Learn A Streaming Device Buyers Guide

A Streaming Device Buyers Guide

Last Updated: December 13, 2019

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With the Holiday shopping season rapidly coming to a close, is a streaming device on your list this year? Use our streaming device buyers guide to help you make the right choice. It’s a great way to enjoy popular services, like Netflix, Disney Plus, and Hulu.

While some use their smart TV or videogame console to stream content, others cast video from their smartphone. Still, a dedicated streaming device provides a straightforward solution. In the same manner as our buyers guides for streaming services and wireless routers, here’s a streaming device buyers guide.

Roku Ranks at the Top of the Media Streaming Device World

There are good reasons for Roku’s massive popularity among consumers. For example, their family of devices provides a simple user interface and excellent performance. Most importantly, they are neutral when it comes to the various streaming services on the market.

roku-streaming-stick-plus — The Roku Streaming Stick+ is a great option. Image copyright Roku.

While the Amazon Fire TV Stick is another great option, its interface favors content from Amazon Prime. While this isn’t a problem for Prime subscribers, other users might find that tendency annoying. It’s a major reason why so many turn to Roku.

The Roku Streaming Stick+ ranked first on CNET’s list of the top streaming devices for 2019. For nearly $50, users are able to easily stream 4K HDR video. It includes voice control and a fast processor. This Roku’s portability also lets you grab it and go when traveling.

Alexa Powers the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

Subscribers to Amazon Prime need to check out the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K. It’s also priced at $50, which tends to be the sweet spot for most streaming devices. One advantage over the Roku Streaming Stick+ is its superior voice control provided by Alexa. Pairing the device with an Amazon Echo works best for this feature.

As noted earlier, the Fire TV Stick’s user interface strongly suggests content from Amazon Prime. Frankly, it’s over the top at times. If this isn’t bothersome, this streaming device’s feature set compares well with the Roku family and others.

Also, note that the Fire TV Stick 4K doesn’t provide an app for You Tube TV. This is likely to be a showstopper for many users. You Tube TV continues to grow in popularity. In that case, the platform-agnostic Roku family remains the best choice.

The Apple TV 4K Provides Great Performance at a Premium

The Apple TV 4K is likely on the wishlist of Apple fans if they already don’t own one. With support for 4K video and Dolby Atmos sound, its feature set ranks at the top of the streaming device heap. Of course, being an Apple device, this high-end functionality comes with a high-end price. The Apple TV 4K costs $169, over three times as much as the other devices in our buyers guide.

For this price, users receive superior performance, a great remote and voice control capabilities powered by Siri. Unfortunately, the Apple TV 4K won’t stream YouTube content in 4K or HDR. This is due to incompatibility with the codec. Remember what we said about the platform-agnostic Roku?

In the end, expect the majority of users to opt for the cheaper options from Roku or Amazon.

Remember to stream HD content you need at least 5 Mbps of Internet speed per device. For streaming content in 4K, the speed requirement increases to 25 Mbps. As always, perform regular Internet speed tests to ensure you get the speed your ISP promised.

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The Differences between the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus

Last Updated: March 21, 2018

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Samsung recently introduced its new flagship Galaxy S9 and the S9+ to the world, with high-end tech consumers already starting the comparisons. Does the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus deserve its moniker and hefty price tag, or is the S9 good enough for government work? Let’s take a look.

Pretty Samsung Galaxy Smartphones

The S9 and the S9 Plus definitely turned heads because of their refined design features. Both iterations boast Samsung’s signature curve, with the front and back panels set apart by a gorgeous aluminum frame. The S9 and the S9+ are also smaller than the S8, giving the ninth generation of the Galaxy phone series a more streamlined and chic appeal. Both are slightly heavier than their predecessors, adding to their gravitas.

galaxy-s9 — The Samsung Galaxy S9 highlighted Mobile World Congress 2018. Photo copyright Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Durability Reviews are Mixed

Unfortunately, the new Samsung phones share a regrettable characteristic of many posh accoutrements: they are incredibly fragile. They scuff easily, and the Gorilla Glass 5 top layer will wear away rather quickly, especially if you are the type to keep your phone in a tight pants pocket.

They are, however, water and dust resistant, and rated as such by the IP68 standard. This means that your Samsung will be able to come up breathing after dropping it in no more than 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to half an hour.

The Quad HD Infinity Display

Samsung is known for its unique way of creating deep, engaging color schemes in all of its displays, and the S9/S9 Plus are no different. You get a great look from a wider variety of angles, and the Infinity Display provides even deeper immersion. Although your image no longer bleeds all the way to the edge of the curved glass, you actually gain a bit of functionality from this. The Infinity Display was criticized for the accidental palm presses that it created when the image bleed was maximized to the edge.

The first major difference between the Samsung Galaxy S9 and the S9 Plus is the slightly larger screen size of the Plus (6.2 in compare to 5.8 in). You get a striking 18.5:9 aspect ratio for both phones. The max resolution is also striking – 2960 x 1440 Quad HD+ with downscale capacity for slightly more battery life.

The Galaxy S9 Plus boasts Superior Performance

The S9+ offers more RAM than the S9 (6 MB to 4 MB). The added boost of power seemed to take the S9 to another level of performance when running multiple apps. The S9 had a bit of lag in some places, while the Plus had none.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 powers the S9/S9+. You get 64 GB of onboard storage with both phones, with the ability to expand out to 400 GB using microSD cards.

Samsung wisely decided to keep the headphone jack on the S9/S9+ as well.

Checking your mobile Internet speed on a mobile device is a good idea – to make sure your hardware isn’t lagging your connection. You can get this done easily and accurately at bandwidthplace.com. Do it before you throw away that warranty paperwork.

The Bottom Line

Samsung did a lot of great work with its eighth generation Galaxy – the S9 is no slouch. The Plus adds a bit of bang for the buck, and is certainly worth the extra money for heavy Internet/business users.

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Google’s New Chromecast Ups the Ante for Cord Cutters

Last Updated: December 10, 2015

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With Cupertino upping the video streaming competition with their new Apple TV and its tvOS operating system offering a platform for games and apps, Google naturally counters that action with an enhanced Chromecast. As more users take advantage of fast Internet speeds to watch TV shows and movies, the market for video streaming devices continues to grow.

Does the updated Chromecast 2 offer enough new functionality for current owners to upgrade or interested cord cutters to make the leap? Let’s look more closely at its new features.

The Chromecast Offers an Inexpensive Entry Point into Video Streaming

The best feature of the Google Chromecast is quite possibly its price, assuming your Internet provider offers unlimited bandwidth. (If not it’s always imperitive to watch your data usage when streaming rich media content over the Internet.) At only $35, the Chromecast 2 ranks at the lower end of the price range compared to similar devices, like the Roku or Apple TV.

The Chromecast allows you to “cast” rich media content to your TV at 1080p resolution from your iOS or Android mobile device or your laptop running the Windows, OS X, or Chrome operating systems. The new model supports dual band routers (2.4 and 5 GHz), including Google’s own OnHub. You also have the option to use a wired Ethernet connection for streaming, which is probably only useful if your entertainment center is close to your modem.

To initiate streaming you access an app or browser on another device, but you are then able to use that device for other activity while the Chromecast streams the content uninterrupted. It also offers built-in support for Google Play content, YouTube, a photo browser, and the Chrome web browser. The new Chromecast model sports a small HDMI cable, offering added flexibility when connecting it to your TV or AV receiver.

Chromecast Support on a Wide Array of Apps, Including Sling TV

Many streaming media apps offer support for the Chromecast. In fact, Sling TV just introduced support in early November. The company is even offering a free Chromecast device when subscribing for three months of Sling TV at $20 per month — a deal worth considering if you are new to either product.

The updated Chromecast app provides a neat feature that allows you to download any app that supports casting to the device in one fell swoop. This new app is even available for the original Chromecast, so be sure to update yours if you haven’t yet. The new cross platform search feature lets you look for content in any compatible app using either text or voice.

Ultimately if you already own a Chromecast you probably don’t need the new model unless you want to take advantage of a dual band router. Support for the routers does ensure a great streaming experience providing your Internet speed is good. But if you are interested in an easy to use and inexpensive video streaming device – music too – the Chromecast needs to be considered. Its compatibility with nearly every mobile and desktop operating system makes it a smart choice for many.

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The iPad Pro — Does Bigger Mean Better?

Last Updated: November 2, 2015

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The long rumored “big” iPad finally arrived during Apple’s September event focused on the new iPhone 6s. The iPad Pro with its external, attachable keyboard and Apple Pencil reminds one of the Microsoft Surface, albeit with a more robust app market available through the iTunes App Store.

With the new iPad Mini 4 and iPhone 6s Plus also boasting powerful tech specs and iOS app compatibility, is the marketplace really interested in a super-sized iPad? Let’s take a closer look at the details and see.

iPad Pro Features and Specs

The most notable feature of the iPad Pro is its 12.9-inch Retina display, capable of a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels. If you enjoy watching movies or TV shows on your tablet, this display is a great reason for upgrading to a larger iPad. Perform regular speed tests to ensure your Internet bandwidth can handle HD streaming with little buffering.

The iPad Pro also sports Apple’s A9X processor and a M9 motion coprocessor, making this the most powerful iPad model to date. The enhanced iSight camera features 8MP resolution as well as a host of features to please shutterbugs, although many users still prefer using their smaller smartphone to take pictures. HD video recording is supported as well.

Surprisingly, one new Apple feature not part of the iPad Pro is the pressure sensitive 3D Touch display available on both iPhone 6s models. Cost is probably the main reason for this decision when considering the much larger touchscreen of the iPad Pro. iPad musicians are probably the most disappointed, hoping for pressure sensitivity to be included in the next line of music creation apps.

The WiFi version of the iPad Pro retails for either $799 (32GB) or $949 (128GB). The one model with both WiFi and cellular connectivity is priced at $1079 with 128GB of storage. The attachable keyboard and new Apple Pencil cost extra. The new iPad is expected to arrive online and in stores in November.

Does a Larger iPad Pro Make Sense for Most Users?

In short, the iPad Pro is larger and more powerful than any previous iPad. Many Apple power users can simply purchase a lower end MacBook for essentially the same price, albeit without the new Pencil. Windows users are probably going to stay with the Microsoft Surface or a similar Windows tablet.

Will the iPad Pro succeed in a tablet market filled with smaller models that many users find are easier to hold and operate? While its large Retina display makes it the arguably preeminent tablet for streaming movies and video, is that enough of a market for Apple to deem the device to be a success? Expect the answers to these questions after this year’s Holiday season once the sales numbers have been tabulated.

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Streaming Movies with MGO

Last Updated: June 25, 2015

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Streaming movies over the Internet continues to be a growing technology trend in the world of digital entertainment. MGO, or M-GO, is another Internet video on demand service offering a full range of recent movies and TV shows for your streaming pleasure. The service’s major industry competition includes the standard list of names: Netflix, Amazon Prime, iTunes, etc.

Formed in 2013, M-GO offers customers a free subscription, but renting individual shows and movies costs a nominal fee. The service is available on many smart TVs and streaming devices like the Roku and Chromecast.

M-GO Focuses on First Run Movies Before the Competition

One of M-GO’s biggest advantages over the competition involves its deals with a variety of Hollywood studios allowing you to stream movies as soon as they are released on DVD or Blu-Ray. Streaming current TV shows soon after their network air date is another possibility.

As a subscriber you are allowed to rent movies for a 24-hour period; expect to pay a fee between $4 and $6 per movie. TV shows, on the other hand, can only be purchased. The typical price for a whole season ranges from $10 to $40, while individual episodes can be bought for $2 to $3. SD-quality content is slightly less expensive than the HD equivalent.

M-GO’s content prices are comparable to other streaming video services with free subscriptions. Netflix allows free streaming for one nominal fee per month, but that service’s library of content changes on an almost weekly basis. Amazon Prime also offers a host of other benefits, including free two-day shipping, with its service.

MGO Keeps your Bandwidth Burning

Since the M-GO subscription costs nothing, consider it another worthy option for streaming movies or TV shows if you can’t find a certain program or Hollywood blockbuster on one of the other VOD services. As mentioned earlier, the company’s connections in the movie industry sometimes gives it access to the latest films before the other services.

Of course with any video streaming service, make sure your home Internet service is up to snuff. Always perform regular speed tests to ensure your ISP provides sufficient bandwidth to seamlessly stream movies in HD. With all this in mind, M-GO might become your best bet for the latest in digital entertainment.

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Apple Music — Bandwidth Considerations for Streaming Music

Last Updated: June 22, 2015

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Apple’s recent Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) garnered a lot of press for its announcement of Apple Music, Cupertino’s attempt to gain a share of the Internet music streaming market currently dominated by companies like Spotify and Pandora. Apple brings some heavy hitters from the music industry to the fray, including Dr. Dre and Nine Inch Nail’s Trent Reznor.

Still, most Internet users don’t care so much about music playlists curated by celebrities; they want to know whether or not their Internet service offers the bandwidth to stream high quality music with no buffering or stuttering. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at Apple Music to see if it makes sense for your Internet music experience.

Details on Apple Music Streaming Service

Using an app only compatible with the iOS platform — for now — Apple Music offers a music streaming service with a variety of features Cupertino hopes distinguish its product from Spotify and Pandora. These include the previously mentioned curated playlists, Siri voice control, and the Beats Connect platform which lets musical artists share blog posts and other content with their fans.

The Apple music streaming service costs users $9.99 per month, after an initial three-month free trial period. Families are able to get everyone in on the streaming action for one monthly fee of $14.99. Apple Music’s Beats 1 radio station is always free.

Apple Music is expected to be available to all current iTunes users by the end of June. Apple TV owners won’t see the service on those devices until sometime this summer. Android fans need to wait until later this year before the app arrives at the Google Play store.

Will You Need More Bandwidth for Apple Music?

Fortunately, music streaming services don’t require the massive amounts of bandwidth as with video streaming. Most Internet accounts, even as low as 1 Mbps, are able to stream music with little problem. Since Apple Music also offers other content on Beats Connect, you’ll need to pay attention when streaming videos or other rich media formats.

As always, make sure to perform regular speed tests to see if you are getting all the bandwidth promised by your ISP. Remember that an HTML 5 speed test works best on the mobile devices — smartphones and tablets — on which most folks do the bulk of their music streaming.

Whether Apple Music is able to make a dent in Pandora’s market share remains to be seen, but there is no denying that Cupertino is taking music streaming very seriously.

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HTML5 is the Best Way to Check Your Internet Speed

Last Updated: January 6, 2015

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With so many devices competing for bandwidth on your ISP account — smartphones, video game consoles, computers, Blu-ray players, home appliances, and more — being able to regularly and accurately verify your Internet speed is vital. Some of the biggest names in the speed test business rely on outdated Flash or Java technology to perform a bandwidth test. That’s the same plug-in that probably crashes your web browser on occasion. Fortunately, there’s a better way to test your Internet speed.

HTML5 Internet Speed Tests Grow in Popularity

Internet speed tests using HTML5 allow you to run those tests on your desktop browser, smartphone browser or tablet browser even if Flash or Java isn’t supported, as with Apple’s iOS platform. This article from TechRepublic reveals the popularity of HTML5 tests and profiles the top five speed tests.

Our very own Bandwidth Place ranked number one on the list. Bandwidth Place combines over a decade of speed test technology with an easy to follow HTML5 presentation that runs on nearly all web browsers on both desktop and mobile platforms. The TechRepublic article mentioned that some of the other bandwidth tests using HTML5 produced inaccurate and inconsistent results, but this was not the case with Bandwidth Place.

Bandwidth Place — the Best Internet Speed Test for Global Users

The TechRepublic article also notes that the Bandwidth Place speed test allows users to choose from a variety of servers located all over the world, which makes the test uniquely suitable for global users. The article’s author praised Bandwidth Place for the accuracy of its test results, favorably comparing them to the leading speed tests from the worlds of Flash and Java.

According to the article some of the other HTML5 speed tests suffered from confusing user interfaces. Some tests didn’t even allow you to select your own test server, which is vital for getting accurate results no matter your location. Bandwidth Place led the group with consistent test results and a clear user interface.

There’s no denying that the days of Flash and Java are numbered, as its obsolete technology seems to cause more problems with modern web browsers on a regular basis. Relying on a Flash speed test to check your Internet bandwidth limits the devices able to actually run the test, as well as the efficacy of your testing. When looking for a state of the art HTML5 bandwidth test, Bandwidth Place definitely stands out among the pack.

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Top Three Best Smart TVs for the Holidays

Last Updated: November 28, 2014

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With more and more consumers enjoying the ease of streaming media content — movies, TV shows, videos, music — at home, it made sense for TV manufacturers to add WiFi networking capabilities to their products. These new Smart TVs seem to be ubiquitous this holiday season, with built-in support for many popular video streaming services, including Netflix and Hulu Plus.

When adding a Smart TV to your home, make sure to check your Internet speed to ensure the best possible viewing experience. With that in mind, here are the three best smart TVs that would make great Holiday gifts without breaking your budget.

The Vizio E-Series 39″ Class Full Array Smart TV for the Budget

If you are looking for an inexpensive, nearly 40″ Smart TV, check out the Vizio E-Series 39″ model. Most retailers are pricing this Vizio at around $350, providing a great chance for those on a Holiday budget to check out video streaming. CNET called the E-Series “likely the best value of 2014.”

The television’s full array LED display offers a bright picture with 1080p HD video. Support for many streaming services, including, Netflix, Vudu, Pandora, and Crackle is built in. You are also able to access your social media accounts — Facebook, Twitter, and more — using the TV’s convenient collection of apps.

The Samsung LED H5203 Series 46″ Smart TV for the Big Screen

Samsung gives you the option of a larger screen, 46″ Smart TV, with a retail price slightly above $400. The LED H5203 sports a CMR rating of 120 to go with its full HD 1080p picture. The high CMR means any high-speed sports action renders smoothly on screen.

In addition to the standard collection of streaming media apps and services, this Samsung Smart TV includes the “Smart Hub” which offers an enhanced user interface for managing your streaming content and apps. If you plan on streaming most of your television content, the Samsung H5203 makes an excellent choice.

Sony’s 40″ KDL-40W600B Bravia Smart TV for the Picture Quality

If you are looking for a Sony Smart TV, check out the 40″ KDL-40W600B Bravia model, one of the best smart TVs. While it features a smaller screen than the Samsung, it offers enhanced backlighting with a unique contrast feature that promises a more realistic picture. Retailers carry this Bravia model for around $450.

All your standard media streaming services are available on the Bravia, including the Sony Entertainment Network. The TV’s PlayStation Now feature means you can play your favorite PS3 games streamed to the TV without a video game console. Now that’s cool!

So if you are in the market for a Smart TV this Holiday season, hopefully these three models piqued your interest without killing Santa’s budget!

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CenturyLink is an Internet Service Provider, a Phone Company, and More

Last Updated: June 20, 2014

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A full service communications company that first garnered its reputation as a phone company under a variety of monikers, CenturyLink is also an ISP with a host of subscription options for anyone looking for Internet access — provided you are in their service area. The company also offers IPTV service in a small number of U.S. markets, and of course, service bundles are possible depending on your location.

The company is headquartered in Louisiana, and a 2010 merger with Qwest greatly expanded the combined organization’s service area, which now includes 37 states. Lately, the firm has been acquiring companies involved in Cloud Computing. With those strategic moves in mind, let’s take a closer look at the Internet service offerings provided by CenturyLink.

Internet Service can be bundled with Home Phone

CenturyLink is more than an ISP. Recent expansions include Gigabit Fiber to the premises and Cloud-based acquisitions.

CenturyLink’s standard DSL Internet service normally costs $39.95 per month for new customers. That price is only guaranteed for the first year of service. Tacking on home phone service in a bundle lowers the monthly Internet service price to $19.95.

The Internet speed offered with the CenturyLink service features rates up to 10 Mbps. In certain areas where they’ve built up their network infrastructure, speeds up to 40 Mbps are available. As always, make sure you perform a regular speed test to verify you are getting all the bandwidth you pay for — especially when springing for the higher 40 Mbps rate.

CenturyLink expanding their Fiber Network

The company is gradually rolling out a fiber to premises network to offer enhanced speeds with its Internet service. The service is available in Omaha and Las Vegas, featuring speeds that rival Google Fiber’s 1 Gbps. CenturyLink also provides their gigabit service to multi-tenant business locations in Salt Lake City.

CenturyLink is able to offer its 40 Mbps rate in locations where they’ve installed fiber to the node instead of each individual location. At that point, the company’s normal DSL service handles the connection between the node and each subscriber.

Businesses in locations where CenturyLink provides gigabit service need to explore leveraging this option for their Internet service needs. Considering their recent Cloud-based acquisitions, CenturyLink might be a worthy communications partner for the SMB. Individual consumers should check to see if the company offers service in their area before considering Internet service or even a full bundle of communications products.

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MacBook Pro Features: Apple’s Top of the Line Laptop

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Mac aficionados or computer users who want an alternative to Microsoft and Windows need to check out Apple’s MacBook Pro features. While generally more expensive than their Windows-powered counterparts (and even more expensive than Google’s Chromebooks), the MacBook Pro features high-end computing power and the sleek design typical of products out of Cupertino.

Apple's MacBook Pro Features and Pricing — Apple’s MacBook Pro Features and Pricing

For users already invested in Apple’s proverbial walled garden — owners of iPods, iPads, Apple TVs, and the like — buying a MacBook Pro laptop makes managing content on those other devices a bit easier. Apple users can also easily manage broadband performance on all devices by selecting a single non-Flash based, HTML5 test.

A Closer Look at MacBook Pro Features

Let’s take a closer look at the MacBook Pro line and the differences between the models — typically screen size, RAM, the hard drive, and the availability of a Retina display. Let’s start with the MacBook Pro features:

MacBook Pro with Retina Display Features

15.4-inch Retina Display (2880 x 1800 Resolution)
Up to 2.6GHz Intel Quad-Core i7 Processor
Up to 16GB On-board RAM
Up to 1TB Solid State Storage
Two Each USB 3 and Thunderbolt 2 Ports
HDMI Port
Bluetooth 4.0
HD Camera
Powered by OSX Mavericks
Priced from $1999

There are a lot of “up to” phrases in the feature descriptions above. A fully appointed MacBook Pro with the 1TB solid state storage and 2.6GHz processor options comes in at a $3,299.00 price tag, so this is definitely a high-end laptop computer. Expect to pay about half as much for a Windows laptop with similar hardware specs.

A lower-end MacBook Pro without the Retina display costs $1,199.00 with a dual core Intel i5 chip, 4GB of RAM, and a 500GB non-solid state drive. Most of the MacBook Pro line comes with the Retina display, with prices ranging from $1,299.00 to the quoted $3,299.00. Obviously, processor power, on-board RAM, and hard drive storage are the prime differentiators when it comes to the final price.

Installed Software Includes iMovie, Garage Band, and more

Each MacBook Pro comes with a host of pre-installed software: including iMovie, Garage Band, iPhoto, and more. OSX Mavericks is a robust operating system that is easy to use and boots significantly faster than Windows.

So if you are in the market for a high-end laptop, the MacBook Pro with Retina display makes for a compelling option. Performing a regular Internet speed test never felt so good!