Are you still shopping? I am. While I buy tech anytime of the year, the holiday season is my favorite. I don’t wait to use it either. If I get it, it’s out of the box and in use (even if I wrap the empty container to give it a position under the tree). This year, I’m sure, won’t be any different. There are still items to get. Here are a few of the gifts still on my list …
Google Tablet TV
When my television died, I wanted a flat screen replacement of approximately the same size. I also wanted a smart TV. I opted for the bigger screen because with the TiVo and Roku, I could make my television mostly smart. I can’t browse the web, check my email on screen or read my Facebook news feed, but I can stream from a variety of movie and television content services, and record and playback, which is largely what I wanted to do anyway.
The Android 4.0 Mini PC/Google TV Box from Silicon Valley Peripherals turns the television into a tablet, without the touchscreen, of course. Compatible with the Google Play Store, this device allow you to do many of the Google tablet functions
– including email and web browsing – and runs many of the apps you can operate on a tablet. It connects to the television’s HDMI port, uses a wireless connection to access the internet and can be navigated using a USB wireless keyboard/mouse (that must be purchased separately).
Once connected, you can download apps, including your preferred browser and others, to the 4 GB of onboard storage (this can be increased by adding a microSD card), and run tablet standards like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and even, if you play, Angry Birds.
You can add a USB camera and even run applications like Skype. Using the device for streaming content like full-length movies or TV shows through apps like Netflix or Hulu Plus can be problematic, just like on a tablet with a slow processor.
There can be blurring, lots of buffering, or low video quality, but this depends on many factors, not just the device. I must stress, I already have great devices for streaming, so that isn’t why I considered this investment.
Finally, the device fits into the palm of your hand and is easily transported. So, spending a couple of nights in a hotel but don’t want to lug your laptop? If the room has an HD TV and wireless high-speed Internet service available, pack up your device and peripherals, and go.
Pros:
• Small, will easily fit into your entertainment console area
• Brings Android tablet apps to a bigger screen
• Cost; an inexpensive way to add computer functionality to your LCD television
Cons:
• Technology lacking for full-streaming over the Internet
• Cannot support USB peripherals on USB power, must be plugged into AC poweror the device keeps rebooting
• Cannot run apps that have touch screen requirements integral into their operation
