Streaming On The Cheap

By now, most of us are aware of Roku, Apple TV and other little devices that allow us to watch our favorite Netflix and Hulu movies and shows on our TVs. The sweet spot in price for these set top boxes is right in the $100 range with some options from Roku between $60-$80 but have you heard about Google's recent venture into the set top box market segment?

Google introduced the Chromecast several weeks ago and so far it has had pretty stellar reviews from users, despite the fact that it is still lacking in the subscription services it supports. Currently, Netflix and YouTube are the only services officially supported but you can stream some content from your mobile web browser as well.

The super small device plugs right into any free HDMI port on your TV and draws power from your TVs USB port with the provided cable. If your HDTV does not have a powered USB port, they also include a wall adapter. You then control the device through an app downloaded to your Android or iOS device and it can even be controlled through your Windows or Apple computer. Unlike Apple TV, Chromecast uses your mobile device like a remote and directs content from the web instead of just mirroring whatever you are seeing on your screen. Best of all, this little device is just $35! Keep an eye on this as they will be supporting many more subscription services in the coming months.

UPDATE (10/2/13): HULU just released an update for iPad and Android that includes Chromecast support. It does not yet have iPhone functionality but expect it to come soon. I assume other streaming services like Amazon, VUDU, and Redbox Instant will be close behind in providing support. Time to buy one!

Do You Really Need All Those Channels?

How many channels do you actually watch on a regular basis? You're probably paying upwards of $50-$80 a month for your cable or satellite bill but how many of us actually watch more than 10% of the channels included in our TV package?

Did you know that you can get all the major networks (ABC, NBC, FOX, and CBS) plus a ton of local networks in HD for absolutely FREE? If you live within relative proximity to a TV station, you can get most of the TV you ever wanted to watch without paying a dime. Check out AntennaWeb to see what kind of reception you can get. There are a number of great antennae's you can get on Amazon for under $50. Depending on how far you live from a station, you can get a low profile indoor antennae that can be easily hidden from view without compromising reception so no one would ever know its even there! I recommend the Mohu Leaf. It gets amazing reception, is paper thin, and does not have the long , ugly metal antennae so it can easily be hidden. If you live further from a station (more than 100 miles) you can get an outdoor antenna to get the range you need.

Many of us are too busy to watch TV as it airs so a DVR is a MUST. There are several solutions that I have found to circumvent this problem. The first and easiest is to pay the $7.99 a month for HULUPlus. Most major networks (except CBS) have their shows available on HULU the day after they air so you can watch your shows at your convenience, even on your smartphone or tablet. Another solution is to hook up an old PC you may have around that house to record shows using Windows Media Center. Many desktops come with a TV tuner built in but if not, you can buy one for under $50. I recommend the AverTV tuner. You'll just need a coax splitter to run from the antennae to the TV and the tuner on your computer. With Windows Media Center, you can search for the shows you like and set it up to automatically record that show whenever it airs.

Keep an eye on the news as well because it seems like streaming your favorite channels a-la-carte may be just around the corner. Sony recently stuck a tentative deal with Viacom to stream channels like Nickelodeon and MTV on their Sony TV service supposedly to be available on their upcoming PlayStation 4 console. Check out this New York Times article if you want to know more.