Panasonic DMP-BBT01 - Features

The DMP-BBT01’s dimensions might be small but the amount of features certainly isn’t. Basically, it offers all of the same tricks as the DMP-BDT320, including internet content on tap and DLNA network streaming – all of which can be accessed using the built-in Wi-Fi connection or the Ethernet port.

Having access to Viera Connect is always a good thing. Making its debut on Panasonic’s Blu-ray range this year, the upgraded service now includes BBC iPlayer, putting the Beeb’s wealth of top-notch programmes (and The Voice UK) at your disposal. Meanwhile Netflix lets you stream movies and whole series of TV shows directly to your TV for a reasonable £5.99 per month. Skype is another key feature, allowing you to make video calls using the optional communication camera.

YouTube provides your fix of ranting idiots and performing animals, plus there’s a range of other less exciting sites like Acetrax movie streaming, Picasa photo viewing and Dailymotion. It’s all accessed from a slightly clunky interface that shuffles from page to page, instead of putting everything on a single screen. You can add new services when available through the Market on the home page.

Elsewhere you can stream music, video and photos from Windows 7 devices on your home network, and access them from your smartphone or tablet (using the Panasonic as a renderer). You don’t even have to use your router as it supports Wi-Fi Direct. But for any non-DLNA devices on your network, use the separate Network Drive feature, which supports a wider range of file formats than those handled by Windows 7. If you own a DLNA-compatible Panasonic recorder, the player can stream recordings from that too. There’s even an Apple/Android remote app that lets you control the unit in place of the supplied remote.

USB devices can be connected to the side-mounted port for playback of DivX HD, MKV, MP4, MPEG-2, JPEG, MPO, FLAC, MP3 and WAV. The SD card slot, meanwhile, supports AVCHD, AVCHD 3D, MP4, MPEG-2, JPEG and MPO.

The player also comes equipped with a range of picture presets and 3D settings, sound modes like Digital Tube Sound and High Clarity Sound Plus, which shuts down non-essential circuitry for cleaner audio playback. Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio tracks can be passed to AV receivers as bitstream or PCM.