av+

It's that time of year again.

If you're in the market for networking devices to upgrade your home's media-streaming capabilities, Black Friday is a great opportunity to fulfill that desire. As with everything else, not all networking devices are created equal. In fact when it comes to wireless routers, it's actually a better deal to pay the full price for one that works than getting a lemon for cheap.

But we're talking about getting the one that works for cheap here. And while I can't advise you on how great of a deal you'… Read more

Android owners relying on free antivirus apps may be headed for trouble.

Testing seven different free antivirus scanners for Android (PDF), AV-Test found most of them unreliable and unable to provide sufficient protection, especially in comparison to paid commercial apps.

Setting up its testbed, AV-Test ran the apps through their paces on a Samsung Galaxy Tab running Android 2.2.1.

The products tested were all downloaded from Google's Android Market and included Antivirus Free from Creative Apps, BluePoint Antivirus Free from BluePoint Security, GuardX Antivirus from Qstar, Kinetoo Malware Scan from CPU Media SARL, LabMSF Antivirus beta from … Read more

D-Link today announced its three new power-line solutions, the PowerLine AV Mini Adapter (model DHP-310AV), PowerLine AV Mini Adapter Kit (DHP-311AV), and PowerLine AV 4-port Switch Mini Adapter Starter Kit (DHP-348AV).

All of these new devices come in a compact design that's much smaller than similar products of the same standard. Unfortunately, they offer throughput speeds of only up to 200Mbps. Other power-line products on the market, such as the Netgear XAV5501 or even the D-Link AV 500 switch, support the faster 500Mbps power-line standard.

Nonetheless, the new adapters will make a great wireless alternative for the far corners that a Wi-Fi signal can't get to.… Read more

CNET reader Jibran writes:

Hi, I need your help. Currently I have my PS3 connected to my 5.1 AV receiver through the PS3's optical out. The TV is connected via HDMI. I'm planning to get an Xbox 360 also, but my dilemma is that how do I connect the Xbox 360 to the same AV receiver? There is only one optical input on the receiver.

Anxiously looking forward to your help.

Regards, Jibran

Great question, Jibran. There are several options. … Read more

The bottom line: Following on last year's big overhaul, Trend Micro makes a series of smaller changes to this year's Titanium security suites. AntiVirus Plus contains the core features, but it's really on a level with free competitors--and that's a hard sell.

Review: Last year was a headliner for Trend Micro's security suites. Overhauled with a lightweight interface and cloud-based detection, and rebranded as Trend Micro Titanium, the changes made the suite competitive again. The 2012 version builds on those improvements, so this year doesn't have a lot of big changes. Still, there are … Read more

The bottom line: Following on last year's big overhaul, Trend Micro makes a series of smaller changes to this year's Titanium security suites. Four differences make this version $10 cheaper than Titanium Maximum Security, but for many those will be must-haves.

Review: Last year was a headliner for Trend Micro's security suites. Overhauled with a lightweight interface and cloud-based detection, and rebranded as Trend Micro Titanium, the changes made the suite competitive again. The 2012 version builds on those improvements, so this year doesn't have a lot of big changes. Still, there are enough substantial changes … Read more

Not content to leave the streaming to the new SMP-N200 box, Sony announced two new AV receivers at CEDIA with integrated support for Netflix, YouTube, and Pandora. They'll be among the first receivers we've seen with streaming-video support; most networked AV receivers stick to streaming-music services. The STR-DA3700ES and STR-DA5700ES are part of Sony's high-end ES line, which means they're likely to carry hefty price tags when they're released in November.

Whether buyers want media streaming in their AV receivers has yet to be seen. As we've argued in the past, AV receivers typically aren't great media streamers, … Read more

The bottom line: Following on last year's big overhaul, Trend Micro makes a series of smaller changes to this year's Titanium security suites. While we loved the baked-in mobile support, free storage, and file encryption, inconsistent benchmarks hold the suites back.

Review: Last year was a headliner for Trend Micro's security suites. Overhauled with a lightweight interface and cloud-based detection, and rebranded as Trend Micro Titanium, the changes made the suite competitive again. The 2012 version builds on those improvements, so this year doesn't have a lot of big changes. Still, there are enough substantial changes … Read more

Sony AV receivers can be unpredictable, going from best in class one year to mediocre the next. The STR-DN1020 is Sony's midrange model for 2011, and it's underwhelming. It has fewer HDMI inputs than all of its competitors, it lacks the built-in AirPlay upgrade available on competing Denon and Pioneer options, and its paltry selection of streaming-media services is beaten by Onkyo and Yamaha. We'd be willing to accept those shortcomings if they were made up for with outstanding sound quality, but the STR-DN1020 was a step behind other midrange receivers to our ears. The STR-DN1020 doesn't have a deal-breaking flaw, but its competitors are better in every way that counts.

Read the full review of the Sony STR-DN1020.

… Read more