Netgear keeps cranking out digital media streaming boxes despite their ongoing lukewarm reception in this space and presumably weak sales. Let’s see… since 2004 or so they’ve developed their own platforms (a few times), acquired a digital media company, dabbled in VuNow/Verismo, and even launched then euthanized a Roku relationship/box in the very same year (2010). They’re nothing if not persistent. And now Netgear intends to expand their NeoTV line.
Thanks to Netgear’s new FCC filing, it looks like a smaller NeoTV 200 is nearly upon us. Given the market and NTV200 device specs, it’s probably safe to assume the box is designed to take on Roku or AppleTV head on by providing various Internet streaming services. In fact, both Netflix and Pandora are mentioned in the user manual. However, while the small box does away with the USB, SD, and eSATA ports of its larger brethren, the NeoTV 200 could still could provide local media capabilities via DLNA – à la WDTV Live Plus. The seemingly requisite virtual WiFi remote control apps will be made available to iPhone and Android handsets.
All we need now is a date and price. And perhaps a rundown of all available apps.