Cutting the cord

2020-07-31T14:10:00.003-07:00

2019 - Cord cutting process -

Cut off Directv and went with DirectTV NOW, which changed to ATT TV Now and then to ATT TV.

The price also rose from $30 to $50 with a different package.

I transitioned to Philo, but I found that their interface got in the way. Plus the sound from the channels would come through my surround sound very strange.

In 2020 -

Recently moved to YouTube TV but their price will soon rise to $65 which isn't terrible for TV, but still a lot.

Will probably cancel and switch back to Philo since it wasn't very expensive.

Current streaming services -

Netflix

Hulu

Disney +

HBO Max (Paid through ATT internet service)

Free services -

Vudu

Peacock

Net gear neo max

2014-07-02T17:08:00.001-07:00

I haven't really got a chance to use this box for myself. I favor the appletv more than anything else. The box works but it is sluggish. The videos play but I find the interface to be hard to understand sometimes.

It does feature netflix and cinema now. It is regulated to the kids playroom so they can access netflix and not tie up the big screen tv.

I am toying around with making this device the in car entertainment system but I like the ability of having a iDevice that can push to Apple TV.

Worth the $35 but no more.

Netgear Neo Max

2014-04-06T10:09:00.001-07:00

I was able to purchase a Netgear Neo Max from Target while it was on Clearence for $35. Pretty good deal for this little box.

Look out for my thoughts on it coming soon.

iOS 7

2013-12-03T08:06:00.001-08:00

iOS 7 - Useful feature - Streaming Videos

A really great feature that was added into iOS 7 has made purchasing those TV shows and Movies alot more useful. They've added the ability to STREAM your movies and TV shows to your iDevice.

So all you have to do is tap on the Videos icon and there they are.

This is a huge deal for those vacations and road trips, where you may be staying in a place that doesn't really offer alot of good programing to watch.

This doesn't really replace Netflix, but it's good to know that I can always have access to Back to the Future any time I want.

XBox One and PS4 go on Pre Order!

2013-06-10T20:57:00.005-07:00

Click here to get yours today!

Xbox one now on preorder with Amazon for $499!

Click the picture to get yours today!

PS4 also went on preorder today for $399

Xbox One for sale alerts!!

2013-05-21T14:04:00.003-07:00

Sign up to Xbox One Alerts!

You can sign up now on Amazon to get an email when it's available for preorder. Just click the link below and sign up to get email alerts.

You can also go to Gamestop.com and sign up for alerts through them. http://www.gamestop.com/xboxone

XBOX ONE!

2013-05-21T11:19:00.001-07:00

I watched the reveal and was very impressed with the speed of the new XBox one. They showed alot of scenarios that go on in my house and it had the speed of changing a channel on TV.

Now the to wait until E3 to get more details on the new X-Box One

REDMOND, Wash.—Microsoft thinks it has the one. The company unveiled the Xbox One, a next-generation entertainment console that promises to be the one system households will need for games, television, movies and other entertainment. It will go on sale later this year. Don Mattrick, Microsoft's president of interactive entertainment business, said the company has spent the past four years working on the "all-in-one home entertainment system." The console was demonstrated Tuesday at Microsoft's Redmond, Wash., headquarters using voice control to seamlessly switch back and forth between watching live TV, listening to music, watching a movie, browsing the Internet, as well as simultaneously running apps. Microsoft executives touted the Xbox One as a replacement for the set-top box from your cable provider.

It has its own guide and you can change channels by voice command. Senior Vice President Yusuf Mehdi demonstrated how the console switched quickly between channels after saying show names like "Mary and Martha" or "Watch MTV." His voice command of "What's on HBO?" brought up the channel guide for HBO. "No more memorizing channels or hunting for the remote control," Mehdi said. The interface for the TV goes well beyond the functionality in Nintendo's Wii U, which still requires users to press buttons to change the input source on the TV. Xbox One seamlessly switched between games, movies and TV shows with a single voice command. "You can switch to your game like it's a TV channel flip," said Marc Whitten, Microsoft's chief production officer of interactive entertainment business. He called it a "lag-free instant experience." Microsoft also unveiled a new version of its camera-based Kinect system with better motion and voice detection. It showed how users can watch live sports on TV while getting updates on fantasy leagues on a split screen. In an effort to stay ahead of rivals, Microsoft said new content for the popular "Call of Duty" game can be downloaded on the Xbox One before any other system. Microsoft says more games will be shown at next month's E3 video game conference in Los Angeles. It's been eight years since the launch of the Xbox 360. The original Xbox debuted in 2001, and its high-definition successor premiered in 2005.

For the past two years, Microsoft has led the gaming industry in console sales with the Xbox 360. In recent years, Microsoft expanded the scope of the Xbox 360 beyond just games, adding streaming media apps and the family-friendly Kinect system. Xbox has been the exclusive home to such popular gaming franchises as sci-fi first-person shooter "Halo," racing simulator "Forza" and alien shoot-'em-up "Gears of War." In recent years, Microsoft expanded the scope of the Xbox 360 beyond just games, adding streaming media apps and the camera-based Kinect system. Nintendo kicked off the next generation of gaming in November with the launch of the Wii U, the successor to the popular Wii system. The Wii U features an innovative tablet-like controller, though its graphics is on par with the previous-generation Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo said the console sold just 3.45 million units by the end of March, well below expectations. Sony was next, teasing plans for its upcoming PlayStation 4—without showing the actual box—at a February event in New York. The reaction to that console, which featured richer graphics and more social features, was mixed. Microsoft didn't waste any time showing off the Xbox One console, new Kinect sensor and Xbox controller at the beginning of Tuesday's presentation. Read more: Microsoft touts Xbox One as all-in-1 entertainment -

New Xbox rumors - no Internet required.

2013-04-10T19:06:00.001-07:00

New information regarding Microsoft’s next-generation home console – codenamed Durango – surfaced on April 10 which suggest that recent rumors proposing that the Xbox 720 will require an always on connection to the internet are in fact false.

Likewise, details about backwards compatibility for the Next Xbox have come forth which hint at the possibility that Microsoft’s next-generation home console will support backwards compatibility with Xbox 360 software, however, it will require a special add-on device.

On Wednesday, April 10, new information about Microsoft’s Xbox 720 – Durango – came to light as VGLeaks reports that Microsoft will offer an add-on for the Xbox 720 to allow users to play their Xbox 360 games.

This add-on will be networked with the Xbox 720 – Durango – to allow for backwards compatibility to all Xbox 360 software – meaning XBLA, digital, and retail Xbox 360 games will be supported. It is said to be similar to the HD-DVD add-on Microsoft released for Xbox 360.

Additionally, the rumors of an always online requirement for Xbox 720 are apparently false. The system itself will always be online, but it will not be a requirement to play local content nor will it prevent people from playing used games.

Random Access Memories - Daft Punk's new album

2013-04-10T07:59:00.001-07:00

In the lead up to they're latest album due on May 21st. Daft Punk is releasing a video series about the making of this album.

Daft Punk launch new video series, watch Giorgio Moroder discuss their new album
According to reports, Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories features a slew of guest contributors, including Chic frontman Nile Rodgers, songwriter Paul Williams, Animal Collective’s Panda Bear, Feist collaborator Chilly Gonzales, and disco legend Giorgio Moroder. Today, Daft Punk, in conjunction with The Creators Project, launched a new video series highlighting some of these collaborators. Moroder is the subject of the first video and it features a discussion on his early discoveries with the Moog synthesizer, the evolution of the four on the floor beat, and his admiration for Daft Punk’s “One More Time”. He also digresses on his recent studio time alongside the French duo, noting their usage of microphones from different decades and hinting that they may have recorded using some analog equipment. “They had to do something that was different: Still dance, still electronic, but give that human touch back.” Watch the eight-minute video below. Random Access Memories is due out May 21st through Columbia Records imprint Daft Life Limited. Pre-orders are ongoing.

PRE ORDER THOURGH AMAZON TODAY!

Roku 3 - Voted best Roku!

2013-04-09T12:10:00.003-07:00

New logo for the next Xbox?

2013-04-06T17:42:00.001-07:00

I came across this image of a logo that could possibly be the next logo for the next Xbox. One interesting thing to notice is the disappearance of the "360." So it looks like to me that we'll just know the Xbox as Xbox.

Microsoft's New Set Top Box: Coming Soon at $99

2013-04-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

As I was blowing leaves off my lawn on Saturday I had a chance to listen to a podcast that I haven't heard in a while, Windows Weekly. The show centers around the world of Windows. They will go into detail on upcoming product annoucements and discuss the tech news surround Microsoft.

In this episode from the past week, Paul Thurott mentioned in passing that Microsoft will be coming out with a new set top box to rival Apple TV and Roku. It will use the same services as the Xbox 360 and allow for developers to create apps. At the time of this writing, there wasn't any word on if Xbox live gold is needed. But he did mention the box would cost $99.

This is pretty exciting news for me, even though I've been using the Apple TV exclusively for TV shows in the past couple of months. I do have alot of purchases on Xbox 360 as well.

I have also heard that the new Xbox will include a HDMI pass through. Which means you can connect your devices in daisy chain. Pretty much meaning, that you can connect your other STB through the box and not tie up one of your HDMI ports.

Apple could also allow developing on the Apple TV soon as well. I think if Microsoft can release this box for $99 and allow it to be another platform for apps and games, they will have a winning product.

Best Roku Yet!

2013-03-31T09:50:00.002-07:00

Story from - http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/roku-2-xs-best-streamer/

A few days ago, Roku announced its latest streaming box, the $100 Roku 3. It hasn't been extensively reviewed at this point, but the consensus by those who've spent some time with it is that it's a more than worthy successor to our previous pick, the XS, which it also happens to be replacing.

(Last Updated March 13, 2013: Switched our pick to the Roku 3.)

What makes a good streaming box?

Streaming boxes are rapidly becoming a must have component of most modern living rooms. Basically, they allow us to watch internet TV on our real TVs, which is great because that means less dependence on expensive cable subscriptions and the like.
We’re not quite at the point where we can write-off cable entirely–live sports and same-day TV show access remain sticking points–but if those aren’t major concerns for you, there’s not many good reasons not to try switching to a streaming only option for a bit to see how you like it.
Sure, the multiple subscriptions needed to access all the content you want can start to add up pretty quickly ($8 for Hulu+, another $8 for Netflix, then there’s Amazon Prime, and the fact that you need to pay per episode/season for current season shows…), but at least there’s fewer commercials and it’s still cheaper than most cable/satellite plans. And you get the watch-when-you want flexibility of having a DVR, without having to deal with an extra box and subscription add-on.
So those are the reasons for trying streaming out, but what makes a good streaming box?
Well first and foremost, it should stream a lot of different content.
And it shouldn’t cost too much–about $100 is the norm. Much of the draw of streaming is the fact that it’s so cheap. It’s not worth spending a big chunk of change on something that’s supposed to save you money. Plus, a lot of Blu-Ray players, including our pick, come with apps that allow you to access most major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon instant video. So a good streaming box should offer a bit more than just basic functionality.
We find that $100 is a good price point that gives you everything you need, like access to all the major streaming services, full HD 1080p output, and an easy to use interface; and features you want, like faster dual-band Wi-Fi for quicker and better quality streaming and access to more obscure, but often useful services and apps; without tacking on too many cost-adding features, like cloud-based DVR stuff.
Developer support is key. You want to know that your box will get the support it needs in the form of firmware updates and additional software-based features for at least a couple years.
The Roku 3 meets all these requirements with minimal drawbacks.

Our pick

If you haven't purchased a streaming box thus far and are looking for cheap access to tons of movies and shows, we thinkthe Roku 3 is easily the best fit for most people.

It has the same channel line up as the old box, best in class. (You can check the Roku’s channel line up here.)
But the Roku 3 is a thoughtful upgrade with some legitimately useful new features.
Most noteworthy is the completely revamped interface and a new remote that allows for a private listening mode.
With regard to the new UI, CNet's Matt Moskovciak says "the first thing you'll notice is you can now see nine channels at once, compared with just five on the old interface." "The new layout also reveals three more channels with every click," he says, "which lets you zip through all your channels in a fraction of the time."
Mossberg adds that the streamlined UI makes it far easier to get into the channel store where you can add and remove channels as needed. "The whole thing is just cleaner and easier," he says. Combined with that faster processor and dual band Wi-Fi, reviewers say navigating and universal search are also much snappier on the Roku 3.
The new private listening mode is accomplished through a built-in wireless headphone jack in the remote. Plug in the included pair of earbuds (or your own) and the TV will automatically mute. You can also adjust the volume directly on the remote with a rocker on the side.
"It's essentially a makeshift wireless-headphones solution," says Moskovciak, "but I think it's a feature that will get regular use." Mossberg agrees. He used the feature while working out on a treadmill, which has a noisy motor and typically requires him to crank up the volume on the TV.
Another cool thing about the remote is that it works on direct Wi-Fi Direct so you don’t have to point it at the box for it to work.
The Roku 3 also comes equipped with a faster processor and support for dual-band Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n). It’s hard to tell why a streaming box that can already handle HD needs a better processor, but its not like that added to the price of the box over the last generation model. However, the Wi-Fi is a welcome addition, as many Roku 2 owners have complained about poor or unreliable wireless connectivity.
Lastly, the box itself has been redesigned. The edges are now slightly rounded, it's a little bit smaller, and yet also weighs about two ounces more (5 ounces vs the XS's 3). This has the added benefit of keeping it in place, not always an easy task with a heavy HDMI cable shooting out the back.
Roku, like other streamers, is also constantly improving over time thanks to new deals and firmware updates. When Roku announced the new 3, they also announced that the new interface would be coming to models that are coming up on 2 years old at this point. That demonstrates a commitment to their users.
Furthermore, At this year’s CES the company announecd a deal with Time Warner Cable to bring over 300 live cable channels to Roku boxes. Of course, it's only available to people that actually subscribe to cable and is contingent on what package you have, but still, live cable on an internet streaming box is pretty exciting. The Roku XS 1080p is also among the few devices capable of taking advantage of Netflix's new "SuperHD" streams (provided your ISP supports the Open Connect protocol).
Who else likes it?

There aren’t too many reviews out there at this time, but overall, every reviewer so far has come away impressed by the Roku 3.
The most comprehensive review we’ve seen so far comes from David Pierce, senior review editor at the Verge, subtitled “This is how you make a set-top box.” Pierce gives the Roku 3 an excellent score of 8.9/10, stating in no light terms, “While testing the Roku 3, I got the sense over and over that the company just gets what people want from a set-top box.”
Pierce goes on to praise the new interface, that’s made faster by the new processor which “improves the whole experience — menus and videos load faster than on the Apple TV, and much faster than on any previous Roku.” However, his favorite feature was the ability to plug headphones into the remote. He describes it as a seamless experience: “Plug in a pair of headphones, and audio automatically stops playing on the TV and comes through your headphones instead; unplug them, and it starts playing on your TV speakers again, all without the video ever skipping a beat.” He concludes by saying that he no longer uses his AppleTV for anything but AirPlay, and that’s only because he has so many other Apple products. If you’re not an Apple person, it’s a no-brainer, the Roku is the best media streamer for your TV, bar none.
StreamingMediaBlog's Dan Rayburn says "Roku already had the best content available and with a new user interface, faster loading channels, increased Wi-Fi performance and quicker video playback, the new Roku 3 is easily the best $99 streamer in the market."
CNet's Moskovciak agrees: "The new Roku 3 feels like a very polished update to a series of streaming boxes that were already excellent," he says.
Mark Spoonauer of Laptop Magazine gave the Roku 3 an Editor’s Choice designation and described it as “a first-rate media-streaming device at a great price, turning any TV into a smart TV.”
But if you already own a previous-gen Roku box, this latest version doesn't quite raise the bar high enough to justify spending another $100. As Walt Mossberg says in his video review, the Roku 3 is "more of an evolutionary update, not a revolutionary one.
Speaking of the previous gen Roku, many of the reviews for the Roku 2 XS still apply to the new model since all the good stuff like channel variety and simplicity still carry over.
CNet editors John Falcone and David Carnoy give the older XS model a 4/5 rating and Editor’s Choice, noting its all-around value: “Put another way, even with the increased competition–most notably in the Apple realm–and despite some shortcomings, the simplicity, affordable price, and superior programming selection of the Roku 2 XS make it the go-to choice for buyers looking for a sub-$100 solution for accessing the increasingly attractive panoply of online streaming-media services.”
AnandTech editor Ganesh T S likes the XS as a set-top for the everyman: “As long as the prospective customer understands what he is getting (a very good VoD player for subscription services with Angry Birds on the TV, and the promise of more paid games to come), and is comfortable with the price he is paying for it, there should be no issues.”
It’s not perfect
As far as downsides are concerned, nearly every reviewer continues to focus on the glaring omission of native YouTube. Granted, there are channels like VideoBuzz that provide a round-about way of streaming it. You can also do it through Plex, but many users say the experience isn’t all that great . For a box that now includes access to more than 700 streaming channels–by far the most of any dedicated streamer–this does seem like a pretty big oversight. In the grand scheme of things, however, we're not convinced YouTube ranks up there with other premium services. We certainly wouldn't give it the same deference as HBO GO and Amazon Instant–two things still missing from the Apple TV (HBO GO can be accessed via AirPlay on ATV and supposedly there’s a native app coming soon).
The new Roku 3 also loses the component output that came with its predecessors. Again, this shouldn't be a deal breaker for most people. But the absence is worth noting for those thinking about using it with an older TV.
We are also concerned that the motion sensitive controller might chew through batteries but no reviewer has addressed this yet. It might be a good idea to get some rechargeables for it, here's our pick.
The Roku also lacks wireless screensharing capabilities like AirPlay and Miracast. This isn’t really a dealbreaker–especially considering you can get much of the same functionality when it comes to viewing media by using Plex–but it’s still nice to have. Apple users should seriously consider the Apple TV instead because of this reason, but for the most part, we feel the Roku’s better UI, myriad channels, and its unique private listening mode more than make up for its shortcomings.

Last year’s model?

As for last year’s pick, the XS, if you can find it, we still think it's a great little box but ultimately not worth it since it costs about the same and is inferior.

If it does get to be about 50% of the cost of a Roku 3, it might be worth it if you’re insistent on saving a few bucks. Just like the new Roku 3, the XS offers heaps of content and will play locally-stored files (MKV and MP4 (H.264), AAC, MP3, JPG, PNG) from an attached USB drive. Come April, it and the rest of the Roku lineup will also receive the same revamped UI via a firmware update. It's unclear at this point how this may affect performance on Roku 2 boxes, if at all. But again, the new Roku 3 does feature a faster processor and that better wireless and the remote headphone jack.
It's largely because of this impending update that we are recommending current Roku users not run out and buy the new Roku 3. Dieter Bohn of The Verge agrees with this advice, saying "[the Roku 3 is] almost surely not worth the upgrade for current users — especially since Roku will be disseminating the new interface to 'current-generation Roku devices' as a software update this April."
Laptop Magazine’s Spoonauer is in agreement: “If you currently own a Roku box, there isn’t much incentive to upgrade,” he says, “as the updated software is coming to all current-generation Roku devices in April.”

Apple TV?

Sure, if you’re an Apple owner who makes regular use of iTunes for music and movie purchases, Apple TV is worth having instead, or also, since these things are no more than $100 each. Check to make sure the streaming services and videos you’ll likely use are supported on each before buying either, though.

Streaming from a PC?

Many readers have also been asking about the best streaming box for playing the widest variety of downloaded movie files.

The Roku by itself is admittedly not that great at streaming files from a PC. And Apple TV is really only good for streaming iTunes purchases from a desktop or files you’ve imported into iTunes, which means it’s finicky about which files types it will play.
Based on our research, there are really two good options here. While it hasn't received the same critical praise as the ATV and Roku boxes, the WD Live TV tends to lead the streaming pack when it comes to file compatibility. It’s still missing some pretty big streaming services like HBO GO and Amazon Instant, but it does support nearly every media format you can think of, including AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), MPG/ MPEG, VOB, MKV (H.264, x.264, AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC-1), TS/TP/M2T (MPEG1/2/4, AVC, VC-1), MP4/MOV (MPEG4, H.264), M2TS and WMV9.
In fact, CNet’s Ty Pendlebury says "the reason you'd buy this over the Roku is if you have a large library of digital files.” "The laundry list of supported types misses very little and includes notables such as FLAC, AAC, MKV, DivX, and even ISOs,” he says. “The small Dolby TrueHD logo on the top suggests that the device will also play Blu-ray 'rips' with full-quality sound (although we didn't test this)."
Unlike ATV and Roku 3, the WD TV Live also supports DLNA, although many reviewers note that performance can be spotty. Keep in mind too that choosing this box will also mean you won't get the same robust lineup of streaming channels that Roku has, although mainstays like Spotify, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu and Pandora are included.
The other option for those with a diverse portfolio of file formats is to simply use media server software like Plex, which is available on all Roku boxes, Google TV devices, some LG connected devices, as well as some Samsung HDTVs. Plex for Roku gives you access to all your local media by connecting to your Plex Media Server on your computer. This will also enhance your ability to play a number of different formats because the content you point it to on your computer can be transcoded by the servers before it is streamed. Keep in mind that, depending on the hardware that's doing the actual transcoding, the results can vary.
There’s no evidence at this point that the souped-up processor on the Roku 3 does much to enhance the Plex experience. According to a Plex employee, the biggest benefit in the short term will be a snappier UI. “In the short term all I'd expect to see as a result [of the faster processor] is for the UI to be a bit snappier,” he said in a forum post. “And as of now, the new UI is limited to the Roku screens, not channels. So you'll get a much more modern home screen and greatly enhanced search features (as demoed on the Roku blog). I can only assume that that will change over time as the new SDK is made available to channels.”
The competition
The Roku is our best streamer for the masses, but there are other options out there that may be better for specific tasks:

Boxee Box ($175) is great if you want the most features and don’t care about price. It has top-notch file compatibility, a decent library of content partners, web browsing, and even a cool QWERTY remote. It’s knockedin reviews regularly for minor bugs and crashes, but the UI is smooth. Boxee is also the only device in this lineup (save for AppleTV) that supports AirPlay. It’s iPad app is fantastic for streaming video to the tablet. Licensing disagreements means no Hulu Plus (for now) but if you're willing to shell out another $50 for Boxee's HDTV tuner you can watch OTA TV. These individual features can be found in cheaper devices, but if you must have everything in a single box (and don't mind the added expense) then Boxee is your box. Boxee recently released Boxee TV, which is a cloud-based DVR that lets you record as much as you want, and play back via any device that can load an HTML 5 webpage. However, it's currently only available in certain markets, only works with over-the-air signals (or unencrypted cable), and has a $10/month subscription. An interesting product for sure, but not really competition for the Roku, at least not yet. (*The Boxee Box has been discontinued, although D-Link and Boxee have stated they will still support it for at least the near term. It's replacement, Boxee TV, features a more limited set of streaming apps, but integrates dual digital TV tuners and provides a DVR function backed by cloud-based storage and watch-anywhere services. It started shipping last November at $99 but its DVR features were limited to only a handful of major markets. This is still the case.
Western Digital’s TV Live ($89). As noted above, this box is ideal for streaming a wide variety of files across your own network, but it’s lighter on content and overall stability. It’s perfect if you’re mainly wanting to playback downloaded video files and is also compatible with Plex and other media server software.

The WD TV Play ($70) is the new step down model to the Live and has much of the same flexibility when it comes to streaming files on your local network, but it's cheaper and loses support for DTS audio and MPEG video playback. It's getting some good initial reviews from CNet(4 stars) and Ars Technica, but it's crippled by a lack of Amazon Prime Instant, HBO GO, and sports streaming services. Furthermore, it only has a middling 3 star Amazon rating averaged over 21 reviews. We say pass, especially considering you can use Plex to get much of the same functionality on the Roku.
The Xbox 360 ($199), PS3 ($245), connected Blu-ray player, or SmartTV you already own most likely streams Netflix and plays local files too. Fan noise might be a problem with the consoles, but they’re just as capable and offer a lot of the same content. These boxes tend to spin their fans loudly when playing HD video, so there's that to consider, too.

AppleTV is a no-brainer for heavy iTunes users. The show/movie library isn’t as big as Roku’s, but AirPlay–the streaming protocol that lets Apple gadgets send video and audio to the AppleTV and your big screen–adds a huge value for anyone with an iPad or iPhone. At $99 it's also one of the cheapest ways to add AirPlay to your home theater setup.

Now's a good time to mention there are $60 and $70 Roku 2 boxes. They lose full 1080p HD and ethernet and so we think the extra money is worth it. The XS has angry birds and a motion controller for that, which is useless, but the ethernet is nice to have. If you don't plan on using a Roku 2 with a wired connection, you can get the Roku 2 XD and save $15.
Google's Nexus Q media streamer ($299) is the opposite side of the AppleTV coin; it's only a great fit for Android users. As of its announcement, it only supported Google's in-house "Play" services for streaming music, movies, TV, and YouTube. Otherwise, bread and butter services like Netflix and Pandora are MIA which easily puts the Q behind cheaper content powerhouses like the Roku 2. You can't use it to stream media from most any app like you can on Apple TV. And it costs $299. Sure, it sports a 25 watt amp for powering speakers, along with micro-HDMI out, optical out, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, and an ethernet port. But I'd rather see a $50 box that plays and streams from any app and many services rather than just "Play" media. Oh look, we're not alone in thinking this box is a weird, overpriced one. Thankfully though, Google seems to have realized how half-baked the Q was and are now postponing its launch indefinitely so it can spend some more time in the oven. Hopefully they'll address all the aforementioned issues and make it into something normal people might actually want, but that might just be wishful thinking.
Roku recently launched the Streaming Stick, which looks like a large USB flash drive. Inside, however, are all the basics of Roku’s regular boxes (including WiFi). It’s the same price as the 2 XS, streams 1080p video, and doesn't require any external cables. However, you will need a TV with the new MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) interface. This looks just like an HDMI connection, but also transfers power to the connected device. If you bought a mid- or high-end TV in the last year or so, you might have an MHL connector. Check your owners manual, or the back of the TV, as MHL inputs should be labeled as such. The Streaming Stick’s advantage over the 2 XS is only the lack of extra wires, so unless you have a new TV and are looking to reduce clutter, the 2 XS is still our pick.
LG's Smart TV Upgrader ($70) offers LG's suite of connected TV features in media streamer form. While it does include a web browser, the current lack of Amazon Instant Video limits its desirability.
Google TV soldiers on in products like the Logitech Revue, Sony NSZ-GS7, and Vizio Co-Star. None have received many positive reviews. CNET, in their 2.5/5 review of the Co-Star, put it succinctly: "The Google TV software continues to disappoint." Viewed as just a media streamer, Google TV offers similar streaming services as the Roku, but with a clunkier interface.
The Asus Qube, which debuted this week at CES, aims to fix Google TV's interface problem by implementing a–wait for it–cube-based interface involving motion and voice controls. It's certainly different, but we didn't find it particularly better than the straightforward navigation offered by Roku.

Wrapping it up
Even though the Roku 3 is great, you might need a combination of devices if you want to cover every single base. None of the current devices on the market truly ace the mix of form+function+content+price+advanced features that make a phenomenal streamer. On the bright side, they’re mostly inexpensive.

AT&T U-Verse

2013-02-19T15:45:00.001-08:00

So we gave in. We ordered AT&T U-verse. Only because they gave us a pretty good deal for a year. So far it hasn't been all that enjoyable. With a few service outages and hiccups with our first bill, I don't believe we'll be sticking with them any further than a year.

The technology is pretty neat but the service just seems very flakey. It's totally dependent on where your house is on the street if you will enjoy the experience or not.

It is worth giving it a shot only because of the low price (initially) and the rewards for joining.

Apple TV

2013-02-18T10:25:00.004-08:00

Apple TV = Awesome TV

If you're looking for a device that will play your music, tv shows, and movies; then the Apple TV is a great device to own.

The latest device will allow you to stream and playback 1080p video, but is only useful if you have really high speed connection. Something over 6mbps is perferred.

I currently own the 720p version and it's fantastic. It allows you to playback all your TV shows and Movies straight from iTunes with no need to download them first. This was my major gripe when I first got it. I bought a couple of shows and had to wait 45min for it to download to watch it. No more. Now with the introduction of iCloud, the Apple TV can stream directly off of iTunes. No need to have a PC connected.

Some other great features include access to 3rd party services like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Youtube. Those are the only services i've ever used so I can't speak too much on the other services.

Before I got the Apple TV I relied on the XBox 360 for movies and TV shows from the Zune Marketplace. Now called Xbox video it is still very similar. The Microsoft services work great, but when compared to ease and use of the Apple TV, it's hands down. The Apple TV works much faster than the Xbox. It instantly turns on when I need it. Streams my free digital copies that get with my Blu-ray purchases. That is also another reason I decided to get one.

We go out of our way now to purchase the copy of the movie that contains the digital copy. Simply so I can stream that movie if I ever needed to. I also keep a copy of the movie on my home server so it can me easily streamed from other iDevices.

If you're looking for an Apple TV, it's a great purchase. And look out for updates coming. There are rumors of Apple allowing more 3rd parties to develop apps for the Apple TV.

The Avengers for $20

2012-09-25T13:56:00.001-07:00

The Avengers for $20

Click here to grab this deal now!

I have to share this. I'm not sure how long this price will stay, but this morning I was able to go to my local Target and purchase the DVD/Blu-ray/3D Bluray/Digital Copy/Digital music download/ of The Avengers for a whopping $20. Apparently there isn't a Bluray/Dvd copy that has digital copy. So Target decided to lower the price on the 4 Disc version by $5. So you can pick up today (9/25) a copy of The Avengers, and have a version for just about every device you own.

All for only $20.

This just in Amazon has matched that price! Click on the image to grab your copy today!

I'm all in...

2012-09-25T13:46:00.002-07:00

I'm all in.

So I've been tempted a couple of times to get a new provider than my cable company, but I got to tell you I enjoy TV alot more when I choose what I want to watch. That is instead of having a network play a show that gets me sucked in and then realizing how dumb it is.

I've taken some steps to ensure that we always have something to enjoy. I've cancelled my DVD/Blu-rays from Netflix. I figure that I'm not getting the most from that. So I've decided to put that $18 dollars or so towards an iTunes giftcard each month. This way I always have a balance and can enjoy some TV shows and new movie rentals the day they are available.

Pretty soon, I will be detailing out all the devices we have and the different services that use on those devices.

Right now, I'm pretty happy with our AppleTv.

Stay Tuned. More to come.

Sony BDP-BX37 Blu-Ray Player

2012-01-08T20:28:00.000-08:00

Sony BDP-BX37 Blu-Ray DVD Player & Streaming Internet

This Blu-ray player is a considerable improvement to my previous model. I was one of the lucky people to buy into Bluray when it first came on the scene. I was really lucky to find one of the first players put out as a open box item at Bestbuy. It was a Samsung BD-P1000. It was one of the worst bluray players ever. The load times were painfully long and don't get me started on the firmware updates. I understood that Bluray was an evolving medium, but the updating of this player must have been a huge after-thought.

Now to talk about the new player. Just by the fact that this player actually plays bluray disc makes this player a huge improvement. The Samsung in recent months wouldn't play any new disc at all. Making my next Netflix rental a huge gamble.

This player not only play disc, it loads them in a matter of seconds. It's really amazing how far we've come. I put in a disc that I knew would take forever to load. Avatar was an amazement in feature films and when the bluray came out it, it was no different. It was one of the first movies to not play at all on some players. The Sony handled it like a champ. It loaded it as fast a regular DVD would.

This player takes advantage of all of the features bluray has to offer. It also has a network jack on the back that enhances some features of the player. Firmware updates are the first thing that have gotten alot easier. I turn on the player and it alerts me of an update. I click ok and 5 min later, it have an updated player. No more hunting down an ISO image for a firmware update and burning to a disc and popping it into the player.

A whole new world is opening up with broadband internet speeds. Streaming of video and audio are now the norm. This blog is all about using these types of devices to entertain yourself instead of paying those ridiculous fees to Mr Cabletown.

Sony has a strange setup with the way you setup these services. You will login to sonystyle.com and register your player. From here is where you'll add your services that you subscribe to. Hulu plus, Netflix, Slacker radio and Pandora will be setup here on the site. Once you set them up on the site your player will be updated and be able to start streaming the media. Once you set it up, you'll be ready to go.

The interfaces for these services are lacking. That is the only drawback. Netflix being one of the better interfaces. The wife meter score is pretty high on ease of use. The other services have alot of searching of small boxes with words on them. Netflix uses alot of images.

It gets the job done. The fact that this player is "wireless ready" has alot of people upset. Obviously people can't read when they buy things online. You'll see alot of negative reviews for this player because of this fact. It has a network jack which is superior to wireless and will give you better results.

I paid around $75 for this player and I would pay it again for another if I needed to. It's a great player and will serve as a great replacement for that aging player you may have purchased to keep up with the Jones.

General

TypeBlu-ray, DVD
BD player profile2.0 / BD-Live
Disc loading typeTray loading

Video

Upscaling 1080p of DVD's
Full 1080p on Blurays

Surround

Surround supportDolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, DTS, DTS-HD High Resolution

Remote

Remote (included)AA batteries

Power

Power adapterInternal

Other features

Upgradeable firmwareYes
Front text displayYes

Outputs

Video outputsHDMI (1 outputs), RCA / composite (1 outputs)
Audio outputsCoaxial (digital), via HDMI, RCA stereo, TOSLINK (optical)

Networking

Ethernet10/100 [Fast Ethernet]

Size & weight

Dimensions 1.42 inches (h)
16.93 inches (w)
8.11 inches (d)
Weight4.41 pounds

A letter to the cable company

2012-01-08T19:51:00.000-08:00

Here is yet another story of someone being fed up with paying the cable company for substandard TV viewing.

KEVIN SINTUMUANG at the Wall Street Journal wrote a letter to his cable company.

Read what he wrote here...

Boxee Live tV

2011-12-02T07:47:00.001-08:00

via - http://blog.boxee.tv

We are working on a new add-on to the Boxee Box that will come out in January. It is a Live TV dongle that lets you connect an antenna to your Box to watch channels like ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC in HD with no monthly fee. You can pre-order the Live TV stick for $49.

If you are like us then the way you watch TV has changed. The stuff on Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Vudu, Vimeo keeps getting better and you can watch it everywhere. You end up watching less traditional TV, but continually pay more for it, which doesn’t make much sense.

The problem with canceling your cable subscription and relying just on the Internet has been the lack of live sports, local news, special events and live TV shows (think Dancing with the Stars). But these things are all available on broadcast TV channels like ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC for free, over the air in HD. With Boxee Live TV you can watch them all on your Boxee Box (and still get all the regular Boxee stuff you love to watch too).

Last year, 89 of the top 100 shows were on broadcast networks – they remain the most popular channels on cable. The Superbowl, the World Series, the Oscars, the Grammys, presidential debates and addresses, the Olympics… they’re all on broadcast. Yes, there are hundreds of cable channels, but make a list of the stuff you actually watch. You will probably find that most are on broadcast and the rest are available on Vudu/Netflix/Network sites.

What is left on your list? Is it really worth $85 a month?

We believe the combination of Netflix/Vudu/Vimeo/TED/etc. with over-the-air channels delivers a much better experience for less money.

Cable companies keep telling the press and investors that “cord cutting” is not real, and that if it exists then it’s limited to people who can no longer afford cable. We are sure they are conducting objective and unbiased research, but we are meeting more and more “cord never getters” and “cord cutters” every day. They are more than just people tightening their belts in tough economic times, these are people who have left cable TV behind because it does not fit their lifestyle. They are part of a changing culture, with a changing expectation of how they watch the shows they love.

The cord cutters we talk to have changed the way they watch “TV”. They don’t sit in front of it and channel surf hoping to land on something to watch, they don’t know when shows air, they sometimes don’t even know what channel shows are on. They love “TV”, but not necessarily on an actual TV. The only time they tune into a channel is to watch something live.
The cable companies’ efforts to adapt are more focused on protecting a decades-old business model than delivering a great experience to their customers. The cable companies think you should have no choice but to accept:

-high (and constantly rising) prices,
-a bad user experience on old set-top boxes,
-signing up for a $79 package but getting billed $104.26,
-taking off work to wait for hours for an installation guy who shows up late,
-pushing you to get triple-play including phone service (you don’t want) to get a lower price, only to see your bill double after 6 months,
-letting you sign up on their website, but making you call them to cancel,
-making you physically return the set-top box during working hours in a remote part of town.

There is a better way for you to get TV… and we think Boxee with Live TV can deliver that promise. We want Boxee to be your alternative to Cable TV.
It will start shipping in January, but you can pre-order it today. Here are a few screenshots of the experience.

Read more about Boxee Live TV at http://boxee.tv/livetv.

Getting points for Zune for FREE!

2011-08-30T06:06:00.000-07:00

I have invested in buying shows on the xbox through the Zune marketplace. Mainly because of how I can play these shows back. I can download them and play them on our PC's, stream them on the xbox 360 or pc, and even watch them on my Windows phone.

The way these MS points work is that they make you buy 400points at a time which is $5. Then shows cost 160 points each (more for HD). So the way you get these 400 points for free is easy. Join Bing rewards.

If you go to Bing.com and join the rewards program you'll see a way to rack up points everyday.

Once you click the link to add points you'll see them rack up.

Then once you start racking up 500 reward credits, you can redeem them for 400 ms points.

It may seem like it will take forever to get to 500, but once you first start out, you get around 300 points just for joining and searching with Bing in about a week. Then you'll be buying shows or renting movies in no time.

Xbox 360 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth and a new Media Remote

2011-07-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Most excited by the remote.

Here is a look at the new remote for the Xbox 360s. It's black to match the new consoles. Something to note is that the media center logo isn't present on this remote. It also has a button for recording and "live tv" that would fit with the newest update coming this fall. This remote is meant to work a tv and your xbox so it would make sense that these record buttons and live tv buttons would be for the xbox 360.

Oh yeah, and here is alook at the new headset for the Xbox 360.

Netflix value going up?

2011-07-18T13:28:00.000-07:00

Netflix price break down: It has more than one meaning.

Some folks need to calm down. With any kind of increase of price most people will object. That is just a normal reaction. But Netflix is such a great value, the price increase doesn't hurt its value at all. Here are the new pricing plans. I am showing a comparison of what they were and what they will be. I will personally see an increase of $5 to the bill.

I've been on Netflix for a long time. It all began in my years as a poor college student. Learning to use the facebook for the first time, and paying $21 for Netflix DVDs. It actually started at $19.99 and increased slightly, and went back down. That price was for 3 at a time. Before streaming and absolutely before Blu-ray. So the price is actually going back to where it was before, and I get an additional 20,000 movies instantly to watch whenever and where ever I want.

This change just means, one less lunch to Wendy's or Burger King.

But Netflix could pull a Hulu and put a 30 sec commercial before the movie and push our price down. Then again who watches Hulu anymore?

Okay, Okay, Maybe Netflix Is a Problem for Cable After All

2011-06-15T13:58:00.000-07:00

Interesting article about Netflix cutting in on Satellite and cable from Allthingsd.com.

Netflix is booming, but the service’s success isn’t coming at the expense of the cable business. Just ask Netflix CEO Reed Hastings or the cable guys, all of whom will be happy to tell you.
Nonsense, says a new report: The Diffusion Group’s survey of Netflix users finds 32 percent of them planning on cutting at least part of their cable bill — either because they can’t afford it, or because they’ve got plenty of stuff to watch online. That’s up from 16 percent a year ago. (Thanks to VideoNuze for flagging).

This jibes with both common sense and other anecdotal evidence we’ve seen. Like Roku's surveys that show that up to 40 percent of its customers have cut some or all of their cable service after buying a box from the company, presumably to watch Netflix.
And again, because it’s not necessarily about cord cutting, but cord shaving, the Diffusion Group study also fits with statistics that show cable subscriptions holding steady even as Netflix adds millions of subscribers per quarter.
Start paying Reed Hastings $8 a month and you may not be ready to rip out your cable box. But you might be willing to drop down a service tier, or say goodbye to HBO.
Some cable company executives will indeed acknowledge this, but not around people who will quote them on the record. And even when they’re chatting on background, they’re still likely to argue that their company will make it through just fine — it’s the other guys who are screwed.
Meanwhile the Netflix folks, a disciplined bunch, continue to insist that they come in peace. And they keep writing those checks that the content guys are happy to cash, even as they worry about what’s going to happen about the cable business. One day.

Source - Allthingsd.com

Live TV - For the cord cutters

2011-06-11T20:43:00.000-07:00

Its unavoidable , sometimes you got to have some live TV. Local news, sporting events, and the results for American Idol. But really add up the amount of time you actually sit down and watch those live events. For local news, you could easily go the website of any local news station and catch the headlines. For sporting events, those are usually only available during the season. I can't personally say anything about watching sporting events, because I don't like to watch them.

In those cases that you feel that you need some live tv, you have some choices. If you subscribe to cable internet, you might be able to get some local channels with your internet. Most cable providers are trying to free up bandwidth on the system to provider more services on the same copper line coming into your home. In the attempt to do so, they are switching the analog channels over to digital. These digital channels require a cable box in the home in order to watch them. Or so the cable company tells you. Actually they will encode these channels in what's called clear QAM. These channels can be tuned on most HDTV's that have a digital tuner. And all those new digital tuners that everyone had to buy a few months back as well. The digital tuner in these box's and TV's are now required to watch some TV transmissions due to the fact that the FCC mandated that all analog broadcast cease over the air transmission and switch to the digital format in order to free up the spectrum. So if you have cable internet use a 2 way splitter and connect one cable to your TV and the other to your modem. Then run the channel scan. What you will see are that the local channels come through. Come through in HD.

The other choice is to connect a large antenna to your TV and tune in your local HD stations. You'd be surprised by how many channels you can actually get over the air. And with the switch to digital, the signal will either be there or it won't. If you can tune the stations in you'll be happy with an HD picture, that is totally free.

I currently am subscribed to cable internet. They trap out the analog channels so they can provide us with just the internet. If I connect the cable to my TV I get the local channels in their digital format for free. This makes paying for that internet connection a better value. Mainly because I'm not paying for 100 channels I will never watch.