Image via Complex Original
Tired of paying an arm and a leg for your cable package? Sick of dealing with monopolistic cable companies? Itching to get more out of your TV than the same old shows that are always on? Yes, yes and yes. Of course you are. There's a brave new world of digital media out there and yet the pay cable system is still largely a relic of the '90s. The good news is, thanks to the Internet and services like Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Video On Demand, lots of people are getting all kinds of functionality out of their televisions, and they're doing it without the cable companies at all. Here are five options, each one getting better all the time, for streaming your favorite shows and accessing your favorite websites on your favorite screen in the house—monopoly and hefty subscription fee-free.
5. Roku Box
Price: $59.99–$99.99
The Roku player is perhaps the most accessible TV streaming solution, offering all of the key services like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and more with just a $59 starting price. The $99 XDS model will get you 1080p full HD video, a stronger wireless signal, and a USB port for playing supported file formats from your personal library.
4. Sony BDP-S580 Blu-Ray Player
Price: $199
Blu-ray players aren't just for Blu-rays any more. The latest offerings come with an impressive array of streaming options that can rival any stand alone solution. The new Sony BDP-S580 enables Hulu Plus, Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Qriocity, Pandora, Slacker Radio, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and much more wirelessly via Sony's Bravia Internet Video platform. You can even download a free app that lets you control the system with your smart phone. Oh, and of course it plays Blu-Rays, too...even 3D ones.
3. Apple TV
Price: $99
While not as flexible as some of the other options, the Apple TV works great for anyone connected to the Apple universe. In addition to full Netflix and YouTube integration, tons of shows and movies can be conveniently rented from iTunes in HD with a click of a button. One of the coolest features of Apple TV is AirPlay, which allows you to stream any music, pictures, or movies on a networked computer to your home theater display via iTunes.
2. Boxee Box
Price: $199
The Boxee Box is the most unconventional of the pack. Aside from being set apart by its distinctive form factor, Boxee operates not by relying on mainstream Internet channels like Hulu, but by using its software to scrape the Web to find streams of whatever program you're looking for. Boxee says it can play thousands of your favorite shows from online sources and integrates with Netflix and the Vudu movie rental service as well. In addition, the system is compatible with web apps from Vimeo, Flickr, Pandora, MLB, NHL, and more. Another cool feature about Boxee is that it plays all the multimedia content on your computer as well. Just hook it up and you can enjoy your videos and pictures on the big screen.
1. Google TV
Price: $299.99–$399.99
Google TV is perhaps the most promising of the bunch when it comes to offering a full-featured, fun, and futuristic replacement for your cable box. It attempts to leverage the full power of the Web, has handy Google navigation tools, and starting this summer will get a new Android Honeycomb 3.1 OS with access to the Android app universe. You can stream the big three: Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Instant Video, but you can also surf the Web as normal, viewing content on almost any site your heart desires. Like the other options listed here, the major television networks have blocked all official avenues for viewing their content online.
Google TV also offers a ton of other cool features, like watching shows in a picture-in-picture frame while you surf the web, using your cell phone as a remote control, creating playlists and more. It comes in two set-top models, the Logitech Revue for $299 and the Sony Internet TV Blu-Ray Player (depicted above) for $399.
