Televisions are no longer limited to watching television directly. Have you ever wanted to stream YouTube on the big screen? Wouldn't it be neat if you could play videos from a USB drive right on your TV? With media players, streamers, and HTPCs, all of that is possible.
The problem:what is the difference between these devices and which one is better for you? They all serve different purposes, so it's important that you understand what they're supposed to do before you make a purchase. Fortunately, everything is quite simple..
In the context of this post, media player refers to a device that can play digital media files from an internal hard drive or external storage drive. Media players are usually connected to a television, but can also be displayed on monitors and projectors depending on the make and model. Any new device you buy will have an HDMI connection; You may find that older projectors only provide VGA or composite input.
The emphasis on playing digital files is important, which means that analog devices (eg VHS players) and other playback devices (eg set-top boxes, DVD players) are not enough to be considered media players. However, if a VHS or DVD player can also play digitally stored files, then it would be a media player.
Media player can often be the most convenient option because of the simple steps involved:transfer the media files to a thumb drive, plug the thumb drive into the media player, and play the file you want. Or, in some cases, you can upload files directly to the media player by connecting it to your computer over a home network.
Few devices today are strictly media players; most of them incorporate media playback as one feature among many. For example, modern game consoles have been trending towards home entertainment systems for some time now (since PS2 and X360). The real area of interest these days is with media players that include streaming capabilities.
ONE media streamer is a device that connects to a TV and is capable of streaming media over the Internet or a local network, from your computer or a remote website (for example, YouTube or Netflix). Some media streamers are only media players, but as we will see later, some are also equipped with traditional media playback functionality.
One of the newest trends in streaming media is smart TV. What is a smart TV? 6 of the best on the market today What is a Smart TV? 6 of the best on the market today Most of the TVs you look at right now are smart TVs, but what is a smart TV and which ones are the best on the market right now? Read More smart up to a point. They come with computer-like features like USB ports, WiFi connection, and apps that allow easy media streaming from all kinds of sources.
Roku is a dedicated media streaming device, and there are a lot of good things to say about it. We haven't just reviewed the Roku Streaming Stick Roku Streaming Stick Review and Giveaway Roku Streaming Stick Review and Giveaway All the features of a full Roku experience, in a small form factor that connects directly to HDMI - the Roku Streaming Stick is offered? Read on to discover and win one for yourself. Learn More &Roku 3 Roku 3 Review &Giveaway Roku 3 Review &Giveaway As more content becomes available online, the need for a traditional TV subscription may not be enough to justify the costs. If you're already a subscriber to services like Netflix or Hulu Plus, you can now... Read More Opinion] Electronics can be bad. I recently wrote an article about using the Xbox 360 as a media center. I came to the conclusion that it was not the best option. Sensing my betrayal, the 360 quickly... Read More Its flexibility lets you stream media in a variety of ways. 3 Great Ways to Enjoy Your Own Media on the Roku 3 3 Great Ways to Enjoy Your Own Media on the Roku 3 Regular TVs are a thing of the past. These days, if you're setting out to get a new TV, it's probably a smart TV. That TV will be 'smart' in the same way your… Read More Plex is widely considered by many to be the best media player, manager, and streaming app available for Windows, Mac, and even mobile phones (although mobile apps aren't free. If... Read more media servers).
Google Chromecast Google Chromecast Review and Giveaway Google Chromecast Review and Giveaway We're giving Google Chromecast away, so read our review and then join the competition to win. Read More is also noteworthy, but it is not device standalone and requires another device to start playback (such as a phone, tablet, or laptop). It's a small dongle that plugs directly into a TV's HDMI port and makes it easy to "cast" media over a WiFi network. Besides its low price, there are so many creative uses for Chromecast 8 Creative Uses for Google Chromecast 8 Creative Uses for Google Chromecast We have found 8 unique uses for Google Chromecast. Read on to learn how you can make even more use of your Chromecast. Read More
And then we have one of the pioneers of streaming TV media:Apple TV Apple TV Review and Giveaway Apple TV Review and Giveaway Apple introduced its digital media player back in 2007, and it's currently in its third generation of hardware. Read more . Suffice to say, this device is stylish and packed with performance. If you're an Apple fanatic, it should fit right in with any existing Apple environment.
If you're exploring the idea of these devices but can't decide which one you want, head over to our Chromecast vs. Apple TV vs. Roku Media Streamer Comparison:Which Media Streamer Is Right For You? Chromecast vs. AppleTV vs. Roku:Which Media Streamer Is Right For You? Media streaming devices are simply awesome. Those little boxes that plug into your TV can add a host of entertainment options to your living room. But which device is best for you? Read more . It should give you a good starting point for decision making.
Home theater PC , or more simply known as HTPCs , are computers specifically designed and built to integrate with a home theater system, usually with quiet fans so as not to detract from the media viewing experience. It's an all-in-one solution for those who are tired of dealing with dozens of different devices, each with their own unique features.
With an HTPC, all you have to do is plug it into your TV Your first home theater computer:YouTube videos on your TV and more Your first home theater computer:YouTube videos on your TV and more This article will help you will provide an overview of how to set up an HTPC, the incredible power it offers, ways to customize yours, and how to control your system with ease. Read More As long as you have the right software installed, you can perform whatever you need:CD playback, DVD playback, digital media playback, media streaming, and more.
For Windows based HTPCs with TVR/PVR functionality, Windows Media Center is a good option. Linux HTPCs (or Raspberry Pis) work fine with Kodi Entertainment Center How to Set Up Your XBMC Media Center How to Set Up Your XBMC Media Center XBMC may have evolved to Kodi, but if you have an old version installed, this guide will help you get set up and start. Read More Or if you want an alternative, Plex Home Theater Your Guide to Plex - The Awesome Media Center Your Guide to Plex - The Awesome Media Center If you have a lot of movies and TV shows saved locally, you should install Plex. And this is the only guide to getting started with Plex that you will ever need to read. Read More
If you miss being able to control your entertainment from afar, have no fear. There are many options to control your media center remotely 7 Amazing Kinds of HTPC &Media Center Remote Controls 7 Amazing Kinds of HTPC &Media Center Remote Controls Do you have a media center? Have you ever gotten tired of fumbling around with a full-size keyboard and mouse while trying to watch Hulu or Netflix? Not only some controls can do without the unpleasant tangle of... Read More .
While HTPCs offer the most power and flexibility (such as better support for a wider variety of file formats), they also require a great deal of technical knowledge to configure properly. If plug-and-go is more your style, you'll want to look into media players and media streamers, or, ideally, a device that does both.
Which one do you like the most? Have you ever used a Roku, Apple TV or Chromecast? What do you think about them? Share with us in the comments below!
