Streaming video

Why Boxee Box's TV tuner needs DVR support

Boxee co-founder Avner Ronen took to the official Boxee blog this morning to announce the Boxee Live TV tuner.

It's a $50 TV tuner dongle coming in January that connects to one of the Boxee Box's USB ports and works with either free over-the-air TV signals (which typically include the major networks, plus PBS) or unencrypted Clear QAM cable channels. (There's a useful overview on Boxee's site.)

The pitch is that the Live TV tuner makes the Boxee Box an exceptional cable-cutting device, letting you still watch major TV events like local sports and award shows, while catching up on other TV and movie content via streaming video services like Netflix and Vudu. (But not Hulu Plus, which still hasn't been added to Boxee, despite the announcement over a year ago.)

The catch? That all sounds great, until you remember that every modern HDTV already has a built-in ATSC tuner that allows you to watch live TV.… Read more

Roku LT review: Killer $50 streaming-media box

Here's how you know the Roku LT is a great product: it's both the cheapest and one of the best streaming-video boxes we've tested. Roku has managed to shave the price all the way down to $50, jettisoning unnecessary features, while keeping all of the streaming content that we love.

The Roku LT supports the same list of channels as Roku's more expensive models, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, Pandora, MLB.TV, MOG, Rdio, and HBO Go, along with tons of additional niche content. We even like the remote control better than the one that comes with the Roku 2 XS, appreciating its simpler layout and fingerprint-resistant matte finish.… Read more

The $50 Roku LT doesn't disappoint

The $50 Roku LT showed up in the CNET office today, and it lives up to the hype.

We were worried that Roku would have to cut some serious corners to hit the $50 price point, but after some quality hands-on time with Roku's new budget streaming-video box, it looks like a winner.… Read more

Google TV's Honeycomb update: Still not ready for prime time (hands-on)

It took Google an entire year to deliver a major update to the first round of Google TV products, and it has not been worth the wait.

When Google announced the Honeycomb update last week, we had a twinge of optimism, based on the slick press photos and the stated mission of simplifying the user experience, which was sorely needed. But after playing with our Sony NSZ-GT1 Blu-ray player with Google TV for several hours today, our initial impressions were mostly of frustration.… Read more

Google TV gets major Honeycomb update

A year after Google TV first hit the market, Google has announced the first major update to the Google TV platform.

The latest update is built on Android's Honeycomb operating system and Google promises a significantly simplified user interface. The update also finally enables Google TV products to access the Android Market and Google says there will be 30 TV-optimized apps at launch.

From the released screenshots, the new interface certainly looks to be a big improvement on last year's Google TV experience. There's a new section called TV and Movies, which presents a browsing-friendly interface that … Read more

Will Xbox Bing solve the video search problem?

Streaming video has exploded in the home theater.

Only a few years ago there was only Netflix, but now Amazon Instant, Hulu Plus, and Vudu all offer top-notch streaming video services. The variety is great, but it forces streaming video fans to keep a mental catalog of where their favorite shows and movies are available. When I rereviewed the Apple TV, I almost rented "The Trip" for $5 before I realized it was available for free on Netflix.… Read more

Apple TV gets AirPlay mirroring, Photo Stream, NHL, and WSJ

The biggest updates from iOS 5 are for the iPhone and iPad, but the Apple TV also received a few improvements this afternoon.

As expected, the latest update adds AirPlay mirroring, which streams exactly what's on your iPad or iPhone's screen directly to your Apple TV. Apple's new cloud photo storage service, Photo Stream, was another addition, along with support for streaming video services from the NHL and The Wall Street Journal. (Movie trailers were also listed as an update, but we're pretty sure they've been there all along.)

While none of those services are a major addition for Apple's streaming video box, don't forget that iTunes Match is right around the corner with a "late October" release date.… Read more

Roku announces $50 LT box, adds HBO Go

Just a few months after Roku introduced a $59.99 entry-level streaming video player, the company has lowered the bar further with a new $49.99 player, the Roku LT. That's half of the price of an Apple TV, which retails for $99.99.

The new player offers the same 720p high-definition video and built-in wireless of the $59.99 Roku 2 HD but leaves out the Bluetooth and microSD card slot (meaning that you can't add the Wii-like remote to play games).

Roku also offers the Roku 2 XD ($79.99) and Roku 2 XS ($99.99). … Read more

WD TV Live (2011) review: Full stream ahead

Following the success of the WD TV Live Hub, Western Digital has now introduced the diskless version in the new WD TV Live (2011).

The new Live adds a couple more killer features, namely built-in Wi-Fi and support for the Spotify music-streaming service, to the already long list of services and file formats handled by its predecessors. And all for only $99, but there is a lot of competition at this price level. There were still some bugs left to iron out and the Spotify service is a little daunting in comparison to its desktop counterpart, but in all this … Read more

Which streaming-media device is right for you?

Whether it's someone looking to "cut the cord" and save money, or just a way to expand your on-demand video options, online streaming video is more popular than ever. But with so many options now available, what's the best solution -- be it for Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu, Amazon, iTunes, or any of the myriad other online video sources?

As with anything in real life, there isn't one simple, straightforward answer that works for everyone. But we've created a set of different recommendations that should work for nearly anybody, based upon your individual priorities.

The best news for anyone shopping in late 2012? Prices for excellent media-streaming devices now start at just $50, with plenty of other great options (including brand-new Blu-ray players) at less than $120.… Read more