LG BD650 3D Network Blu-ray Disc Player with Smart TV
December 13, 2011 by Cherry
Filed under Blu-ray Players
LG BD650 3D Network Blu-ray Disc Player with Smart TV
- Enjoy 3D Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD 1080p
- Smart TV enables an easy way to access limitless content, thousands of movies, downloadable apps, videos and browse the web all organized in a simple to use interface
- Standard DVD Up-Scaling delivers exceptional image quality from standard DVDs with 1080p up scaling via HDMI output
- Dolby Digital Plus lets you experience all of the enveloping surround sound that Blu-ray Disc, high-definition (HD) broadcast, and streamed and downloaded media make possible
- WiFi ready: connect to your wireless network via LG’s wireless dongle (sold separately)
If you want stunning Full HD 1080p and the unlimited possibilities of entertainment access, you’ve found it with the BD650 Network Blu-ray Disc Player. With Smart TV Access you get thousands of movies, Apps, shows and online videos straight to your TV from your wireless Internet connection at home. This is a Blu-ray player that delivers the best in HD, while setting your entertainment free in more ways than one.Internet-Ready Devices Internet-ready devices use your broadband connection to deliver dynamic content to your television, whether it’s streaming video from Netflix or a quick glance at today’s weather forecast. Although there is overlap, each manufacturer offers a unique bundle of free or paid services, including streaming
List Price: $ 179.99
Price: $ 179.99
BD650,
I’ve had this unit for about a month now. I agree with the other reviewers that state that they released this product too soon, without the proper software in place and tested. For instance, up until a few days ago, I constantly had problems with it loosing it’s connection to the internet, even when it was connected via ethernet cord. However, since an automatic firmware update a couple of days ago, the player has worked flawlessly via the WiFi connection. (Please note: with the 650, you DO need the separate WiFi dongle, which plugs into the back of the machine). The last firmware update also added several new apps, such as Amazon VOD. It appears that new apps will be added in the coming months, including a web-browsing app, which I read about previously online (search for info. from the launch of LG’s entire SmartTV product line to find this information).
The Netflix application is easy to use and fast. It also allows you to update your instant queue.
The Blu Ray function is fast-loading and I haven’t had any problems. Good upscaling of DVD’s as well.
Overall, I give the unit a 4/5 stars based on it’s current performance and previous software glitches.
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|Inadequate software quality control,
I purchased this player mostly for its DLNA and Smart TV (Pandora, You Tube, etc.)
I have had this player for barely 3 days and there were already 2 automatic software updates. The first software update failed 3/4 times and then it succeeded after some stars aligned. I could enjoy pandora and you tube and a movie in the last 3 days. This morning there was an update forced on the player. I don’t clearly remember how that happened but the update was forced on it. After that whatever smart (??) operation is performed (opening pandora or you tube) the player informs me that the software needs to be updated…. but when it tries to update the software it pops up another dialog box stating that the software is already the latest one. Essentially the player is unusable.
A little browsing of online forums revealed that this sw update was forced on all 6xx players and most of them have this problem. It clearly reveals that there was inadequate quality testing performed on this player and it is nowhere near being market ready.
I called up LG customer support. The support rep asked me to downgrade the player to previous version, but that trick did not work. It again got stuck in that forced upgraded and dead state.
[I will wait for a couple of days to see if this thing gets fixed quickly. If it does not, it is still in return period, the player goes back to amazon for being defective item.
If I keep this player, I will update this review with my experience.]
OK — I decided to keep this player now. LG pushed out a new update within 2 days of the problem. The problem is fixed (for now). I will stick with 2 stars and the comment about inadequate software testing. I will update the rating based on my experience over next few weeks.
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|Poor LG and Retailer Service – Unit has promise,
So it’s hard to write a review about a product that fails 32 days after receiving it. It’s even harder when Electronics Expo, the retailer refuses to exchange it, harder still when LG forces you to send it in for repair. But i will try and do 2 reviews. The product, and the service I received when the product failed.
The player, decided to upgrade from a BD 390 that served me well. primary reason to upgrade MLB TV support. The 390 of course could have been upgraded via software updates had LG chosen to reward its early adopters but no they have to keep the technology upgrade cycle and accompanying waste in place. Sometimes it is enough to make me want to renounce all technology. Sorry, I digress. The BD650 is very small in comparison to the 390, almost half the total mass. Feels much cheaper than the 390, which was a higher priced model that also featured 7.1 analog outs. The 650 loads BR discs fast, cant give you an exact time but definitely significant faster than the 390 did. Maybe twice as fast. Obviously improvements to the optical pickup have been made over the past couple years. Picture quality looked very good both DVD and BR. Apps: In the short time I had the unit sevral Apps were added via SW and FW updates. Amazon VOD has been added, Google maps, a new and much less user friendly version of YouTube ( leanback – YouTube really missed the mark with this) and a few other apps. All the Apps work as they should. The LG apps store feature has no worthwhile content in my opinion at this time. MLB TV app picture quality very good to excellent with some occasional buffering and hiccups. Network capability, this unit can very easily stream video, audio, etc from a windows 7 machine on your network via Windows Media Player transport with no additional SW needed on your PC. Pretty slick.
So what went wrong? Well inexplicably after that last FW upgrade my machine would just power down when I select a video file to play either locally via USB or across the network. Files it did play before. MP3 files, and photos no problem but the moment a video file is selected for playback the unit just powers down.
Electronics expo who fulfilled my Amazon order refused to exchange it as did LGE support. So now my unit is heading to Alabama for repair.
***Update 9/2/11*** My BD650 experienced the difficulties described above due to an auto firmware upgrade installing improperly. Should you have one of these units and run into issues after a FW update, re-install the previous version and try updating again before sending the unit in for repair. I had suggested I do this when I initially contacted LG support and they said “no, we want to see if this is a bug so don’t change anything”. I had to send the unit to AL twice, the first time they sent it back untouched with “no problem found”. The second time I included a note explaining how unhappy I was that they clearly did not test what I indicated was wrong with the unit. I taped a cheap thumb drive with some files to the note and wrote to please try to play the files on the drive. They did, the unit powered down as I had indicated, and apparently the fix was simply re-installing the firmware, something I could have easily done myself, lesson learned. Since I have had the unit back there have been several more FW/SW updates adding Amazon.com video (Includes free Amazon Prime member videos ),HULU Plus, NBA app, NHL app,and a few others. I should add almost all file formats of video I have thrown at it play ( MKV, MP4, etc).
I am updating the review to 4 stars especially considering this unit is now right around $110.
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