ED#120 : Western Digital To Launch New WD TV!

We just heard from a little bird that Western Digital will be launching a new WD TV model this November, with general availability in December. The new WD TV will be similar to the current WD TV Live and support DTS, as well as network streaming. However, it is not meant to replace the WD TV Live, or the WD TV Live Plus. This model will be a new addition to the WD TV family, and all other WD TV models will continue to be sold.

The new WD TV model appears to be a WiFi- and network-capable version of the newly-launched WD Elements Play media player. It will boast the following new features :

Built-in WiFi-N (802.11n) capability

Internet surfing capabilities

1 TB or 2 TB hard disk drive

New storage interface (USB 3.0)

New GUI

Thanks to the built-in WiFi capability, this WD TV model will be able to stream videos directly from any computer or NAS (Network-Attached Storage) on the network, without the need for a WiFi dongle, or a LAN connection to a WiFi router. Of course, a 5 GHz-only WiFi-N network is recommended for streaming 1080p video.

The new WD TV will also have a built-in web browser, so you can surf the Internet right on your TV. For that purpose, it will feature a new GUI. It will also support a new storage interface. It is currently unknown whether this would be USB 3.0 or FireWire, but we are betting on USB 3.0.

The price for this all-in-one WD TV model has yet to be decided, but it is likely to cost more than twice that of the WD TV Live. After all, the WD Elements Play (which is not network- or WiFi-capable) costs US$ 249 (RM 749) for the 2 TB model. So tell us - would you wait for this model?

Update @ Oct. 1, 2010 : We just confirmed that the new model will be called the Western Digital WD TV Live Hub. It will come with storage capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB, and support USB 3.0. Its price has yet to be confirmed, but our source says it should be slightly more expensive than the WD Elements Play. Hurray!

Update @ Oct. 26, 2010 : Western Digital launched the WD TV Live Hub today! It starts shipping with 1 TB of storage and the following key features :

Compatibility with virtually all TV sets thanks to an HDMI 1.4, composite video and component video output;



Automatic sync of shared digital media folders from PCs and Macs on the network with the internal hard drive to provide easy playback of new content;



Customizable user interface and programmable remote;



Ultra-compact design that easily fits into almost any entertainment center;



Two USB ports that allow seamless media playback from USB drives, camcorders and digital cameras;



WiFi-readiness (with adapter); and,



A 1-year limited warranty in PanAm

The WD TV Live Hub media center is available in 1 TB storage capacity and supports a large variety of the most popular file formats, including HD camcorder video formats. It is also compatible with Windows® 7, including the Windows 7 Play To feature, and any DLNA/UPnP-enabled device.The WD TV Live Hub media center is available worldwide (Netflix, Blockbuster and Pandora services are available only in the U.S.) and can be purchased in the U.S. exclusively at Best Buy and online. MSRP for the WD TV Live Hub media center is $199.99 USD.

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