VUDU releases 1U rackable movie hub

VUDU today catered to custom home theater installations with a second-generation networked media hub. The XL2 has the same 1TB of hard drive space for videos as the original XL but drops VUDU's favorite curved shape in favor of a thin, single-unit (1U) box design that can be rackmounted in a media cabinet or another part of a customized home theater. It also improves on the stock VUDU Box by adding control over infrared or over most network-based home automation systems using the Ethernet connection.

The XL2 outputs 1080p-grade HD (including through the HDX format) through HDMI video out and also supports 1080i through component. RCA and S-video supply analog video.

As with the first XL, the new model isn't directly available and instead has to be ordered from a home theater installer as part of a setup. VUDU prices it significantly above the standard VUDU Box at $1,299.