LG Smart TV Upgrader ST600 Makes Your Dumb HDTV Internet-Connected

LG continues its steady pre-CES 2011 drip of announcements with the LT Smart TV Upgrader ST600, an 11cm-square STB that brings all of the functionality you'd normally expect from an LG internet-connected HDTV to your regular set. Hooking up to your network via WiFi or ethernet, the DLNA-compliant box also has a USB port for attaching a mouse or an external drive.

That caters for local content and ethernet streaming, but you can also access LG's premium – i.e. paid – content and stream that to your TV. In addition there are LG Apps, the company's suite of widgets to pull in weather and news updates, among other things.

It's a concept that falls somewhere between an Apple TV and HTC's Media Link, and if LG gets the pricing right then the Smart TV Upgrader ST600 might be an upgrade plenty of people will consider. It'll hit the market in Q2 2011.

Press Release:

LG Smart TV Upgrader makes every TV smarter

ST600 Smart TV Upgrader Lets Users Enjoy Web Browser and Premium Content on Their Regular TV Sets

SEOUL, Dec. 30, 2010 — At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, LG Electronics (LG) will be unveiling the Smart TV Upgrader (ST600) that makes it easy for viewers to transform their regular TVs into Smart TVs at an affordable price. Embracing all the benefits of internet connectivity, the Upgrader gives regular TV owners access to all of LG's Smart TV functions including premium online content, Smart Share and the full range of LG Apps.

"The market for Smart TVs is set to take off this year, and the ST600 offers a perfect entry point," said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of LG Home Entertainment Company. "With the LG Smart TV Upgrader, we're taking the excitement and convenience of Smart TV and adding in LG's trademark ease-of-use because we see a significant audience who are interested but not interested enough to buy a whole new TV."

By connecting the ST600 to a regular TV set, users can access a vast range of premium content from global providers, as well as the best locally sourced shows and movies to cater to different tastes around the world. The ST600 also connects users to the growing range of LG Apps, which are custom designed for use on TVs and offer everything from language classes to games.

LG makes the viewing experience more compelling still with its superb compatibility, which lets users simply and wirelessly transfer content from their Digital Living Network Alliance(DLNA)-compatible PCs and other compatible devices for viewing on the big screen.

LG's Smart TV Upgrader will be unveiled at CES 2011 in Las Vegas and rolled-out to TV owners in the second quarter of 2011.

Specifications:

Main CPU: BCM7615

DDR 384MB, 1GB Flash

LG Add-on Architecture + Web Browser

AC 100-240V, 50/60 Hz

Wi-Fi, Ethernet, DLNA (DMP)

USB: 1EA (USB mouse, external storage)

Input Devices

- Finger Touch RCU

Premium Content

LG Apps

Size: 11cm x 11cm