Last year LG gave us the BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player-the world’s first Blu-ray player to instantly stream Netflix. With 2009 CES shaping up to be the year Blu-ray makes the big slash and put a nail or two into the DVD’s coffin, LG today 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.
Not just Netflix
The 2009 Network Blu-ray Disc Players with LG’s “NetCast Entertainment Access” off content-on-demand options through new alliances with CinemaNow and YouTube, as well as access to the growing library of HD streaming titles from Netflix. The alliance with CinemaNow gives access to more than 14,000 titles from the major movie studios, broadcast and cable television shows, more than 250 independent film titles and music videos.
LG’s alliance with YouTube will allow consumers to instantly stream millions of Web videos directly from the Internet to an LG Network Blu-ray Player for viewing on their television without a personal computer. Searching, thumbnail previews and multiple screen size viewing options will available via a touch of a button on a remote.
Bonus View and BD Live
LG’s Network Blu-ray Disc Players and Home Theater Systems are BD Live capable, giving access to a wide variety of real-time content via a network connection, such as movie scene extras, new previews, game and chats to name a few. BonusView technology for picture-in-picture access to special features, allowing users to simultaneously watch their favorite movie scenes and added bonus features on compatible discs is supported as well.
Highlights of Devices Announced
LG BD370 Network Blu-ray Disc Player -“ The BD370 offers consumers broadband connectivity and advanced audio capabilities with audio format decoding such as Dolby TrueHD/Digital Plus and DTS-HD. Availability slated for second quarter of 2009.
- Full HD 1080p Blu-ray disc playback with BD-Live and BonusView
- NetCast Entertainment Access
- Netflix instant streaming ready
- Instant access to the latest movie titles from CinemaNow
- YouTube access
- 1080p Upscaling for standard DVD
- Dolby TrueHD
- DTS-HD Master Audio Essential
- USB Media Host
LG BD390 Network Blu-ray Disc Player -“ The BD390 boasts all the same core functionalities of the BD370 model and adds integrated wireless home networking for easy connection to the home network, and 1GB of built-in memory, as an easier option for enjoying BD-Live content without the need for a flash drive and discrete 7.1 channel audio outputs. Availability slated for third quarter of 2009.
LG Network Blu-ray Home Theater System (LHB954) -“ Coming to a store near you in Q2 2009, the LHB954 is LG’s first home theater system to incorporate a new spherical speaker design that LG claims increases sound clarity and volume throughout the listening space. Features include:
- Full HD 1080p Blu-ray disc playback with BD-Live and BonusView
- 1000W 5.1 channel spherical speaker system
- NetCast Entertainment Access
- Netflix instant streaming ready
- Dolby TrueHD
- DTS-HD Master Audio Essential
- iPod Direct Docking
LG Network Blu-ray Home Theater System (LHB977) -“ The LHB977 includes the same core feature set of the LHB954 but with two HDMI inputs for connectivity to high-def sources such as cable boxes and game systems. The speaker setup are two tallboy speakers and two satellite speakers. Like the LHB954, we should be seeing this system in the second quarter of 2009.
LG Network Blu-ray Home Theater System (LHB979) -“ Adding to the LHB977 feature set, the LHB979 features a powerful 1000W of performance with a champagne speaker silhouette and two wireless rear satellite speakers designed by renowned audio expert Mr. Mark Levinson. Again we will have to wait until second quarter of 2009 to take one home.
