All About Crackle TV
Crackle TV is a free service, owned by Sony, that lets you stream full-length uncut movies and TV shows from the internet. The catch is that the movies and TV shows are interrupted by commercials. For all the details on Crackle's free movies and TV shows and whether you want to quit your Netflix and Hulu Plus subscriptions read the report: All About Crackle TV from About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez.What You Need to Play Media on a Network Media Player
Before you access your photos and videos, or listen to music on a network media player, be sure you have everything you need as reported by home theater contributing writer Barb Gonzalez.Digital Media File Basics
What do all those file format acronyms mean? Make sure your network media player is compatible with the file formats in your media library as reported by home theater contributing writer Barb Gonzalez.The Difference Between "Streaming" and "Downloading" Media
What is the difference between streaming music or a movie and downloading it? Home Theater Contributing writer Barb Gonzalez tells you what you need to know when streaming or downloading media to your network media player or computer.Internet Speed Requirements for Video Streaming
When you stream movies on your network media player/media streamer from online sites like Netflix, Hulu or Vudu, you don't want to have to wait while the movie loads, or buffers. You certainly don't want the movie to stop every few minutes to load again. To learn about how internet speed affects video streaming quality, read the article: Internet Speed Requirements for Video Streaming by About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez.How to Avoid Buffering and Loading Screens When Streaming Video
When you start streaming videos from online or from your video libraries to your network media player or media streamer, you may experience a loading screen while the movie download buffers. Learn why movie streaming is interrupted and how fast internet and home connections can eliminate the wait in the article: How to Avoid Buffering and Loading Screens When Streaming Video by About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez.Media File Compression
When video, photo or music is saved in a digital format the result can be a huge file that is hard to stream and uses up a lot of memory on the computer or hard drive to which it is saved. In order to save space files are made smaller by removing some of the data. This is referred to as "compression". For an indepth look at media file compression and how it works, read How Media File Compression Affects Picture and Sound Quality by About.com contributing writer, Barb Gonzalez.Five Reasons Why Apple TV Is the Best Media Player for Mac and iPhone Users
Although Apple TVs only work with iTunes, there are five great reasons why an Apple TV may be the best network media player if you are a Mac user, own an iPhone, an iPad, or an iPod Touch. For all the details, check out the report from About.com contributing writer, Barb GonzalezWhat to Look For When Shopping For a NAS (Network Attached Storage) Device
A NAS (Network Attached Storage Device) can store a centralized media library of photos, music and movies to access on your network media player and home network computers. NAS devices are not just hard drives, they have features like remote access of stored audio, video, and still image files. For details on how to shop for the best NAS for your home theater/home network setup, check out the article Ten Features to Compare When Shopping For a NAS by About.com contributing writer, Barb GonzalezAll About Firmware and Firmware Updates
Did you purchase a Blu-ray Disc Player, Network Media Player, or other home theater component recently? If so, you probably noticed a sheet packed in the box, or a section of the user manual, that discusses how you can upgrade your Blu-ray Disc player, network media player, other home theater device via a "firmware or software update process".As consumer electronics get more complicated and the speed of technology changes quickly, the need to keep a product up-to-date is critical. To keep up with the pace of change, engineers have developed a way to add features and perform "bug fixes" via firmware updates. Find out everything you need to know about firmware updates in our Comprehensive Guide to Firmware and Firmware Updates.
