Contributing to the drive towards the integration of web and TV services, Toshiba have announced more details of their 'Net Player'.
The purpose of Toshiba's 'Net Player' is to facilitate the streaming of multimedia content from PC's or hard drives directly to, for example, your TV. The device is wi-fi and Ethernet enabled, with support for DLNA and Microsoft Windows Media Extender.
The DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) shares a vision of wired and wireless interoperable networks where digital content such as photos, music, and videos can be shared by compliant products from any manufacturer. DLNA offers the promise of a more generic method of bringing the internet to our TV screens.
Windows Media Center Extenders are devices that are configured to connect via a Network link to a computer running Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows Vista Home Premium/Ultimate or Windows 7 to stream the computer's media center functions to the Extender device. This allows users to view photos, videos, listen to music etc on their television or other display device.
With the demise of their HD DVD blu-ray format, Toshiba are determined to be a part of, or in fact create, the next big technological wave. Andy Bass, Toshiba UK’s managing director is quite evangelical about their net player, stating: "we have a new company vision - to deliver the ultimate on-demand experience."
Toshiba's net player is notable in that it will be the first non-TV device to support the Intel Yahoo Widget TV platform, allowing any flatscreen TV to deliver widget services. Yahoo widgets, amongst other things provide discreet on screen information such as weather and stock price RSS feeds and access to Picasa and Flickr image browsing and YouTube video streaming.
Net Player comes with an integrated DVD player and is expected to sell for around £200 when it arrives in the UK later this year.
- Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions
- © 2007-2010 HDTVorg.co.uk inc
