Plug and play: Small sticks add smarts to your TV
When it comes to television accessories, sticks are in and boxes are out.
Rather than connecting an Apple TV or Amazon Fire TV box, adding online content and other functionality to your big screen is now as easy as snapping in a small, inexpensive and Wi-Fi-enabled stick into the television's HDMI port.
Slightly larger than a standard flash drive, these "media streamer" dongles are controlled by a bundled remote and/or an app on a smartphone or tablet. Typically, they take power from the TV's USB port or an AC outlet.
There are a few on the market to choose from, each serving a slightly different purpose. Here's a look at a few.
• Roku HDMI Streaming Stick
Is that a USB stick on your keychain? Nope. It's the Roku Streaming Stick — HDMI Version ($49.99; roku.com). It's a small, purple device you can snap into your television's HDMI port to access more than 1,500 on-demand channels — including YouTube, Netflix, Crackle, Hulu Plus and HBO GO, to name just a few. Use the bundled remote or Roku app downloaded to your smartphone or tablet (iOS or Android). Speaking of your mobile device, you can also stream your personal videos, photos and music to your TV with the free Roku app. Other features include up to 1080p video quality (on a compatible television, of course), simple search (to find the app you're looking for), a customizable home page and channel shortcut buttons right on the remote.
• Google Chromecast
At $35, Google's Chromecast (chromecast.com) is the most affordable streaming media player available today. Plug this black doohickey into your TV's HDMI port and after a quick setup, "cast" online video and music from your Android phone or tablet, iPhone or iPad, Mac or Windows laptop or Chromebook. The app selection isn't anywhere as impressive as Roku, but Chromecast supports many of the popular services, including YouTube, Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO GO, Twitch, Songza, Pandora and more (all listed at chromecast.com/apps). This thumb-size device also includes 90 days of unlimited music from Google Play for free ($9.99/month after that). Users can also mirror what they see on their laptop or Android device, pushing it from the small screen to the big screen. A small HDMI extender is included in the box to be used if the Chromecast does not fit directly into your TV's HDMI port.
• BiggiFi
One of the most ambitious sticks is one you probably haven't yet heard of yet. Like Chromecast, BiggiFi ($89.99; biggifi.com) is a Wi-Fi-connected HDMI stick you plug into your TV — and a small cable into the USB port or outlet for power — and it runs a native Android platform on your big-screen TV. Use an Android or Apple phone or tablet as a controller to access "over a million" apps and games from the Google Play store, says the company (with many preinstalled like Angry Birds Space and Twitter). The "Mouse" mode worked well to navigate between menus or browse the Web, while the "Touch" mode mirrors your finger gestures on your mobile device. While untested, BiggiFi supports up to four users on the same television — ideal for multiplayer games. Additional features include up to 1080p video output, up to 7.1 surround sound, 4 gigabytes of internal storage and a microSD card slot for up to 128GB memory cards.
• Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter
The only product not tested for this roundup the Wireless Display Adapter ($59.95; microsoft.com/hardware) is a small dongle with an HDMI connector on one end and USB on the other (for power). Microsoft has just announced preorders. Connect it to your HDTV, monitor or projector and you can wirelessly push what's on your Windows 8.1 or Android 4.2.1 device up to 23 feet away. This product uses Miracast technology — a peer-to-peer wireless screen-casting standard — therefore it will display everything you see on your smartphone, tablet or laptop, and therefore not limited to certain apps or content like Chromecast (but be aware, the Surface RT platform is not supported). Unlike the other media-streamer sticks, Internet access is not required for the Wireless Display Adaptor to work, which is ideal for summer cabins.
• TIP: Sling it
Entertainment lovers might be aware of the Slingbox line of products (from $149.99; sling.com), a clever box that "slings" your local television programming to your smartphone, tablet or laptops — anywhere on the planet, and with no monthly fees. Now, Slingbox supports Google Chromecast, allowing you to access your local live or prerecorded content on a big-screen television — say, in a hotel room, cabin/cottage, dorm room or friend's house. Simply bring the Chromecast dongle with you, snap it into a TV's HDMI port and launch the Slingplayer app for iPhone, iPad, Android phone or soon, Android tablet. The app serves as a remote control for navigating the guide, changing the channel and accessing the DVR connected to the Slingbox back at home.