HP shipping Wifi equipped MediaSmart HDTVs

Among the new devices announced at a press event Thursday night was the new SLC3760N 37 inch MediaSmart high-definition LCD TV, which includes wired and wireless connections for home content.

Both a mouthful to say and an innovative flat panel, this $2,199 big screen set is the only hi-definition consumer TV of its size to offer an integrated 802.11 a/b/g Wi-Fi radio along with standard Ethernet network connections.

Basically combing the streaming multimedia functions of today's digital audio receivers and popular hi-definition televisions, the MediaSmart also connects with PCs running HP's proprietary software. In a demo, for example, HP showed content being backed up to its newly-introduced Media Vault, then played back via the MediaSmart TV.

However, the display only contains a Wi-Fi radio and not a full-fledged router, so users will have to own another Wi-Fi connected device to allow it access to pre-recorded content.

The MediaSmart display accesses music, pictures and video residing on computer hard drives via wired or wireless network. Even better, the TV is replete with AV ports including an optical audio plus HDMI out for connecting directly to stereos and home theater receivers.

The MediaSmart is also a full-fledged HDTV boasting a resolution of 1366 by 768 capable of displaying hi-def programming in luscious 720p. You also get a remote and built-in HDTV tuner. Even more appealing, according to HP, the TV will natively support DivX movies along with a long line of other widely-used video file formats.

Slated to hit store shelves and online retailers immediately, expect the SLC3760N 37 inch MediaSmart High-Definition LCD TV to list for $2,199, HP said.