sony smp-n200

Sony SMP-N200 review: Tons of streaming for $99, but mediocre interface

Sony's SMP-N200 has all the trappings of a killer streaming-media box.

The spec sheet is filled with excellent services, especially on the video side, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, and Vudu. Unlike the Roku 2 XS, it's also DLNA compatible and does a decent job handling your local digital media files, including MKV and Xvid. Most importantly, it packs all that functionality into a box that costs $100.

All of that's true, but the SMP-N200 gets a lot of the small things wrong. The user interface is poorly designed for a streaming-media box, wasting precious screen real estate and often forcing you to browse smallish cover art that's impossible to read from the couch. There's a search function, but it doesn't search any of the video services you care about. For music on your home network, cover art isn't supported at all, even if you've dutifully organized and downloaded it yourself.… Read more

Verizon Droid Bionic arrives finally

HTC files a lawsuit against Apple with nine new patents from Google, Adobe has released its pricey photo-sharing app and service called Carousel, and Verizon finally launches the Bionic nine months after the "super-phone" made its first appearance.

Links from Thursday's episode of Loaded:

Verizon Droid Bionic becomes available Sony rolls out SMP-N200 streaming box Apple working on Logic Pro X HTC sues Apple with Google patents Adobe Carousel photo sharing service Subscribe: iTunes (MP3) | iTunes (320x180) | iTunes (HD) | RSS (MP3) | RSS (320x180) | RSS HD

Sony rolls out SMP-N200 streaming box

Sony's original "Netbox," the SMP-N100, was always overshadowed by more popular competitors like the Apple TV and Roku XDS. That wasn't entirely fair, as the SMP-N100 was loaded with streaming media services (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant) and offered DLNA compatibility, the latter being a much-requested feature on the Roku.

Sony announced its latest streaming media box at CEDIA today, the SMP-N200, which adds 3D compatibility and live content streaming to the SMP-N100's already formidable features list. Additional details are scarce at the moment, so we'll have to wait to see what streaming services … Read more