How does it work?

You should keep in mind that the player does not play 4K discs or content. The simple reason for this is there is no 4K content available as of now. The player actually upscales 1080p content to 4K and then sends it to the receiver, 4K HDTV, or a 4K projector. Some people might wonder why they should take a player when 4K displays already upscale the video. The problem is that there are very few 4K displays in the market and it is obvious that quality of upscaling would be different in different players.

The player has dual HDMI outs and it can be used in the AV separation mode. In this mode, HDMI 1 goes to the display and HDMI 2 sends the audio to the receiver.

Image quality

There are different options available for adjusting the image quality. There is ‘texture master’ for adjusting the details and sharpness of the edges. ‘Super resolution‘ can be used for improving the resolution and the ‘smoothing’ feature reduces the banding on screen by smoothing the gradation on flat regions. ‘Clear black’ and ‘contrast master’ are two other useful features.

Connectivity and apps

The BDP S790 is not only a good home theater system but it offers various other features as well. It has built in Wi-fi which can be used for connecting to you home network. You can use services like Netflix, Slacker, Pandora, UltraViolet and Vudu to stream content. Like most other players today, it also comes with social apps for Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. You can also enjoy video calls and conferences with your friends as it also has built-in Skype. You can connect it to your PC to view videos and photos. There are two USB ports which allow you to play movies or music directly from a memory stick, external hard disk or PC.

Other features

There are numerous other small features added to the player. For instance, you have the options of ‘throwing’ a web page that you are looking at to your smartphone or tablet. You can then throw it back to your TV screen. The player also allows you to get detailed information about the song or a movie at the touch of a button. The Quickstart feature also works very well and there is almost no loading time.

The BDP S790 is one of the very few players that upscales to 4K and probably one of the best out there. For those looking to try out this player, it is already being offered online and will be available in retail stores from May 6, 2012.

How will it work?

The service would be pretty similar to Slingbox or a DVR but without any boxes. NimbleTV would work with TV providers to offer this service. You will pay your usual subscription fees plus some charges to NimbleTV for providing the service. After that, you will be able to use the streaming software by NimbleTV to stream all your channels. Social recommendation tools and unlimited DVR storage will also be available to users of this service.

The service will start out in New York first, but there have been no announcements regarding the TV providers that NimbleTV has signed up with. During the beta phase, the service will provide about 25 channels which will be paid for by the company. More channels will be added gradually. Users will be able to sign up for the service using NimbleTV’s software and the exact price will be revealed at the public launch, which is expected to take place this summer. Customers will have to make direct payments to the cable service providers and NimbleTV will act as the payment service.

Features

The social features present in NimbleTV will allow users to keep track of what their friends are watching on TV. Essentially, NimbleTV is merging online and linear content because that is how users like to experience TV in the present day world. They will be able to have a social connection revolving around the shows they like the most. The simplicity factor also plays an important role as users will not have to worry about additional equipment and set top boxes.

Possible lawsuit

Different companies have tried streaming TV channel content everywhere but have met with limited success. Time Warner and Cablevision allow users to access the channels on different devices but they can be accessed only at home. Xfinity Streampix was a service launched by Comcast, which provides additional library content to users who opt for its high-end packages. Go app by HBO allows users to access HBO content through their mobiles. However none of them provide the entire TV package. The main reason for this is that companies offering such services stand a chance facing a lawsuit on providing the entire TV package.

Aereo launched similar services in New York in February 2012 but had to face lawsuits from broadcasters. NimbleTV believes that by not breaking the relationship between the customer and cable TV provider, they will avoid lawsuits.

Anand Subramanian, the CEO of NimbleTV, said that the main goal of the product is to ensure that users can access their TV wherever they are. He also added that NimbleTV is a service that is not only consumer friendly but industry friendly as well.

VIZIO M221NV 22-Inch Full HD 1080p LED LCD TV

Price: 348.88

The Dune HDTV-301 is an IPTV-ready set-to-box that enables VOD (video on demand), OTT (over the top) video and IPTV (Internet Protocol TV) service providers to deliver their digital TV programs in HD and standard resolutions. Soon, Dune HD TV-301 media players will be shipped globally.

Dune HDTV-301 specs

The HD TV-301 from Dune is a compact digital media player and can be used to play both standard and high definition videos on your TV. The player can also be used as a specialized set-top-box for streaming internet TV programs, videos on demand and other specialty content from the internet in full HD. In addition to that, the HD TV-301 also supports playback and recording of IPTV streams, if possible. Here are a few specifications of this new device from Dune.

• The Dune HD TV-301 is equipped with an HDMI 1.3 port, USB 3.0 ports, high resolution audio, 1080 output with upscaling options for SD or DVD content, customizable UI for easy management of data and options for creating your own playlists.

• The device can be connected to stream IPTV, VOD and OTT content. It can also be connected to DNLA and DTT (Digital Terrestrial Television) through external USB devices.

• Supports multiple sources of media including PCs through Wi-fi and storage devices like HDDs, SD cards and USB flash devices that can be directly connected to it.

• Uses the SMP8670 Secure Media Processors from Sigma Designs to deliver high quality video and audio playback.

• Connect to internet radio stations to playback and record audio content online

• Allows download of files from P2P networks using the built-in BitTorrent client in the device

The device also uses the Dune Network Playback Accelerator can for smooth streaming of content via network protocols like SMB and NFS. It also supports multiple DRMs such as Secure Media, Flash Access PlayReady, Microsoft DRM10 etc.

Partnership with Nordija

At the recent NAB Show, Dune also revealed that it would be partnering with Nordija, which is a well-known IPT and VOD service provider, to offer advanced interactive Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) services through its new line of streaming media players. By integrating its media players and Nordija’s fokusOn middleware, Dune aims at offering quick and cost-effective solutions to deliver sophisticated interactive IPTV services for users.

The middleware, fokusOn, brings together the extent of the internet and popularity of linear television so that people can enjoy their favorite TV programs using a perceptive program guide. To put it simply, the middleware will give the Dune media players better OTT, IPTV and VOD functionalities.

If you’re in the market for a new online streaming device, the Dune HD TV-301 just might be what you’re after!

Features of the SMP N200

The SMP N200 is Ethernet and Wi-fi enabled, which means you don’t have to worry about cable connectivity to stream videos of your choice. The media player allows you to stream movies and videos from the internet in HD and 3D through its connectivity options. It also has a USB port, so that you can watch your favorite videos or photos and even listen to music by just plugging the USB device to the player. Here are some other features of the media player.

• The HDMI6 and the component and composite AV outputs of the device allow you to stream data on your television, whether or not it is ‘smart’.

• You can also connect the player to your home network through wi-fi, and stream data from all devices connected to it, without the hassles of using cables.

• The SMPN200 has a unique feature called Socialize, which allows you to post messages on popular social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Using this feature, sharing details about your favorite video and audio on the internet is very easy.

• The I/P Noise Reduction feature of this Sony media player enables you to view sharp and clear pictures on your HDTV

• Through this device, you can connect the Sony Homeshare network speakers to stream and listen to your favorite audio and music from anywhere in the house. The system uses its wi-fi connectivity to stream your favorite MP3 and other audio files from your computer or from sites like Slacker and Pandora.

• The SMPN200 also lets you share your content from DLNA compatible devices on your home network. However, audio files in the MKV and AAC formats are not supported.

It also has a web browser that allows you to find content and images online. For easy access and operation of the device, Sony also offers remote control apps for iPhone and Android devices.

Access to extensive online content

The Sony SMP N200 can provide access to over 35 channels on the internet including Amazon on Demand, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Blip.tv, Video Unlimited and more. The streaming apps, which the player is equipped with, automatically upgrade to list the latest videos on the channel. Specialty channels like Epicurious, Golf Link, Flixster, Music Unlimited etc can also be accessed with the device.

Installation and setup of the SMP N200 is very easy. Once it is connected to your TV or HD enabled monitor, using it is even easier with the tree-structured menu system.