Roku surpasses 700 channels, adds Roku Ready TV partners

LAS VEGAS--Roku has no new hardware here at CES 2013, but that's not stopping the company from building on its success: content, content, content. The company just crossed the 700-channel benchmark for its line of smart TV boxes, and it's got even more new services on deck for 2013.

Among the new channels that Roku is planning to add (in the territories indicated) in the first quarter of 2013:

TWC TV: This app adds upwards of 300 live streaming TV channels for existing Time Warner Cable subscribers at no additional charge. (U.S. only) Fox Now: This is … Read more

TWC TV app brings 300 live TV channels to Roku owners

LAS VEGAS--The Roku box will soon be able to double as a cable box for Time Warner Cable customers.

By April, the free TWC TV app will be added to Roku's increasingly robust app store. The app -- which is already available on iOS, Android, and PCs and Macs -- allows current Time Warner Cable subscribers to receive up to 300 live TV channels at no extra charge. That means subscribers could add a de facto cable box to any TV within range of a Wi-Fi signal, rather than having to having to make an appointment with the cable … Read more

Toshiba's Media Boxes focus on streaming first, Blu-rays second

LAS VEGAS--One could argue that Blu-ray players have been misnamed for years. Yes, they play your Blu-rays, but they're even more about their embedded Smart TV suites that serve up streaming video and music.

That's the angle Toshiba is taking, rolling our four new devices curiously called "Media Box with Blu-ray Disc player capabilities." That's more awkward than it needs to be, but it's hard not to like Toshiba reversing the importance of Blu-ray and streaming capabilities.

The specific features are broken down in the chart to the right. Miracast is supported by all … Read more

Samsung at 2013 CES: Join us Monday, 2 p.m. PT (live blog)

LAS VEGAS--All eyes will be on Samsung during the company's press conference at the 2013 International CES. The event kicks off at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET) on Monday, and CNET will be there to cover it live. We'll have a live video stream, along with a live blog chock full of news and analysis, as it happens.

You can tune in to the blog and video stream here:

CNET's live coverage of Samsung's 2013 CES press conference

Samsung is expected to show plenty of TVs and home theater products. The company late … Read more

LG's 2013 Blu-ray players include DIY wireless headphones feature

LAS VEGAS--Home theater evokes wall-shaking action films, but in the real world sometimes you can't watch your Blu-rays like you're actually at the movies.

The two higher-end models in LG's new 2013 Blu-ray lineup, the BP530 and BP730, have an interesting feature called "private sound mode" designed for those moments when you can't crank your system. Using an app on your smartphone, private sound mode lets you listen to the audio from your Blu-ray player, creating essentially a DIY wireless headphone solution. And while that may not exactly be a "breakout" feature, … Read more

Panasonic at CES 2013: Join us Monday, 10 a.m. PT (live blog)

The consumer electronics world will be focused on Panasonic during its press conference at the 2013 International CES. The event begins at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) on Monday, January 7, and CNET will be there covering it live. We'll have a live video stream and a blog filled with news, photos, and analysis, as it happens.

You can tune in to the blog and video stream here:

CNET's live coverage of Panasonic's CES 2013 press conference

Samsung's BD-F7500 flagship Blu-ray player upconverts to 4K, recommends content

It's hard to breathe new life into the stale Blu-ray category at CES 2013, but Samsung is giving it its best shot with the BD-F7500.

The Samsung BD-F7500 is the newly announced flagship Blu-ray player, including the company's new "S-Recommendation" feature, which suggests content based on what you watch. The BD-F7500's step-up features are rounded out by its 7.1 analog outputs and its ability to upscale content to 4K resolution.

Like most Samsung Blu-ray players these days, it has built-in Wi-Fi and access to Samsung's Smart Hub suite of streaming-media services. More importantly, … Read more

Samsung's HT-F9750 home theater system embraces future and past with tubes, 4K upconversion

Vacuum tubes are an anachronism in any modern home audio device, and even more so if that same device supports the cutting-edge 4K resolution standard.

Samsung's HT-F9750 doesn't shirk from the unusual juxtaposition, with the 7.1 channel home-theater-in-a-box (HTIB) system featuring both glowing tube preamps and 4K upconversion. Although both features look and sound cool, they're more gimmick than anything else. The tube preamp (which is paired with a digital amplifier) promises a more "natural" sound, although I didn't hear anything particularly special when I listened to the tubeified DA-E750 last year. And … Read more

LG's 2013 home theater line doubles down on sound bars, Bluetooth speakers

CES 2013 is still weeks away, but LG is getting a jump on the show by announcing its full line of home theater products on Christmas Day.

Its home audio offerings are anchored by four new sound bar models, with all but the entry-level NB2030A featuring built-in Bluetooth and a wireless subwoofer. The top two models come in a new, larger size, designed to match 47-inch TVs, which reflects the rising popularity of larger screen HDTVs.

The strangest model may be the NB3730A, which includes built-in Wi-Fi and a basic streaming-media suite including including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu Plus, Vudu, … Read more