Internet Home Theater and Network Media Players

NETGEAR moves into the Roku-type box product category with its new NTV200, but how is it different from other network media players and media streamers? Read our report for more details.

The NETGEAR WNDR4500 router is optimized for streaming HD video to more than one TV at the same time, plus it has other innovative features. Check out all the details in our report.

Mac operating system upgrade Lion, prevents Sonos systems from accessing your iTunes library. However, there is a workaround if you have Airport Express and AirPlay. Check out all the details.

The Airport Express is Apple-made device that can stream music to speakers or a stereo using AirPlay and iTunes. For all the details, read our article: What Is an Airport Express?

Apple TV ugrade provides users with the ability to purchase TV shows directly from iTunes. Check out all the details.

Logitech has lowered the price of its Revue Google TV box from $249 to $99. Check out all the details.

Roku has announced its new Roku 2 box. For all the details, read our overview.

Check out an overview of the Sonos Play:3 compact music streamer.

Whether you have a few Vinyl LP records, or a large record collection, you probably want to import it to your music library to play with your other music. Find out the best way to add your favorite Vinyl LPs to your new digital music library.

Sonos is audio system that allows you to listen to streaming music throughout your house. Learn how Sonos works in this product overview.

There are many online services that provide streaming music to network media players, media streamers, network TVs, AV receivers, and music streamers, Other online services provide a cloud locker to which you can upload your digital music libraries. Find out the pros and cons of streaming vs. uploading music.

What is "the Cloud?" Learn about different ways that online cloud services allow you to upload or sync your music and movies so that you can stream them from online.

Find out Apple iCloud is and what it means for consumers.

5 Million Samsung TV Apps have been downloaded proving that the demand for Smart TV apps is rising. Learn which apps are the most popular and what this means to other Smart TV manufacturers.

Check out a complete review of the Sony SMP-N100 media player, plus some additional setup tips and tricks that are not included in the user manual.

Apple Airplay and Third Party Apps - iPhones, iPads and iPods with the iOS 4.3 update or above can use AirPlay to stream videos from many types of apps including fitness apps, videos in interactive magazines, even video files stored outside of iTunes. Learn about the apps you didn't know could stream to the Apple TV using AirPlay, and how well...

What is media file compression? Learn what file compression is, why it is needed and how it affects sound and picture quality of video, music, and photos.

Crackle is a free service that lets you stream full-length uncut movies and TV shows from online. The catch is that the movies and TV shows are interrupted by commercials. Find out if Crackle's free movies and TV make you want to quit your Netflix and Hulu Plus subscriptions.

Samsung Apps - Just as iPhones and Android Phones have Apps, an increasing number of TVs or Blu-ray disc players can have apps too. Samsung Apps is one example of apps included in Blu-ray players and TV that bring useful and fun internet content and activities to your TV and home theater viewing experience. Check out the following four-article...

Samsung has more than 200 apps for the Samsung Smart TVs. Here is a list of the top ten apps you should download. Games, helpful apps and exercise apps are some of the best-suited for the Samsung TV big screen.

There are over 200 Samsung Apps for Samsung Smart TVs. Find out more about the available apps and get the scoop on which apps are best and which apps you might not want.

Samsung Apps have changed network TVS. Samsung's Smart TVs are not only network TVs that connect to a couple of services but there are specially designed games, informational apps and more. Find out how Smart TVs are adding apps and following the example of smart phones.

Samsung's Smart TVs have apps like you might find on a smart phone. Find out how to access the apps, set up an account, buy app cash, purchase, and download apps.

The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has filed a copyright infringement suit against Zediva just a week after the DVD streaming service launched to the public. Learn the background of this kind of case and what damages the MPAA is seeking.

The Internet and Home Networks have changed the way we access movies, music, and other options on our home theater systems. As a result, Media Servers are now something that consumers need not only know about, but how to use. Learn the details on how Media Server hardware and software works.

A media server is a device that gathers, organizes, and stores all your media files in a central location. To stream your photos, music and movies to a media streamer or network media player, you need a media server. Learn what media server is and how it organizes your media files to make it easier to find the media you want to watch or hear.

To share the photos, music and movies saved on your computer may require media server software. Learn how media server software have different features to make it easier to find and stream the media you want to your network media player, media streamer, network Blu-ray Disc player, TV, or home theater receiver.

For people who want to stream new movie titles and don't want to wait until they are released on DVD, DirecTV, Comcast and Vudu will offer premium Video On Demand. Learn when it will start, what movies will be shown and how much it will cost to rent these new releases.

As consumer electronics get more complicated and the speed of technology changes quickly, the need to keep a product up-to-date, is critical. Firmware updates were developed as a way to add features and perform "bug fixes" in products. Find out everything you need to know about firmware updates.

How to fix a failed firmware update. Troubleshooting when your network media player or media streamer stops working after an upgrade. Where to download firmware updates for Roku, Western Digital, Seagate, Boxee Box and home theater components.

The newest features and bug-fixes are delivered to your network media player or media streamer via firmware upgrades. Learn how to set your network media player to automatically upgrade or how to manually upgrade online.

Zediva offers day-of-release DVD streaming, calling itself an Online DVD rental service. However, there has been some discussion on whether Zediva adheres to copyright law. Has Zediva found a loophole in copyright law that will allow it to continue be able to offer Online DVD Rentals? Read my article for more details.

Zediva is a new video streaming service that can be played on media streamers and networked TVs that have a web browser. Learn how this inexpensive video streaming service can offer day-of-release DVD titles and how it compares to Vudu, Amazon on Demand and other online video on demand services.

Zediva launches a new online DVD rental streaming video service but was forced to close registration in the first day it was opened to the public, causing a delay in the launch. Find out more about Zediva, and why is has attracted so much interest.

Firmware runs network media players, media streamers, networked TVs and home theater components. What is firmware and what you need to know about upgrading firmware to get new features.

It has been reported that AT&T will impose a internet usage cap for their DSL and U-Verse internet services. This cap will limit how much a customer can stream, download and upload from online.

Now that you are streaming online videos to your network media players, media streamers and network TVs, you may be using more than your monthly internet data limits. Learn about "Fair Use" policies and how internet service providers will charge you or limit your internet speeds if you exceed your internet usage allotment.

Netflix will add classic and some current season CBS TV shows to their Instant Queue online video streaming service. Learn when will you be able to stream classics like "Star Trek" and "The Twilight Zone" to your network media player or media streamer.

Amazon adds free streaming of movie and TV shows to Amazon Prime members. Learn more about Amazon Instant Video, Amazon Prime memberships and how to use it on a Roku Box or Google TV.

Redbox is building on the success of their DVD rental kiosks to add an upcoming subscription online video service that will put them in direct competition with Netflix. Learn more about Redbox's plans discussed in the transcripts of the Coinstar Analyst's meeting.

Pandora is one of the most popular internet music streaming services. Check out everything you need to know about Pandora, including some great tips and tricks to making a your own personal music library that you can access on a variety of internet connected devices and your home theater system.

Pandora Tips - In this second part on how to customize your Pandora stations, you'll learn how to combine tools to get a specific type of music or to get a wider ranger of types of music.

How to Setup Home Share in iTunes and on Apple TV.

AirPlay lets you stream movies, music and photos from your iPhone, iPad, iPod or iTunes to your Apple TV. Learn what you need to make AirPlay work.

If you want to stream videos to your network media player from Netflix and Vudu, you want a high speed internet connection. Learn how fast of an internet connection you need to stream Netflix and Vudu content.

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.

Iomega TV with Boxee will be available in February. Find out how Iomega's new media streamer compares with the original Boxee Box.

What is a network media player? Find out what Network Media Player is and how this device makes it possible to view and listen to your computer's libraries of photos, TV shows and movies on your TV, and listen to music on your home theater speakers.

Find out the similarities and differences between a network media player and a media streamer.

As a result of increased convergence of the PC and Home Theater, a new type of product has emerged, referred to as the Network Media Player or Media Extender. These products allow access to PC media content or the streaming/downloading of audio, video, and still image content directly from the internet that can be played on your TV or home theater system. In addition to standalone devices, Media Player/Extender capability is also being built into other products, such as Blu-ray Disc players and even TVs. For a look at Media Player/Extender options that might work well with your home theater, check out my Network Media Player/Extender Top Picks.

What is Vudu? Check out an overview of Vudu and Learn about how to get Blu-ray quality streaming movies from the Vudu box and Vudu app for your network media players, media streaming devices, networked TVs and home theater components.

As a result of increased audio and video content available via the internet, there is now a big emphasis in the integration of the internet with the home theater experience. There are several ways to integrate internet, as well as PC-stored content on your home theater system. For more details, check out my article: Six Ways to Incorporate the Internet into Your Home Theater System.

There are advantages and disadvantages to integrating the internet with a home theater system. For more details, check out my article: Pros and Cons of an Internet-Enabled Home Theater Setup.

What is the difference between streaming music or a movie and downloading it? This article tells you what you need to know when streaming or downloading media to your network media player or computer.

Many Blu-ray Disc players can do more than just play Blu-ray Discs, DVDs, and CD, they can also access a variety of internet content. For more details, check out What is a Network-Enabled Blu-ray Disc Player?

An Internet-enabled TV is a set that is factory designed to connect directly to the Web and display content from the internet. For more details, check out About.com's Internet TV FAQs.

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.

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.

Are the TV networks really holding out on Google TV? Will this affect Google TV's search for TV shows? Two web articles report what is happening with NBC, CBS and ABC and Google TV.

Learn the details of how you can get Google TV.

Boxee and D-Link announced that the much awaited Boxee Box will finally be available for purchase.

Although Apple TVs only work with iTunes, here are the top 5 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.

A NAS, or network attached storage device may be the best place to save your media library. Find out if you you should use a NAS device for your network media player to access your photos, music and movies over your home network.

Roku boxes are very popular, but how well does it really perform? Find out in our review.

Seagate's GoFlex Home Network Attached Storage device is a way for home networking beginners to share their media. The GoFlex Home comes in 1 TB and 2 TB models to save growing media libraries. For more details, read our review.

Google TV Basics - With a Google TV, you have a whole new way to watch your TV. But Google TV is not a television, and it is not only the internet on your TV. Find out exactly what Google TV is.

Many people imagine a television when they hear about Apple TV. Apple TV is not a television. Find out what an Apple TV is.

Hulu Plus has announced that they are offering lower monthly rates and crediting early subscribers. Learn the details and what new devices will join those that offer Hulu Plus

The Netgear Stora, network attached storage (NAS) device is an easy to use, reliable solution with many options to remotely access. Find out if the Netgear Stora is the might NAS solution for you.

The Netgear Stora and Seagates GoFlex Home are two of the best network attached storage (NAS) devices. Find out how to decide which of these NAS devices is right for you.

Are you looking for a Network Media player that has a lot of flexibility? If so, check out our review of the WD TV Live Plus.

How to Buy a Network Media Player For You or For Those on Your Gift List

Which Network Media Player is Right For Each Person on Your Gift List?

TVs and Home Theater Components with Built-in Network Media Players - 2010

Network Media Player Accessories.

Samsung AllShare TV - Galaxy S Phones - Galaxy Tab and Wifi Camera/Camcorder - Example of DLNA

Gift subscriptions and gift cards to online media streaming sites--Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Napster, Amazon On Demand, and iTunes--can be bought online and emailed or printed instantly. These make a perfect gift or addition to the gift of a network media player or media streamer. Find out how to get these great last-minute gifts that will be...

Media Streamers or Network Media Players That Access Netflix, Hulu and Other Content - If you want to stream videos, music or play slideshows from online, you need to know which media streamers and network media players have which online services. Get links to lists of devices that play Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Napster, Amazon on Demand and...

Internet Connected TV - NPD Group released the results of their "Connected TV Owners Study." See the results and how people are using the network TV's features and are "very satisfied."

Sears and Kmart have opened their Alphaline Video On Demand movie and TV download or rental service. Learn the details of pricing, access, and which brands and devices can play this RoxioNow-powered service.

Logitech has offered a response to rumors that they are stopping production of their Google TV stand-alone box, the Logitech Revue.

Rent or buy a movie or TV show from Amazon On Demand, and lear how you can receive $20 credit toward the purchase of a Roku XD media player.

Learn how the Pandora music streaming application works and how to customize your stations.

What is Pandora and why would you choose to this free music service instead of using another online streaming music service? Learn all about Pandora and what benefits you get when you upgrade to the Pandora One premium service.