SmartStream

In the search for ways to free ourselves from the escalating costs of pay TV, the missing piece of the puzzle is the ability to stream and record live local TV broadcasts. We can stream movies, previous TV seasons, and many cable channels—from Food TV and A&E to Cartoon Network on Sling TV— but getting local TV is another matter.

A number of streaming media players have recently been upgraded to include basic voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Home, so I tested both systems on several players to see how close we’ve come to true hands-free control.

Netgear’s new Nighthawk X10 AD7200 router is a great choice for streaming 4K HDR content and VR games. Read on to find out why.

Paramount+ launched last week, absorbing and adding to the CBS All Access app. The newly rebranded service adds content from several channels brought to CBS following the 2019 merger of CBS and Viacom. Find out more about the expanded streaming service.

We revisit Plex to see how its new DVR and voice-control features work.

The Roku Smart Soundbar and Wireless subwoofer improve TV sound with a budget price tag that is even better during the holidays.