Sony Playstation 3. Sony’s Play-station 3 video game player packs an Ethernet connection that gives users access to various Internet features. The company recently announced a movie download service that pits it against Apple’s iTunes store. Owners of Sony’s Playstation 3 and certain TVs can download high- and standard-definition movies that will be available for rental or purchase. Playstation 3 owners can also transfer the movies to their portable PSP devices. The versatile Playstation 3 has quickly become the bestselling Blu-ray Disc player on the market, and the Ethernet port on the back gives users access to additional content that movie studios make available for a movie title. The feature, called BD Live, can include trivia or other video games, ring tones, and other content that can be updated at any time.
HP MediaSmart Connect. HP’s cable-box-size component connects to a wired or wireless network on one end and a TV on the other. Users can download movies for rental or purchase—including high-definition content—from CinemaNow’s library of 10,000-plus titles. Additionally, the add-on box brings in video, digital pictures, and music stored on PCs throughout the house and makes them available on TV over the home network.
The common thread to all these add-on boxes is a broadband connection to the Internet. Wireless networks continue to gain in popularity and improve in performance, but wired connections offer the bandwidth and speed necessary for a robust and secure network. Wired networks bring peace of mind and smooth video performance to the online experience in a way that wireless networks can’t ensure.
As consumers enjoy more and more content from sites including iTunes, Sony’s Playstation Video Store, Amazon, Hulu, and YouTube, a reliable Internet feed will be essential to ensuring that video is delivered in the high-quality manner that homeowners have come to expect from TV. Homes built with structured wiring systems provide that stable path and give homeowners a solid foundation for the digital age.—Rebecca Day specializes in writing about home electronics. She can be reached at customhomerd@aol.com.
