Netflix Instant Watch on LG BD300 Network Blu-Ray Disc Player

[Updates: the LD BD300 now supports high def streaming at 2.6Mbits/s and 3.8Mbits/s alongside the standard def 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 Mbits/s VC1 streams. It also supports YouTube in the latest firmware update, and has announced support for CinemaNow pay per view.]

Details of the partnership between Netflix and LG have now been confirmed. In shops Oct 10th for $349, this Blu-Ray player includes similar functionality to the Roku and Xbox Netflix players. (Original info was Oct 1st for $399).

"Available this fall, the LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player will play
high definition Blu-ray discs, up-convert standard DVDs to 1080p and allow
Netflix subscribers to instantly stream more than 12,000 choices of movies
and TV episodes from Netflix to the TV for no additional charge.

LG Electronics and Netflix will demonstrate the BD300 Network Blu-ray
Disc Player for the first time tonight at LG's 2008 Summer Line Show at
Morgan Library and Museum in New York City. (The event is open to invited
media only.)

Instantly streaming content from Netflix to the TV via the LG BD300
Network Blu-ray Disc Player will rely on a wired broadband connection and
Queue-based user interface. Netflix members will use the Netflix Web site
to add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant Queues. Those
choices will automatically be displayed on members' TVs and available to
watch instantly through the LG player. Once selected, movies will begin
playing in as little as 30 seconds. With the BD300's accompanying remote
control, Netflix members will be able to browse and make selections right
on the TV screen and also have the ability to read synopses and rate
movies. In addition, they will have the option of fast-forwarding and
rewinding the video stream."

Roku discussion
Xbox discussion

Press coverage:
Hands-on review by CNet/Crave
Press Release
New York Times
Wall St Journal

Tags: lg

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on July 31, 2008 at 9:32am: Pretty cool, but definitely as a higher-end option. The fact that it is a Netflix IW box AND a Blu-Ray disc player also puts it in a different category of customer.

LG Box
$500 gets you 1) Blu-ray and 2) IW.

PS3+Roku
The same $500 dollars gets you 1) Blu-ray, 2) IW AND 3) game console.

For my setup, the fact that the new LG box is via wired connection only (if that is indeed the case) would be a deal breaker.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lester on July 31, 2008 at 4:40pm: It definitely does not have wireless access. From the NYT:

"The [LG Netflix] player does not have a wireless networking connection, unlike the $100 standalone box from Roku meant to play Netflix films on televisions. But Mr. Jason [of LG] said that the sort of early adopters who are likely to buy Blu-ray players in the next few years mostly already have Internet connections in their family rooms."

It's a deal breaker for me as well.

But, despite that, congratulations to Netflix for expanding access to its services.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Adrian on July 31, 2008 at 10:50pm: Its "well under $500". But for people who aren't into games, its everything you can get from Netflix (DVD, Blu-Ray and Instant) all in one box with no fuss. Setup is even simpler than the Roku since it doesn't have to worry about Wireless. Other than that, its essentially the same user interface as the Roku alongside a disc player. More choices are good.....; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lester on August 1, 2008 at 5:29pm: "Setup is even simpler than the Roku since it doesn't have to worry about Wireless." I don't know whether you were being serious with this comment, but the Roku player, as you know, has a wired alternative, so the LG setup cannot be easier. Wired is good for those who have their router near their TV, or for those users who favor a decorating scheme that emphasizes the beauty of cables. :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on August 1, 2008 at 6:48pm: I don't know whether you were being serious with this comment, but the Roku player, as you know, has a wired alternative, so the LG setup cannot be easier.

I'm pretty sure he was comparing wired installation of LG vs. wireless installation of Roku. In which case, wired would be easier.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lester on August 1, 2008 at 7:48pm: Roku has the same wired alternative as the LG, which Adrian knows, so it it can only be a joke.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Spindaddydad on August 1, 2008 at 8:26pm: yes but I believe his comment was specifically comparing wired LG to wireless roku.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Adrian on August 2, 2008 at 1:04am: Its simpler because there are fewer options, thats all. If you plug a Roku into an ethernet it comes right up the same way. I overstated the difference. The Netflix part of the user interface is simpler because it doesn't have the setup section. There is an LG setup section that covers TV, Internet etc. in a generic way, but it auto-detects and defaults to the right setup so most people won't need to configure it.

You also don't need to switch TV inputs between disc and Netflix, which makes it a bit simpler to use, and one remote (with the usual bazillion buttons) it also suits some TV sets with few inputs to have the combined unit.

The LG has its place, the Roku has more features (WiFi) for less money if you already have a disc player. The Netflix player part has the same user interface and features for both.

Also Roku is in stock now, LG ships in "fall", Xbox is "late fall".; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lester on August 2, 2008 at 5:22pm: 2McAbre, I agree with everything you wrote (and coincidentally, I recently had a conversation along those lines with someone I know, although you brought up other worthwhile points). My feeling, as a TW cable and internet subscriber, and this is just a feeling, is that that company just wants to push its premium services, which provide mainly worthless channels and the DVR for too much money. I doubt the TW would want to provide its subscribers access to Netflix, where with DVDs and IW, the viewer can receive much better selection and ease of use for a fraction of the price.

I only have the smallest package from TW I need to get HD. If I didn't live in Manhattan, where broadcast doesn't work, I'd consider dropping the cable TV.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Adrian on September 22, 2008 at 6:44pm: I have one.... it works well as a BD player as well. If anyone has any specific questions about it let me know. It should be in the shops next week for $399.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ColdOne on September 26, 2008 at 10:06am: Adrian, is there a way to choose the bitrate on the LG box as there is with the other players? Or can you tell us more about the algorithm that determines bitrate (e.g. is it more like the Roku or the decidedly suboptimal PC player)?

I'd love to get this box, but probably won't without some assurances that I can watch at high quality (which the PC player won't do without being coerced).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Adrian on September 26, 2008 at 4:33pm: The user interface is the same as the Roku, but it has a completely different remote control, and there is no hidden page to set the speed that the Roku has. The LG's stream speed selection works the same as the Roku, but the firmware is more recent than Roku's 1.01, and if anything it's a bit better here and there. I don't think many people could tell the difference.; ▶ Reply to This