Streaming Media Players

There are many options for streaming media players on the market, and making the decision on what to buy can be overwhelming. They all do about the same thing, but have several different price points. The Apple TV, Google TV, and Roku are probably the most popular. Google TV is the most powerful with loads of features. The Apple TV is great as well and is the only way to access the iTunes library. The Roku is very flexible, has lots of great channels, and a simple interface. The Google TV will set you back about $100-$150, the Apple TV about $100 and the Roku about $50-$100. My personal vote is for the low end Roku. It costs only $50 and can stream Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Crackle, and many others. I have had no problems with the device, and I can hook it up with both HDMI, and rca video cables for my older TVs. The Roku can do just about everything I need it to. Other streaming options available are Smart TVs and Blu-ray players.

Renting movies from Red Box and Family Video

Going to the video store and renting a movie seems to be becoming a thing of the past, but it can be a great way to see the latest movie. Things like Netflix and OnDemand are starting to take over this business but there are still other services still available. The first I would like to mention is RedBox. RedBox is basically a vending machine for renting movies. They have a large selection to choose from at an inexpensive cost. The downside to this though, is that you have to wait 28 days for the new releases. This is done by movie studios as way to get more people to buy the DVDs instead of renting them. Another good service is Family Video or another rental store. At these stores, there is no wait for the new releases. They are available right away and cost under $3. Renting movies is a great way to cut the cost of cable.