YouTube on your telly

Watching YouTube funnies on a PC or a phone isn’t always ideal. So a set-top box has been launched to bring the web’s entire collection of... ahem... outstanding video content directly into your living room.

VuNow: web video on your TV

VuNow works by accessing web-based videos via an Ethernet or 802.11b/g Wi-Fi connection and your broadband link. It then zaps them onto your TV down either an s-video or HDMI connection, depending on which model you opt for.

The unit is about the size of two ciggie packets and will let you search for videos using keywords.

Spot the difference between the HD model (top) and SD model (bottom)

VuNow’s also connected to a movie download service – CinemaNow – so you’ll be able to watch Hollywood blockbusters without leaving the house, a service that Blockbuster’s just launched too. The box also provides BitTorrent access.

Both the SD and HD versions of VuNow have twin USB ports so you’ll even be able to slot in a Flash drive and display yet more videos, or music and still images, on your telly.

VuNow will be available on 15 December. Prices start at $99.