LG BP200 Blu-Ray w/ WiFi & Smart TV $49.99 shipped @ Newegg

FYI I received mine on Wednesday (2 days ago) and did not see the Amazon app in the Premium apps. It has Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, and Picassa. Not sure if it can somehow be downloaded or upgraded for any other apps, as I didn't see any such option. Also, Picassa showed up only after I upgraded the firmware in the settings menu. For me, it's great for the price with the apps it does have, but if you're looking for Amazon streaming it definitely doesn't seem to have that out of the box.

EDIT - Ok, I just realized that I ordered a different model from the last SD deal - BLU-RAY PLAYER LG | BP325W R
So, I could be totally off in the above review!

Nice deal, thanks. I think I'm going to pick one up. I have a PC hooked up to my TV but I'm just never satisfied with the Blu-Ray playback on PC. $50 is less than the cost of that software anyway.

I ordered it, but it is definitely going back if it doesn't stream Amazon Prime movies.

Quote from JYOSS : What type of software interface are you using? I'm not familiar with the Patriot stuff.

I have the older model that is Linux based. There are many customized firmwares available. One can even record streaming videos. However, it does not support any of the premium content. Nevertheless, there are a lot of free content (even live international TV channels) from Asia that are at least at the Netflix quality. It also streams very well from my computer and NAS with almost any video format.

Quote from billcsho : I have the older model that is Linux based. There are many customized firmwares available. One can even record streaming videos. However, it does not support any of the premium content. Nevertheless, there are a lot of free content (even live international TV channels) from Asia that are at least at the Netflix quality. It also streams very well from my computer and NAS with almost any video format.

I rereading my question, I realize that I kinda asked it wrong. How do you interface with the content on your server? My favority thing about Plex is the UI, which I don't get through the AppleTV. That said, if I have to pick between consistent performance and a better UI, I suppose it's a no-brainer. I really just want something that will perform well while using Plex!

I just talked to LG customer service and the BP200 has both Amazon Video and Media Link. I'm on hold now to find out how fast the wireless is. Is it 802.11g or 802.11n, which will greatly determine your max resolution while streaming. Of course this still has a hardwired Ethernet port which is MUCH faster than any wireless spec used on current consumer electronics gear, and is my personal suggestion when streaming 1080p, whether that is local content or via the Internet. My home is wired with Cat5 (I need to rerun Cat6 at some point soon.), so I only use wireless when I don't have any other choice.

Of note: She told me that this is a 2011 player. Take that for what it's worth. I did mention to her that this player was being released on 11/20/2012, but she assured me that it was still a 2011 BD player.

Please be advised that LG's customer service and technical support departments don't seem to know very much about the products that they sell. If you want or need some serious technical hand holding to setup wireless or worse yet, Media Player (Plex/DLNA) connections, you're going to get frustrated.

Next update: The BP200 has 802.11n wireless, so you should be able to stream 1080p MP4 files, although I'm not sure how it will handle full BD rips that you have on your home server. Tech support is saying that LG has recently discontinued support of Amazon Video in their products, and possibly is/has removed them from their Smart TV's and BD-Players via updates.

And another update: Amazon Video is confirmed on this unit, but be advised that not all LG Smart TV's and BD-Players released from now on will come with it. You will want to make sure before buying. Don't assume they will have Amazon Video like they all did in the past. DLNA is NOT on the BD200. Media Link? It's not standard and they just have no freaking clue as to whether you can add additional apps like Media Link. Who knows if they will add the Media Link app via an update. We'll learn the answer to this one once someone gets their hands on one and tries. Has anyone seen any advance reviews on this model online where the reviewer might have checked or talked about it?

LG's tech support is really awful. They just don't know their own products very well. They're nice enough, but totally clueless.

in for 1. still a better buy than the one on dailydeals

Quote from rixsaw : EDIT: this unit has only HDMI out and no component out. Meaning the audio out is also through HDMI. So if you have a sound system, your receiver need to have HDMI port as well. Otherwise you are stuck with having the audio via the TV speaker which is my case.

This is NOT true. The device has a coaxial output for audio output to a receiver. Just look at the picture of the rear end or, you know, read the specs:

Connectors
Digital Audio Out (Coaxial) x 1 (Rear)

Quote from JussaIrish : This is NOT true. The device has a coaxial output for audio output to a receiver. Just look at the picture of the rear end or, you know, read the specs: Connectors Digital Audio Out (Coaxial) x 1 (Rear)

Thanks for pointing this out, I often forget about coax being digital!

Good deal, I'm wondering if any blu-ray players will be cheaper aside from BF deals.

Quote from JYOSS : I rereading my question, I realize that I kinda asked it wrong. How do you interface with the content on your server? My favority thing about Plex is the UI, which I don't get through the AppleTV. That said, if I have to pick between consistent performance and a better UI, I suppose it's a no-brainer. I really just want something that will perform well while using Plex!

The PBO can connect to NAS (on IP) or Windows workgroup computer and play directly from the network drive. It seems the Plex requires to run a server program on a computer. Then it is no good for me. I have most of my video library on a stand alone NAS.

Quote from billcsho : The PBO can connect to NAS (on IP) or Windows workgroup computer and play directly from the network drive. It seems the Plex requires to run a server program on a computer. Then it is no good for me. I have most of my video library on a stand alone NAS.

Correct, Plex requires Plex Media Server to be running on the host computer but it's a very slick GUI IMO.

Ok, that was an incredibly painful and LONG call to LG's customer service and tech support to ask 3 very simple questions that a company like Panasonic could have answered within 5 minutes. Instead, I was on the phone for 53 minutes and only had two of them truly answered, and the tech support guy kept having to ask someone else to confirm stuff. What a cluster! I think I'll be avoiding LG consumer electronics products in the future having experienced their general lack of product knowledge from both their Customer Service and Technical Support reps. This is why outsourcing in bad folks.

After all of that, I will be spending a little bit more to buy the Panasonic BMP220 from Amazon on BF for $68. While it won't POSSIBLY have the Plex client, it will definitely have DLNA and Amazon Video, plus it will have 3D. On top of that, there is custom firmware to be had for the Panny that will make it a region free player, as well as keeping the Cinavia virus off it via a normal Panasonic OTA update, and that IS coming to EVERY commercial BD-Player at some point next year. Oppo MIGHT be the one exception to the forced Cinavia virus, but we won't really know for sure until after the first of the year.

My advice? Avoid this player, and everything TV and video related made by LG solely on the fact that their support reps are woefully untrained and unprepared to answer questions about their own products. They didn't just not know specific tech details, but they didn't understand the basic underlying technologies. The other reason(s) to avoid this player, if you already stream local content via a home network or plan to, is the lack of built-in DLNA, along with the missing Media Link app.

Decided to buy mine at Best Buy today. It will be an xmas gift so if they don't like it I can always return it and get my money back. Decent little unit with the features I need to connect to MIL's 32" LED tv that I'm also getting them for xmas.

Quote from raven69david : Decided to buy mine at Best Buy today. It will be an xmas gift so if they don't like it I can always return it and get my money back. Decent little unit with the features I need to connect to MIL's 32" LED tv that I'm also getting them for xmas.

Any chance that you could fire it up and see if it has Media Link, or if Media Link can be added? You might need to do an OTA firmware update, but that would be nice to already have done if you're giving this to your MIL. They usually don't need any extra ammo to get on our case... LOL