Sony was the first company to add streaming directly to the display, and now they’re adding Netflix streaming to their BRAVIA line of LCD televisions.

The current 2009 models BRAVIA models connect via Ethernet to the internet and stream video via the Xross Media Bar (XMB) interface. But most Sony TVs from the past two years have the ability to connect a “BRAVIA Internet Video Link” module, meaning there is a large installed base right now that can benefit from this relationship when it releases in the Autumn.

Sony has developed their own interface for the Netflix instant queue which they call “a little more elegant.” You still have to add movies via a web browser, however. I imagine the interface will look a lot like the current XMB interface.

In addition to Netflix, Sony offers video from over 25 sources, including Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, Sports Illustrated, Sony Pictures, and Crackle.

The video rental game is a changing climate. With by-mail services like Netflix, combined with the convenience of video-on-demand and rental kiosks like Redbox, the traditional video rental outlet seems like a vestigial service.

The evidence is immanent. Blockbuster closed hundreds of stores over the last two years, and the regional players are closing at a brisk pace.

A local independent rental outlet recently changed their model to provide $1 rentals for anything in the store - Blu-ray, DVD, and video games. This is a great deal to be sure. But you know this came from the fact that every grocery store in the area has a rental kiosk for $1 per day for new and catalog titles, and it’s more convenient. Convenience seems to trump the fact that stores have a much greater selection of movies, and a better chance they’ll have a copy of the new release you want to see, and they have foreign and independent films the kiosks don’t carry.

But we’re in a culture of instant gratification. For so many, getting it now beats out over quality and content, even if price is at parity.

Do you still go to a video store to rent? Why or why not?

If digital delivery is really overtaking physical formats, someone forgot to tell Joost, who gave up on delivering repurposed content through their online streaming service earlier this week. Instead, Joost will be focusing on delivering third-party video content.

Joost is restructuring their company, including letting go 100 employees. Ad supported content online hasn’t been realizing real profits compared with traditional media delivery through broadcast, cable, satellite and on physical discs. It is especially difficult for Joost who isn’t owned or affiliated with the major broadcast networks, who own both Hulu and TV.com.

The CEO of Joost, Mike Volpi, is stepping down (while remaining chairman of the board). He commented, “In these tough economic times, it’s been increasingly challenging to operate as an independent, ad-supported online video platform.”

Advertising budgets have been cut across the country in this recession, and this is also not helping matters.

I think the future of on demand content will be provided through the established cable and satellite companies. Programs will be available when you want them through the set-top box connected to your TV. I just hope the revenue will remain high so the quality of the shows won’t suffer. But I do think physical media will remain popular for full-length feature films.

After Toshiba gave up the fight in the format war, they vowed to remain in the standard DVD business and would not support Blu-ray. But perhaps watching from the sidelines while all of the other CE companies collect new profits from Blu-ray Disc isn’t sitting well with them; after all, they did lose $1-billion in the format war.

Last week, the president of Toshiba, Atsutoshi Nishida said, “It makes no sense to decide not to enter the Blu-Ray market simply because we lost the DVD-format war. We cannot change the fact that we lost, but we would like to keep our options open.”

The main focus for now seems to be on Blu-ray recorders, but I would imagine they will enter the consumer electronics market in the US with dedicated players as recorders generally don’t sell well here. (Maybe a Blu-ray player as capable and affordable as Toshiba HD DVD players?!)

After losing almost $4-billion last quarter, it’s no wonder Toshiba is looking for new revenue streams.

One question I’ve been asked with frequency is, “If my TV is only 720p, will I actually benefit from Blu-ray’s 1080p resolution?” The short answer is, “Yes.”

While it’s true you won’t get the full benefit of 1080p, a 720p image has up to four-times the resolution than DVD’s 480i image. But there’s more than that, you still begin with a 1080p image so there is more native resolution to begin with.

Take for example a high-def television signal. This comes in either 1080i or 720p from cable, satellite or over-the-air broadcast. These images are not as highly detailed as Blu-ray, and have far more compression, yet they look great on a high-def television. And they look better than DVDs. Blu-ray looks even better still.

Roku was kind enough to send us their digital video player to review. This player is also referred to as the Netflix player by Roku. The Roku “set top box” allows you to view streaming internet video directly on your TV, bridging the gap between the living room and the internet.

The Roku player currently supports the Netflix Instant Viewing service and the Amazon Video On Demand service. Over 50,000 TV episodes & films are available to watch instantly using the supported services. Amazon VOD was recently added via a firmware update, so we are hoping that additional services will be supported in the future as well (Hulu & YouTube please!).

Let’s take a look at the devices specifications.

Specifications

Networking: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 support 10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45)
Video Outputs: Composite video, S-Video, Component video (Y/Pb/Pr), HDMI
Video Modes: 16:9 HD (720p), 16:9 anamorphic (480p), 4:3 standard (480i)
Audio Output: Stereo (L/R RCA), Digital Optical (Toslink), Digital over HDMI
Remote Control: NEC protocol, supported by various universal remotes
Power Input: 5V, 1.5A provided by included AC adapter
Power Consumption: 5 watts peak, 3 watts in standby
Size: 5 x 5 x 1.75 inches (130 x 130 x 41 mm)
Weight: 11 oz (300 grams)

What’s inside the box?

The package includes the Roku digital video player itself (top right), a remote control (top left), power adapter (mid left), a getting started guide (bottom left), composite video cables & batteries for the remote (bottom right).

Video demonstration and review

To give you a look at the user interface, the usability of the device and some of the available Netflix instant viewing titles, we recorded the video below.

Positives

Small size & light weight
Easy to connect & setup
Supports WiFi & wired networking
Easy to use interface
Supports a wide range of cable outputs
High Definition 720p support via HDMI & component
Very good video picture quality
Playback memory; remembers where you stopped watching last time
Automatically goes into Standby mode

Negatives

Cannot search for & add Netflix instant viewing titles from the player itself
No power off option
No HDMI or component cables included

Final Thoughts

Overall, we are extremely happy with the performance of the Roku digital video player with Netflix and we highly recommend it. Connecting and setting up the player is easy, the performance is solid and the value of having thousands of on-demand movies & TV shows for a low monthly fee is unmatched anywhere else (Netflix plans $8.99 and up include unlimited instant viewing).

Our biggest complaint that we have about the Roku box is that Netflix instant viewing titles must be added from a computer. You cannot browse and view available streaming content options directly from the Roku player itself.

The player has performed extremely well in our months of testing, with relatively little problems. The few playback problems we did experience can most likely be attributed to local network connectivity problems at our home or temporary Netflix instant viewing server problems. The majority of our viewing experience with the Roku box has been over a WiFi connection and the performance and reliability has been solid.

If you already have a Netflix subscription and you need a bridge between the internet and your TV, the Roku player is a no brainer. Do yourself a favor and pick one up today, you won’t regret it.

If you don’t have Netflix, I recommend that you subscribe and pick up the player for hours and hours of on-demand entertainment (with DVD’s by mail as a side bonus). Find out more and purchase one at http://www.roku.com/netflixplayer/

Some people may be waking up this morning wondering why they can’t receive a signal on their TV. They’re probably fussing with the rabbit ears and getting upset. Well, maybe they should have watched more TV because there were plenty of announcements leading up to the analog shut off - and they even extended it for three months until 12th June.

But that’s it, we’re done. Only low-powered analog television is broadcasting at this point, unless someone is defying the FCC.

If you are reading this you are more than likely not using analog TV anymore, but in case you are left out in the cold, these articles should help you:

Free over the air HD television
The digital switchover
Does your TV support digital broadcasts?
Free Digital TV Converter Boxes