streaming netflix etc
Is there something other than chromecast for streaming movies etc. through wifi?
Forum Discussion
Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku-like devices from Netgear, Samsung and others will all feed a HDTV, as well as most BluRay players (all BluRay players have HDTV streaming apps, but not all have built in WiFi, about $10 price difference).
Some gaming boxes do the same job; my kids first started streaming through a Wii (but switched to a BluRay player) and I'm pretty sure the latest XBox and PlayStation boxes also have streaming apps.
Other stick-like devices include Roku Stick and Kindle Fire Stick.
What works for you will depend on what you want to stream. E.G. my sister's Apple TV will not stream content from Amazon Prime (although almost everything else is covered) and do not expect the Kindle Fire Stick and Amazon Fire TV to have apps for streaming content from the iTunes store. In addition to the Amazon vs Apple commercial issues, you need to make sure you get the right device if you want to stream the on-demand content from premium cable providers (e.g. HBO Go is not on every kind of streaming device). Google devices also do not do Amazon streams, and Amazon doesn't do HBO and some sports streams.
If you are not talking about feeding a TV, but just watching content, almost any Android or iOS Smart Phone or tablet will stream content from most sources to play on the phone or tablet, but not necessarily on the TV. In most cases the streamed content has to be picked up by what the device connected to the TV, with the relationship between iOS (and OS-X) devices and the Apple TV being an exception.
Some gaming boxes do the same job; my kids first started streaming through a Wii (but switched to a BluRay player) and I'm pretty sure the latest XBox and PlayStation boxes also have streaming apps.
Other stick-like devices include Roku Stick and Kindle Fire Stick.
What works for you will depend on what you want to stream. E.G. my sister's Apple TV will not stream content from Amazon Prime (although almost everything else is covered) and do not expect the Kindle Fire Stick and Amazon Fire TV to have apps for streaming content from the iTunes store. In addition to the Amazon vs Apple commercial issues, you need to make sure you get the right device if you want to stream the on-demand content from premium cable providers (e.g. HBO Go is not on every kind of streaming device). Google devices also do not do Amazon streams, and Amazon doesn't do HBO and some sports streams.
If you are not talking about feeding a TV, but just watching content, almost any Android or iOS Smart Phone or tablet will stream content from most sources to play on the phone or tablet, but not necessarily on the TV. In most cases the streamed content has to be picked up by what the device connected to the TV, with the relationship between iOS (and OS-X) devices and the Apple TV being an exception.
