Buying a TV Needs a lot of Time

If you love watching shows and movies through the Internet on your big-screen television, welcome to the club. It has become the new normal thing to do. Big screen televisions that are internet capable are what to look for now as they are increasingly attracting techie and non-techie consumers. Why not? You can watch TV with Netflix, You Tube, Hulu or browse the net too.  And it is getting a bit complicated when buying a new TV with all the choices you can make with your new big screen TV.

Should you buy a "smart TV" or use and older TV become smarter by adding on some accessories? Maybe buying an adapter would make the TV smart, cheaper perhaps?  Televisions are heading to a different direction with the new “Smart” word added to it. I just hope TV won’t get too smart where they tell us what to watch and what not.
The smart TV is furnished with internet capabilities that connect to Netflix or Hulu, making it convenient to watch. Or should you make an older TV "smart" by attaching a box that includes Netflix? Or buy an adapter and beam Netflix wirelessly from your Smartphone or tablet if you happen to have them. And then, there are some choices to make; should you stream a movie or download it instead? Another thing to think about is the fee or free. Do you have to pay to get TV shows and movies from the Internet, or can you get them for free using an extra plug like the rabbit? So many things to think about, I am about to give up and just forget about TV. But my girl is growing up. I can live a life without TV but what about the new generation?

And there's no one right answer for everyone, or every situation. It’s like saying, “You can’t please everyone.” It is complicated to non-techie consumers, I am one of them, are facing right now. In fact, I haven’t had a TV for 7 years. And it’s time to get one before I end up so outdated with technology and have to leave the planet for coping up with technology becomes a problem. So, I ask a friend to help sort out my choices before deciding which TV to purchase.

Here’s a piece of it. This is aimed at average, non-techie consumers like me. Also, cluttering with cables and wires are something I want to consider. That is so old, according to my new generation household. It’s all in the box, no clutter, just one piece and can do a lot of things.

There are the three different way of providing – Downloading, Streaming and Beaming.
Downloading is the transmission of a file from one computer system to another, to request it from another computer (or from a Web page on another computer) and to receive it. Downloading is the method used by Apple's iTunes, means you are buying or renting a movie and storing it on your device. You can download it to your other computers using the same account. It seems worth the price you pay when more than once will enjoy the movie.

Streaming is another way and is used by services like YouTube or Netflix. It means you aren't buying a program or film, but will be watching it as it flows from the company's servers.  It is a technique for transferring data so that it can be processed as a steady, continuous stream and is presented to an end-user while being delivered by a provider.
Beaming is the communication of data between wireless devices using a beam of infrared light. Beaming simply means you're streaming the video from a Smartphone, tablet or PC to the TV, usually via an adapter device plugged into the TV.

But when watching Internet video on a TV, it isn't that simple. If you're using iTunes on an Apple TV, you're downloading the movie to your Apple cloud-based storage, not to the device itself. After a short amount of downloading, the device then allows you to start watching, which is essentially the same as streaming.

Beaming a movie to your TV thru Netflix on an iPad via an Apple TV means that you are doing it wirelessly by sending it from the IPad to the Apple TV, which then projects it on your television screen. But beaming the same show from the same iPad via Google actually triggers a streaming session directly from the cloud to the Chromecast, which projects it on the big screen. However, to the viewer, the watching experience on the TV screen is pretty much the same.

What's Free and What's Not

Some services, like YouTube, are free. YouTube is on most of the popular smart TVs and add-on boxes. Netflix and Hulu Plus charge a monthly fee for watching as much as you like. These two leaders charge $8 a month. The difference between the two - Netflix is commercial free while Hulu Plus has ads.

Some services like HBO Go or Watch ESPN are technically free, but can only be viewed if you are a paying customer of a participating cable service, which is much costlier compared to Netflix.

Apple's iTunes, as noted, charges for shows and movies individually. Amazon's Instant Video offers many free streaming shows and movies to members of its $79-a-year Prime service but also sells shows and movies individually.

Smart TVs
Leading television makers, such as Samsung, Sony and LG, offer high-end models that include apps like Netflix and other Internet-video sources built in.
Pros: You don't need an add-on device and you don't need to change inputs on your TV to watch Internet video. LG offers Google TV, which includes lots of Android apps.
Cons: They cost more than add-on boxes, often have confusing interfaces and tend to be updated less often.

Game Consoles
Many people don't know that Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation also have many entertainment offerings for users who belong to their online gaming networks.
Pros: Lots of homes already have them for gaming.
Cons: They are larger than add-on boxes and with Xbox, you have to pay $60 a year for the gaming network in addition to fees the Internet-entertainment services charge.

TiVo
Best known for pioneering digital recording of standard TV shows, TiVo is mainly a cable box that's a premium alternative to the boxes provided by cable providers. But many users don't know it also offers Internet TV services like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon and Hulu Plus.
Pros: It has a slick interface and combines a cable box and Internet TV, so you don't have to change TV inputs.
Cons: It costs more than an add-on box, charges a $15 monthly fee, has only a handful of Internet video services and can require tricky setup.

Apple TV
This $99 hockey-puck-sized gadget is the most popular pure Internet video add-on box.
Pros: It is the only contender with iTunes, integrates with Apple's photo and music cloud services, features all three methods of getting Internet video on your TV—downloading, streaming and beaming from Apple devices.
Cons: It has a limited selection of Internet services, beams to TVs only from Apple devices and lacks Amazon.

Roku
Similar in size to Apple TV, it offers many more Internet sources.
Pros: It has 750 Internet services, comes in four models starting at $50, and the top model, at $100, and has a headphone jack in the remote.
Cons: It lacks YouTube, and can't yet beam video from a mobile device.

Chromecast
This new Google offering is so tiny, the size of a USB flash drive, which plugs into the back of a TV.
Pros: It is small and costs only $35. It works with Android, Apple devices and Windows PCs.
Cons: It only gets beamed content from other devices and has no built-in services. It only works with four services on Android, two on iPhones, iPads, and the Chrome browser on PCs. There's no remote so you must have a mobile device to use it.

WD TV Play
A bit larger than Apple TV and Roku, around $70 device from Western Digital is much less well known, but similar.
Pros: It has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Hulu Plus and Vudu on the remote.
Cons: It has a limited selection of services and no Amazon.

With all this information, my head is throbbing from headache for the search is still on. It did complicates the situation for there are many choices that I am not aware of and cannot decide which one is best for our needs. Maybe it’s best to wait and see if my teenagers will go for hunger strike to get a TV. Eventually, I will purchase one but cannot guarantee everyone will be happy. Buying a TV needs a lot of time figuring out what the whole family wants and it's harder when budget is tight.

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Buying A New TV

If you love watching shows and movies through the Internet on your big-screen television, welcome to the club. It has become the new normal thing to do. Big screen televisions that are internet capable are what to look for now as they are increasingly attracting techie and non-techie consumers. Why not? You can watch TV with Netflix, You Tube, Hulu or browse the net too.  And it is getting a bit complicated when buying a new TV with all the choices you can make with your new big screen TV.

Should you buy a "smart TV" or use and older TV become smarter by adding on some accessories? Maybe buying an adapter would make the TV smart, cheaper perhaps?  Televisions are heading to a different direction with the new “Smart” word added to it. I just hope TV won’t get too smart where they tell us what to watch and what not.
The smart TV is furnished with internet capabilities that connect to Netflix or Hulu, making it convenient to watch. Or should you make an older TV "smart" by attaching a box that includes Netflix? Or buy an adapter and beam Netflix wirelessly from your Smartphone or tablet if you happen to have them. And then, there are some choices to make; should you stream a movie or download it instead? Another thing to think about is the fee or free. Do you have to pay to get TV shows and movies from the Internet, or can you get them for free using an extra plug like the rabbit? So many things to think about, I am about to give up and just forget about TV. But my girl is growing up. I can live a life without TV but what about the new generation?

And there's no one right answer for everyone, or every situation. It’s like saying, “You can’t please everyone.” It is complicated to non-techie consumers, I am one of them, are facing right now. In fact, I haven’t had a TV for 7 years. And it’s time to get one before I end up so outdated with technology and have to leave the planet for coping up with technology becomes a problem. So, I ask a friend to help sort out my choices before deciding which TV to purchase.
Here’s a piece of it. This is aimed at average, non-techie consumers like me. Also, cluttering with cables and wires are something I want to consider. That is so old, according to my new generation household. It’s all in the box, no clutter, just one piece and can do a lot of things.

There are the three different way of providing – Downloading, Streaming and Beaming.
Downloading is the transmission of a file from one computer system to another, to request it from another computer (or from a Web page on another computer) and to receive it. Downloading is the method used by Apple's iTunes, means you are buying or renting a movie and storing it on your device. You can download it to your other computers using the same account. It seems worth the price you pay when more than once will enjoy the movie.

Streaming is another way and is used by services like YouTube or Netflix. It means you aren't buying a program or film, but will be watching it as it flows from the company's servers.  It is a technique for transferring data so that it can be processed as a steady, continuous stream and is presented to an end-user while being delivered by a provider.
Beaming is the communication of data between wireless devices using a beam of infrared light. Beaming simply means you're streaming the video from a Smartphone, tablet or PC to the TV, usually via an adapter device plugged into the TV.

But when watching Internet video on a TV, it isn't that simple. If you're using iTunes on an Apple TV, you're downloading the movie to your Apple cloud-based storage, not to the device itself. After a short amount of downloading, the device then allows you to start watching, which is essentially the same as streaming.

Beaming a movie to your TV thru Netflix on an iPad via an Apple TV means that you are doing it wirelessly by sending it from the IPad to the Apple TV, which then projects it on your television screen. But beaming the same show from the same iPad via Google actually triggers a streaming session directly from the cloud to the Chromecast, which projects it on the big screen. However, to the viewer, the watching experience on the TV screen is pretty much the same.

What's Free and What's Not

Some services, like YouTube, are free. YouTube is on most of the popular smart TVs and add-on boxes. Netflix and Hulu Plus charge a monthly fee for watching as much as you like. These two leaders charge $8 a month. The difference between the two - Netflix is commercial free while Hulu Plus has ads.

Some services like HBO Go or Watch ESPN are technically free, but can only be viewed if you are a paying customer of a participating cable service, which is much costlier compared to Netflix.

Apple's iTunes, as noted, charges for shows and movies individually. Amazon's Instant Video offers many free streaming shows and movies to members of its $79-a-year Prime service but also sells shows and movies individually.

Smart TVs

Leading television makers, such as Samsung, Sony and LG, offer high-end models that include apps like Netflix and other Internet-video sources built in.
Pros: You don't need an add-on device and you don't need to change inputs on your TV to watch Internet video. LG offers Google TV, which includes lots of Android apps.
Cons: They cost more than add-on boxes, often have confusing interfaces and tend to be updated less often.

Game Consoles

Many people don't know that Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation also have many entertainment offerings for users who belong to their online gaming networks.
Pros: Lots of homes already have them for gaming.
Cons: They are larger than add-on boxes and with Xbox, you have to pay $60 a year for the gaming network in addition to fees the Internet-entertainment services charge.

TiVo

Best known for pioneering digital recording of standard TV shows, TiVo is mainly a cable box that's a premium alternative to the boxes provided by cable providers. But many users don't know it also offers Internet TV services like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon and Hulu Plus.
Pros: It has a slick interface and combines a cable box and Internet TV, so you don't have to change TV inputs.
Cons: It costs more than an add-on box, charges a $15 monthly fee, has only a handful of Internet video services and can require tricky setup.

Apple TV

This $99 hockey-puck-sized gadget is the most popular pure Internet video add-on box.
Pros: It is the only contender with iTunes, integrates with Apple's photo and music cloud services, features all three methods of getting Internet video on your TV—downloading, streaming and beaming from Apple devices.
Cons: It has a limited selection of Internet services, beams to TVs only from Apple devices and lacks Amazon.

Roku

Similar in size to Apple TV, it offers many more Internet sources.
Pros: It has 750 Internet services, comes in four models starting at $50, and the top model, at $100, and has a headphone jack in the remote.
Cons: It lacks YouTube, and can't yet beam video from a mobile device.

Chromecast

This new Google offering is so tiny, the size of a USB flash drive, which plugs into the back of a TV.
Pros: It is small and costs only $35. It works with Android, Apple devices and Windows PCs.
Cons: It only gets beamed content from other devices and has no built-in services. It only works with four services on Android, two on iPhones, iPads, and the Chrome browser on PCs. There's no remote so you must have a mobile device to use it.

WD TV Play

A bit larger than Apple TV and Roku, around $70 device from Western Digital is much less well known, but similar.
Pros: It has dedicated buttons for Netflix, Hulu Plus and Vudu on the remote.
Cons: It has a limited selection of services and no Amazon.

With all this information, my head is throbbing from headache for the search is still on. It did complicates the situation for there are many choices that I am not aware of and cannot decide which one is best for our needs. Maybe it’s best to wait and see if my teenagers will go for hunger strike to get a TV. Eventually, I will purchase one but cannot guarantee everyone will be happy.

Family Canteen
Veianet Online Store
Love Crisis
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October 8th will be the Release of The Book of Hades

I went to Barnes and Noble bookstore today to find some good books to read. It was around 9:30 in the evening and they close at 10. That means, I have half of an hour to roam around, pick some books, pay for them, and go home. But as soon as I came in, there were books by the door on sale and I scan with my eyes to see if there is anything worth buying. I lost a minute or two just looking at the sale items. Maybe more than 2 minutes. Oh my! Books can really make me forget time but just can't stop doing it because I am a book addict, I admit. 

I went straight to the fiction section and quickly scan with my eyes for the second time any books that are worth my money and time. You see, books take time and money. That is why you need a good brain to think before buying a book. That way, you don’t end up with a hole in your pocket, trying to find some money that is not there. You know what I mean? Keep digging in one’s pocket when there is nothing to dig would lead to a pocket of holes. The fabric wears and tears because your hand is using force to find money that is invisible unless you got magic skills. You know how it is when you are hungry and happen to have no money to buy a cheeseburger, you wait outside hoping to see someone you know and beg for a dollar? Yes, a dollar is enough for a cheese burger if you are in McDonald but a book never costs a dollar unless it is on a yard sale. I found one I like “Asian Healthy Secrets” for $6. It is on sale and I only have $20. It’s a hardbound book that is small yet full of short sayings that make you feel good. Maybe it’s worth buying, I thought. Maybe the amazing words written in this book will make me rich so I have the money for buy more books! Well, words can be powerful at times, aren’t they? My $20 is all I have to make the most of this book shopping. I am not even sure if it’s enough to buy me the book I am hoping to purchase this time. Then next to the aisle is this little yellow book about reflexology. Let me see if the price is right. Oh my, it cost $3.99 for this tiny book. In it are ways to relieve pain and to attain better health with pressing those points. It seems to be an interesting book. What better way to be free from pain, no medication needed and all natural? This might be a good deal for the price. At least, I would be healthy and pain free. But then I remember my friend who told me about a book that is not only good to read but full of twists, according to him. The story is about Annabeth and Percy  who tumbles into a pit leading straight to the Underworld, do their part and escape?. My purpose tonight is to find that book. Hmmm… I am trying to remember the title of the book. Yes, it is fun and full of excitement because it’s a fiction book, my favorite books to read. Oh my, I am losing time here. Let me check my watch. It says 9:50 pm. I got 10 minutes to spare or should I just forget about it and buy the cheapest book I found just now? Reflexology. No. I have to look for that book. What was that book again? Oh no, I forgot the title. 

Rushing and panting, stressed and panicking, I went to the fiction aisle for teens. Oh no, it’s not here. Maybe it will be in the young readers section, holding my breath, as if time will stood still, I look at my watch and it is already 9:55 pm. Suddenly, the voice on the loudspeaker came on saying: “The time is 9:55 pm. The store will be closed at 10:00 pm.’’ Please let there be enough time, I pray….. I looked all over the store for help. Unfortunately I could not find a store helper. I wondered if all of them were gone except for maybe a cashier or two. Then, as I blankly stare for a minute in despair, my eyes caught a book. It was standing sideways but the title was perfectly clear, as if making sure I can see it. It was the only one and it was the one I am looking for. I ran with all my might, as if to win a race, to grab the book and pay for time is fighting against my opportunity to own this book. I would not allow opportunity to slip away for the last time, with the last minute I have, I grab the book titled “The House of Hades” without thinking, not looking at the price and sprint across the aisle to the front cashier. Put down my book and wait for the bill. The cashier scans the book, looks at me and said “$21.44 total”. I was dumbfounded. This can’t be real. I only have $20. No! I can’t leave without this book. I have to have it! Noooooooo! My mom was shaking me, sweat raced out through my pores, like it was summer on a heatstroke. I was unable to get up because my mom’s body bends close to me like she was almost hugging me. I said “Where is my book?” What book? She asks me back. The House of Hades book, I just purchase it but my money wasn't enough to pay the total including tax. At that time, my mom burst into LOL, saying calmly “Honey, it was a dream.” The book won’t be released till October 8th, remember?
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