Hands on: Sony’s $129 N100 Media Player 'Does More Than Roku'
By Julie Jacobson
New SMP-N100 is a DLNA client that streams local content, as well as Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, Pandora and other Internet services; includes USB port, HDMI, WiFi

If you like the streaming capabilities of Sony Blu-ray players, you’ll love the new SMP-N100 Network Media Player.

CE Pro enjoyed a sneak preview of the player at Sony headquarters in San Diego last week.

This SMP-N100 has everything the Sony BDP-S570 has, minus the Blu-ray drive and plus the support of additional video formats including DivX and MKV.



And the suggested retail price is only $129, meaning the street price may eventually come in around the $100 mark. That puts the product into contention with other standalone media streamers like those from Roku, Popbox and Western Digital.

Streaming Services
For starters, the SMP streams Sony’s full suite of Bravia Internet services including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon VoD, Pandora; exclusive channels such as FIFA (back when), Michael Jackson, Dr. Oz and the Berliner Philharmoniker; popular online channels such as Slacker, NPR, Crackle, Wired and Epicurious.com; and Sony’s own Qriocity VoD service that is tied to the PlayStation Network.

Basically, you can get most of the same services offered by the other streaming players, with one glaring exception: There’s no Hulu or Boxee.

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