LG just announced their upcoming Apple TV competitor called the ‘Smart TV Upgrader’. The device will be officially unveiled at CES next week and will go on sale during the second quarter of 2011. It will bring a TV web browser (ugh) as well as “premium content” (shows and movies) to your TV including ‘LG apps’. If this works out for LG we are probably not to far away from an App Store for the Apple TV. The real question is: Is this the mythical Plex Box? Plex and LG signed a huge deal to work together earlier this year. Above is a picture of the device and here are its technical specifications (and more info): 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. To compare LG’s offering to the Apple TV it has only 1GB of flash storage in comparison to the Apple TV’s 8GB. This means that LG’s unit is heavily cloud based as 1GB is not enough for a rental system similar to Apple’s. Maybe for TV shows only but LG’s unit will do full on movies too. Just like Apple’s offering, LG’s will be touch based with a peripheral called the “Finger Touch RCU.” Apple has their iOS Remote application for their set-top-box. Here’s the full press release:
