(Credit:
LG Electronics)
This week, at the GSMA Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, LG Electronics announced the launch of its new Netbook, following on the heels of the LG-X110 Netbook released last year.
Offering an integrated 3G HSPA connection and a 160GB hard drive, the LG-X120 appears to be a worthy contender in the Netbook market.
LG includes what the company refers to as a "Smart-On" interface, which basically allows the user to access the most frequently used programs just a few seconds after hitting the power button, without waiting for the operating system to completely load on the desktop.
The LG-X120 also incorporates the company's "Smart-Link" technology--which can connect to other computers to share files or install new applications via a USB cable--and an advanced security function allowing users to safely share files while connected to other devices.
The Netbook comes in white, with either a lime or pink outer detail. The cover has a matte surface, so it doesn't attract fingerprints, smudges, or scratches. It's available with either a three- or six-cell battery, and it measures 1.3 inches tall by 10.4 inches wide by 7 inches deep.
The rest of its specs include:
- Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
- Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz processor
- 1.3-megapixel Webcam
- 1GB DDR2 RAM
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- 3 USB ports
- 10.1-inch WSVGA screen at a 1,024x576 resolution
- SRS WOW HD and TruSurround XT for sound
The LG-X120 Netbook will purportedly see a March release in Europe, but no announcements were made about a U.S. release, or how much it would cost.
The LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player not only plays DVDs, it also receives streaming video from Netflix.
(Credit: Netflix)Update at 7:30 a.m. PDT: The day of the announcement has been corrected.
Netflix fans will soon have another new option for watching movies.
On Thursday, the company made famous by sending DVDs to consumers via snail mail announced, in conjunction with LG Electronics, the imminent availability of a Blu-ray disc player that will also allow Netflix subscribers to view streaming video of movies and TV shows.
The LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player one-ups the Netflix Player by Roku, a set-top box that hit the market a couple months back. While the Roku device garnered much attention for its streaming-video capabilities, that's about all it does--there is no DVD function.
With the LG box, due to come out this fall, Netflix subscribers will be able to make use of Blu-ray discs and standard DVDs and also to tap into an online repository of about 12,000 movies and TV episodes (a fraction of the overall inventory at Netflix). The service will be available to subscribers at no additional charge.
A feature called BD Live will give people access to additional content and previews.
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that it would allow users of the Xbox 360 game console to view streaming video from Netflix.
With Thursday's announcement, LG and Netflix finally make good on a set-top box promise they made at the start of the year, just ahead of the big Consumer Electronics Show.
The two companies plan to show off the BD300 on Thursday night at LG's 2008 Summer Line Show in New York.
Perhaps at that time, they'll divulge the price of the BD300, which was not included in Thursday morning's press release. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, LG is pegging the price at "well under $500." That compares with just $100 for the more limited Roku box.
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