Digital Entertainment Superguide

Book excerpt: Audio and video content is all around us. And these days much of it comes not from TV cables, satellite dishes, and radio antennas, but from our digital devices around the house, streaming over the Internet and local networks. And that’s why we created the Digital Entertainment Superguide, a primer with everything you need to know to get started. This book walks you through how to set up your home network and choose the right hardware—set-top boxes, smart TVs, media center computers, streaming speakers, remote controls, and more—for your needs. Like to watch TV shows and movies but not sure where to find what? We’ve got you covered with a guide to streaming video sources for your TV or mobile devices.We don’t leave music lovers out either, as we help you choose the best streaming audio service. Do you want Mog, Rdio, Rhapsody, Slacker, or Spotify? How much does each service cost? Which sounds best? We answer all those questions and more in the pages that follow. Finally, if you’re wondering how to move audio and video around the house—stream music wirelessly from an iPhone to an AirPlay speaker in the living room or send video from a computer to your beautiful wall-mounted HDTV—you’ve come to the right place. We’ll even show you how to use your smartphone or tablet to control it all. So read on, and let the fun begin!