On 9/1/10 Apple announced the upcoming release of its smaller, more cost effective second generation Apple TV. At about a quarter of the size of the original, its design has been simplified to just five connectivity ports (including HDMI), but its capabilities are far greater. This Wi-Fi enabled device can now stream movies and TV shows right to your television. No more purchasing and storing on an onboard storage device. Programs can now be rented and watched in HD at your convenience from ABC, and FOX with TV shows at just $0.99 an episode, or using your Netflix® subscription. Plus Apple TV can be synced with your iPhone, iPod or iPad to stream music and movies from those devices directly to your home theater system. What will this giant package in a tiny box cost? While the first gen Apple TV sold for $230, the new, smaller, more capable, HD streaming, second gen Apple TV will be released in late September at the amazing price of $99.
With so many devices already available with similar capabilities it is important to research and compare before making a purchase. It is also important to base the purchase on preferences of use. For instance, for someone who is an avid video gamer, a gaming console with internet streaming capabilities may be preferable.
In the world of video gamers, the three most popular consoles Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3 now come with built in Wi-Fi. Each differs in its abilities beyond just gaming.
The Nintendo Wii (Prices ranging from $179 – $220 depending on bundle selected) can stream Netflix® movies and shows, however is very limited in its player to player interactions for gaming. Game designers must write the online interactive abilities into each game because it is not a standard formatted part of the gaming console itself. So the method of interacting with other players online varies from game to game.
The XBox 360 (Prices ranging from $200- $300 depending on bundle selected) can also stream Netflix® movies and shows, and goes a step further with limited movie and show titles available for purchase and downloading through the Xbox Live network. This network is also more gamer-friendly allowing you to add gamers to your friend list whom you can invite to play numerous popular game titles with. It also allows you to communicate with other gamers via text messaging, email, and voice depending on preference and accessories you choose. The down side? An Xbox Live membership is not free. Subscriptions can be purchased in different increments from 30 days to a year at a time.
Lastly, the PS3 (Prices ranging from $300 – $400 depending on bundle selected) is also Netflix® friendly but comes complete with a BluRay player as well. The PlayStation Network is gamer friendly in much same way XBox Live is however, without the membership fees. Also found on PlayStation Network are thousands of movie titles and popular TV show episodes available for purchase and download in HD.
For the non-gamer there are also numerous devices designed for streaming Netflix® and other internet content to your TV. As with the gaming consoles each will have its own set of capabilities and choice will be based on preference and convenience. A few of the more popular choices include Roku, Seagate, and some Blu Ray players as well.
The Roku ($59-$99) is a Wi-Fi enabled device that like the Apple TV will stream Netflix®, internet videos, and other content to your TV in HD, however the Fox and ABC rentals are not available through this device.
The Seagate Free Agent Theatre ($129-$249) in addition to streaming Netflix® in HD, plays content from your computer, digital camera, flash drive or external drives via USB ports. Wi-Fi is not built in and the adapter is sold separately. As with the Roku, Fox and ABC rentals are not available through this device.
For Blu Ray players we looked at the Vizio Blu Ray Disc Player ($199) with wireless internet apps. This Wi-Fi enabled device not only streams Netflix® it also allows you to connect to the internet to access thousands of high definition titles using VUDU**. Listen to personalized music stations at no cost through Pandora® and access the most popular internet services such as Flickr®, Picasa™, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia®, news, sports, weather etc. Still, the $0.99 rentals from ABC and Fox are not available with this device.
As with any purchase, weighing the pros and cons, and deciding what features and capabilities matter most to you, and will serve you best are key to making the right decision. It’s also important to remember that competition and necessity are rapidly and continually propelling the advancement of technology, so if there is nothing on the market that meets your needs today, there will be tomorrow.
