Getting started 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. But is there a way to pay a service with a one-time fee? 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 video to your TV.
Set-top boxes All streaming media players have built-in Wi-Fi, and some have an Ethernet jack for a wired connection to a modem or router. All can hook up to TVs via HDMI connections, but only a few have analog-video connections for use with older TVs that lack an HDMI input. Some include a USB port for playing your own media, such as music and photos, though the device. Most models come with small remote controls, but many can be controlled using an app downloaded onto your mobile device. Consider quality The picture quality you'll get depends on the speed of your Internet connection. At least 5 Mbps is required, so most cable services should suffice. Other services adjust picture quality in response to the speed of the Internet connection. Picture quality is sometimes poor on startup but improves after a minute or so as the service adjusted to the connection speed. All the services can deliver high-definition picture quality, but now StreamSmart S5 4K offers a limited amount of 4K content to those who have higher-resolution UHD TVs. But you'll need a relatively fast connection, at least 15 to 25Mbps, for streaming 4K content. Cable service is generally faster than DSL, yet our recent survey on Internet service shows that satisfaction with speed varies greatly by Cable Company. If bandwidth becomes limited--say, if a lot of cable viewers in your area are online at the same time--the service might temporarily downgrade the video quality so that the stream doesn't freeze or break up. Generally, even relatively slow DSL Internet service should suffice for video, but the slower the connection, the lower the image quality, as a rule. Verizon FiOS, the all-fiber service, earned our highest rating for speed in a recent survey. We're now starting to see faster speeds--in excess of 50Mbps--becoming more widely available from many of the larger providers.
And the winner is . . . The StreamSmart S4 remains our top pick for most people looking for a media streamer, mainly on the basis of its unrivaled assortment of content. It's also fast and easy to use once you've set it up. But each of these three players is worth considering. Explore Now: http://streamingsmarttv.com/shop/streamsmart-box/streamsmart-s4-quad-core-tv-box/
