We have a Smart TV in the living room. All by itself, the TV is able to connect to the internet using its built-in WiFi connection to access video services like Hulu, Netflix, YouTube and others. It's a great way to connect these services without running extra wires and occupying another electrical outlet.
The other two TVs are in the master bedroom and den. These are not Smart TVs but still have a way to get the subscriber services because they're both hooked up to individual XBoxes. It's not such a big deal in the den, where my kids play video games, but the one in the master is used solely to access Netflix so my wife can watch "Orange is the New Black" in peace. Without much room on the dresser for both the TV and the console, the whole arrangement looks messy and its a pain to turn on the box, sign in to XBox live, find Netflix, sign into that, enter your specific saved search and on and on...
She's been getting tired of this unsightly, tedious arrangement and so have I. Luckily, the tech industry has spotted an opportunity and has filled it with some interesting solutions.
The first few products consist of a small box the size of a paperback book. Several companies produce this kind of product including Roku, Sony, Amazon Fire TV and others. They are simple plug n' play devices that deliver all of the content anyone could possibly want.
The problem is that each of these products are still a box that needs to be stored somewhere and yet another electrical plug that needs a spot on the power strip. If this is not an issue for you, by all means go ahead and acquire one or more of these for your entertainment setup. But, there is another option.
If size matters to you (insert inappropriate joke here) there are some great video-streaming products out there that not only deliver the same content as the set-top boxes, but do it in a small package no larger than a pack of gum.
The main players in this game are the Google Chromecast, Roku Streaming Stick and the Amazon Fire TV stick. Size wise, they're all about the same and the prices range from $35 for the Chromecast, $39 for the Amazon and $49 for the Roku.
All of them use your television's HDMI port to get power (no AC plug!) and deliver the HD content to the TV. And, because of it's small size, it vanishes behind the TV. Two out of three come with a remote (Chromecast uses an app you download to your smartphone) and that's it.
My family cancelled our cable and we pay a combined $15/mo for unlimited streaming of thousands of TV shows and movies. We call it "semi-cable" and don't miss Ch**ter cable at all.
CNET.com compared the three big players discussed above and produced a handy chart to compare and contrast them for your review. Go to the article here.
Techradar did the same. Go here for another opinion.
And, here's yet another comparison from gadgetreview.com.
Amazon's page for the TV Streaming Stick is here. Although they are so back ordered that you can expect delivery after the New Year.
The other two TVs are in the master bedroom and den. These are not Smart TVs but still have a way to get the subscriber services because they're both hooked up to individual XBoxes. It's not such a big deal in the den, where my kids play video games, but the one in the master is used solely to access Netflix so my wife can watch "Orange is the New Black" in peace. Without much room on the dresser for both the TV and the console, the whole arrangement looks messy and its a pain to turn on the box, sign in to XBox live, find Netflix, sign into that, enter your specific saved search and on and on...
She's been getting tired of this unsightly, tedious arrangement and so have I. Luckily, the tech industry has spotted an opportunity and has filled it with some interesting solutions.
The first few products consist of a small box the size of a paperback book. Several companies produce this kind of product including Roku, Sony, Amazon Fire TV and others. They are simple plug n' play devices that deliver all of the content anyone could possibly want.
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| No bigger than the palm of your hand. (courtesy: The Verge) |
If size matters to you (insert inappropriate joke here) there are some great video-streaming products out there that not only deliver the same content as the set-top boxes, but do it in a small package no larger than a pack of gum.
The main players in this game are the Google Chromecast, Roku Streaming Stick and the Amazon Fire TV stick. Size wise, they're all about the same and the prices range from $35 for the Chromecast, $39 for the Amazon and $49 for the Roku.
 |
| Invisibly turn your dumb TV into a smart one in seconds (courtesy: techradar) |
My family cancelled our cable and we pay a combined $15/mo for unlimited streaming of thousands of TV shows and movies. We call it "semi-cable" and don't miss Ch**ter cable at all.
CNET.com compared the three big players discussed above and produced a handy chart to compare and contrast them for your review. Go to the article here.
Techradar did the same. Go here for another opinion.
And, here's yet another comparison from gadgetreview.com.
Amazon's page for the TV Streaming Stick is here. Although they are so back ordered that you can expect delivery after the New Year.
