Crave

The Moxi HD DVR (left) and the Moxi Mate extender.

(Credit: Arris)

When we last heard from upstart DVR maker Digeo, the company had been bought out by networking and communications company Arris. Thankfully for owners of Digeo's Moxi DVR, though, it appears that the company's new corporate godfather is doubling down on the video recorder product line: It's debuting an updated version of its DVR with a triple tuner and initiating a round of price cuts on existing model (and related bundles).

The full details:

(Credit: LG)

Netflix has been on a roll in 2009, adding its Internet streaming video-on-demand service to an ever expanding list of devices. In just the past few weeks, the big news has been the imminent arrival of Netflix streaming on the PlayStation 3, along with more rumors that it will be coming to the Wii as well. Best Buy's Insignia brand has debuted a Netflix-capable Blu-ray player that lists for $149 (and has already been seen on sale for as little as $99). And Roku has delivered two new versions of its mini set-top box, lowering the entry-level price to just $80 for the non-HD version. That's in addition to Netflix's availability on the Xbox 360, TiVo DVRs, and Blu-ray players from LG and Samsung, and an increasing number of TVs.

With those notable changes in the Netflix landscape, we thought it was a good time to update our overview on Netflix streaming. (A recap follows, for the uninitiated; the Netflix-savvy can jump straight to the list of Netflix-compatible products.)

Netflix offers a library of 12,000-plus streaming titles over the Internet, available on an "all you can eat" basis for any customer on the $9 per month (one DVD movie by mail at a time) or higher plan. So, in addition to getting DVD (or, for an additional premium, Blu-ray) discs by mail, Netflix subscribers also get unlimited access to thousands of hours of on-demand programming. Just add the titles to the "Instant Queue" in your Netflix account, and they'll be available on any compatible device once you pair it. (The setup procedure, as outlined by CNET's Molly Wood, is quick and easy.)

There are a few downsides. Almost none of the available movie content would be classified in the "new release" category--the newest titles are usually at least a few years old. Also, the availability of titles ebbs and flows--many are available for a window of 60 to 90 days, after which they may or may not return a few months later. And many of the videos aren't available in their native wide-screen format. Also, you have to manipulate your queue from a PC browser. Aside from a list of new and notable titles, you can't search the available offerings and pick new selections that aren't already in your queue.

That said, we think the advantages are palpable. ... Read more

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Roku is prepping its set-top box line for the holiday season by adding two new models and new content "channels" due within the coming weeks.

The step-up Roku HD XR Player ($130) adds faster 802.11n. Wi-Fi and a USB port "for future use." The step-down model--the Roku SD Player--loses the HD outputs of its siblings; it'll retail for $80. The two new boxes will have the same look and feel of the existing Roku box, which is being redubbed as the Roku HD Player. That model (802.11g Wi-Fi, no USB port) will continue to be available at the same $100 price point.

The $80 SD Player doesn't offer HD output.

(Credit: Roku)

Currently, the Roku boxes have three content channels: Netflix (unlimited streaming of thousands of TV shows and movies for Netflix subscribers); Amazon Video-on-Demand (thousands of movies and TV shows available on a pay-per-title basis), and MLB TV (out-of-area Major League Baseball games, available as a seasonal subscription). However, the imminent (November) launch of the "Roku Channel Store" will add an expanded roster of programming options, including some free content. That should include the already announced Blip.tv and Mediafly channels, and may include some others as well.

Update: Blogger Dave Zatz notes that online tech video site Revision3 has already announced that it will be getting a dedicated channel on the Roku boxes. Furthermore, during a demo of the Revision3 Roku channel posted earlier this month, icons for Flickr and Pandora channels are clearly visible on the Roku's home screen.

The Roku HD XR (bottom) adds faster Wi-Fi and a USB port.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

We'll have a full review of the Roku HD XR Player once the new programming options appear next month via a firmware update. (Right now, the HD XR's USB port is disabled, so there's not a lot to test.) In the meantime, we hope that Roku is able to one-up itself with some compelling online programming offerings. The company's $100 box has long been our cheapest and easiest Netflix streaming recommendation, but recent price drops and newly available Netflix-enabled products are making that less of a clear-cut decision. Already available on the Xbox 360 (which costs between $200 and $300, depending on the model), Netflix is coming to the $300 PS3 as well. It's also available on all 2009 Samsung and LG Blu-ray players and Blu-ray home theater systems (and coming to some Sony models as well). And it's even popping up on entry-level models such as Insignia's supercheap $99 Blu-ray player, too. True, not all of these products have the Roku's built-in Wi-Fi, but they all offer the added features of playing DVDs, Blu-ray discs, and/or games.

At the same time, as products approach the $100 price point, every $10 or $20 represents a big percentage change in the price tag. Those looking for the best value--or to add Netflix streaming to a second or third TV in the house--may well find one of the Roku boxes to still be the best value.

What do you think: Are you an existing Roku owner looking forward to the new content? Are you planning on buying one of the models for the holidays? Or do you think the other Netflix-enabled devices are a better deal? Share your thoughts below.

(Credit: Netflix/screenshot by John P. Falcone)

Netflix online streaming is coming to the PlayStation 3.

A Netflix press release spelled out the details of deal. The good news is that the streaming feature--which enables Netflix subscribers to access thousands of movies and TV shows on-demand via the Internet--is available at no extra charge beyond the monthly Netflix DVD-by-mail subscription, which can be as low as $9 a month. (By contrast, Xbox 360 owners also need to subscribe to Xbox Live, which is an extra $50 per year.)

The bad news: PS3 owners will need to put a special Blu-ray disc in the game console, which will enable streaming via the Blu-ray's BD Live functionality. ... Read more

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Last week, Sonos unveiled the ZonePlayer S5, the first product in its streaming-audio family to boast built-in speakers. Monday, we got the opportunity to see (and hear) it in person for the first time when Sonos reps dropped by our New York office for a demo.

The setup was a two-zone system (two S5s) pulling music from an Apple Time Capsule. The one caveat of a Sonos setup is that at least one component needs a wired network connection. In this case, a ZoneBridge BR100 was connected to the Apple router via Ethernet, which in turn enabled both S5s to operate wirelessly.

Control duties were handled by an iPod Touch running the next version of the Sonos controller app. The new version isn't radically different from the current one, but the music selection screen seemed nicely streamlined.

Otherwise, it was the same old Sonos experience we've come to expect--which is to say a flawless, dropout-free digital music experience. We were intermixing local music (from the Time Capsule) with tunes pulled over the Net from Napster and Last.fm, and everything played without a hitch. We could also play one selection on one S5 while simultaneously playing a different one on the other S5 (in the same room for testing purposes only; in a home setup, of course, they'd be in different rooms), or link the zones to play one stream in unison.

Hands-on: Sonos S5

The venue--one of our office conference rooms--wasn't ideal for a true listening test. But at first blush, the S5 sounded pretty sweet. We were able to crank the volume to levels that would shake apart your average iPod speaker, and the S5 held together without exhibiting distortion or harshness.

In the end, we only had a few minutes with the ZonePlayer S5, but it certainly made a positive first impression. We'll get a chance to do a detailed full review when the $400 product ships the first week of November.

In the meantime, let us know if you have any specific questions about the Sonos ZonePlayer S5, and we'll try to address them when we get our review sample.

(Credit: GlideTV)

With the exception of Netflix and YouTube, many online video providers aren't natively available on set-top boxes or game consoles--Hulu being the most notable example. That's led many online video junkies to go with the most direct workaround: connecting their PCs directly to their big-screen TVs. Generally, it works like a charm--but requires a big keyboard and mouse to sit on the coffee table for navigation duties.

It's that niche--the living room input device--that the new GlideTV Navigator is designed to fill. The wireless pointing device is a disembodied touch pad flanked by a handful of backlit buttons, including volume and playback controls, as well as dedicated Enter, Back, and Escape keys. The $149 package includes a charging cradle and a USB receiver. While the Navigator is compatible with Windows PCs, Macs, and the PS3, GlideTV's onscreen keyboard application will only be available for Windows.

(Credit: GlideTV)

According to GlideTV, the Navigator is designed to offer an ergonomic alternative to navigating such mediacentric applications as "Windows Media Center, Apple iTunes, Boxee, Apple Front Row, SageTV, Firefox, and any Web browser." We'll be reviewing it later this month, at which time we hope to compare it with other alternative input devices, such as gyroscopic mice and the Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard.

(Credit: Sonos)

We've long been fans of the Sonos Digital Music System, which lets you stream all manner of digital audio throughout your home. The latest BU250 bundle is an enthusiastic CNET Editors' Choice, in part because it can be controlled either via the included touch-screen controller or with any iPhone or iPod Touch (running a free Sonos Controller app). Unfortunately, it costs $1,000--not bad for a two-room system, but still out of reach for many consumers--and it needs to be connected to external speakers or audio components to hear the music.

The new Sonos ZonePlayer S5 aims to address both of those issues. It boasts an all-in-one design with built-in stereo speakers, so it's plug and play. And it costs $400--not cheap, but well within the price range of refined iPod speaker systems we've seen from Bose, B&W, and other luxury brands.

Indeed, the latest Sonos combines the features of a ZonePlayer ZP90 with the sort of integrated speaker you'd find on a Bose SoundDock. ... Read more

(Credit: Nintendo)

Nintendo has officially announced that the price of the Wii will drop to $199.99, effective on Sunday. The long-rumored $50 price cut comes in the wake of recent price drops for the PlayStation 3 ($299, with built-in Blu-ray player) and Xbox 360 ($299 for the 120GB version with built-in DVD player and Netflix support), which have boosted sales of the Sony and Microsoft consoles. (To date, the Wii remains the best-selling home game console of the three.)

Other than the price cut, there are no other changes to the current Wii bundle--you're still getting the console, along with the Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers and the bundled Wii Sports game. By contrast, there's at least one rumor that the U.K. will get a Wii package that adds the MotionPlus peripheral and Wii Sports Resort to the mix. Meanwhile, white remains the only color choice in North America (Japanese consumers can choose black as well).

Nintendo also took the opportunity to officially announce the release date for New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which had previously been slated for a vague "fall 2009" window. The multiplayer Super Mario game will hit store shelves on November 15.

So, what do you guys think? Does the price drop make the Wii more attractive? Would you prefer a more enticing bundle? Or are you holding out for the Wii HD? Share your comments below.