The Roku set-top box has officially begun shipping for those in the UK market. And nicely done, they will arrive with the BBC iPlayer channel. More specifically, the Roku players will arrive with more than 40 streaming channels including a few that are region specific. Some of the others that will join the BBC iPlayer channel include Netflix, Crackle, Ultimate Fighting Championship, MLB.TV and FoxNews.com. Plus, who can forget about Angry Birds. Otherwise, in terms of the players, there will be two available — the Roku LT and the Roku 2 XS (pictured above) and they will be selling for £49.99 and £99.99 respectively.

Keep reading to check out the full press release…

Roku Increases Selection of Entertainment Content; Begins Shipping Roku Players to Customers in the UK

Roku Players Feature More than 40 Streaming Channels Including Region-Specific Programmes

Saratoga, Calif. and LONDON – Feb. 10, 2012 – Roku ®, the leading streaming platform in the U.S., today announced the addition of BBC iPlayer to its growing selection of video, music and games in the UK. Joining Netflix, FoxNews.com and others, the new channel will allow Roku’s UK customers to catch up on recent BBC programming on their television sets without the need for a PC.

“Roku recognizes the importance of region-specific programmes so today we are excited to announce the addition of BBC iPlayer to our platform,” said Clive Hudson, vice president and general manager for Europe at Roku. “This is among the first of many significant content partnerships for Roku in Europe and we look forward to making additional announcements in the coming weeks.”

Roku streaming players are known for their low prices, simplicity and quality of content. Two models of Roku players – Roku LT and Roku 2 XS – are available in the UK and the Republic of Ireland for suggested retail prices of £49.99 and £99.99 respectively (customers can visit www.roku.co.uk to find retailers). Both models feature more than 40 channels of streaming entertainment including on-demand films and programmes from Netflix and Crackle (Crackle is available in the UK only); live and on-demand sports from MLB.TV and Ultimate Fighting Championship organisation; music from Classical TV and TuneIn; photos and videos from Facebook and Flickr; news and entertainment from WSJ Live from the Wall Street Journal, FoxNews.com and others from around the world – plus casual games like Angry Birds.

After Monday if you order the Boxee Live TV Tuner, it should ship out to you within the same week. With the shipment starting now it means that soon Boxee Box owners will be able to get live TV right from their box through a coaxial cable. It will also add a full program guide for users, though recording isn’t available just yet. Recording will hopefully come sometime in the future. For now we should just be happy that the Boxee Box makes it that much easier to be a cord cutter.

Read [Twitter] via [Electronista]

LG continued to push it’s 3DTVs at CES this year, with the entrance to it’s booth being a giant wall of 3DTVs running through a constant loop of a demo reel. LG also put a lot of floor space aside for Smart TVs with both its own system and with Google TV. Of course the company had a wide range of TVs with a  variety of features in a variety of sizes to the point where it’s difficult to remember how each TV is different from the other.

Samsung had TVs ranging from the super-thin OLED 3DTV to LED, LCD, and even some Plasma TVs on display. Of course, the company also had a selection of Smart TVs to show off just as it had last year. Samsung’s OLED 3DTV may not have been a big as LG’s, but it looked as if Samsung had a greater number of TVs on display (I wasn’t about to sit and count them, however).

Panasonic’s big push for CES seemed to be eco-friendliness, with a lot of the displays being touted as such. There were a few 3DTVs on display alongside Smart TVs, LED TVs, LCD TVs, and of course a few plasma displays. Out of all the TVs Panasonic had on display, perhaps the most interesting was the display that had a face made entirely of a single piece of glass. It was hard to tell just how good the display was on the show floor, but the design looked pretty great.

The Lenovo K91 uses a Qualcomm 8060 Snapdragon CPU to run Ice Cream Sandwich, which is another first for a TV. It sports a new “Sandwich” UI to make it easy to access Video On Demand, web apps, and TV shows.The display itself is a has 3D FPR tech, and is a full HD IPS panel running at 240Hz with SRS TruSurround for audio.

Controls should be relatively easy with voice commands. For apps you can choose from The Google Android Market or the Lenovo Store. Lenovo also claims to have console games, which to me sounds like an OnLive-type service, which would be interesting to see running on such a TV. There’s also a built-in 5MP webcam with facial recognition for security and parental control. Of course, it should also be capable of video chat.

The Lenovo K91 is available in China right now. It’ll reach other countries at a later date, but there’s no exact timeframe as of yet.

Four Screens Are Better than One with Lenovo’s New “Personal Cloud” Vision
Latest Product Development Links Gadgets in Pockets, Briefcases and Home

CES 2012, Las Vegas – January 8, 2012: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY), the world’s number two PC company, is flexing its innovation muscle at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show and beyond, to create a seamless digital experience for its customers across multiple devices, be it PCs, tablets, smartphones or Smart TVs.  Lenovo recently unveiled its “Personal Cloud” vision, marking the transformation of the company from a “personal computer” manufacturer to a “personal cloud solution” provider that integrates hardware, software and cloud computing together. The Company’s direction is evident in a variety of new products, including the IdeaTab S2, Smartphone S2 and K91 smart TV.

“Lenovo is breaking down the barriers of device differentiation and weaving together hardware, software and cloud services that are connected, experiential and dynamic,”  said Liu Jun, senior vice president and president, Mobile Internet and Digital Home business group. “We understand our users need more than just the traditional keyboard and screen for a truly satisfying digital experience. Our Personal Cloud vision integrates all devices, from tablets to TVs, for a comprehensive mobile Internet experience anytime, anywhere.

IdeaTab S2 10 Struts New Specs and Multimedia Prowess
Thinner than its predecessors, the IdeaTab S2 10-inch is just one-third of an inch thin and, at a feather-light 1.1lbs, is one of the lightest 10-inch tablets available today. IdeaTab S2 features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 8960 dual core CPU and Android 4.0 operating systems to offer a better multimedia experience. Running Lenovo Mondrian UI, the user-friendly IdeaTab S2 10” displays customized content and includes easy access to the Lenovo App Shop and the Android Market for thousands of useful apps, such as Amazon Kindle, ooVoo, Angry bird and mSpot. Its detachable design, combined with a light keyboard dock, can deliver an incredible 20 hours of battery life, which is great for both entertainment and productivity.

S2 Smartphone Boasts Security and Photography Creds
The S2 smartphone includes the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon technology and Android 2.3 operating system. The device includes a unique Kernel-level security system to protect personal data, prevent phishing, and control network and SMS traffic. Users can also take advantage of its 8MP super camera to capture amazing panoramic photos on the go. S2 is also ready for the Cloud, and instantly syncs photos, music, videos and personal information with a dedicated online storage space for easy sharing across multiple devices.

K91—the World’s First Smart TV to Run Android 4.0 OS
As the world’s first smart TV powered by QualComm’s 8060 Snapdragon dual core CPU, the K91 is also the world’s first smart TV running the Android 4.0 operating system – which will revolutionize technology in the living room. Its smart “Sandwich” UI unites three major smart TV functions, including Video On Demand (VOD), Internet applications and traditional TV programs. The online HD VOD is tailored to an individual consumer’s viewing history, and delivers the best picture and audio quality with 3D FPR technology delivering flicker-free video on a full HD IPS panel at 240hz with SRS TruSurround. Internet applications include thousands of choices from the Android Market and Lenovo Store, including console games. Additional smart TV features include voice control with natural language processing and speech recognition technology, allowing viewers to use voice commands to control the remote. Video interaction is even possible with the built-in 5MP webcam, which integrates face recognition technology for security benefits and advanced parental control. With cloud support, consumers can access their favorite songs and videos with ease, share files between the TV and their tablet, smartphone or PC, and even control the TV via tablet and smartphone.

The IdeaTab S2 tablet, S2 smartphone and K91 smart TV are available immediately in China. Lenovo will be releasing these products worldwide at a later date. More information on these products is available at www.lenovo.com

Join Lenovo at the LVCC and the AquaKnox Restaurant in The Venetian During CES 2012
Lenovo has once again transformed the AquaKnox Restaurant located in the Venetian Hotel into the Lenovo Showcase during CES. Members of the press are invited to stop in to speak with Lenovo’s product experts and to see the company’s latest products across the Think, Idea and MIDH (Mobile Internet & Digital Home) lines. Additionally, Lenovo will have a unique product showcase for press in the Central Plaza just outside of the LVCC Central Hall. Those not attending CES can experience the show through video commentary provided by Lenovo executives and partners in Las Vegas on LenovoVision, Lenovo’s YouTube channel. Lenovo’s CES activities will also be promoted via Twitter using the #lenovoces hashtag.

For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter and Facebook.

About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a $US21 billion personal technology company – and the second largest PC company in the world, serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to building exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, Lenovo’s business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by Lenovo Group’s acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary Think-branded commercial PCs and Idea-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com.

With CES coming next week Google wants to remind everyone that GoogleTV still exists. not only is it still out there, but we’ll see TVs with Google TV at the show this year.

Google took to its Google TV blog to talk about it’s partners for the project. Among those are the three that will be showing off Google TVs at CES next week: LG, Sony, and Vizio. All three will have brand new TVs to show with the platform. LG, in particular, will have TVs based on it’s own L9 chipset. We’ll also eventually see some Google TVs from Samsung, but those aren’t said to be at CES next week. Instead Samsung will have those TVs out sometime this year, presumably a bit later in the year.

Google also has some chip partners for Google TV that have some new plans. Those would be MediaTek and Marvell. MediaTek is a Taiwanese company that will power “another wave of Google TV devices.” Marvell also makes soem chipsets, and will be showing some of the next generation Google Tv devices at CES next week.

Maybe as more devices with Google TV come out the platform will improve to offer better media solutions. That’s especially true if Apple really is working on a TV or a brand new tv that will make content easier to get on a TV.

Read [Google TV blog]

Coming a few days ahead of CES 2012, LG Electronics has officially unveiled their Google TV. The television will be dubbed the LG Smart TV with Google TV and according to the details that have been released thus far — it will be available in two series at launch. And as to when, so far that launch was simply noted as being in the US in 2012. Keep reading to check out the full press release and look for a bit more once the Gadgetell crew gets into Las Vegas for CES.

LG to Introduce Google TV at CES 2012

Combining Android OS with LG’s 3D and Smart TV Technologies, LG’s Google TV Provides Consumers with a New and Attractive Home Entertainment Option

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics will introduce its highly anticipated Google TV at the 2012 International CES next week in Las Vegas. LG Smart TV with Google TV* combines the familiarity of Google’s Android OS with the convenience and comfort of LG’s 3D and Smart TV technologies, offering consumers a new and attractive home entertainment option.

“LG has constantly strived to provide consumers with wider choices in home entertainment that bring the highest level of sophistication and convenience,” said Havis Kwon, President and CEO of the LG Electronics Home Entertainment Company. “Through Google TV, LG has merged Google’s established Android operating system with LG’s proven 3D and Smart TV technologies, offering consumers a new and enthralling TV experience.”

LG Google TV’s most attractive feature is its ease of use, thanks to the combination of its Android-based user interface and the Magic Remote Qwerty designed by LG. LG Google TV’s user interface and main screen have been designed for convenient browsing and content selection. Multi-tasking is also possible, as the search, social networking and TV functions can be run simultaneously. The user interface can be accessed using the Magic Remote Qwerty which combines the user-friendly benefits of LG’s Magic Remote with a QWERTY keyboard.

Equipped with LG’s own CINEMA 3D technology, LG Google TV provides a home entertainment experience that is immersive, comfortable and convenient. Based on LG’s own Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology, CINEMA 3D glasses are battery-free and lightweight. The glasses are also very affordable, making LG’s Google TV ideal for viewing by a large group of family and friends when used in 3D mode. And with a single click of the remote, any 2D content can be viewed in 3D, thanks to the built-in 2D to 3D conversion engine.

Alongside Google TV, LG will continue to advance its own Smart TV platform based on NetCast using open web technology such as Webkit browser and Linux. LG Smart TV with NetCast will be available globally in 85 plus countries at launch. With a growing collection of content and services, LG’s Smart TV platform will continue to provide consumers with a unique user experience.

LG Smart TV with Google TV will be available in two series at launch in the US in 2012. The first demonstration of LG’s Google TV will take place at CES, Jan. 10-13.

Via [PR Newswire]

Roku is taking its streaming platform one step further by introducing what it’s calling the Streaming Stick. The Streaming Stick is Roku’s solution to the traditional Smart TV. Roku argues that Smart TVs have an update cycle that requires customers to purchase a brand new set far more often than they would like. With the Streaming Stick, Roku will provide a cheap alternative to buying a Smart TV. You may even be able to use the Streaming Stick with the HDTV you currently own.

The Streaming Stick fits into an MHL-enabled HDMI port on many existing televisions. The Streaming Stick has built-in Wi-Fi, memory and upgradeable software. Since this is a Roku product, you can also expect to stream video content from all of Roku’s channels in 1080p HD. The remote that came with your television should also control navigation on the Streaming Stick.

The Roku Streaming Stick will be available sometime this year for between $50-$100. Best Buy will also bundle the Streaming Stick with some Insignia televisions.

If you have an older (but not necessarily old) HDTV, you may not have the MHL-enabled HDMI required to operate the streaming stick.

Via [Roku Blog]

It looks like some of the newer Logitech Revue units have managed to ship with firmware issues. Or as was confirmed by the folks at Logitech;

“There appears to be corrupted firmware on some of the recently manufactured Revues which is causing the Authentication error.”

In short, if you got a Logitech Revue recently and have not been able to get it set up and working — rest assured in knowing that the problems may not be a result of something that you were doing. That of course is the good. The bad is that there is nothing you can do on your end to fix this particular issue. Further details from Logitech suggest that affected users return their Revue using the RMA process. Well, that or take the unit back to the retailer where you made the purchase and exchange it for another Revue or get a refund. And lastly, while they have not released anything solid in terms of numbers, it was noted that only a “relatively small” percentage of “recently manufactured” Revues were affected.

Via [Logitech] and [Logitech] and [The Verge]