Advantages of Streaming Media

Streaming media is video or audio content sent in compressed form over the Internet and played immediately, rather than being saved to the hard drive.

With streaming media, a user does not have to wait to download a file to play it. Because the media is sent in a continuous stream of data it can play as it arrives. Users can pause, rewind or fast-forward, just as they could with a downloaded file, unless the content is being streamed live.

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Here are some advantages of streaming media:

Makes it possible for users to take advantage of interactive applications like video search and personalized playlists.
Allows content deliverers to monitor what visitors are watching and how long they are watching it.
Provides an efficient use of bandwidth because only the part of the file that's being transferred is the part that’s being watched.
Provides the content creator with more control over his intellectual property because the video file is not stored on the viewer's computer. Once the video data is played, it is discarded by the media player.
Media is usually streamed from prerecorded files but can also be distributed as part of a live broadcast feed. In a live broadcast, the video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a Web server as multicast, sending a single file to multiple users at the same time.

Streaming media is transmitted by a server application and received and displayed in real-time by a client application called a media player. A media player can be either an integral part of a browser, a plug-in, a separate program, or a dedicated device, such as an iPod. Frequently, video files come with embedded players. YouTube videos, for example, run in embedded Flash players.

Streaming media technologies have improved significantly since the 1990s, when delivery was typically uneven. However, the quality of streamed content is still dependent upon the user's connection speed.

Nvidia Shield Gaming Console with Gamepad

The Shield is designed as a gaming machine primarily – it even comes with a gamepad as standard – though it still does a very good job at streaming video. It even manages 4K UHD compatibility, though it’s not as smooth an interface to use. Plus, its search system prioritises paid-for content. In some cases this has meant a search for a movie highlights how to rent it, even if the user is a Netflix subscriber. Still, at least it can access Netflix, unlike some. Storage is limited, although you can opt for a model with much more memory if you play a lot of games.

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WHAT IS LIVE STREAMING

Live streaming in real time is our specialty. We can pair your broadcasts over the internet with uninterrupted service to all popular platforms and devices. Your customers’ streaming experience should be low latency and devoid of any buffering or surprise plug-ins. As such, our services deliver to the widest audiences with exceptional clarity and zero interruption.

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Live Event Streaming has never been easier and our experts are here to speak with you when you need us most. Best of all we can help you get started within a matter of minutes. Rates are determined by the event’s duration, required broadcast quality and estimated viewership. No event is to large or to small. Let our seasoned experts give you a hand. Everyone is always glad they did!
Transcode, Create Playlists, Auto Archive and more with our fast and easy to use Streamlined Platform.

HOW EASY IS IT?

You can literally create a live stream within seconds. You have complete flexibility to not only name your stream but to create as many concurrent live events from as many locations as you like all at the same time.

SMH Broadcaster

If You Follow These 4 Tips, your live stream can generate engagement

LIVE RECORDING

For those viewers unavailable to experience the event live, an on-demand live recording option is easily made available.

LIVE TRANSCODING

For locations that only have enough bandwidth to upload one live stream or just don’t want the headache. We Live transcode in near real time your single stream (we call it a flavor) and convert it to many flavors so that it can be seen by all devices, desktops, mobile and Set Top Boxes/Smart TV’s at all various quality levels based on user circumstances.

LIVE REDUNDANCY

Do you have a mission critical live event? Ask us about our advanced redundant solutions used by corporate leaders like iHeartRadio. Ensure your venues connectivity by utilizing completely different and unique ingestion points in different geographic locations for diversification and redundancy.

NETWORK OPTIMIZATION

Choose between three global backbones, SMH, Verizon, Level3. or bring your own and simply utilize the SMH platform.

What is streaming media?

Streaming media is video or audio content sent in compressed form over the Internet and played immediately, rather than being saved to the hard drive..

With streaming media, a user does not have to wait to download a file to play it. Because the media is sent in a continuous stream of data it can play as it arrives. Users can pause, rewind or fast-forward, just as they could with a downloaded file, unless the content is being streamed live.

Related Article : streamsofpleasure.com/fun-non-violent-playstation-4-games-for-kids-for-2016

Here are some advantages of streaming media:

Makes it possible for users to take advantage of interactive applications like video search and personalized playlists.
Allows content deliverers to monitor what visitors are watching and how long they are watching it.
Provides an efficient use of bandwidth because only the part of the file that's being transferred is the part that’s being watched.
Provides the content creator with more control over his intellectual property because the video file is not stored on the viewer's computer. Once the video data is played, it is discarded by the media player.
Media is usually streamed from prerecorded files but can also be distributed as part of a live broadcast feed. In a live broadcast, the video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a Web server as multicast, sending a single file to multiple users at the same time.

Streaming media is transmitted by a server application and received and displayed in real-time by a client application called a media player. A media player can be either an integral part of a browser, a plug-in, a separate program, or a dedicated device, such as an iPod. Frequently, video files come with embedded players. YouTube videos, for example, run in embedded Flash players.

Streaming media technologies have improved significantly since the 1990s, when delivery was typically uneven. However, the quality of streamed content is still dependent upon the user's connection speed.

Streaming Media Server

Technology is providing increasingly rich and varied ways of consuming media, and education naturally reflects this evolution.  Using video and audio can assist Learning, Teaching & Assessment in many respects.

It can become more engaging - facilitating deeper and more meaningful understanding.  It can also provide a more flexible means of communication – both in terms of appealing to students with different learning styles, but also by facilitating content being accessed and revisited as and when required.

Delivering media via a streaming server (where it begins to play before the whole file, which is often large, has downloaded) allows the use of media in more efficient and integrated ways.  Cardiff Met has established a streaming media service over the past four years, and feedback from staff and students has been very positive.

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The role of LTDU is primarily to promote the learning opportunities that streaming media offers, whilst supporting staff in its use via training.  The use of streaming media is a very rapidly evolving field, and as such LTDU are responsible for evaluating developments, and potential opportunities for using alternative systems. If you are interested in learning more about the Streaming Server and the opportunities it offers.

Also find out how to connect iphone to samsung smart tv
streamsofpleasure.com/how-to-connect-iphone-to-samsung-smart-tv

What is Media Hosting?

Media Hosting, Streaming Video, Video on Demand
Media Hosting allows your website to broadcast video-on-demand (VOD), live streaming and web/podcast to your users over everyday internet connections. With streaming media, your audience can see and hear your media almost instantly.  The quality of the video and audio are only limited by the viewers download speeds and physical equipment. We host your on-demand audio and video files in Windows Media, Flash Video and Quicktime. With us you can expect nothing less than high performance and quality delivery across the globe.
Live Streaming
When hosting your live stream with NationalNet, the opportunities are endless. Take advantage of webinars, online business meetings and educational conferences. You can utilize live streaming to reach a global audience in one swift move.

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Video on Demand
Video on Demand (VOD) hosting capabilities with NationalNet means your content is being streamed uninterrupted, in DVD quality over the Internet. Using high bandwidth distribution to broadcast your video for a superior, interactive experience. The end user can access the content at their leisure instead of a fixed point in time like a television broadcast.

Check here process to connect iphone to samsung smart tv
streamsofpleasure.com/how-to-connect-iphone-to-samsung-smart-tv

So what is VOD?
Downloadable movies or video files that are transmistted over the Internet just like any other kind of static image, text or sound file (typically Flash, Quicktime, WMV or MPEG).

What is Media Hosting?

Media Hosting, Streaming Video, Video on Demand
Media Hosting allows your website to broadcast video-on-demand (VOD), live streaming and web/podcast to your users over everyday internet connections. With streaming media, your audience can see and hear your media almost instantly.  The quality of the video and audio are only limited by the viewers download speeds and physical equipment. We host your on-demand audio and video files in Windows Media, Flash Video and Quicktime. With us you can expect nothing less than high performance and quality delivery across the globe.
Live Streaming
When hosting your live stream with NationalNet, the opportunities are endless. Take advantage of webinars, online business meetings and educational conferences. You can utilize live streaming to reach a global audience in one swift move.

Related Articles : streamsofpleasure.com

Video on Demand
Video on Demand (VOD) hosting capabilities with NationalNet means your content is being streamed uninterrupted, in DVD quality over the Internet. Using high bandwidth distribution to broadcast your video for a superior, interactive experience. The end user can access the content at their leisure instead of a fixed point in time like a television broadcast.

Check here process to connect iphone to samsung smart tv
streamsofpleasure.com/how-to-connect-iphone-to-samsung-smart-tv

So what is VOD?
Downloadable movies or video files that are transmistted over the Internet just like any other kind of static image, text or sound file (typically Flash, Quicktime, WMV or MPEG).

Advantages of streaming media

Streaming media is video or audio content sent in compressed form over the Internet and played immediately, rather than being saved to the hard drive..

With streaming media, a user does not have to wait to download a file to play it. Because the media is sent in a continuous stream of data it can play as it arrives. Users can pause, rewind or fast-forward, just as they could with a downloaded file, unless the content is being streamed live.

Related Articles : streamsofpleasure.com

Here are some advantages of streaming media:

Makes it possible for users to take advantage of interactive applications like video search and personalized playlists.

Allows content deliverers to monitor whatstreaming media visitors are watching and how long they are watching it.
Provides an efficient use of bandwidth because only the part of the file that's being transferred is the part that’s being watched.
Provides the content creator with more control over his intellectual property because the video file is not stored on the viewer's computer. Once the video data is played, it is discarded by the media player.
Media is usually streamed from prerecorded files but can also be distributed as part of a live broadcast feed. In a live broadcast, the video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a Web server as multicast, sending a single file to multiple users at the same time.

Streaming media is transmitted by a server application and received and displayed in real-time by a client application called a media player. A media player can be either an integral part of a browser, a plug-in, a separate program, or a dedicated device, such as an iPod. Frequently, video files come with embedded players. YouTube videos, for example, run in embedded Flash players.

Streaming media technologies have improved significantly since the 1990s, when delivery was typically uneven. However, the quality of streamed content is still dependent upon the user's connection speed.

Streaming Media Stick vs. Streaming Media Box

Not everyone wants to buy a new TV just to get access to all the latest smart TV streaming media features. And you don’t have to. A streaming media player, like Roku 3, Amazon Fire TV, Nexus Player or Apple TV can provide nearly all (or sometimes more) of the streaming media services and games that a smart TV includes built in, and they’re only $99 or less.

So if you want to add streaming audio and video to your home AV system, you now can choose between a small set-top-box (why do we still call them that when they don’t sit on top of TV sets anymore?) player, or a stick version that connects directly to the TV’s HDMI port. Roku 3 or Roku Stick? Fire TV or Fire TV Stick? If you’re stuck between a stick and box, here are some considerations before you buy:

Price The first thing you’ll notice when comparing a streaming box to its streaming stick sibling is the cost. A Roku 3 box costs $99, as does the Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV (Apple doesn’t have a stick version, yet). The Roku stick is only $50, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is $39, and the Google Chromecast is only $35. On price alone, it seems like the stick is the much better deal.

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Google Chromecast

Connections All three of the streaming media sticks require one HDMI port to connect to a TV, plus a free USB port on the TV to connect for power. If your TV doesn’t have an available USB port, then a wall plug adaptor can also be used. To connect to your broadband network for streaming, all three sticks use Wi-Fi. If your Wi-Fi connection is strong, then you may be satisfied with that; however, for more reliable streaming, especially for high-definition movies and games, a wired Ethernet connection to your router is better, and for that you need the box versions of Roku or Fire TV, not the stick. Both the Roku 3 player and the Fire TV box include an optical audio output, which can be plugged directly into your AV receiver. This is useful if you have an older receiver or can’t use the receiver’s HDMI connection, but still want the best sound experience from your system (most audio return channel outputs on TVs downconvert the surround sound audio to stereo).

Roku 3
Size The size of a streaming stick is one of its best features. They’re about the size of a USB thumb drive, so they’re completely out of sight when plugged into an HDMI port on the back of the TV. With a streaming media box you need someplace to place the box. If you rely only on antenna and streaming, you can have a TV with no attached boxes to worry about. The size also makes them easily portable. You can buy one stick and move it around to the various TVs in your house without much trouble. They’re also easy to take with you on trips or visits (you’ll only need to reconfigure the wireless connection).

Roku Streaming Stick
Remotes Here’s an area where the boxes rule. First, Chromcast doesn’t have a remote. You use your smart phone as the remote, and for some people, the convenience of that will be great. If you like a good remote, though, then you should opt for a streaming box over a streaming stick. Let’s take Roku first, The Roku 3 comes with a small, but very good, Bluetooth remote with an included headphone jack (and some cheap purple earbuds). The remote that comes with the Roku Stick does not include a headphone jack. Amazon’s Fire TV comes with a nice remote that includes a microphone for voice search. The stick version of Fire TV also has a remote, but the voice search feature is omitted. The remote on the Nexus Player also supports voice search.


Amazon Fire TV
Speed and Power If you’re an impatient person, the speed factor might be a deal-breaker for you. In order to make the streaming media players small and less power hungry (and cheaper) they don’t have nearly the processing power and memory of a streaming media box. This will make them slower when launching apps and searching content. It can also impact gaming. In fact there are games the Fire TV stick can’t play but the Fire TV box can. Also, if you power your stick with one of your TV’s USB ports, it will need to completely boot up each time you turn the TV on, which could take a few minutes. The box version are always plugged into a wall and always on. Content With a few exceptions in video games, the content on streaming media sticks vs. streaming boxes is identical. There is one issue that might convince you to purchase that new TV instead, and that’s 4K. Currently there is no streaming media device (except Sony’s $699 FMP-X10, and that’s primarily a hard-drive video server) that can deliver Ultra HD 4K video. A company called Nanotech has been promising one for a year, but it’s still not available. If you want to watch streamed 4K video from Amazon, Netflix or any of the other services that will be coming online this year, you need to use the app built directly into the TV. Will Roku, Apple and Amazon eventually come out with 4K video players? Probably, but not so far.


Sony FMP-X10 can stream Netflix in 4K.
So which wins, the Roku 3 or Roku Stick? The Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick? Google Chromecast or Apple TV? That largely depends on how you use the system and what you want to get out of it, but understanding the factors above should make the decision easier for you. If you decide you want to buy a new smart TV, Netflix will soon offer recommendations.

How to Invest in Streaming Media ?

You watch streaming media. Does that mean you should buy streaming media stocks?

Consumer eyeballs are mesmerized by streaming video. And there's plenty of it to watch, produced by everyone from celebrities to the neighborhood geek. For the first half of 2015, YouTube consumption vaulted ahead by 60 percent over the year before, a significant factor in the growth of parent Google (ticker: GOOG, GOOGL).

But as with all seismic shifts, the breakneck growth of streaming video is creating big winners and big losers. Here's how to read between the pixels and detect key investing trends.

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"In general, it's the newer companies – Facebook [FB], LinkedIn [LNKD], Netflix [NFLX] – that are benefiting from this trend," says Craig A. Huber, media analyst at Huber Research Partners in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Companies that launched with digital DNA still have to run fast to keep up with rapidly evolving technologies and consumer expectations. "Netflix has 42 million households in the U.S., and its $8 to $9 monthly price is a bargain," Huber says. "You get all these great movies and original content, and it changes the whole ecosystem. Viewers become comfortable watching great content with no commercials. Why would they ever go back? Netflix is a death knell for cable networks and broadcast TV. One of those guys should have bought Netflix a long time ago, but now it is too late."

Laura Martin, senior analyst for entertainment and Internet with Needham & Co., an investment bank and asset firm in New York, says the distribution channels are largely built out. Cable and wireless companies provide the infrastructure; nothing shows up on a screen unless mobile devices, computers and televisions are connected to streaming and Internet services.

In fact, companies that "own the last mile" have a nearly guaranteed source of income, Martin says, though these services will likely become commodities and will face price pressures. "Now the fight is over content. Digital media consumption is growing in triple digits."

Chasing revenue. That's why Amazon, Facebook and Apple (AAPL) are tiptoeing into original content, analysts explain. These and other companies want a slice of the video pie that Google largely owns via YouTube. Even relatively new companies are aggressively rolling out video services. Twitter (TWTR), for instance, originally founded as a microblogging text-based service, is now pushing its Vine, a micro-video social media feed.

The challenge is how to capture revenue from a seemingly endless stream of video content. "The focus for the next three years will be on how content companies will get money," Martin says. "The Internet has taught consumers that content is free."

Subscriptions are one model, but Martin also believes embedded e-commerce is a promising concept, because it lets consumers immediately buy what they see on the screen.

"Investors have patience for three to five years. The digital media ecosystem can be healthy if new content makes money. Otherwise, it could be the new Netflix, with 90 percent of content from television," Martin says.

Huber projects the total U.S. digital ad market, desktop and mobile to reach $58 billion this year – about 24 percent of all U.S. advertising. In 2010, he says, digital accounted for about 11 percent of all U.S. advertising expenditures and was mainly confined to desktop computers. "All the growth is going to mobile," he says.

Old media, fading brands. Traditional media companies – those started in the print era, such as newspaper and magazine companies – are struggling today to keep raking in revenue from their fading print products while persuading advertisers and consumers to advertise online.

They "talk all day long about digital and mobile," says Huber, but are still struggling to figure out how to profitably convert their heritage to digital revenue. "The traditional print part of their business has been hurt much more than they've picked up in digital."

Champagne or bubble? With all this froth, a bubble might be in the making, says Elle Kaplan, CEO and founder of LexiON Capital, a wealth management firm in New York. "History often repeats itself, and we can see many commonalities between some of today's digital media companies and the businesses in the dot-com bubble.

"For many companies like Twitter, there are massive business valuations based on their user base, while the company is still not displaying a sustainable revenue model or turning a profit," Kaplan says. "Millions of users tweeting or logging in mean nothing in the long run if you can't draw revenue from them. Investors seem to be catching on for some companies, and we could see a bubble if the trend continues."

Why Stream?

When you use Steam In-Home streaming, one PC sends its video and audio to another PC. The other PC views the video and audio like it’s watching a movie, sending back mouse, keyboard, and controller input to the other PC.

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This allows you to have a fast gaming PC power your gaming experience on slower PCs. For example, you could play graphically demanding games on a laptop in another room of your house, even if that laptop has slower integrated graphics. You could connect a slower PC to your television and use your gaming PC without hauling it into a different room in your house.

Streaming also enables cross-platform compatibility. You could have a Windows gaming PC and stream games to a Mac or Linux system. This will be Valve’s official solution for compatibility with old Windows-only games on the Linux (Steam OS) Steam Machines arriving later this year. NVIDIA offers their own game streaming solution, but it requires certain NVIDIA graphics hardware and can only stream to an NVIDIA Shield device.

Best Apps to Stream TV Shows on NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV

When it comes to streaming devices, NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV, the next generation streaming media player, is at the top of heap. Boasting some of the best hardware of all streaming devices, SHIELD also benefits from being part of Google’s ever-growing ecosystem of media streaming apps.
Of course, figuring out which apps are best for you can take some digging. That’s why we’re here. Whether you’re a pure cord-cutter with a deep-seated dislike for the cable and satellite providers and prefer stand-alone subscription-based services like HBO NOW and SHOWTIME, or you’re happy with your cable and satellite provider and simply want to extend your viewing experience to your SHIELD Android TV we have you covered.
Stand-alone Subscription-based Apps
Sling TV app streams your favorite TV shows

Sling TV App ($10.99 / month)
The Holy Grail, and often most difficult thing for cord-cutters to resolve, is live TV. Sure, over-the-air HD is great for local TV but what about live cable TV? That’s where Sling TV comes in. For $20 a month you can stream everything from HGTV and ESPN to the History Channel and, of course, those ever-present Law and Order: SVU marathons on TNT.
SHOWTIME app lets you watch and on-demand TV
SHOWTIME ($10.99 / month)
Relatively new to the cord-cutting game, SHOWTIME is not new to the movie game. With the SHOWTIME app, cord-cutters can watch whatever is airing live on SHOWTIME or even benefit from on-demand access to every season of every SHOWTIME Original Series. Once downloaded users will benefit from a 30-day free trial. After that the service is $10.99 a month.
Netflix app streams first-rate TV shows
Netflix App (Plans start at $7.99 / month)
First on every cord-cutters list of must-have apps, while Netflix used to be all about watching movies, the California-based company also produces a bevy of first-rate shows like Orange is the New Black. How many times have you heard a friend say about an upcoming movie or TV show, “I’ll just wait until it’s on Netflix?” Now that’s saturation.
HBO NOW app stream all HBO’s original series
HBO NOW App ($14.99 / month)
HBO NOW is the standalone streaming service that gives you all of HBO including every season and every episode of HBO's original series. If that’s not enough, you’ll have access to the biggest and latest movies. A cord-cutter’s dream-come-true, HBO NOW doesn’t require you have a subscription with a participating cable or satellite TV provider.
Hulu app offers the best place to view newer TV content
Hulu App (Plans start at $7.99 / month)
While Netflix boasts a veritable treasure trove of content, the fact remains that much of its content isn’t the freshest. Because of that, Hulu is arguably the best place to view newer content. You may not get to watch The Late Show with Stephen Colbert the night it airs, but it’s still pretty funny the next day.
CBS All Access app lets you watch live and on-demand shows
CBS All Access App ($5.99 / month)
While it’s possible to watch your local CBS broadcast in HD with an HD antenna, CBS All Access! adds something extra, the ability to watch more than 6,500 episodes of your favorite CBS shows on-demand. New episodes of current shows will be available on-demand the day after their first airing. Of course if the signal from your HD antenna is spotty you can use CBS All Access! to actually stream your local CBS broadcast. In addition to current shows, CBS All Access! will also let users watch classic shows like Star Trek and I love Lucy ad-free. After a one week free trial CBS All Access! is $5.99 a month.
Free Streaming Apps
Kodi app helps you browse and view all media from local and online sources
Kodi App (Free)
Kodi media center, formerly known as XBMC Media Center, is an open source cross-platform software media player and entertainment hub for digital media for HTPCs (Home theater PCs). With Kodi users can easily browse and view videos, photos, podcasts, and music from a local source including hard drives, optical drives, local networks, and the internet using only a few buttons.
Plex App for Android TV helps you organize and stream media content
Plex for Android TV App (Free)
While keeping things in the cloud has surely taken off, the fact remains that a lot of us still have terabytes of media content. From movies and music to TV shows and pictures, Plex for Android lets you keep your content in one place while streaming it to any manner of data on pretty much any device imaginable.
Pluto TV app offers 100+ TV channels
Pluto TV App (Free)
Watch 100+ TV channels handmade for the Internet, free on any device, anywhere. Kick back and enjoy familiar favorites like news, music, comedy, drama or try Pluto TV exclusive channels like FailArmy, Classic Toons and yes...Cats 24/7. The folks at Pluto TV hand-pick and organize millions of hours of clips, full episodes and viral sensations into TV channels for the web. Their ever-expanding universe of content includes staples from news to fashion, partnerships with some of the best content creators on this planet - like Bloomberg TV -and real-time agile channels capturing the social chatter.

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UVideos Android TV App (Free)
Your favorite entertainment, news and sports shows from Univision, Unimás and Galavisión as well as exclusives! Watch episodes of your most popular novelas and shows anytime, anywhere!

PBS KIDS App (Free)
Gone are the days of kids’ shows coming on only at specific times of the day. Remember Saturday morning cartoons? While kids nowadays expect to be able to watch their favorite shows whenever they’re free, this is also a boon for parents as it’s now even more easy to keep them occupied. At least with PBS Kids parents can rest assured that the content is good.

Smart Streaming Media Devices

You should never put your eggs all in one basket.

This applies to media streaming devices as well, some of which support 4K movies and shows. A few let you play indie games (or much more graphically intense games), and some are better than others at helping you search for content. To see which one worked best for my needs, I tested them all. Here are my findings.

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1. Vizio M65-C1 4K Ultra HD TV ($1,400)
My top pick right now due to the reasonable price and 65-inch size, this Vizio M65 television has it all. You can watch 4K movies using the UltraFlix app, Netflix, and Vudu with surround-sound. In my tests, the 4K streams looked clear without any pauses or slowdowns over a 200 Mbps connection in my home. Streaming directly to the TV means less device and cable clutter in your entertainment room.

2. Roku 4 ($130)
Here's your golden ticket for 4K streaming on a budget. The Roku 4 is priced well below the NVIDIA Shield Android TV but supports multiple 4K sources, including the Vudu app, YouTube, and Netflix. There's a handy 4K spotlight channel for finding 4K movies. I did prefer the Shield remote, since the Roku 4 remote is a bit bulky and the voice search button is hard to find. Also, the latest Amazon Fire TV is still $30 cheaper, even if it doesn't make 4K searches as easy.

3. NVIDIA Shield Android TV ($200)
One of the surprises with the Android TV is that the quality is amazing, even in HD. An HD stream from the Android store of The Revenant looked colorful and crisp. You can watch Netflix and YouTube videos in 4K, but the Vudu app is not available. The games can't compete with the X1 for graphics, but indie releases like Never Alone are definitely worth playing.

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4. Amazon Fire TV ($100)
For those who live in the Amazon "world" and purchase on-demand movies, watch Amazon Prime shows and movies, or use the Alexa voice assistant for controlling the lights in your home or ordering a pizza, Fire TV is an excellent choice. I liked the smaller size because it fit better in a smaller living room space next to an HDTV. A new version now supports 4K streaming, making this the lowest cost option in my round-up.

5. DISH Hopper 3 (Varies)
I'm a major fan of the DISH Hopper 3 and it's brand new interface. Channels and information are darker, which makes the video and any color logos pop. DISH has done a great job of integrating media streaming from Netflix with video on demand in one search field. For 4K video, there are a few on-demand movies but DISH will likely ramp up 4K content soon.

6. Tivo Bolt ($300)
Choose the Bolt if you are always searching for content. I found it easy to search for any show (like The Shannara Chronicles on MTV) and see which streaming services supported it or whether it was only on Mid-Continent Cable (note that the Bolt does not support satellite television yet). You can easily enable or disable streaming services in your search. Update: The Bolt does support 4K movies in Netflix and on YouTube not not on the Vudu app or video-on-demand.

7. Google Chromecast ($35)
Nothing beats the price of this colorful, portable dongle, although it does not support 4K streams. It plugs into a free HDMI port on your TV or receiver and draws power from an available USB port. This is the device you want for convenience if you already use an Android phone or tablet. I used one to stream from a Google Chromebook Pixel 2015 and noticed the video quality stayed crystal clear.

8. Microsoft Xbox One ($300)
My true fallback device (go Forza series), the Xbox One is a convenient streamer for Netflix, Hulu, and rentals from the Xbox store. Because you can quickly switch between a video stream or an X1 game, even if the total cost is a bit more than most streaming gadgets. For the price, the X1 is ideal for gamers but not for anyone who wants to jump on the 4K bandwagon.

9. Sony PlayStation 4 ($300)
Like the X1, the PS4 also supports the most common streaming services including Hulu, Vudu, Netflix, and Amazon video. You can also rent and stream from the PlayStation store, but none of the content is in 4K. (At least, not yet.) A rumor about the PS4.5 suggests it will support 4K.

10. Yamaha Musiccast RX-A1050 ($1,200)
This receiver ties everything together. I was able to test all of the media streaming devices using the HDMI inputs, stream music from the MusicCast app, and connect my Xbox One all at the same time, switching easily between them to search for the best movie streams.

Roku Streaming Stick Functions

This device falls a little more in the middle at $50. Though it’s similar in many respects to the Chromecast in how it works — as a wireless HDMI input — the price includes a controller, so it doesn’t require another device to function. Of course, it still can be controlled with a tablet or smartphone and act as an input for them. It also supports 7.1 channel surround sound. Order a Roku 3500R Streaming Stick today.

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Streaming media advantages

Streaming media is video or audio content sent in compressed form over the Internet and played immediately, rather than being saved to the hard drive..

With streaming media, a user does not have to wait to download a file to play it. Because the media is sent in a continuous stream of data it can play as it arrives. Users can pause, rewind or fast-forward, just as they could with a downloaded file, unless the content is being streamed live.

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Here are some advantages of streaming media:

Makes it possible for users to take advantage of interactive applications like video search and personalized playlists.
Allows content deliverers to monitor what visitors are watching and how long they are watching it.
Provides an efficient use of bandwidth because only the part of the file that's being transferred is the part that’s being watched.
Provides the content creator with more control over his intellectual property because the video file is not stored on the viewer's computer. Once the video data is played, it is discarded by the media player.
Media is usually streamed from prerecorded files but can also be distributed as part of a live broadcast feed. In a live broadcast, the video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a Web server as multicast, sending a single file to multiple users at the same time.

Streaming media is transmitted by a server application and received and displayed in real-time by a client application called a media player. A media player can be either an integral part of a browser, a plug-in, a separate program, or a dedicated device, such as an iPod. Frequently, video files come with embedded players. YouTube videos, for example, run in embedded Flash players.

Streaming media technologies have improved significantly since the 1990s, when delivery was typically uneven. However, the quality of streamed content is still dependent upon the user's connection speed.

The Best Android TV Player

Android TV is a clean, intuitive and robust operating system, and the Nvidia Shield takes full advantage of it. The Shield splits the difference between a streaming box and a gaming console, and has a lot to offer on both fronts. In addition to enjoying your favorite shows and movies on apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Plex, you can download hundreds of high-end Android games. You can also stream big-budget titles like Borderlands from the cloud via the Nvidia Grid program. Rounding out the video offerings, the Shield will be able to display and record TV broadcasts when tuners become available in the future. Add in support for 4K content from sites like YouTube and Netflix, as well as the ability to play your own media via USB, the Shield is one of the most versatile streaming players.

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Types of Streaming Media Players

Not all streaming media players are the same, and some will fit your personal needs better than others. In addition to the particular services each one offers, you'll probably want to decide which type of streaming media player works best for you.

First, there are the straightforward streaming media consoles. The function of these devices is to simply stream media, and they typically don't have any other major applications. But they're perfect for viewers happy with their current home entertainment setup, and they don't need anything additional besides streaming capabilities. The most popular console in this category is the Roku, the first player to work with the Netflix streaming service. It has since come out with more advanced models and offers an array of streaming services in addition to Netflix. Other boxes to consider in this category include the WD TV, Apple TV, Google TV and Boxee Box.

If you have TiVo or you're a gamer, you might actually already own a perfectly good streaming console. In addition to its recording features, TiVo can stream Netflix, as well as Hulu and Amazon content. And several game consoles, such as the Sony PS3, the XBox 360 and the Nintendo Wii have the ability to stream media. If you've been looking for an extra excuse to get a gaming console, the streaming abilities could make it worth the purchase for you.

If gaming isn't your thing, but you'd like to have the versatility to play DVDs and Blu-ray discs, you could opt for any of a slew of DVD/Blu-ray players that offer streaming. Companies like Insignia, LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony offer not only Blu-ray players but also HDTVs and home theater systems with streaming functionality. So, if you were already planning on a major overhaul of your current home entertainment center, it's certainly worth considering getting something that also satisfies your streaming desires.

Finally, besides consoles, you might also consider simply streaming to a mobile device. Although people seem to prefer to watch Netflix and Hulu on TV rather than a mobile device, streaming videos from YouTube is extremely popular on smartphones and tablets.

What else should you take into account when looking for a streaming media player?

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Streaming Media Player Guide

In 2007, the already popular movie rental mail service Netflix introduced streaming capabilities, allowing subscribers to watch select movies and TV shows directly through their computers. It wasn't long before the Web site Hulu.com became popular for its own streaming content, including the latest episodes of popular TV series. With the right equipment, users can also send these Internet feeds through to their television, thereby adding a vast library of content to their home viewing options. Cable companies have even started to fear that customers are canceling their subscriptions in favor of simply using online streaming media services.

As streaming media has exploded in popularity in the past several years, consumer demand has been increasing for devices that allow people to watch streaming Internet content more easily from their televisions. And we seem to have more choices than ever before when it comes to home entertainment. But with a plethora of choices also comes a great deal of confusion. Those who pride themselves on smart purchases might feel lost in the sea of devices, each one promising the best streaming capabilities.

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About Roku Stick Review

A long with Roku, Apple and Google, Amazon is a major player in streaming TV devices, and the Fire TV Stick is the most popular Amazon streamer. It's small, cheap and capable, and people seem to like it. In fact it's the most-reviewed product in Amazon history, with more than 100,000 user reviews, averaging four out of five stars.

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Count this as one review that's less enthusiastic. After a year and a half on the market, the Fire TV stick is showing its age. It's not the the Fire Stick is a bad device; it's not. It's that its similarly price rivals are so good. All of the Fire TV Stick's competitors have shipped newer streamers since it debuted, and the two closest in price -- Roku Streaming Stick and Google Chromecast -- are both better right now.

Roku's new-for-2016 stick costs a bit more, but it's worth it for the extra apps, speedier response times and more open, customer-friendly interface. The slightly cheaper Chromecast is more appealing for phone-centric users who don't mind the lack of a remote (though, notably, it lacks the Amazon Prime video app).

Amazon's Stick is good enough, but struggles to stand out against the tough competition. The Alexa voice assistant is easily accessible if you buy the more expensive version ($50 versus $40) with the voice remote, but since you have to have your TV on, it's hardly a viable Echo or Dot substitute. Amazon has done a good job adding must-have apps, but they get buried by menus designed -- more than any other device I've ever used -- to make you browse, search for and buy video from just one source: Amazon itself.

The Slingbox M2 is an ideal choice

The Slingbox M2 is not for cord cutters, as it doesn’t host any streaming services like Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video. However, it provides place shifting for cable- or satellite-TV subscribers. The Slingbox M2 hooks into your cable box, then transmits the signal to just about any computer or mobile device, anywhere in the world. With simple setup and excellent picture quality, the Slingbox M2 is an ideal choice for videophiles who want to take full advantage of their premium TV channels, even when they’re far away from home.

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Your most affordable streaming option - The Chromecast

Like any good streaming stick, the Chromecast 2 is concealable, portable, and doesn't take up much room. A recent redesign even adds a splash of color to the device. But the best changes to the Chromecast are under the hood -- it supports 802.11ac and features an adaptive antenna system -- and in the app you use to control the streaming device. Google revamped the Chromecast app to make it easier to find streamable content, highlighting video from apps already installed on your phone. The addition of support for Spotify helps Chromecast close the gap with Roku's Streaming Stick and the $35 price tag makes the Chromecast your most affordable streaming option.

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Roku 4 - The 4K Streaming Service

The Roku 4 is the first model from Roku to support 4K streaming services. Most 4K TVs already have these apps built in, and the Roku 4 offers no benefits over those versions. It does provide the wide selection of apps that other Roku players do, and it includes a new feature to help you find your missing remote. Most people won’t need this model’s added features today. And considering that it’s almost twice the price of the Roku 2, unless you really need a particular 4K streaming service that the Roku 4 offers, you should probably stick with the cheaper Roku Streaming Stick.

Currently, the latest box also doesn’t support HDMI 2.0a—only HDMI 2.0. This detail will be important in the future when more high-dynamic-range content starts to stream. Roku has been vague on whether it will be able to upgrade its devices to HDMI 2.0a via a firmware update if streaming services require that. The company does say that it’s waiting for the standards to be solidified. The Roku 4 has an optical output, too, so if you own an older soundbar or receiver that doesn’t support HDMI, this is a great feature to have.

Even so, however, most people can save some money today and just get the Roku Streaming Stick.

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How to Pick the Right Streaming Service

New online streaming services offer unprecedented viewing options.There are basically two options: all-you-can-eat subscription services that offer unlimited streaming for a monthly subscription, typically around $8 to $10 a month; and pay-per-view services, where you rent or buy individual movies or shows on an a la carte basis.

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If you opt for a subscription, it’s worth noting they tend to have fewer current movie and TV titles than pay-as-you-go options. Pay-per-view titles are often available sooner. Subscription services make the most sense for those who watch a lot of shows and movies, or who like to binge-watch watch several shows or even entire seasons. If you only watch one or two movies or shows a month and prefer more current releases, a pay-per-view services is the better bet. Here’s a breakdown of the top options.

The Powerful Roku Stick

While the Roku Stick isn’t quite as robust feature-wise as the Roku 4, it’s nearly just as good. It’s fast, powerful, and it’s totally portable, making it a breeze to grab as you head out for a stay at a hotel. The streaming stick is also compatible with the Roku app, which makes searching for content and connecting the device to Wi-Fi connections that use web-based passwords — such as hotels or dorm rooms — as easy as possible. It even allows you to stream audio, via the Roku app, to an Android or iOS device connected to your network for private listening.

There are, of course, some drawbacks inherent to the Roku Stick’s smaller form factor. It doesn’t have the expandable storage the Roku 4 does, nor is it capable of 4K playback. If those things aren’t important, however, it’s a way better deal. The stick is portable and far cheaper than the Roku 4, and the 2016 version is the fastest and most reliable iteration of the device yet.

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Roku4,The best Streaming Device of Roku Series

The fourth incarnation of the Saratoga-based company’s flagship streamer is the most comprehensive to date, sporting thousands of channels, 4K content, an intuitive cross-platform search utility, and an excellent user interface. The compact offering is slim and subtle, and equipped with nonskid rubber and enough weight to prevent it from getting shuffled around in your entertainment center. The remote is simple, but allows snappy navigation of Roku’s extremely intuitive channel-based interface, dedicated buttons for a few streaming services, and, best of all, features a built-in headphone jack for wireless listening when turning up the TV volume is a no-go. The device also features a microSD slot for extra app and game storage, as well as built-in Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port for when a faster connection is of the utmost importance.


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Best offerings from Apple TV

The Apple TV remains one of the best offerings on our roundup — especially if you’re already heavily-invested in any of Apple’s other devices or services — and the latest iteration of the streamer is even better than its predecessor. While most essential services are supported (sorry, no Amazon Prime!) Apple Airplay and apps like iOS Remote make the Apple TV’s user experience unique. You can easily beam any content you’ve previously purchased or rented through the iTunes Store directly to you TV from the cloud, freeing your iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad up to do other things. Sharing personal photos and videos from iOS devices is also easiest with the Apple TV, and the device’s speedy operation and integration with Siri render it a must-have for Apple aficionados. The bright colors and rounded icons help, too .

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Amazon Firе Stick Fеаturеѕ

Thе Amazon Fire Stiсk iѕ tо the Firе TV whаt thе Roku Stiсk iѕ to the Rоku 4; thе ѕmаllеr, ѕimрlеr vеrѕiоn of thе ѕtrеаming box. The Amаzоn Fire Stiсk gеtѕ рrорѕ fоr giving users ԛuiсk access to Amаzоn’ѕ entire librаrу of ѕtrеаming соntеnt, whiсh inсludеѕ a fаir аmоunt оf оriginаl рrоgrаmming аnd a hоѕt оf аррѕ and gаmеѕ оffеrеd thrоugh Amazon’s app ѕtоrе. Thеrеin liеѕ the rub, hоwеvеr. The Fire Stiсk is an Amаzоn рrоduсt to a fаult, аnd at every turn, thе dеviсе’ѕ uѕеr interface will ѕtееr уоu tоwаrd Amаzоn content. Vоiсе search rеѕultѕ аlѕо tеnd tо fаvоr the Amаzоn librаrу, and thе voice-compatible mоdеl will run уоu $10 mоrе than the basic Fire TV Stiсk. Whilе thiѕ might рut оff ѕоmе, thе dеviсе’ѕ lоw price роint аnd robust integration with Amаzоn’ѕ ѕеrviсеѕ mаkеѕ it аn еntiсing сhоiсе for Amazon Primе uѕеrѕ. Thе intuitivе hоmе-ѕсrееn layout hеlрѕ, tоо.

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Amazon Fire TV Stick for Amazon fans

A long with Roku, Apple and Google, Amazon is a major player in streaming TV devices, and the Fire TV Stick is the most popular Amazon streamer. It's small, cheap and capable, and people seem to like it. In fact it's the most-reviewed product in Amazon history, with more than 100,000 user reviews, averaging four out of five stars.

Count this as one review that's less enthusiastic. After a year and a half on the market, the Fire TV stick is showing its age. It's not the the Fire Stick is a bad device; it's not. It's that its similarly price rivals are so good. All of the Fire TV Stick's competitors have shipped newer streamers since it debuted, and the two closest in price -- Roku Streaming Stick and Google Chromecast -- are both better right now.

Roku's new-for-2016 stick costs a bit more, but it's worth it for the extra apps, speedier response times and more open, customer-friendly interface. The slightly cheaper Chromecast is more appealing for phone-centric users who don't mind the lack of a remote (though, notably, it lacks the Amazon Prime video app).

Amazon's Stick is good enough, but struggles to stand out against the tough competition. The Alexa voice assistant is easily accessible if you buy the more expensive version ($50 versus $40) with the voice remote, but since you have to have your TV on, it's hardly a viable Echo or Dot substitute. Amazon has done a good job adding must-have apps, but they get buried by menus designed -- more than any other device I've ever used -- to make you browse, search for and buy video from just one source: Amazon itself.

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Best 4k Streamer Roku4

When you drop a chunk of change on a shiny new thing, like a big TV with 4K resolution, the urge to accessorize can be overwhelming. If that urge has just overtaken you, the Roku 4 looks pretty sweet.

This squat little box spits out the widest variety of 4K video available today -- including Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, Vudu and M-Go -- and makes finding actual 4K TV shows and movies easier than ever. It's still early days for 4K so even those services don't have much, and newer 4K movies cost a bundle, but if you're hot to demo that new TV, I guess some 4K is better than no 4K.

Streaming videos in 4K resolution can deliver better picture quality than HD or 1080p resolution streams, but you'll need a big 4K TV, a fast Internet connection, and in the case of Netflix, the most-expensive subscription plan to take full advantage. Just don't expect a drastic improvement. Even to an image quality stickler like me the best non-4K streams from Netflix and Amazon look pretty awesome, and in my comparisons I find it difficult to tell the difference between them and actual 4K streams.

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Facts About Third Generation Apple TV

The third generation of the Apple TV received a price cut this year, making plugging your TV into Apple's ecosystem quite accessible. In addition to offering support to key Apple-only features, the Apple TV can also connect to your iPhone and iPad and show the contents on its screen on your TV.

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About TiVo BOLT Features

TiVo BOLT has a whopping 500GB of built-in storage and can record up to four shows simultaneously. It can also stream 4K content from popular services, thus allowing you to make the most out of the latest generation of TVs. Rather atypically for a set-top box, it is beautiful to look at, too. The BOLT requires a subscription, but TiVO has you covered for the first year.

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A cheap HDMI cable

Want a "quick and dirty" solution for streaming video on your TV? If you've got an HDTV, and your laptop has an HDMI output, just get a long cable and call it a day. (This will also work with most DVI and DisplayPort/Thunderbolt outputs, if you have the correct adapters or cables.) And remember: a cheap HDMI cable will work fine -- no reason to pay for so-called "premium" cables. While the gadgets above will cost you $50 minimum, this solution can cost you as little as $6 -- assuming, of course, that you already have the laptop and the HDTV.

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What about just buying a Smart TV?

If you're in the market for a new TV, you might think, "These new 'Smart TVs' already have these streaming features built-in. Why don't I just get one of them and forgo the boxes mentioned above? It's no fuss, no muss, and no wires."

Well, sure, you could do that. But you're probably going to end up overpaying for the streaming features, and actually losing flexibility in the long run. We prefer to buy a TV strictly on picture quality, and then spend an extra $50 to $270 on getting any one of the devices above, depending upon your needs (PS3 for gaming; a Blu-ray player if you still want to play your old DVD collection; a Roku if you want maximum value and affordability; Apple TV if you already have a lot of iTunes content). That way, you can always mix and match boxes in the months and years ahead, and still have your TV purchased on maximizing picture quality.

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About a Good Streaming Stick,The Chromecast 2

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Like any good streaming stick, the Chromecast 2 is concealable, portable, and doesn't take up much room. A recent redesign even adds a splash of color to the device. But the best changes to the Chromecast are under the hood -- it supports 802.11ac and features an adaptive antenna system -- and in the app you use to control the streaming device. Google revamped the Chromecast app to make it easier to find streamable content, highlighting video from apps already installed on your phone. The addition of support for Spotify helps Chromecast close the gap with Roku's Streaming Stick and the $35 price tag makes the Chromecast your most affordable streaming option.

Streaming Devices Testing Tips

Testing streaming players is usually a simple process that prioritizes content over performance. Any streaming player worth its salt can play video well, but only a good one possesses straightforward navigation, robust search features and a wide variety of content to suit all tastes.

The first thing we evaluate is the setup, to see how quick and simple it is. From there, we take the user interface for a spin to see what content gets highlighted, what gets hidden, and how easy it is to navigate to our favorite channels. We'll also watch a few different shows on a variety of channels to gauge the quality of the video and audio.

After that, it's onto the extra features, like gaming, voice search and screen mirroring. These factors don't weigh quite as heavily toward the final score, but they're nice to have if they work well, and extremely distracting if they don't.



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5 top tips for live streaming video on social media

1. Thе title аnd description fоr уоur broadcast matters, bесаuѕе thаt'ѕ whаt gеtѕ shared. Yоu'll bе prompted tо enter a title оn Periscope аnd a description оn Facebook Live. Yоur Periscope title ѕhоuld bе short аnd compelling. Thе Facebook Live description ѕhоuld bе compelling, but it саn bе a bit longer, bесаuѕе it lооkѕ likе a traditional Facebook post whеn it'ѕ shared.

2. Whеn уоu plan tо broadcast live, lеt аѕ mаnу people аѕ роѕѕiblе knоw ahead оf time. Sо fоr Periscope, соnѕidеr tweeting ѕоmеthing оut in addition tо uѕing Periscope's Twitter button tо announce уоur live broadcast. On Facebook, соnѕidеr a separate Facebook post ahead оf timе alerting people tо уоur plans. Alѕо оn Facebook, уоu саn аѕk viewers tо subscribe tо уоur streams, ѕо thеу gеt notified whеn уоu аrе broadcasting live. Aѕk people tо share уоur broadcasts.

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3. Build audience bу acknowledging уоur audience. Yоu саn't rеѕроnd bу typing whеn уоu'rе broadcasting live. Yоu'll ѕее comments оn thе screen in front оf you, but уоu'll nееd tо address thе commenter аnd speak уоur response inѕtеаd оf typing it. Yоu ѕhоuld make thаt уоur No. 1 habit оn аnу live streaming platform. Nоthing says, "I аррrесiаtе уоu bеing here" mоrе thаn acknowledging a viewer, whеthеr уоu аrе rеѕроnding tо a question оr simply ѕауing hi. It might bе impossible tо rеѕроnd tо everyone, but making аn attempt iѕ аll thаt'ѕ nесеѕѕаrу here.

4. Plan оn оnе longer broadcast rаthеr thаn a bunch оf separate ones. Remember thаt whеn уоu gо live, уоu trigger a nеw event. On Facebook Live, уоu'd hаvе tо enter separate descriptions, аnd nоw уоu'd hаvе additional posts bеing shared. Thаt'ѕ nоt аѕ big оf аn issue оn Facebook, bесаuѕе thе post differentiates bеtwееn "is live" аnd "was live." On Periscope, if уоu broadcast live аnd gо offline аnd thеn gо online again, уоu hаvе separate tweets. Older tweets wоuld соntаin links thаt wоuld gо tо аn аlrеаdу completed broadcast. Thаt lack оf intuitiveness will confuse уоur followers.

What is Streaming Media?

Streaming or media streaming is a technique for transferring data so that it can be processed as a steady and continuous stream. Streaming technologies are becoming increasingly important with the growth of the Internet because most users do not have fast enough access to download large multimedia files quickly. With streaming, the client browser or plug-in can start displaying the data before the entire file has been transmitted.

For streaming to work, the client side receiving the data must be able to collect the data and send it as a steady stream to the application that is processing the data and converting it to sound or pictures. This means that if the streaming client receives the data more quickly than required, it needs to save the excess data in a buffer. If the data doesn't come quickly enough, however, the presentation of the data will not be smooth.
There are a number of competing streaming technologies emerging. For audio data on the Internet, the de facto standard is Progressive Network's RealAudio.

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Roku is best for anyone

Forget $100 -- $50 is the new entry-level price point for streaming video. The Roku LT is the only product at this price point, but it's an enthusiastic Editors' Choice. With built-in Wi-Fi and free control apps available on iOS and Android (and, if you're old-fashioned, a regular old remote), the Roku LT delivers Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, Hulu Plus, and hundreds of other streaming-video and audio channels to any TV (including older, non-HD models).

The Roku HD is a nearly identical model with a slightly different remote that's available through different retailers than the LT; it costs $10 more.

If you can spend more, the $100 Roku 3 (new for 2013) offers a zippier processor, full 1080p video, and an Ethernet port. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi remote also includes a headphone jack, so you can stream without disturbing family members nearby -- great for kids' programming or late-night viewing sessions.

If your TV offers an MHL-compatible HDMI port, you can opt for the Roku Streaming Stick ($100), which shrinks the little box into a USB-style dongle.

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Key compatible services: Netflix, Amazon Video On Demand, Hulu Plus, Vudu, PBS, Crackle, Mediafly, MLB.TV, NHL GameCenter, NBA Game Time, MLS MatchDay Live, UFC, Pandora, Mog, Rdio, TuneIn Radio, Spotify, Amazon Cloud Player, Flickr, Dish World, FoxNews.com, NBC News, Facebook photos, Flickr, plus hundreds of others. HBO Go, Epix, and Time Warner Cable are also available, but only for existing subscribers of those channels or services on compatible ISPs and cable providers. The Plex "channel" lets you stream video, audio, and photos from networked PCs and Macs. The "Play on Roku" feature lets you stream content from handheld devices as well. And Roku now offers a handy feature that allows you to search for content across multiple services. (Disclosure: CNET and some of its sister CBS-owned properties -- such as Chow and Showtime -- are also available on Roku.)

Who shouldn't buy it? The Roku is best for anyone who does not need iTunes compatibility. Also, YouTube is a notable no-show on Roku, which could be a deal-breaker for some. If you've got a big DVD or Blu-ray collection, you may want to opt for a Blu-ray player instead (see below) -- though, for $50 to $100, the Roku would still be a great option for a second room.

Apple TV: Best solution for Apple fans

If you want the most diversity of content, the Roku box is the way to go. But if you're a die-hard Apple aficionado, Apple TV may be the better choice. It's the only box that's compatible with iTunes, iCloud, and AirPlay. The latter function allows you to stream audio (like Pandora and other Web- and app-based audio streams), photos, and even some video from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch directly to your TV by just tapping on the screen.

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The latest (2012) version of the Apple TV adds support for 1080p video output and an updated home screen. More important, though, are a flurry of feature upgrades that have been rolled out over the past few months: the addition of several channels -- including Hulu Plus, Watch ESPN, HBO Go, and Sky News -- and the cool AirPlay screen mirroring feature. The latter feature allows 2011 and 2012 Macs running the new Mountain Lion OS to "mirror" what's on their computer screens to the TV via AirPlay -- and that includes free Flash video sites such as Comedy Central and Hulu.com.

As with Roku, those cooler services -- HBO Go and Watch ESPN -- require you to have an existing cable subscription in order to use them. (Notably, Sky News is 100 percent free, and offers a live stream -- although the news has a decidedly British slant, given its U.K. origins.)

Key compatible services: iTunes Video, AirPlay, Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Watch ESPN, Sky News, HBO Go, Vimeo, MLB.TV, NBA, NHL, WSJ Live, iTunes Match Music, Internet radio, many audio and video podcasts, Flickr, iCloud Photo Stream

Who shouldn't buy it? If you're not an Apple person -- no iPad, no iPhone, no iPod, no Mac -- you won't get as much value out of this device. And if you want services like Amazon Instant Video, you'll need to look elsewhere (namely, Roku).

Worthwhile alternative: If you want more flexibility -- albeit with a far bigger budget -- you could always just attach a Mac Mini to your TV.

Streaming media blu ray players

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The Best Streaming Devices

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Picking the Right Streaming Service

New online streaming services offer unprecedented viewing options.There are basically two options: all-you-can-eat subscription services that offer unlimited streaming for a monthly subscription, typically around $8 to $10 a month; and pay-per-view services, where you rent or buy individual movies or shows on an a la carte basis.

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If you opt for a subscription, it’s worth noting they tend to have fewer current movie and TV titles than pay-as-you-go options. Pay-per-view titles are often available sooner. Subscription services make the most sense for those who watch a lot of shows and movies, or who like to binge-watch watch several shows or even entire seasons. If you only watch one or two movies or shows a month and prefer more current releases, a pay-per-view services is the better bet. Here’s a breakdown of the top options.

Features of Android TV

Android TV is a clean, intuitive and robust operating system, and the Nvidia Shield takes full advantage of it. The Shield splits the difference between a streaming box and a gaming console, and has a lot to offer on both fronts. In addition to enjoying your favorite shows and movies on apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus and Plex, you can download hundreds of high-end Android games. You can also stream big-budget titles like Borderlands from the cloud via the Nvidia Grid program. Rounding out the video offerings, the Shield will be able to display and record TV broadcasts when tuners become available in the future. Add in support for 4K content from sites like YouTube and Netflix, as well as the ability to play your own media via USB, the Shield is one of the most versatile streaming players.

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Best Streaming Media Players

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What to Stream in Streaming Media Player

 Now that you've selected the right streaming player for you, it's time to get down to the business of watching some shows. To get you started we've scoured the options on Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Now and Showtime Anytime to bring you the best shows to binge watch. We'll even tell you exactly how long it will take for you to watch every episode.

And when you come to the end of that list we can tell you where to find some other great shows to watch such as Empire, Better Call Saul, Downton Abbey, Vikings, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones and Peppa Pig. So many shows, so many ways to watch.

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How We Test Streaming Devices

 Testing streaming players is usually a simple process that prioritizes content over performance. Any streaming player worth its salt can play video well, but only a good one possesses straightforward navigation, robust search features and a wide variety of content to suit all tastes.
The first thing we evaluate is the setup, to see how quick and simple it is. From there, we take the user interface for a spin to see what content gets highlighted, what gets hidden, and how easy it is to navigate to our favorite channels. We'll also watch a few different shows on a variety of channels to gauge the quality of the video and audio.
After that, it's onto the extra features, like gaming, voice search and screen mirroring. These factors don't weigh quite as heavily toward the final score, but they're nice to have if they work well, and extremely distracting if they don't

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Streaming media players & services

Millions of Americans now watch video that's delivered to their screen over the Internet. Most don't drop TV service entirely but use streaming as a supplement to it rather than as a replacement. Netflix accounts for most of the action in video streaming, but there are several other options as well, both by subscription and pay-per-view.

You should weigh a number of things when deciding which streaming media service best meets your needs, including the selection of titles it carries. Also consider the types of equipment you can use to get streaming...

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How does video streaming work?

 There are three major streaming technologies used nowadays: Progressive Download, Traditional Streaming and Http-based Adaptive Streaming. I will introduce Progressive download in this blog, Traditional Streaming in Part 2 and Http-based Adaptive Streaming in Part 3.

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1. Progressive Download
According to Figure one, this is how progressive download at its early version. Basically any content provider will encode its video and put up in a normal web server (server we use to host HTTP pages, nothing special). And as viewers, we need to know the URL of the video file, and we download the video file into our computer. We could only watch videos while the download is completed.

Since I mentioned “Encode” just now, I would like to explain the concept of Encode in a nut shell.

Before putting raw file which is the output from your recording device, you need to compress the video into a format that media player could play, and you will need to choose the right quality. So there are two decisions you need to make here: Video Quality (measured by Bit-Rates) and Video Format.

Video Quality: the higher the bit-rates, the higher quality your video has. For instance, a 100kbps streaming video is phone-video quality but a 10 mbps streaming video is DVD quality. The higher bit-rates requests you to have higher bandwidth to consume.

Video format: There are different file types supported by different media player, such as H.264 (MP4), FlashVideo (FLV), QuickTime (QT), Windows Media (WMV) and etc.
You would always want to choose a video format that could be supported by as many as client devices possible. You may ask why can’t I encode videos into all these formats. The answer is simple, encoding is expensive and you have to keep many files for one video.

Later on, progressive download technology also gets improved. Now, you will notice, when you watch video on Youtube for example, you don’t have to wait for the whole video to be downloaded. You could start watching video once the first few seconds gets loaded.

As showed in figure 3 above, the first dark blue bar shows where you watch until and the light blue bar shows how much video you have loaded into your video browser – which is a buffer. Therefore, once the buffer is filled with a few seconds of video, the video will start playing as if you are watching video in a real time.

However, there could be a problem potentially. For instance, you are watching a video for the first 10 minutes. During this 10 minutes, web server continues pushing videos into the buffer and you loaded another 30 minutes of content. However, after this the first 10 minutes, you decide to close the video. You and the content provided both just wasted 30 minutes of bandwidth. However, media channels made a lot of improvements on this, including trying to slow down the speed of video loading, so media player doesn’t keep loading video in the background.

Another character I want to point out for Progressive Download is, when the file start to be served through HTTP, the video quality couldn’t be changed. If you are loading a DVD-quality of video, even though your bandwidth drops, you will still need to wait for high-quality video to get loaded. This clearly isn’t an ideal experience for viewers.

Defination of Streaming Media

Streaming media is video or audio content sent in compressed form over the Internet and played immediately, rather than being saved to the hard drive..

With streaming media, a user does not have to wait to download a file to play it. Because the media is sent in a continuous stream of data it can play as it arrives. Users can pause, rewind or fast-forward, just as they could with a downloaded file, unless the content is being streamed live.

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Here are some advantages of streaming media:

Makes it possible for users to take advantage of interactive applications like video search and personalized playlists.
Allows content deliverers to monitor what visitors are watching and how long they are watching it.
Provides an efficient use of bandwidth because only the part of the file that's being transferred is the part that’s being watched.
Provides the content creator with more control over his intellectual property because the video file is not stored on the viewer's computer. Once the video data is played, it is discarded by the media player.
Media is usually streamed from prerecorded files but can also be distributed as part of a live broadcast feed. In a live broadcast, the video signal is converted into a compressed digital signal and transmitted from a Web server as multicast, sending a single file to multiple users at the same time.

Streaming media is transmitted by a server application and received and displayed in real-time by a client application called a media player. A media player can be either an integral part of a browser, a plug-in, a separate program, or a dedicated device, such as an iPod. Frequently, video files come with embedded players. YouTube videos, for example, run in embedded Flash players.

Streaming media technologies have improved significantly since the 1990s, when delivery was typically uneven. However, the quality of streamed content is still dependent upon the user's connection speed.

Google Chromecast Audio

Google's Chromecast is an affordable, compelling media streamer that lets you watch video from your mobile devices on your television. But it only works with an HDMI connection, and that leaves anything without a big screen out of the game. Now Google has released the Chromecast Audio, a new variant designed solely to turn your speakers wireless for music streaming. It works just like the Chromecast, and has the same low $35 price tag, but it lacks video output and instead connects via a 3.5mm audio jack (with support for stereo RCA and optical audio). And, just like the original Chromecast, it does exactly what it claims to do, extremely well, and at a very reasonable price.

Editors' Note: We have updated this review to reflect the addition of support for high-resolution audio and multi-speaker configurations to the Chromecast Audio. As a result, the score has been increased from 4 to 4.5 stars.

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Design

The Chromecast Audio is a small, black plastic puck about the size of a poker dealer's chip. One side is textured with concentric rings around a Google logo, to give the impression of a tiny vinyl record. The other side is a matte gray plastic. A 3.5mm port sits on the edge of the puck (a short, bright yellow 3.5mm cable is included). There's a micro USB port opposite the 3.5mm port, flanked by a small Reset button and an indicator light. The micro USB port is solely for powering the device with the included cable and wall adapter.

Setup

Without a connected screen on which to display information, the Chromecast Audio doesn't guide you quite as directly through the setup process as the original Chromecast, but it's still rather simple. Connect the Chromecast Audio to the 3.5mm input of your speaker or sound system, plug the micro USB port into the included wall charger, and plug the charger into the wall. Load the free Chromecast app on Android or iOS phone or tablet and choose "Set Up a New Device." Tap Chromecast Audio, and the app will walk you through the setup process and get you connected to your Wi-Fi network.

Multi-Room Audio

You can name different Chromecast Audio devices after different rooms in the house and jump between them in compatible apps. At launch, the Chromecast Audio didn't support streaming music to multiple speakers at once, but that feature has recently been added, putting the device's flexibility closer to the standards set by wireless audio systems from Sonos and Bose. You can now group more than one speaker together and play music on several in the same room, or simultaneously to every connected speaker in the house. You can't split channels apart to different speakers for dedicated stereo pairs, however.
On paper, you can connect the Chromecast Audio to a stereo speaker system or A/V receiver with stereo RCA or optical audio cables, but those connections require additional adapters, since the Chromecast Audio only comes with a 3.5mm patch cable for the aux input found on most speakers. 3.5mm-to-stereo-RCA and 3.5mm (mini toslink)-to-optical adapters are inexpensive and easy to find, but the options would have been nice to get in the box instead of just the little 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable.

The Apple TV

It's been more than three years, but we finally have a new Apple TV. The last time Apple updated its popular media streamer was back in 2012, and it has really started to show its age. Especially when you consider the broad app ecosystems and 4K streaming support offered by competing devices like the Amazon Fire TV and the Roku 4. Thanks to the new iOS-based tvOS 9, Apple has solved one of those problems; the new media streamer now offers plenty of apps. And a new Siri-powered remote makes navigation via voice a breeze. Still, it lacks 4K support, and with a price tag higher than any of our top picks (including the $99 Editors' Choice Amazon Fire TV), it feels like too little, too late.

Design

The new Apple TV has the same matte black plastic design and squarish shape of the previous model. It measures the same 3.9 inches across, but is nearly twice as thick at 1.4 inches. It's still a very tiny box you can stick almost anywhere underneath or behind your HDTV.
This version sees the return of local storage in the form of 32GB of solid state memory (or 64GB for the $199 model), to be used for apps and games. Unless you intend to download a lot of games, the 32GB model should suit you just fine. The reintroduction of local storage doesn't explain the thicker profile of the device. It's likely a combination of storage and increased processing power.

While the box is bigger, its back panel actually holds fewer ports than before. The HDMI video output, micro USB port, and Ethernet port are still there, along with the two-prong laptop-style power connector, but the optical audio output of the last model has been removed. This is relatively minor, since your HDTV likely has its own optical audio output if you want to run audio through a soundbar or speaker system. Still, it's an odd omission considering the larger frame.


The remote has been completely redesigned, and now looks and feels more like an iOS device than ever. It's a flat, slender bar, with curved edges and a Lightning connector on the bottom for topping up its rechargeable batteries. You could easily mistake it for a new iPod touch. The back is sturdy aluminum, and the front is approximately halved width-wise into glossy and matte black sections. The matte black portion holds the built-in touchpad for navigating on-screen menus, along with the Menu/Back and Home buttons. The touchpad is responsive and comfortable, and physically clicks rather than relying on surface taps, so you won't accidentally trigger it.

Microphone/Siri and Play/Pause buttons occupy the glossy section of the remote, along with a volume rocker. Two small microphone holes near the top, one each on the front and back sides, are for voice control. A small black rectangle on the front holds an infrared emitter as a backup control if the Bluetooth connection to the Apple TV doesn't work.

The Amazon Fire TV

Amazon has updated its Fire TV Stick just in time for the holidays, adding a few welcome features to the already excellent media streamer. It's the same hardware as the original Fire TV Stick, but it now includes a microphone-equipped remote so you can use Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, just like you can with the new Fire TV box. It's a bit pricier than the original (which is available with a standard, microphone-less remote), but at $49.99, it still won't break the bank. It's not quite as smooth as the Fire TV, and it doesn't feature 4K video support, but the Fire TV Stick gets you access to the same wide selection of apps and services for half the price. It easily earns our Editors' Choice for budget media streamers.

Design
The Fire TV Stick itself is identical to the original version. It's a simple, black USB drive-like device that measures 3.4 by 1 by 0.5 inches (HWD). There's an HDMI connector on top of the stick, and a micro USB port for power on the side. Amazon includes a small female-to-female HDMI adapter, so you can hook it up with an HDMI cable if it won't fit directly into one of the ports on your HDTV. An included wall adapter and micro USB cable keep the stick running; Amazon recommends using the adapter rather than relying on your HDTV's USB ports.

The remote is a significant upgrade from the squat little bar that comes with original Fire TV Stick. It's identical to the remote included with the current Fire TV—a 6-inch, matte-black wand with only seven buttons and a prominent, circular, glossy-black navigation pad. A pinhole microphone on the end lets you use the Fire TV Stick's voice search and Alexa voice assistant with a press of a button.

Fire TV
Amazon uses a heavily skinned version of Google's Android operating system for its Fire TV products, and the interface has remained mostly unchanged from the first Fire TV. The menu is built around a column of categories on the left side of the screen and a series of large, colorful tiles displaying apps and media on the right side. Different categories like Apps, Movies, and Prime Video broadly sort available media and software, and more granular categories of media and apps like New, Popular, and Recently Viewed are arranged in rows that can expand further into sub-menus.
The interface is built around a curated, Amazon-centric experience that uses Amazon's Prime Video, Prime Music, App Store, and on-demand video selection as the primary sources for whatever you want to watch or listen to. Fortunately, Amazon's Fire TV App Store is fairly large, and you'll likely be able to find whatever non-Amazon streaming service you want with it (Google Play and Apple Music/iTunes are notable exceptions). Searches for movies and shows will bring up anything available on Amazon, but Hulu, Netflix, and other options will also appear if you have the apps installed and your accounts registered on the Fire TV Stick.