What To Look For In A Digital Media Player

Home » Digital Media » What To Look For In A Digital Media Player

What To Look For In A Digital Media Player

The digital media player has seen a huge boost in popularity in recent years. These are simply boxes that can connect to your TV and provide a range of extra functions, whether that means streaming content from the internet or sharing media between devices. Keep reading to find out more about the main specifications to look out for.

Content Available

If you’re looking for a digital media player that lets you stream online content directly to your television set then it goes without saying that the range of content available on that player should be one of the most important specifications you look out for.

Most digital media streamers will come with access to some or all of the following: Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video On Demand and Netflix. These are all premium services that require a subscription fee, so check which plan suits your needs and which has the kind of content you need. Then find a media streamer to match.

The good news is that most media streamers also access a variety of free video content services, too. YouTube is one of the most popular services for videos, and you’ll also get access to online radio, podcasts and more. Always check the services list of any potential media box to make sure it matches your tastes.

Supported File Formats

Although most media boxes have the ability to connect up to your home network to make sharing files easy, one digital media player might be able to play your downloaded movies where another may not. If you don’t have a library of downloaded files then this feature isn’t so important, but if you want your digital media player to serve as a way to play all of your locally stored files then it’s important to check the file formats it will support, and whether it comes with any included storage space for keeping files on the device itself.

Sharing Between Devices

Some digital media players aren’t so much about streaming content from the web as they are about giving you the ability to share content between different devices. For example, the Slingbox can give you access to your home TV on your tablet when you’re out and about, and your TiVo can record live TV which you can then transfer to your computer. Pure media streamers, like Apple TV, won’t let you do this.

Which Do You Choose?

A digital media player can mean many things to many people. There are several different types on the market, and no one player can do absolutely everything (streaming, recording live TV, playing your own files, storing files, transferring files to other devices and so on). It’s important to pick the main features you most need and find a media device to suit.