SmartStream

Sort By: Post DateTitle Publish Date
SmartStream
Watch Together Online with Netflix Party and TwoSeven
Barb Gonzalez  |  May 20, 2020  | 
It has been months since we could go out to the movies with friends and family, but there still are ways to view movies with friends during this time of safe social distancing. At a basic level, you could coordinate a movie start time while having a FaceTime conversation on your phones. You could also start a movie and share your screen in Zoom, Discord, or Microsoft Teams. But a better option is to install a web browser extension that synchronizes the viewing experience alongside video-chat or text messaging.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
What is a Media Controller?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 01, 2012  | 
A media controller is not a device or a physical remote control. You can’t go to the store and buy a media controller. "Media Controller" is a DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) certification. Part of a home network streaming media solution, the media controller finds photos, music and movies on connected media servers, and sends (pushes) the media file to an enabled media player, Smart TV or other streaming device. Typically you’ll find that a media controller is an app on a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Continue Reading »
Other TechSmartStream
What Is a Media Renderer?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 11, 2012  | 
Media renderer is another Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) certification that is part of the home network streaming experience. It can play videos, photos and music that are sent to it from a media controller. I know of no devices that are exclusively media renderers. Typically the ability to accept media files is a feature of media streaming device.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
What You Can Do to Save Net Neutrality (Again)
Barb Gonzalez  |  May 24, 2017  | 
Net neutrality is being threatened again. What you can do to stop the repeal of the Title II Order that allows the FCC to protect our fair and free access to the internet.
Continue Reading »
Other TechSmartStream
What You Need to Know About Media Servers
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 09, 2012  | 
In the world of digital media, there’s no doubt that you have downloaded movies and/or music, and saved digital photos to your computer. Now you want to watch them on your TV and home theater. Before you can stream the movies, music or photos from your computer, networked external hard drive, or network attached storage (NAS) drive, the media player must first find the sources—“see” the device where you have saved your media files. The computer or device where your files are saved is called a “media server.”
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
What You Need to Know About Miracast
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 16, 2013  |  First Published: Aug 15, 2013  | 

Miracast can send photos, music and movies from a smartphone or tablet to your TV. Find out how it works and how it compares with Apple AirPlay and the Google Chromecast.

Continue Reading »
SmartStream
What You Need to Know About Miracast
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 16, 2013  |  First Published: Aug 15, 2013  | 
Miracast can send photos, music and movies from a smartphone or tablet to your TV. Find out how it works and how it compares with Apple AirPlay and the Google Chromecast.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Where to Stream Black Movies and Documentaries for Free
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jun 10, 2020  | 
In the wake of protests following the death of George Floyd, Hollywood studios and streaming services are offering movies, TV shows, and documentaries on African-American culture, lifestyle, and history for free during the month of June. Here's a rundown of what’s available.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Where to Stream Oscar-Nominated Movies
Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 29, 2024  | 
Have you seen any or all of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture? Or any of the films nominated in one of the other six categories? The 96th Academy Awards ceremony commences on Sunday, March 10 so there’s still time to catch any (or all) of the flicks you haven’t seen. To save you time, we put together a list of movies in the major nominating categories with details on where you can watch them.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Where to Stream Super Bowl LVII, Puppy Bowl XIX or the Great American Rescue Bowl
Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 08, 2023  | 
As we increasingly ditch our traditional ways of watching broadcast TV, we're no longer switching on the TV and watching the game. It's just as likely that you'll stream Super Bowl LVII, and here's where to find it. If the big game isn't your thing, perhaps you'd prefer to stream one of the furry games like Puppy Bowl XIX or the Great American Rescue Bowl.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Where to Watch Your Favorite Holiday Movies: A Comprehensive Guide
Barb Gonzalez  |  Nov 29, 2023  | 
With the ever-growing fragmentation of streaming services, we now need to search to find the Christmas movies and shows we watch year after year. Here’s a little help.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Why People Still Rent DVDs
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 25, 2018  | 
How choice, community support, and nostalgia are keeping the last Blockbuster alive in Bend, Oregon. After spending an afternoon at my local blockbuster, I learned a lot about who still rents videos and why.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Why Westworld and Other Titles Will Be Removed From HBO Max
Barb Gonzalez  |  Dec 14, 2022  | 
Following this past year’s merger of HBO Max and Discovery, it appears the new service will be called simply “Max.” This could be a foretelling of the new service, as many series, including Westworld, were canceled and will soon be removed from the service altogether. CEO David Zaslav is taking a radical stance to reduce costs and make investors happy.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Will Free Ad-Based Streaming Replace Broadcast TV?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 10, 2022  | 
Free Ad-Supported TV (FAST) has become the focus of streaming services and studios. More channels are being added to free linear “live TV” services like Pluto, Tubi, Xumo, PLEX, Roku Channel, and others. Established stream-on-demand services like Netflix, Disney+, and Warner Bros. Discovery are exploring lower-priced ad-supported tiers. Streaming is beginning to look more and more like traditional broadcast TV.
Continue Reading »
SmartStream
Will Short Video Streaming Kill the Feature Film?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Mar 20, 2014  | 
As the popularity of streaming short videos continues to grow, what will happen to feature film length movies, and TV shows? A panel at the Sun Valley Film Festival discusses the changing face of streaming content.
Continue Reading »

Pages

X