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.
HBO has officially announced a standalone HBO Go option will be available in 2015. The new option will allow users to stream to the HBO Go app without requiring a subscription to the HBO premium cable channel.
This small streaming subscription video-on-demand service offers classic films from Gandhi to Ghostbusters for less than the price of a single HD streaming rental.
UltraFlix is quickly adding to their library of 4K streaming titles and has announced that their app will be included on some 2014 UHD TVs. Could the UltraFlix and Amazon Instant Video 4K streams start a flood of new titles?
Whether you are streaming 4K video, have a multitude of devices connected to WiFi, or want speedy file transfers to multiple hard drives, check out Netgear's Nighthawk X4 AC2350 Router.
AT A GLANCE Plus
Direct HDMI connection to most TVs
Extensive content options
Suggested videos and apps on home screen
Remote with direct access to Netflix, M-Go, Amazon Instant Video, and Blockbuster
Minus
Music stops when navigating away from channel
Long start-up time
No option to group channels by category
THE VERDICT
The great features of a Roku box in a stick for half the price.
The second Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI version) is a fit-in-your-pocket HDMI dongle that is basically a Roku box on a stick. Where the previous Roku Streaming stick worked only with TVs that have an MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) HDMI port, the new Roku is compatible with most TVs’ standard HDMI connections. As with its predecessors, the Roku HDMI is easy to use and offers more than 1,700 channels (that is, apps). Notably, these now include apps that stream from pretty much any video source you can think of—the usual online streaming services, plus your home network media libraries, or live TV and recorded DVR recorded content using Simple.tv or a Slingplayer channel.
The new social video app N3TWORK does an excellent job of pulling together and personalizing high quality web videos. But does it have what it takes to be a hit?
TV manufacturers are getting ready to release a new Smart TV powered by the Roku platform. And they promise it goes well beyond adding Roku Stick to a TV.
The Plex media server and player has just received another new update that enhances your downloaded movies and fixes problems found in earlier updates.