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Video Streaming Devices

video streaming

What You Need to Know When Shopping for a Video Streaming Device

 

 

 

 

HDTV Leaf Indoor Antenna ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5) – Provides FREE access to locally broad-casted Over-the-Air (OTA) HD channels. Getfree HD streaming without cable. Before purchasing one you need to find out if you are within range of broadcasting towers and and if your TV has a DTV Tuner. For more details click here. Once your ready to get, the best antenna for your money is the paper thin Leaf Indoor TV Antenna (by Mohu). Currently the #1 selling Indoor Antenna on Amazon. Takes 5 minutes to plugin and you’ll gain access to HD Broadcast TV for Free, with access to local television shows.

Retail Price is $39.99 but Get 10% off at GoMOHU.com with Leaf Coupon Codes: killcablewithleaf2013 & killcablewithultimate2013

Extended Review: HD Without Cable – Using a Simple Indoor Antenna

PlayStation 3 (PS3) ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5) – This system delivers an experience beyond anything you know today. With a built in Blu-ray Disc drive, PlayStation 3 video streaming invites you to a whole new generation in high-definition graphics and media capabilities. Whether your looking for the best games console, Blu-ray movies, music or online services, PlayStation 3 takes you where you’ve never dreamed possible – a place where you can play beyond. With access to over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix, Hulu Plus and more, its hands down the best value for you buck! $250

Extended Review: Hulu Plus and Netflix on PS3

Roku Streaming Player ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)– And now the Roku – 2, allows you to instantly stream tons of entertainment on your TV. Watch over 100,000 movies and TV shows from Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand, Hulu Plus and more. The all-new Roku XD delivers the highest quality HD video, in the smallest box, at the lowest price. No wonder Roku is the best selling streaming player ever. Even though the Roku does not have a Blu-ray disc drive, internet browsing capabilities or game play, it’s prices and user-friendliness makes it a great buy. $80

Extended Review: What is Roku?

tivoTiVo Premiere DVR ♥♥♥♥ (4/5) – Pause, rewind slow-mo, instant replay, or record two shows at once while watching a third. Connect it to the Internet through your home network and you have access to movies, TV shows, music videos, podcasts and more. With the stunning HD interface, browsing, exploring and discovering online programming is easier than ever. Access virtually any movie or TV show with Amazon Instant Video, Hulu (coming soon), and Netflix. $100

Extended Review: Dumping Direct TV for Tivo

3D Blu-ray Disc Player ♥♥♥♥ (4/5) – Enjoy Blu-ray Disc movies in Full HD1080p and improve the quality of DVDs to near HD with a 3D-ready Blu-ray Disc Player. With BRAVIA Internet Video content, you can connect to the Internet and instantly stream a wide variety of movies, TV shows, videos and music from leading content providers including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Slacker, and more. Great 1080p picture and good upconversion of dvds.  Dont be afraid of 3D, this player will work even if you dont have a 3D TV. And with where technology is going this player will keep you current for several years to come.  $150

Apple TV ♥♥♥ (3/5) – A digital media receiver that allows consumers to use an HDTV set to view photos, play music and watch video. The problem is it does not connect to older TV’s, and the amount of content available is very limited as it doesn’t support a full suite of video streaming providers such as Amazon, Hulu, and Pandora. The bottom line: the low price makes this a very popular impulse buy for people looking to bring Netflix into the living room, but if you spend some time researching you will find there are better options out there. $99

Xbox ♥♥♥ (3/5) – The Xbox is a video game console produced by Microsoft. It was Microsoft’s first foray into the gaming console market. Though this system will provide a great gaming experience and it’s ready for the controller-free experience of Kinect (motion sensor driven – simply step in front of the Kinect and it recognizes you and responds to your gestures) it lacks in controller usability, it does not contain a Blu-ray player, and there is no Hulu access (though this may be changing soon). For these reasons I cannot suggest this console. $250

Boxee ♥♥ (2/5) Boxee is cheaper version of Google TV that can play back every file type imaginable, as well as stream internet videos through its browser + Flash player setup. In reality, it only does one of those things well; it is “Good at one thing, bad at everything else“. Boxee can handle any random video file you throw at it. It is a fantastic box for playing back downloaded video, and most likely the most robust file streamer out there. But there is no Hulu access (as of now),  so what you are left with is Netflix and a mish-mash of random internet videos.  Unless you torrent a lot of shows and movies and need one box to play back all the various formats, this box is not for you. $200

Streaming Videos Device Guide - Compare Devices and Platforms from: Apple, Boxee Blockbuster, ESPN, Hulu Plus, Logitech, MLB.TV, Netflix, Nintendo, Playstation 3, Roku, Seagate, Sony, Syabas, TiVo, Vudu, Western Digital, Xbox 360, and Zune.


Click here to view see what sites you need to know about when watching Online TV


Do you agree or disagree with any of my reviews?

Your comments are really appreciated.





  • http://none gerette

    I am a little confused. I have a cable box and a DVD/VHS player. If I buy a blue ray to be able to stream Netflix, what happens with the cable box/ my DVD/VHS regarding being able to play and record as watch/in advance. Thanks kindly.

    • http://www.killthecablebill.com admin

      If your goal is to rid yourself of an expensive cable tv bill, then I suggest you ditch the cable box DVD player and VHS player, and buy a blu-ray player that allows you to stream Netflix and Hulu. (My preferred device is the PS3 because you get all this + the option to play video games if you like.) By doing this you gain access to instant video streaming via Netflix and Hulu, and you no longer need to record live TV because everything you watch is on demand and is accessible 24/7.

      If your looking to find a way to record live tv using an antenna then check out the post: Dumping DirectTV for Tivo.

  • Chanrey

    what about the Wii?

  • http://www.jumpstartmypc.com/ Chris | JumpstartMyPC.com

    Great article as usual! Couple of follow up tidbits from a fellow “cable cutter”:
    1) Hulu Plus is available on the TiVo Premiere now and I’ve been using it non-stop for a month now. Lots of great programming available. I highly recommend it.
    2) PS3 – out of all the game systems that stream, the picture quality of the PS3 is by far the best
    3) Boxee – I’ve been using it for 6 months or so and recent downloads have been choking it. I’ve almost phased it out of my entertainment center entirely.

  • 200%ave

    I have been trying to understand this technology to no avail. Please explain the “connect to the internet” piece. Do I need a wireless router ? How do I get to the Roku site, via a PC ? For a wired connection, how does Roku device connect to my eithernet 100MB router, directly of via a PC ?

    • Anonymous

      You can use a wireless router but use a wired connection for more consistent speed. Wireless connection speeds can vary based on the device, transfer speed and interference. In short – you will get the highest video and audio quality through a hard wired connection.

      Roku is not a site it is a device that access sites like Netflix Instant Streaming. Check out “What is Roku” to learn more: http://www.killthecablebill.com/what-is-roku/ and if you still have questions let me know.

  • http://twitter.com/Franklin808 Keith Franklin

    Xbox 360 does already offer Hulu Plus. It also offers ESPN3 as well. Not to mention both of them can have playback controls controlled by Kinect. Fall updated bring Xbox Live TV and full Kinect voice control can control including searching for content across services.

    • http://www.killthecablebill.com/ KTCB

      Hey Keith – Xbox is amazing. What do you think of these new promises from Microsoft to become the number one video streaming consul on the market?

  • Greenie

    i would like to get something that can stream tv shows all day that i can program. I have a mother that can’t figure out how to work the online catalog and w. her arthritis, can’t press buttons too well. What app do you recommend? Roku seems cool, but i don’t read anything that says I can create a queue that plays automatically.

    • Anonymous

      Type your reply…Well i think Roku is a great option – but it does not automatically
      stream shows. But it is very easy to use, as all you need to do is use
      the right and left buttons to select a program and then hit enter. If
      your looking for constant streaming maybe an antenna would work? you
      could then just leave the TV on CBS or something and let it go…
      Sorry i could not be much help, but please let me know what you decide
      on.

  • Sjuanie

    Ok, so I already have 1 Roku setup in our bedroom. I want to cut cable, we have netflix, all we want is to watch movies, some TV shows and I have to have my NFL. So I’m thinking of buying an antenna for local channels(NFL), and buying another Roku for the living room. I’m a little confused on the TiVo, would it be overkill? I’m trying to get as close to cable as I can, I want to be able to record shows too, what do you recommend, what about a menu, is that what TiVo offers?

  • http://twitter.com/endeliz Endora Schmidt

    Try PLAYON Free Use With Most Blu ray players ROKU ,PS3, XBOX, BOXEE, XBMC ,WD ,iPhone,iPad and ALL Android devices

    http://www.playon.tv/

    then hop over to this site http://playonscript.blogspot.com for free scripts

    to watch free tv ,cable channels like hbo, cinemax ,sports, live news and much much more .

  • Brian

    I’m trying to kill the cable bill while retaining a DVD player, access to movies, etc. but still get the family friendly content available on Nick Jr. Disney, etc. Do any of these devices allow me to also browse the web? How do I watch tv programs that are on-line? It seems as though these media players do not access those channels and some of them would be worth accessing over the “big screen” or am I missing something? Which device allows me to do this? Or do I need to set up a network and access the internet that way?

    • http://www.killthecablebill.com/ KTCB

      Hey Brian – First thing you need to do is check out all the free cable channels you can get with a simple internet connection: http://www.killthecablebill.com/tv-channels/ Nick & PBS Kids being two on the list. As for connecting your TV to the internet you have a bunch of options. But at a high level it boils down to three. You either go and buy an in expensive Laptop with HDMI out (which you can get for a few hundred dollars if you look hard), you buy a video streaming devices such as a PS3, Xbox, or any other device that is supported by Playon: http://www.killthecablebill.com/what-is-playon/ , or you get a smart TV. But assuming you are not looking to buy a new TV, we will skip that option. If you go the laptop route, you simply hook your TV to your laptop using an HDMI cable and use your TV as a large monitor. If you go the media streaming device route than signing up for Playon will give you access to all the free TV channels on the Web.

      Finally there are two other steps you should take: Sign up for Hulu and Netflix, and start looking into either an Indoor or Outdoor Antenna from Mohu.

      SKY HDTV Outdoor Antenna: http://www.killthecablebill.com/sky-hdtv-outdoor-antenna-from-mohu/

      Leaf Ultimate Indoor Antenna: http://www.killthecablebill.com/get-amped-with-the-mohu-leaf-ultimate/

      This will give you access to Live events on major network stations like NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX etc… Hope this helps!