Toshiba is the latest consumer electronics company to introduce a line of Blu-ray players that offer Web-connected services and Wi-Fi-ready features.
The new BDX2500 ($179.99) and BDX2700 ($249.99), each with a standard Ethernet connection, offer streaming content such as Blockbuster-on-Demand with no monthly fee (movies offered same-day as Blu-ray/DVD release); Netflix streaming movies and TV episodes, some in HiDef; Vudu Movies with more than 3,000 HiDef films; and Pandora internet radio music.
The BDX2700 includes built-in Wi-Fi capability (thus, the higher retail price), but the BDX2500 requires the purchase of a wireless adapter to use Wi-Fi.
Internet connection allows users to access the growing amount of interactive BD Live content being offered on Blu-ray Discs, such as interactive games, live filmmaker chats and audio commentary, trivia, and websites with updated trailers and merchandise.
The Toshiba BDX2500 and BDX2700 can also play home videos, photos, and music from a USB or SD/SDHC card.
“The idea of home entertainment now goes beyond being able to watch crisp, high-definition video,” said Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Digital A/V Group.
On the HiDef audio side, the BDX2500 and BDX2700 provide built-in decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio / Essential via analog 7.1 Channel audio outputs or pass through via HDMI interface for outboard decoding.
— By Scott Hettrick