The Roku Express and Roku Streaming Stick+ are the most open devices, meaning they aren’t tied to a particular service or suite of devices like Amazon or Apple. Apple TV 4K also has this ability using AirPlay, but you can just play directly from the streaming device as well.Īll standalone streaming device options are fairly similar, and your choice really depends on the type of media you want to access and what kind of devices you already have and use in your household. Some, like Chromecast, play content from your computer or phone by using a “casting” function that communicates with your TV. Most digital media players or streaming devices plug into your TV and play directly from the device. Gaming systems, like Play Station and Xbox, can also be used for streaming. You’re usually much better off getting a digital media player for each of the TVs in your household, as streaming apps are usually made specifically for these devices and will be updated more frequently than with a smart TV. They may also be called a streaming device, media player, stick or box. You’ll also want to check to make sure you can access the apps you will use the most before expecting a smart TV will have everything you need.ĭigital media players are separate devices that connect to a TV through an HDMI or USB port. However, smart TVs may not have as many apps as a digital media player, and new apps may not get added as often. If you have a smart TV, you don’t need a separate digital media player as long as you like the interface and everything functions well for you. With a smart TV, you will have access to preloaded and downloadable apps that can be used to stream media through the TV itself. Streaming devices can be broken into two basic categories: smart TVs and digital media players (DMPs). Is 4K important to you? Are you a Prime member or Apple devotee? How about voice search? These are important questions to ask yourself before buying a streaming device. While it can be hard to tell them apart, there are features and compatibilities to consider based on how and where you plan to use them. In the case of the Fire TV, that means loss of anything better than Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, or lower bit rates if it thinks the bit rate is too high for the target player to handle, etc.These days, most streaming devices have the same key functions and apps. It means if the file has surround sound, higher rez or bit rate, etc, Kodi plays them and passes them through… Where as Plex re-encodes them on the fly to the parameters it thinks the target playback device can handle. It plays the files natively, without touching them, on my player. Why do I use it? I drop my movies, videos and MP3’s onto folders my Kodi server can access. (see Kodi.TV) You can also get plug-ins to add features (I don’t use plug-ins). Its rarely you asked what Kodi is… its a media player with a nice GUI, movie info scraper,etc. Since first getting my 1st Fire TV box, I have 3 Fire TV Boxes and 2 Sticks in my house. While I also have a 2nd Gen Fire TV Box, I’ve not tried the newer sticks yet. ![]() My Plex Server transcodes on the fly to a lower bit rate for him (I set the plex app on his stick that way). I’m not sure there is enough bandwidth to handle the higher bitrate titles. He used to use the Watch Disney/DisJR apps, but he’s grown out of those Because his stick is Wifi only, and at the far end of the house, I’ve not tried Kodi on it. He uses Netflix, Plex, and Disney Moves Anywhere. I later got 1st gen Fire TV Stick for my Son. There is no VUDU or UltraViolet apps/options on the FireTV family. I have side loaded a few apps, like MAME4Droid, but not much else. The remote was much easier to use than the way the chromecast worked (especially for my wife and son).Īs I use the Fire TV… for HBOGo, Netflix, Kodi, Plex, Disney Movies Anywhere (although linked to my Amazon account, its better to watch the movies via Amazon, and special features via DMA), YouTube, and apps for Starz, Showtime, Encore, Watch Disney/DisJR Channels, and an app called PhotoGuru (allows me to view my Google Photos/Videos as well as my Facebook photos/videos). I liked the wired network abilities and Optical Audio. I purchased one 1st Gen Chromecast to start binge watching Game of Thrones on HBO Go… When the Fire TV box came out, I got one of those.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |