what is a good brand for a blu ray player ?

blu ray player netflix hulu image

mw3051

i need a blu ray player that can of course play blu ray and dvd's, but also can stream stuff like hulu or netflix, and also will let me play movies from a computer on my local area network.

being able to check the weather would be nice too.

any helpful advice is appreciated.

thank you.

Answer
Be careful. The inclusion of streaming apps in televisions and blu ray players is a "add on". I have 8 streaming apps on my Panasonic BluRay player. I have 28 on my WD TV Live box and my WD box has a better interface, gets updated every few weeks, streams from my PC or USB flash and HDD drives.

For $99 it is a much better device and experience. (And yes - it does have a Weather app).

My advice would be you get a good, basic BluRay player, but get your streaming apps from a media server like a Roku unit or the WD TV Live box.

Can I download apps on my LG BP325W blu ray player?

C

My new blu ray player didn't have a manual with it to explain anything, and I know nothing about blu ray players. It has Netflix and VUDU on it, but I want to download Hulu plus and Amazon digital download so I can sign in on those accounts on the blu ray player and stream via the TV and not via my Kindle Fire. Is this possible?

Answer
In general services are hard encoded through firmware. Unless LG decides to add Hulu you are probably out of luck. But check the manual ... see the link and download a copy.

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Why are some TV episodes not available on Netflix via internet devices?

blu ray player netflix hulu image

Eric O

I was going to ask Netflix directly but someone else might know. I noticed watching some older TV shows on Netflix, pretty much every episode from earlier seasons are available but later seasons only have a couple from each season. Is this licensing rights? Because I know Hulu does something similar where it is ONLY available to watch on computers but not internet connected devices (stream players, TiVo, Blu-Ray Players). At least one show I did notice was like this but every episode is accessible to watch via computer but not by other means as I previously stated.

Answer
Do you have some examples? I have yet to see a title that was only available via website. Recently, some episodes have not been available at all. Secret Life of the American Teenager is one example. Only half of season 5 is available. That is the first show I have seen that has a large number of episodes missing.

What Blu Ray players are compatible with DVDs?

Stark

I'm wanting to purchase a Blu Ray player, but don't want to get rid of my DVDs. Is there a player that can play both formats?

Answer
All of them will.

And most of them will do the up-conversion in the player if you hook up with HDMI cables. This tends to give you a slightly better picture than if you let the HDTV do the conversion.

My advice: Go to www.bestblueraydeals.com for discounted prices from Amazon merchants.

Get your HDMI cables by searching Amazon for "Media Bridge". These run $9-$20 each

Now - there are some options with BluRay:

* Basic players
* Players with optional $90 dongles to make them wireless
* Players with wireless and apps like Netflix/Hulu
* Players that support 3D

My Panasonic has 8 apps (Netflix, etc.)

For $99 I bought a Western Digital TV Live box that has 28 apps and lets me plug in a flash drive or USB hard drive and can play most computer video files.

I suggest you get a basic BluRay player and not spend the extra for Wireless or Apps. Buy one of the dedicated "Media Servers" like the WD unit, Roku, etc. for your streaming needs. The Media Servers tend to have more options, get updated more frequently and ... let you play computer files.

Some BluRay players do have a USB jack and claim to play computer video files - but they only play a few file types if they are created in the right resolution and most of the players or televisions will NOT play from a USB hard drive. The little Media Servers do a much better job. (Some people rip their entire DVD library to a USB hard drive - then just use that rather than disks.)

Hope this helps.

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