Barb Gonzalez

In a recent article by Patrick Nelson on the Tech News World blog, he makes the case that Smart TVs are a dumb idea and that they will go the way of the LaserDisc. For anyone unfamiliar with the term, a "Smart TV" refers to a TV that connects to the Internet and your home network, using built-in apps for streaming video, music, photos, games, and more.

Bang & Olufsen announced that they will be adding the Spotify music streaming service to the BeoPlay A9 speaker/sound system. The A9 was launched in October 2012. Music is sent to the A9 using Apple's AirPlay streaming from iPhones/iPads/iPods and new Macs, or over a WiFi network as a DLNA media renderer (DLNA media controllers can send music to it). The problem with this setup has been that the music stops when a phone call comes into the controlling iPhone, or when the iPhone is too far from the A9.

Spotify Connect will be added to the A9 as part of a firmware update. It will be preloaded on new units and available for download for consumers who have previously purchased the A9. Bang & Olufsen worked with Spotify to create an iPhone app where users can pick songs, playlists, or radio stations from their Spotify streaming library and have them play on the A9. Because the software is loaded onto the A9's firmware, music playback will not be interrupted when a phone call comes in or when you take the phone out of range.

More on B&O here

Bang and Olufsen announced its new flagship TV, the Beovision 11 with SmartTV features. Users can customize their SmartTV hub from a number of available apps.The first Smart TV for the upscale company, the TV includes access to not only the typical U.S. streaming services but services from all around the globe

PRICE $90

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Well-designed remote app with mirroring mode
Uses phone’s accelerometer to control games
Multiple users can control same BiggiFi
Minus
Touchscreen remote mode takes practice
Slight lag time when using screenshot remote mode

THE VERDICT
A versatile streamer that’s fun for playing games.

Before the official Android TVs come on the market, several small companies have been making Android-streaming devices that connect to a TV. BiggiFi is the newest Android-on-a-dongle that connects to a TV’s HDMI port. Other than its strange name, and obvious English-as-a-second-language notifications, this smartphone-controlled device might be a good streaming stick choice for users who like to play smartphone apps on the big screen.