Barb Gonzalez

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SmartStream
Nintendo TVii Comes to Wii U
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 18, 2012
The upcoming Wii U will include Nintendo TVii. See how Nintendo is rocketing past its competition to bring you a complete streaming video experience.
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Media Server Reviews
NAS Drives to Store Your Media Libraries
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 11, 2012
It was a steadily growing progression. The more I streamed movies and music to my media players and home theater, the more movies and music I downloaded. My movie folder was stuffed with high-definition videos. There were more songs than I could listen to in a month. My media libraries had grown to hundreds of gigabytes and were slowing down my computer.
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Streaming Device Reviews
Boxee Box Media Streamer
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 30, 2012

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $180 At A Glance: Includes Web browser • Connect to Slingbox via the Slingbox app • Direct access to movies from the Web, Vudu, or your own digital collection

The Boxee Box is unlike any other media streamer or media player. From its cockeyed box shape that’s missing a corner and its froglike logo, to its menu organization and social video-sharing features, it’s easy to see that Boxee stands out.

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SmartStream
Mirror your PC Wirelessly to a Neo TV Pro
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 30, 2012
Mirror your PC wirelessly to a Neo TV Pro for unlimited streaming from the Internet displayed on your TV.
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SmartStream
The New and Improved Hulu
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 23, 2012
Online TV show streaming website, Hulu, has a new look. See the new features including a better design to view on an HDTV.
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Streaming Device Reviews
Xbox 360 as Media Streamer
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 30, 2012

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $300-$400 At a Glance: Streams from online providers and networked home computers • Kinect voice and gesture command work well • Excellent video and audio quality

Unless you've been living in an isolated compound in Abadabad, Pakistan—and perhaps even if you have—you know that the Microsoft Xbox 360 is a top-ranked video-game console. However, you might not know that it's also a media streamer with access to oodles of online content. In fact, with all the streaming devices, TVs, and connected Blu-ray players I have in my house at any given time, my first go-to player is the Xbox 360. Not only does it have all my favorite streaming services, its Kinect voice and gesture control appeals to my tendency to be lazy.

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SmartStream
Streaming the 2012 Olympics Live
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 26, 2012
Watching the Olympics on TV was always a frustrating experience for me. Along with the frequent commercial interruptions, I had to sit through hours of weightlifting and shot-putting to see synchronized swimming. (I know, you were sitting through the synchronized swimming to see the shot-put.) But that problem has been solved for the 2012 London Olympics. NBC has created a website and an app for iPhone, iPad, and Android devices that will show live coverage of every sport and match from start to finish.
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Other TechSmartStream
How Much Bandwidth Do You Need for Streaming Video?
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 16, 2012
For those who stream video from online sources, the speed at which data can be sent into their home is critical. If your connection isn't fast enough, streaming video can sometimes stall as it fills the buffer in the receiving device, or the content provider might send a lower-quality stream because it senses that your available speed can't handle anything more. So how much speed do you need?
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Streaming Device Reviews
Western Digital WD TV Live Streaming Media Player
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jul 12, 2012
Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
Price: $99 At A Glance: Great picture and sound quality • Wi-Fi-enabled • Clean, easy-to-use menus • Variety of streaming content services • Quirky difficulties with file indexing

The WD TV Live streaming media player has much in common with its predecessor, the WD TV Live Hub. When the WD TV Live Hub came out, I thought it was the best network media player and streamer on the market. It has a clean menu system; can play movies, music, and photos on my home network, and simply works.

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Other TechSmartStream
How to Create the Perfect Pandora Station
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jun 26, 2012
If you’re in search of the perfect music station, with a little dedication and patience, you can customize Pandora. For the uninitiated, Pandora is a free online music-streaming service. Unlike other “free” online music services, it can be streamed to smartphones, tablets, TVs, media-streaming devices, and more without a premium subscription fee.
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