LG Electronics  reportedly announced the expansion of its NetCast Entertainment Access system with the addition of Skype (News - Alert), Picasa, AccuWeather and new Yahoo widgets.

 

LG’s entertainment access system offers the most online video and audio content directly to HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players without the need for a personal computer.  

 

“The expansion of LG's NetCast feature is the next step in providing consumers with instant access to the online content they crave,” Tim Alessi, director of product development, LG Electronics (News - Alert) USA, said in a statement. “Exciting new partners like Skype, Picasa and AccuWeather, along with our long-time alliances with Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, CinemaNow and Pandora, strengthen LG's leadership position in network-enabled devices. Most important, we're bringing diverse and compelling options to content-hungry consumers.”

 

LG thinks interactive content partners like Skype and Picasa will transform the home entertainment landscape of LG customers. While Skype lets consumers stay connected with friends and family through its video conferencing capabilities, Picasa provides access to Google's (News - Alert) photo software to show photo albums at the touch of a button.

 

New streaming entertainment offerings through LG's NetCast include AccuWeather, which provides up-to-the-minute weather updates, as well as Yahoo Widgets, which enables access to various applications such as Napster, CBS, eBay (News - Alert), Showtime and CNBC.

 

LG also expanded its product portfolio featuring NetCast Entertainment Access to give customers more options at different price points. Twenty-six LG HDTVs in screen sizes ranging from 32- to 60-inch classes and all of its Network Blu-ray Disc Players and Home Theater Systems incorporate NetCast Entertainment Access.

 

To facilitate easier installation and convenience, more than half of LG's HDTVs can integrate into a wireless home network via a wireless LAN adaptor, sold separately, LG officials said. Most Blu-ray players and Home Theater Systems come with built-in Wireless Fidelity capabilities.

 

LG also announced that Consumer Electronics Association (News - Alert) recognized LG Electronics' excellence in design and technology with 15 prestigious 2010 International CES Innovations Awards, including “Best of” recognition in the Online Audio/Video Content category. Among the winning products include LCD, LED LCD and plasma HDTVs, Network Blu-ray Disc players and Home Theater Systems, mobile phones, home appliances and network attached storage, company officials said.

 

Innovations singled out by the judges include LG's NetCast Entertainment Access system for Internet-delivered video content and LG's Full LED Slim backlight LCD technology, they added.