Barb Gonzalez

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.”
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Other TechSmartStream
‘Fling’ Web Videos to Your TV with Flingo
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 05, 2012
Media streamers and Smart TVs are only as good as the content they can provide. Yes, it's important to have good picture quality, but often the determination of which player you buy comes down to what you can stream to it? If you like TV shows, you want Hulu Plus. For movies make sure you have Netflix or Vudu. Beyond the big-named online streaming services, there is a plethora of special interest websites that stream short-form videos. Thanks to app publisher, Flingo, many of those channels are becoming available on media players and Smart TVs. The Flingo Queue adds the possibility of watching any video you find on the web on TV.
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SmartStream
New Epix and Amazon Deal: Is it time to Get Amazon Prime?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 03, 2012
As Netflix's exclusive deal with EPIX has expired, Amazon jumped at the opportunity to enter into a new multi-year licensing agreement with the cable channel content provider. The deal brings EPIX movies and original programming to Amazon Prime Instant Video streaming.
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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.

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Media Server Reviews
Sony SMP-N200 Media Player
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 19, 2012

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $100 At A Glance: Adds Vudu and more apps to SMP-N100 • Smooth streaming performance • Controlled by other HDMI CEC remotes • Xross menu displays only 10 files at a glance

Testing the Sony SMP-N200 made me consider how far network media players have come in the past few years. Sony’s base model, an upgraded version of its first player, the SMP-N100, handles most of the basic media streaming options with ease. It plays nicely with others, easily finding connections to DLNA servers, computers, tablet media controllers, and smartphone apps. It plays a wide variety of file formats. And it does it all for $100.

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SmartStream
Nintendo TVii Comes to Wii U
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 18, 2012
The upcoming Wii U will include Nintendo TVii. See how Nintendo is rocketing past its competition to bring you a complete streaming video experience.
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Media Server Reviews
NAS Drives to Store Your Media Libraries
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 11, 2012
It was a steadily growing progression. The more I streamed movies and music to my media players and home theater, the more movies and music I downloaded. My movie folder was stuffed with high-definition videos. There were more songs than I could listen to in a month. My media libraries had grown to hundreds of gigabytes and were slowing down my computer.
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SmartStream
Mirror your PC Wirelessly to a Neo TV Pro
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 30, 2012
Mirror your PC wirelessly to a Neo TV Pro for unlimited streaming from the Internet displayed on your TV.
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Streaming Device Reviews
Boxee Box Media Streamer
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 30, 2012

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $180 At A Glance: Includes Web browser • Connect to Slingbox via the Slingbox app • Direct access to movies from the Web, Vudu, or your own digital collection

The Boxee Box is unlike any other media streamer or media player. From its cockeyed box shape that’s missing a corner and its froglike logo, to its menu organization and social video-sharing features, it’s easy to see that Boxee stands out.

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SmartStream
The New and Improved Hulu
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 23, 2012
Online TV show streaming website, Hulu, has a new look. See the new features including a better design to view on an HDTV.
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