Are you adequately entertained? We thought not. That’s why we’re here to provide you with an update as to what’s out there in the world of home entertainment, so you can fill every moment with digital content on every screen you have, large or small. We’re focusing on products that are easy to use and relatively inexpensive, and which don’t require a professional installer to set up.
Apple TV
We frequently get asked what an Apple TV is, since there’s no TV manufactured by Apple yet. Apple TV ($99) is a small black puck that attaches to your TV and which you operate with a simple remote control, or your iPhone. It will allow you to:
- rent and buy movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store, and replay most iTunes content you’ve ever purchased
- play any music or video, or display any iPhoto albums, from one or more Macs on your home network
- show photos from your iCloud Photo Stream
- play music from your iTunes Match library (an iCloud service)
- watch streaming Netflix, Hulu Plus, and other subscription and free content (e.g. MLB, YouTube)
- play music wirelessly from any computer, iPhone, or iPad
- display your iPhone (4S or later), iPad (2 or later), or Mac (2011 or later) screen wirelessly
Roku
Roku ($49-$99, depending on model) is very similar to Apple TV in appearance and even simpler in concept — it allows you to access a wealth of streaming content, both paid and free, from the internet, but it has no integration with Apple services or products. Just a few of the services Roku can access are:
- Netflix
- Amazon music and video, either rented, purchased, or included with Amazon Prime accounts
- Pandora
- HBO Go
- Spotify
- games (Roku 2 XS and Roku 3 only)
Remember, it can’t play anything you’ve bought from the iTunes Store, or show your iPhoto albums, or show your iPhone or iPad or Mac screen. But it does have some content options that the Apple TV doesn’t.
Sonos
Sonos is a system for wireless music distribution throughout your home with a minimum of hassle. Using an elegant app (available for Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad, and Android), you can play music stored in an iTunes library on a Mac or network drive in your home, or from a multitude of online services, plus worldwide radio stations. You can either buy Sonos speakers which stand alone, or you can use your own speakers and/or amplifier attached to a Sonos device. And Sonos’ new Playbar lets you also create a wireless surround system for your home entertainment center. Some of the services Sonos can access are:
- your own music library on a computer in your home
- your own music in your Amazon cloud
- Pandora
- Spotify
- Rhapsody
- Sirius XM
- and many, many more (Songza, last.fm, rdio, MOG, etc.)
your TV or Blu-ray player
Many, if not most, new HDTV’s and Blu-ray players include access to some online services like those mentioned above. Some include web browsers and other kinds of apps. Unfortunately, these are not always as easy to use as we wish they were, but the capability is there for you just want to access your Netflix streaming subscription without needing another box to do it. How to get to these services is going to vary from model to model, but if you poke around on your TV or Blu-ray player’s menus, you may well find them.
If you need any help or advice about how to get all the music and video you want on your TV, you know whom to call.
(March 2013)