Mitsubishi and LG HDTVs Do VUDU Outside the Box
By Rachel Cericola
Now go do that VUDU that you do so well!
That's not
exactly the line from
Blazing Saddles, but it seems that manufacturers are lining up to add the streaming video service into their entertainment arsenal. Previously, VUDU customers needed to own a separate black box in order to access content from the online service. But this week, both Mitsubishi and LG made announcements that would bring VUDU on-demand entertainment to a new crop of HDTVs.
Mitsubishi says that the Diamond models of its Unisen Immersive Sound LCD TV line will soon offer access into VUDU, which will include high-def movies and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. The two models, the LT-46249 and LT-52249, each have an Ethernet port. However, you'll need the optional VUDU wireless accessory bridge to tap into the streaming goodness.
Each unit boasts a frame that's less than one inch wide, Variable Smooth 240 Film Motion technology and Energy Star 3.0 certification. The company says that later this month, viewers will also have access to YouTube, Flickr, Picasa, and Pandora content, as well as an on-demand TV area with more than 80 channel choices.
LG's NetCast Entertainment Access includes content from Netflix, Yahoo! Widgets, YouTube, and more.
Both models are shipping now, with the 46-inch LT-46249 going for $2,599 and the 52-inch LT-52249 priced at $3,099. The company is also kicking in two months of free VUDU rentals or purchases (up to $50) for a limited time.
Earlier this week,
LG announced that they had started streaming VUDU service to the LH50 1080p LCD series and PS80 Plasma 1080p series. The company first announced the plan in late July. Compatible models include the 42-inch 42LH50 and the 47-inch 47LH50 LCD, as well as the 50-inch 50PS80 and 60-inch 60PS80 plasmas. All are available now.
VUDU currently offers 16,000 movie and TV titles -- some to rent and some to own -- and 2,200 of those are in HD.
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