To Smart TV or not to Smart TV, that is the question.  Or at least that was the question on consumers’ minds this holiday when many a retailer slashed pricing on just about every big screen TV under the sun.  Well folks, Roku is looking to negate that part of the purchase decision process.  Come this fall the company behind the Roku boxes will introduce the Roku Streaming Stick.

As you’ve no doubt sussed out, it is the same tech that is found in their boxes, yet this device weighs (and measures) in at about the size of a USB stick.  However, don’t be fooled by its form factor, because it doesn’t plug into your TV’s USB port.  Instead it jacks into your set’s HDMI port.  But not just any HDMI port.  Your TV will need to sport something called an MHL-enabled HDMI port.  It’s a new standard that delivers power “and other critical elements” to whatever is plugged into it.  But with this new standard at hand, your TV’s remote should be fully compatible with Roku’s Streaming Stick, allowing you to change your TV’s volume and the Netflix movie with the same device.

Inside the diminutive sized device, Roku has managed to stuff in not only the necessary processor to stream content from the greats, such as Netflix and Pandora, but WiFi so you won’t have to worry about plugging in an Ethernet cord and running that sleek setup you’ve worked so hard to attain.  Insignia, Best Buy’s own TV brand, will be the first to package the Roku Streaming Stick in with a big screen TV, though it will be compatible with other brands, provided they meet they aforementioned spec.

Unfortunately, Roku is mum on price at this point (expect it to be $50-100), but we do know that it will hit retail shelves in the latter half of the year, closer to fall.

Boxee Box is about to get a little bit better thanks to a small device called the Boxee Live TV.  It plugs into the Boxee Box (the one made by D-Link – this won’t work with your PC or Mac) and allows you to navigate and watch terrestrial HD broadcasts such as NBC, CBS, FOX and more right on the device.

They’re tossing in a portable antenna into the mix, but keep in mind that you may not live within close enough proximity of a tower to receive a signal.  For that, Boxee recommends that you plug in an unencrypted cable connection (using ClearQAM), which is often provided with your Cable Internet connection and should achieve similar results.

However, we’re hearing there is no DVR function with the Boxee Live.  So you’ll be left to watch everything as it happens.  No matter, since the majority of content is already steaming online, with the exception of the NFL and many other live sporting events, which is probably what this handy device is good for.

For $49 it’s not a bad deal, especially when yo consider that the Mohu Leaf, a small HDTV antenna you stick on your wall, is $45.

In addition to adding HBO Go to their list of channels, Roku today introduced the Roku LT. The LT might as well refers to light, as in a light price since it only costs $49.99, $10 cheaper than the model up. But all things relative (to other Roku players) you get what you pay for. This box caps streams at 720p, while their other higher end versions (XD and XS) can perform 1080p. However, they have still managed to squeeze in WiFi, an HDMI port and VGA connectivity for those still using a non-HD television.

The Roku LT will ship sometime this November and you’ll be able to grab it from Amazon and other major retailers.

On another note, we should point out that the LT can stream from sites such as Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, Rdio, Cnet, Flickr and whole bunch more – 320 channels to be exact. It’s $10 cheaper than the Roku 2 HD, and from where we sit the only difference seems to be that the LT can’t play games and has a purple finish.

Starting today you’ll be able to enjoy the first 4 seasons of Mad Men streaming on Netflix.  We originally thought the show was arriving on April 27th, but it turns out we were wrong.  In fact we’re idiots, because we just didn’t read the original article correctly.  But no matter, because today has arrived and Don Draper and co are here to entertain you.

On another note, Netflix struck an International deal to bring CBS content to the popular streaming service in a variety of countries.  Earlier this month, Netflix announced that they’ll roll out their streaming service in a 43 countries including, but not limited to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean later this year.  Canadian subscribers, where the service most recently launched, will be able to enjoy this content this September.  The content will include the CW hit “90210,” as well as past seasons of critically lauded fan favorites from SHOWTIME such as “Californication,” “Dexter,” and “The United States of Tara.” Canadian members will also have access to a broad range of CBS library programming, including “Numb3rs,” “Sleeper Cell,” and “Twin Peaks.”

Netflix recently increased their pricing by as much as 60%.  It’s said that this additional revenue will help them expand into other countries as well as improve their library of streaming movies and tv shows.

CBS AND NETFLIX ANNOUNCE INTERNATIONAL LICENSING AGREEMENT FOR CANADIAN AND LATIN AMERICAN SUBSCRIBERS

NEW YORK and BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – July 27, 2011 – CBS Corporation [NYSE: CBS.A and CBS] and Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] today announced a two-year, non-exclusive international licensing agreement that will enable certain television shows from across CBS Corporation to be streamed instantly to Netflix subscribers in Canada and Latin America. The agreement follows a separate domestic deal announced between the two companies in February. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Beginning in September, and for only $7.99 a month, Netflix members in Canada will be able to enjoy both the current and complete back seasons for CW hit “90210,” as well as past seasons of critically lauded fan favorites from SHOWTIME such as “Californication,” “Dexter,” and “The United States of Tara.” Canadian members will also have access to a broad range of CBS library programming, including “Numb3rs,” “Sleeper Cell,” and “Twin Peaks.”

Netflix announced in early July that it would be launching in 43 countries across Mexico, South America and the Caribbean later this year. Under this new deal with CBS, previous seasons of series, including “90210,” “Medium,” “Nurse Jackie,” “Californication” and “Dexter,” will be available for Latin American members to watch instantly, as will a broad range of library titles, including the original “Star Trek,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Charmed,” and “Twin Peaks.”

“We are pleased to be partners with Netflix as they rollout their superb service to new markets,” said Armando Nunez, President, CBS Studios International. “This new arrangement-which does not compete with U.S. ratings or SHOWTIME’s domestic subscriber base-underscores the popularity of CBS content around the world, and illustrates yet another meaningful way for us to realize incremental value from our vast library of content.”

“We are delighted to be expanding our successful relationship with CBS to our newer markets in Canada and Latin America,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer of Netflix. “We aim to provide the widest possible range of great TV shows so our members can always find something compelling to watch wherever and whenever they want.”

About CBS Corporation
CBS Corporation is a mass media company with constituent parts that reach back to the beginnings of the broadcast industry, as well as newer businesses that operate on the leading edge of the media industry. The Company, through its many and varied operations, combines broad reach with well-positioned local businesses, all of which provide it with an extensive distribution network by which it serves audiences and advertisers in all 50 states and key international markets. It has operations in virtually every field of media and entertainment, including broadcast television (CBS and The CW – a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), cable television (Showtime Networks, Smithsonian Networks and CBS College Sports Network), local television (CBS Television Stations), television production and syndication (CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International and CBS Television Distribution), radio (CBS Radio), advertising on out-of-home media (CBS Outdoor), publishing (Simon & Schuster), interactive media (CBS Interactive), music (CBS Records), licensing and merchandising (CBS Consumer Products), video/DVD (CBS Home Entertainment), motion pictures (CBS Films) and sustainable media (EcoMedia). For more information, please visit www.cbscorporation.com.

About Netflix, Inc.
With more than 25 million members in the United States and Canada, Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) is the world’s leading Internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV shows. For $7.99 a month, Netflix members in the U.S. and Canada instantly watch unlimited TV episodes and movies streaming over the Internet to PCs, Macs and TVs. Among the large and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are the Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, Internet-connected TVs, home theater systems, digital video recorders and Internet video players; Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Apple TV and Google TV. In all, more than 200 devices that stream from Netflix are available in the U.S. and a growing number are available in Canada.

Netflix continues their domination of the video rental market with today’s announcement that the FreeAgent Theater+ HD (that’s a mouthful) now supports Netflix Instant Streaming. It will come via software update to the device, along with Youtube, Mediafly, and vTuner content. In addition to playing content from an external FreeAgent HDD, the device also connects to networked drives to stream music and videos at up to 1080p resolution. Sounds spiffy.

The FreeAgent Theater+ HD is available now for $100.

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I guess it was just a matter of time until Boxee announced their own hardware.  Although the Boxee Box – yup, that’s the name – press release is devoid of specs, it’s pretty clear that this thing will stream music and video directly to your television sans computer.  What we do know is that it has a few video connectivity options (HDMI, SPDIF, RCA Audio) to choose from in addition to 2x USB ports, WiFi (802.11n) and wired Ethernet.   The Boxee Box, which is built by D-Link, should go on sale Q2 of 2010 for about $200 and will include an RF remote.

I’m ultra psyched and I’m def. gonna by one.

Full release after the ‘leap’

D-Link/Boxee Partnership Statement

In front of a packed house at their Boxee Beta Unveiling event in Brooklyn this evening, Boxee revealed that D-Link has been named first choice as the hardware partner to release a Boxee branded device for the living room.

Boxee is the best way to enjoy content from the Internet or a computer on a TV screen. With the Boxee Box™ by D-Link®, the two companies have created the easiest way to bring this experience into the living room, allowing people to watch tens of thousands of movies & TV Shows, organize and play their favorite home movies and photos, and play great music from their home network or from Internet sources like Pandora.

“By pairing Boxee’s innovative social entertainment platform with D-Link’s technology we’re able to create a solution that introduces people to what TV should be. Additionally we’re bringing a new level of social interaction to the living room,” said Daniel Kelley, senior director of marketing, D-Link Systems, Inc. “We can’t wait to bring this product to market and are looking forward to demonstrate the Boxee Box by D-Link at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in January.”

“We are happy to be working with D-Link as a hardware partner because we share the same vision for creating solutions to help anyone get the most out of technology,” said Andrew Kippen, vice president of marketing for Boxee. “D-Link has great reach and together we are able to offer consumers an attractive inexpensive solution to bring the Boxee experience directly onto the TV.”

The Boxee Box by D-Link, which has already won a Best of Innovations award from the Computer Electronics Association, reinterprets what TV should be, delivering all the movies, TV shows, music and photos from a user’s computer, home network and Internet to their HDTV with no PC needed. Additionally, Boxee’s core social features make it easy for friends to discover new content from each other through social networks like Facebook, Twitter and more.

In addition to its many software features, The Boxee Box by D-Link makes it easy for consumers to connect the device via HDMI, SPDIF, RCA Audio. The box has 2 USB for expansion and can quickly connect to a home network using both Wi-Fi (802.11n) and wired ethernet.

The Boxee Box will be available through D-Link’s network of etail and retail outlets in the first half of 2010. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price is still undetermined.

The streaming set top box battle is most certainly heating up.  Yesterday, Netflix announced that the Roku box is now compatible with Amazon’s Video on Demand service.  Today, Zillion TV unveiled its set top box that provides streaming, on demand content in exchange for watching ads.  But not just any ads.  In fact, you select the ads you want to see.  Don’t want ads?  Then just drop some cash.  I’ll go with ads, though.

Zillion TV has agreements in place with not only content creators (Disney, Universal, etc), but with ISPs, such as Comcast and Timewarner.  Smart, because one of the inherent challenges that Netflix and those of the streaming type are sure to face is opposition from the ISPs who will cap and ultimately control how much bandwidth a subscriber receives, hence the whole Net Neutrality battle that has been going down.

So what is exactly Zillion TV?  They’re essentially a VOD TV service.  That means instead of tuning into 30 Rock (one of my favorite shows and big props to Lemon) you ‘demand it’.  Simple, clean and easy.  As mentioned, you’ll have to watch a preroll ad, or something to that affect, in exchange for the content.  Sure, advertisers won’t get to hit you with ads every 7 minutes, but since you’ll select the ads types that you want to see they’ll be much more targeted and even better, at least for the ad companies, guaranteed to play – they’ll also be able to glean your watching habits into their ad targeting.  Of note, the ISPs are now facilitating ‘ad skipping’ thanks to the millions of DVR boxes that have flooded the market so it only seems right politically savvy to offer a solution to the ‘fast forward’ button.

As for the technology behind the Zillion TV, you’re guess is good as mine.  But, one very notable accessory included with the device is a motion sensing remote courtesy of Hillcrest Labs.

Currently, the Zillion TV VOD service (I think I’m coining it ‘TOD’ from here on out) boasts over 15,000 titles, which includes both movies and TV shows.

If you’d like to be notified of when the service is in your area just hit their site and sign up.  I’ve got mixed feelings about the whole thing since signing onto this type of service might negate Netflix streaming.  Then again, Netflix doesn’t offer live TV shows, so the Zillion TV service very well could be complimentary, assuming you exclude movies from the equation.

[ZillionTV via Newteevee]