Barb Gonzalez

SmartStream
2018 Streaming Media Player and Content Roundup: It’s All About Convenience
Barb Gonzalez  |  Dec 27, 2018
If there is one word that describes the streaming innovations of 2018, it’s “convenience.” This year, more media players have added voice control through Google Assistant and Amazon Echo smart speakers, or voice remotes with built-in microphones. As live and recorded TV apps are being added to media players, users can now access all the content they want to watch without switching from one device to another.
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Hands On: Fire TV Recast DVR Brings Live TV and Recording to Amazon’s Ecosystem
Barb Gonzalez  |  Dec 12, 2018
The release of the Fire TV Recast DVR highlights Amazon’s effort to offer a complete streaming solution. The Recast is a network connected tuner and DVR that adds live TV and recording to Fire TV’s current offering of streaming apps and Amazon Prime premium channels like STARZ, HBO, Showtime, and more. It’s everything a cord-cutter could want.
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Hands On: Fire TV Cube - A Cross Between Amazon Echo and Fire TV
Barb Gonzalez  |  Nov 28, 2018
Although the Fire TV Cube was released by Amazon in June, it has not yet received the recognition or hype it deserves. The Cube is a cross between a smart speaker and a Fire TV media player. Like an Amazon Echo speaker, the Cube can hear commands from across the room and has a built-in speaker to play back its reply. Like a Fire TV media player, it streams from all the same apps as other Fire TV models and can play 4K HDR content.
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Hands On: Roku Wireless Speakers and TCL Roku TV
Barb Gonzalez  |  Nov 15, 2018
In line with Roku’s goal of keeping entertainment simple, the company is turning its sights on adding better quality audio to Roku TVs. This month, Roku is releasing wireless stereo speakers that work in conjunction with any Roku TV.
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Hands On: How Useful Is Voice Control with Popular Streaming Devices?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Nov 01, 2018
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.
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Updated Fire TV Stick 4K Can Handle More Formats and Control Your TV
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 17, 2018
Amazon’s updated Fire TV Stick 4K boasts an improved processor and a newly designed Alexa Voice remote.
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Netflix Gets a Welcome Facelift
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 19, 2018
Have you noticed Netflix has a new look? The leading movie streaming service has been rolling out new menus for its app over the past couple of months. While the change is not earth-shattering in terms of innovation, it’s a much-needed improvement that makes it faster and easier to scroll through titles.
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Plex Cloud Is Gone But Here’s a Viable Alternative
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 13, 2018
Streaming media company, Plex has announced the end of its Plex Cloud. Here’s what to do if you’re a Plex Cloud user.
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Orbi Voice Melds Smart Speaker Tech with Mesh Networking
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 30, 2018
Netgear’s Orbi Voice is a melding of smart speaker technology and mesh networking that makes sense.
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Comcast to Offer Amazon Prime Video on Xfinity X1
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 15, 2018
Comcast recently announced that its Xfinity X1 cable service will offer Amazon Prime Video alongside Netflix and YouTube streaming by the end of the year. The move supports the growing trend of cable and satellite companies providing streaming options alongside live TV channels to keep their customers from cutting the cord.
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