No stranger to 3D technology, Mitsubishi has been selling 3D-ready TVs since 2007. In fact, the 2010 lineup marks the company's 4th generation of 3D-ready televisions! The new lineup delivers more than just 3DTV however, as the latest models also are the first from Mitsubishi to feature Internet streaming. The new 3D DLP Home Cinema models are made for the home theater, measuring in at 60, 65, 73 and 82-inch screen sizes.

The 3D DLP Home Cinema Diamond 838 models also feature 16-speaker 5.1 channel Dolby Digital surround sound, which Mitsubishi dubs "Immersive Sound Technology." The technology is said to "deliver perfectly balanced home theater audio, without the need for separate components."Read more

Mitsubishi Digital Electronics announced at CES that it is expanding its lineup of Internet-enabled HDTVs . The new TVs will feature additional VUDU applications, totaling more than 100 Internet entertainment Apps- ranging from on-demand movie services to popular Internet sites.

VUDU Apps to be introduced in 2010 will include:

• Internet sites including Pandora, Dailymotion, Picasa and Flickr
• News Services, such as The New York Times, Associated Press and NBC Nightly News
• Video Podcasts including Revision3 and DiggNation
• VUDU Movies, featuring more than 3,000 movies and HDX, the only streaming 1080p HD video with high resolution 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus surround sound available directly on Internet-connected televisions

Mitsubishi Internet-enabled TV owners will be able to access the latest VUDU Apps without downloading or installing new software. Mitsubishi plans to include VUDU Apps on all Internet-enabled HDTVs this year.

The VUDU HD service is now available on LG's LH50 1080p LCD series and PS80 plasma 1080p series with NetCast Entertainment Access. Also, for a limited time, the first HD or HDX movie rental is free, giving you the opportunity to try the VUDU service on your LG HDTV.

Features of the VUDU service include:

• Pay as you go to rent or buy movies, with no subscription or monthly fees
• Instant streaming without long waits for buffering or downloads
• Instant-start at all quality levels, including HDX 1080p
• Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 surround sound at all quality levels
• Fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays and frustration associated with slow buffering
• Weekly updates to the VUDU library, including new releases same day as DVD
• Newly released movies from major studios are available months before they are available on subscription-based services

LG Electronics will be the first to introduce broadband HDTVs with the instant-access high-definition (HD) movie service from VUDU Inc., a leading provider of digital on-demand entertainment services. VUDU on-demand movies will be available on LG's LH50 1080p LCD series and PS80 Plasma 1080p series with "NetCast Entertainment Access," beginning this month.

The VUDU service allows consumers to instantly buy or rent from an extensive library of movies and TV titles, including an industry-leading catalog of more than 2,000 high-definition movies - with no monthly fees and without having to buy, install, or connect any additional hardware.

VUDU's streaming movie service delivers a near-instant viewing experience - movies start immediately, including high definition HDX movies, and viewers can fast forward, rewind and browse chapters without the delays or the frustration associated with slow buffering. The VUDU catalog is updated weekly, and newly released movies from major studios are typically available months before they are available on subscription-based services.