If you’re interested in finding that (almost) perfect example of a multimedia convergence device, then it’s possible that the CinemaOne might meet your expectations. These days, it’s awfully hard to find a single device that covers all of your digital media needs. You’ve got a standard DVD player, perhaps you’ve picked up a new Blu-ray player, you’ve got an iPod dock dedicated for TV-use, you’ve got a separate amp for your audio needs and possibly even a separate CD player for all your old disks. Add to that a sound system and you’ve got a lot of decks piling up next to your TV.What if you could pick up a single deck that could cover all of your needs? Well, “deck” might not be the most accurate word for the CinemaOne and “all of your needs” won’t be met if portability or Blu-Ray compatibility is on your list of said needs (not to mention a few other things). Those points aside, the CinemaOne does seem, to do quite a bit for such a small package. In fact, the official press release for the CinemaOne, describes the device as being “the size of a football.”Small, indeed. However, since the press release was put out in conjunction with IFA 2008 (that “I” stands for International) it’s a safe bet they’re not referring to an American-sized football.However, the CinemaOne has a few more surprises and problems with it.According to the CinemaOne’s product factsheet (PDF), it handles all of your basics with ease. Standard DVDs and CDs it can play, it’ll control your iPod and even upscale video to 720p, 1080i/p. Then, there is the DivX, Mpeg1/2/4 and WMV (Windows Media Video) playback and the fact that it can play said formats on anything resembling an optical disc, like, say, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVD-/+Rs, DVD-/+RWs, and even VCDs and SVCDs (Video CDs and Super Video CDs). It can even output to NTSC or PAL formats so no matter which side of the Atlantic you’re on, you can, you know, actually use this thing.It can also handle Dolby, DTS, MP3, MPEG-2 Multichannel, PCM and WMA (Windows Media Audio). If that wasn’t enough, it can also do JPEG picture playback or can take display slideshows from your iPod. Don’t actually have an iPod? Don’t worry, it can take audio from any device thanks to it’s included “MP3 Line-in cable.”The really odd omissions here are not numerous, but pretty important. For starters, there’s no mention of Blu-Ray compatibility anywhere on this thing. In fact, based on the press release and the PDF, there is only a USB port for any external inputting and the composite and HDMI are outputs only. So, yeah, just a little surprising, there. So, perhaps it can play HD video files, but if you can’t drop a Blu-Ray disc into it and hit “play” that’s pretty lame.Perhaps the folks in the Philips PR department just left out a few details? Let’s hope so, because while this screams “convergence” on the surface, once you look past what it can do to see what it can’t, you’re in for a bit of disappointment.
