Late last year, Sony Electronics introduced its 4K Ultra HD Media Player, which also goes by the name of the FMP-X1. Then, back in July, the company started taking pre-orders and just happened to mention that the circular set-top box would also be able to host a 4K streaming service sometime in the future. Well, the future is today.
Sony just launched its Video Unlimited 4K service. Currently, the 4K Ultra HD video download service has over 70 full-length native 4K Ultra HD feature films and TV shows available for rent or purchase. That lineup includes episodes of AMC's Breaking Bad, as well as hit films The Amazing Spider-Man, Moneyball, Funny Girl, Ghostbusters, and much more.
Sony plans to expand that roster to over 100 titles before the end of the year. A few of the upcoming offerings will include This is the End, After Earth and Elysium.
Surprisingly, the cost to rent 4K titles is pretty reasonable. For a 24-hour rental, expect to pay $3.99 for TV shows, with feature films starting at $7.99. The average film purchase will run you around $29.99. Select purchases will also include an UltraViolet Digital Copy, for viewing on the go in high-def or standard definition.
All of those purchases can then be stored on the FMP-X1's 2TB hard drive, which should be able to accommodate about 50 feature films in native 4K resolution with uncompressed surround sound. Of course, the player also comes pre-loaded with 10 films available on-demand at no extra charge. Those titles include Bad Teacher, Battle: Los Angeles, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Karate Kid (2010), Salt, Taxi Driver, That's My Boy, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Other Guys and Total Recall (2012).
The rub is that the Video Unlimited 4K service is exclusive to Sony's FMP-X1, which only works with Sony 4K Ultra HD televisions.
If you don't have one of those yet, Sony just debuted two additional 4K models into its X850A Series. Both the 55-inch XBR-55X850A (MSRP: $3499.99) and the 65-inch XBR-65X850A ($4999.99) have an image that's four times the resolution of a 1080p HDTV, as well as Sony's own TRILUMINOS Display, Dynamic Edge LED backlight, built-in WiFi, smart TV features, and much more.
"We have been spearheading the advancement of 4K Ultra HD technology from the start, and have now reached another milestone as promised with the Video Unlimited 4K service going live," said Phil Molyneux, Sony's president and COO. "Sony 4K Ultra HD TVs featuring our exclusive TRILUMINOS Display have been receiving amazing feedback and now we are bringing the most immersive entertainment experiences to new audiences right in their living rooms."
The Video Unlimited 4K download service is available now via the FMP-X1 when used with Sony's XBR-55X900 ($4999.99) and XBR-65X900A ($6999.99) Ultra HD TVs and the soon-to-be-shipping XBR-55X850A and XBR-65X850A models. There's also a loaner program available to those of you who popped for the eye-popping 84-inch 4K Ultra HD TV (XBR-84X900), which retails for $24,999.99. Sony plans to launch a similar program for 4K projector (VPL-VW1000ES) owners. Details on that will be announced at the CEDIA Expo 2013 trade show later this month.
The FMP-X1 Media Player is available now for $699 -- or $499 if purchased together with a Sony 4K Ultra HD TV.
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