September 9th, 2009
Sony wises up, unveils new networked Blu-ray player with Netflix, Slacker support
It was just a couple of days ago I was complaining about Sony’s decision to introduce a Blu-ray player with built-in Wi-Fi into the marketplace without offering any of the Internet services that other connected home theater devices are already offering. Now Sony appears to be sipping from the streaming-media Kool-Aid with the launch of its BDP-N460 Blu-ray player, which not only has a network connection, but also will offer services via its Bravia Internet Video platform.
In particular, the BDP-N460 will stream videos from YouTube and personalized Internet radio from Slacker. Sony also says that Netflix’s on-demand streaming service for subscribers will be available for the player later this fall; since the BDP-N460 isn’t due until October, that shouldn’t be a lengthy wait. The device will be competitively priced at $250, but one other difference with the BDP-S560 is that it only comes with an Ethernet port, instead of Wi-Fi. The BDP-N460 offers special software that helps it work with the Linksys by Cisco Wireless-N Ethernet Bridge with Dual-Band, though that’s another $90 you’d need to spend.
The bottom line: The BDP-N460 sounds like a better deal than its pricier, Wi-Fi-enabled sibling, but if it would have had built-in 802.11n for $250, it would be the type of slam dunk that Sony has been searching for these days.
Sean Portnoy spent several years as an editor at Computer Shopper magazine, most recently serving as online executive editor. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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