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Sony, AT&T Offer Streaming Alternatives to Cable
Barb Gonzalez  |  Mar 10, 2016  |  1 comments
Sony's Playstation Vue and AT&T's DirecTV Now promise a streaming alternative to cable TV programming. These bundles and the FCC's proposal to open access to cable channels without a cable box are changing the way we get our TV programming.
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Mighty's Mini Music Device Plays Spotify Without a Phone
Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 25, 2016  |  1 comments
Mighty Audio has launched a Kickstarter campaign for an iPod Shuffle-like device that stores and plays Spotify playlists.
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How to Stream “Out of Africa” While in Africa
Barb Gonzalez  |  Feb 18, 2016  |  1 comments
On a trip to Kenya, I discovered the best way to stream my movies and music while traveling outside the U.S.
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First Look at Spotify's New Video Channels
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 26, 2016  |  1 comments
Spotify has made a name for itself as one of the leading streaming music services and this week will add video to its Android and iPhone apps. Officially, video will roll out on the Android app first, followed by an update to the iPhone app in the coming weeks.
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CES 2016SmartStream
CES 2016 Streaming Recap: From 4K HDR to Vinyl
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 13, 2016  |  0 comments
Like many other gadgets at CES, this was the year that ideas became reality in streaming services, media players, and smart TVs.
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Sonos Gets Apple Music and Trueplay Tuning
Barb Gonzalez  |  Dec 17, 2015  |  0 comments
With the Sonos Controller app's latest update, a public beta of Apple Music is now available for streaming to Sonos speakers. The update also adds Trueplay speaker tuning, which optimizes sound quality based on the acoustics of where a speaker is located.
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Second Generation Chromecast and Chromecast Audio Review
Barb Gonzalez  |  Dec 03, 2015  |  2 comments
The newest Chromecast model has hardware and software improvements. Do you need to upgrade to the second-generation Chromecast or to the Chromecast Audio?
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Apple TV 2015 Review
Barb Gonzalez  |  Nov 18, 2015  |  2 comments
The fourth generation Apple TV finally brings true apps to your TV but doesn't offer 4K. Still, new features may make it your top choice among the new media streamers.
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Streaming Device ReviewsSmartStream
Roku 4 Streaming Media Player Review
Barb Gonzalez  |  Nov 04, 2015  |  2 comments

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $130

AT A GLANCE
Plus
4K streaming to UHDTV
Agnostic search finds titles in multiple services
Notifications when specific movies become available

Minus
Remote mic is inaccurate
Search can’t find specific episodes of specific seasons

THE VERDICT
If you own a 4K TV, this is a slam-dunk. If not, the advances in hardware are still enough to step up from a Roku 2.

One must wonder if Roku waited to release its fourth-generation media streamer until the aptly named Roku 4 was capable of streaming 4K content. The newest Roku box can connect to compatible UHDTVs to stream 4K movies, TV shows, and videos from Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, M-Go, and a growing number of 4K streaming sources. And though 4K streaming is the Roku 4’s main appeal, improvements in hardware and the software interface make it the best Roku box yet.

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Review: Amazon Fire TV 2015 Edition
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 21, 2015  |  1 comments
The new Amazon Fire TV streams beautiful 4K video but it doesn't yet have all the features listed in its product description.
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New Upgrades to Chromecast, Roku 4, Hulu, YouTube, and Amazon Prime
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 08, 2015  |  1 comments
This fall brings lot of streaming news with the release of new Chromecast and Roku models as well as new features to Hulu, YouTube and Amazon Prime. It may be time to upgrade.
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New Amazon Fire TV Lineup Has 4K, Gaming, More
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 23, 2015  |  3 comments
The next generation of Fire TVs is coming in October along with updates on the existing models. Amazon is upping the ante with great new features and capabilities.
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New Apple TV Will Have Siri and Apps
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 09, 2015  |  1 comments
A new Apple TV arrives in October and it's (finally) been upgraded significantly.
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NVIDIA Shield Review - 4K Streaming for Android TV
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 19, 2015  |  0 comments
The NVIDIA Shield follows the Nexus Player as one of the first stand alone media players with Android TV. A sleek, angled device, the Shield’s focus may be on gaming but it performs as one of the best streaming devices available. Still, it is limited by Android TV’s app selection and interface.
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Chicago to Tax Streaming Movies and Music
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 06, 2015  |  1 comments
Chicago to extend Amusement tax to streaming services from Apple Music to Netflix.
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