Top 4 Streaming Boxes
If their plain Jane HDTV is lacking the smart TV pizazz of such streaming services as Netflix and Pandora, don’t worry — you don’t have to shell out $1,500 or more to get them a new set. Hundreds of Web-based media services can be fed to an existing TV for as little as $50, thanks to a growing crop of streaming set-top box media players.
Apple TV
Always a bridesmaid but rarely a bride in the set-top box market, Apple TV is still a good choice for Mac- and iOS-centric homes. It’s the only model compatible with the complete Apple triumvirate — AirPlay, iCloud and iTunes — which makes it perfect for streaming content from an iPad or iPhone to your TV. While it has some major services (such as Hulu and Netflix), Apple TV doesn’t offer anything like the variety of Roku (there’s no Amazon Instant Video, for example). Still, we like how Apple displays the latest 1,000 pictures from your Photo Stream.
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ALL 2012 GIFT GUIDES
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