VUDU XL2 Rack-Mount HD Download System Announced

VUDU's XL high-definition media streamer has only been official for a month or so, and already the company has a new version of the device.  The VUDU XL2 has the same 1TB storage, 1080p 24fps playback and compatibility with the company's higher-bitrate HDX format, but it now squashes that down into a narrower, 1U box suitable for rack-mounting.

In fact, the VUDU XL2 is aimed directly at the custom installation market, and won't be sold directly to users.  Features include IP and IR control, 1080i output via component connections, together with the option to route and switch HD signals via mainstream video switchers. 

HDX content is higher in quality than standard high-definition downloads, but the downside is the time it takes to arrive on your TV.  Unlike rival streaming media systems which begin playing immediately (or after a minimal buffering time), HDX films take 3-5hrs to download, depending on connection speed.  The VUDU XL2 will be priced at $1,299, though obviously you'll have to factor in third-party installation costs.

Press Release:

VUDU DEBUTS MOST ADVANCED ON-DEMAND BOX EVER

Available Exclusively Through Professional Home Theater Installers, 1U Rack-Mountable Box Features Aerospace-Grade Aluminum Bezel, On-Demand Access to More HD Titles Than Any Other Service

Santa Clara, CA – Nov. 18, 2008 – VUDU debuted today the VUDU XL2, a new Internet movie player designed specifically for professional home theater installations that demand the highest quality picture and a product that occupies just one rack unit (1U) of space.

In addition to providing access to hundreds of titles in VUDU's proprietary HDX format and with the largest HD library available on-demand, the XL2 will allow the most discerning home theater owners to

choose from more than 10,000 titles for instant viewing. The exterior of the new rack-mountable VUDU XL2 sports an aerospace-grade aluminum bezel that features a glowing VUDU logo. Inside, the XL2 is built from the highest quality components, delivering the best picture available.

"The introduction of the XL2 reflects our unwavering commitment to the custom installation market," said Tony Miranz, Executive Vice President, Sales and Business Development, VUDU, Inc "VUDU XL2 is designed for easy and secure integration into rack-mounted systems and delivers the world's largest HD library as well as the highest-quality on-demand 1080p HD making VUDU XL2 an installer's weapon of choice."

Designed from the ground up to seamlessly integrate into custom theaters, the XL2 offers a terabyte of storage, enough to store more than 500 films at your fingertips. XL2 also offers IP and IR control

that allow it to b integrated into most high-end home control systems, 1080i HD output over component, and the ability to route and switch HD signals through the home with the use of off-the-shelf video switchers.