Adding to it’s already formidable content lineup, BOXEE is now adding VUDU, Netflix and Hulu Plus access to it’s current platforms as well as the BOXEE BOX which is now shipping.  With the introduction of Google TV and Apple TV, many of the “other” content and hardware providers may see the need to create alliances in order to compete with the behemoths.  Certainly the addition of these new services make the BOXEE platform much more competitive with Apple and Google.

One possibly overlooked advantage of BOXEE is the ability to play virtually any HD content up to 1080p, from other PCs or a NAS in the home.  This feature is a real consideration for users who already have their own video libraries in various formats and resolutions.  With the higher resolutions and better quality services, MoCA is a must have for even the average BOXEE customer looking to stream HD video from the Internet or home server.

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Just off the heels of adding 2 new models of Roku set-top boxes, now Roku is adding new channels to it’s lineup of Netflix, Amazon, and MLB.com.  Although most of the new channels aren’t video including Pandora, flickr, and Framechannel, we can expect that Roku will be adding even more video soon.   Now that you can get Netflix on many other TV devices like Xbox, PS3, HDTVs and Blu-ray Players, you’ll start to see Roku begin to establish itself as much more than the Netflix TV box.

Netflix has already begun updating PS3 customers with instant streaming discs to enable Netflix on their game consoles.  Now, Xbox users won’t be the only ones able to access the streaming movie service on their televisions.  No word yet on support for Wii users, but hopefully it won’t be long.

Well it’s looking like Netflix is everywhere, and now it really is.  Best Buy has announced Netflix now officially on their latest store brand Insignia Bluray Players.  Price at $179 and $249, the new players are both Internet connection ready, with the higher priced unit including WiFi.  The press release also says that users will be able to select Netflix movies right on the player instead of using a PC to add to their viewing queue.  Look for many of these players to connect with MoCA to guarantee their HD streaming experience.

Click here for the official press release.

Microsoft now has an exclusive partnership with Netflix, continuing the ability to instantly stream movies and TV shows from Netflix to your TV via Xbox 360. The Xbox will be the only game console to offer the Netflix movie experience, and is available to all Xbox Live Gold members who also have a Netflix unlimited subscription, all of this at no additional cost!

This exclusive partnership offers you the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via Xbox 360. Xbox 360 will be the only game console to offer this movie-watching experience, available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix unlimited plan subscribers**, at no additional cost.

From the Netflix Web site, simply add movies and TV episodes to your instant Queue, which will appear automatically on the TV screen via Xbox 360. Once selected, movies will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds. In addition to instantly streaming Netflix movies to the TV, Xbox LIVE Gold members can browse and rate movies, fast-forward, pause and rewind, all using either their Xbox 360 Controller or Universal remote.

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Menus retain the standard Tivo format, fonts, and overall feel, with Netflix branding only going as far as the logo and color scheme. Netflix on the Tivo feels like an extension of the Tivo service, not a separate application that happens to be added on to the Tivo hardware.

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Roku:

The Roku interface is extremely simple to use. Titles from your queue are presented in a side-scrolling panel of cover art icons. Title, run time, rating, and an HD indicator are shown for the title highlighted, while description and playback/rating/deletion options are shown once the title is selected.

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Samsung Blu-Ray:

The P2550 has become my go-to Netflix streaming choice for one reason: image quality. The Reon HQV processing goes a long way in making non-HD Netflix content watchable on my 100-inch screen. Blocking and noise are greatly reduced, and just enough sharpening is applied to bring out detail without looking artificial. Note: Samsung BD-P2550 Blu-Ray Player has been discontinued.

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Windows Media Center:
There is one significant benefit of the WMC Netflix implementation: you can search and play any Netflix title available for Watch Instantly. You can also add new titles to your queue. Or you can simply explore Netflix as you might do with your PC.

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Roku, the internet video player, which streams movies and TV shows from Netflix and Amazon, is going to be coming out with some new features soon, hopefully by the holiday shopping season.

Roku has distributed a software developers kit to media companies who want to add their offerings to Roku. This includes Blip.TVand Mediafly (both Web video/podcast companies) so far. We imagine all the big companies that do video on the Web — and, important, who want their video to appear on TV sets – will jump on, once it’s opened up, such as Revision3, Next New Networks, Boxee, YouTube, MLB Advanced Media, etc. Internet radio companies like Pandora and Last.fm, and photo sharing services like Flickr are fair game, too.

Roku will continue to announce new content partners. Blip.TV was announced recently, and will show up on set-top boxes this fall. We understand that Roku will be announcing a new partner next week. (We don’t know who it is.)

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As more and more HDTV manufacturers are going the route of making connected HDTVs, being able to get a reliable connection to their device becomes that much more important. Today, Sony has announced that they have partnered with Netflix to bring Netflix’s instant watch to Sony BRAVIA HDTVs.

The world’s largest online movie rental service, today announced a partnership with Sony Electronics that will enable Netflix subscribers to instantly watch movies streamed from Netflix on Sony’s BRAVIA Internet Video-capable HDTVs and on previous BRAVIA models compatible with Sony’s BRAVIA Internet video link module.

Netflix now plays on Roku, Tivo, LG, Samsung and Sony HDTVs and Bluray players.  All of these devices will stream Netflix HD much more reliably using MoCA Home Networking rather than undependable Wifi or Powerline networks.

via Engadget

The Mvix Ultio is going to be released to the US market on July 6^th. You can pre-order it now from the Mvix Store for $169. The media player/streamer supports a multitude of formats such as H.264, MKV, Dixv HD®, MOV, VC-1, FLV, and etc. It supports 1080p playback and you will also be able to watch videos from streaming websites such as Hulu, Netflix, YouTube and more. Although it has a built-in wireless card, you will need MoCA to stream 1080p content, reliably, without glitches.

via MvixUSA