Sony's 2013 Blu-ray players stream media from both iOS and Android devices

LAS VEGAS--Sony is holding most of its home theater announcements for its line show in the spring, but the company did announce its new lineup of Blu-ray players at CES 2013.

Sony's 2013 line of Blu-ray players comprises three new models, the BDP-S1100, BDP-S3100, and BDP-S5100. All three models have a fully encased optical drive, which Sony claims reduces internal dust. The two higher-end models include built-in Wi-Fi and all three can access Sony's full suite of streaming-media services, which includes Netflix, Pandora, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, Crackle, and YouTube. That's a step up from most manufacturers, which tend to offer a more limited suite of streaming services on their entry-level players.

The BDP-S3100 and BDP-S5100 are also compatible with Sony's new TV SideView app, available on both iOS and Android, which can be used to stream your personal photos, music, and videos to your TV. An app that works on the majority of smartphones is a perk; competing players (Panasonic, Toshiba) that feature Miracast only work on smartphones running Android 4.2 or higher. However, Miracast does allow third-party apps to stream video, rather than just streaming your personal photos, videos, and music.

Details on these players are scarce at the moment. Sony has not announced pricing or release dates.