TV without a TV

The other day I was asked if there was an easy way to watch TV programs and movies now available on the Internet on a large screen TV. With Netflix, Amazon.com, iTunes and Hulu all providing more and more programs once only available on broadcast TV, cable or satellite, viewers now want to watch in a more comfortable environment than is possible sitting in front of the desktop or laptop computer. Even those who have graduated to the iPad or other tablet devices often want to watch some programs on a large screen.

There are several options available. Some of them simple and inexpensive and others a bit more pricey. If you already are using a laptop computer and you have a relatively new HDTV, very likely you can connect the two. Many newer laptops have HDMI outputs and many digital TVs have more than one HDMI input. So if you have your TV connected to a cable box using one of the HDMI inputs, you can use one of the remaining HDMI inputs to connect to your computer. Once connected using an HDMI cable, the TV serves as a large monitor for the laptop by displaying on the TV any content viewable on the laptop.

If you do not have a HDMI output on the computer you most likely have a VGA port. That port can be easy to identify since it uses a plug with 15 very small pins. Look on the side or the back; I am sure you will find it. It is also called an external monitor or projector port. Again, many new TVs have a VGA input. All you need to connect your laptop to your TV is an inexpensive VGA cable.

In both of the first two options, you still need to run a separate audio cable to your TV in order to get the audio to play from the TV. This can be a hassle.

If you are in the market for a new TV you might want to consider one that already is Internet ready. This means that you can connect the TV, via either a network cable or
your home wifi network, to the Internet. These TVs have a special remote control that allows you to select between off air, cable or internet sources. All are displayed on the large screen. Deciding to watch a video from the Internet is just as easy as changing the channel on your cable box.

Since many network programs are now available on the Internet, more and more people are reconsidering the monthly cost of cable or satellite. Broadcast TV has increased the number of free over-the-air channels in the Cincinnati market from seven in the analog world to more than twenty in the digital world. There is a fee for some Internet based services like Netflix, but considering that these programs can be watched virtually on demand with a monthly cost well below what most of us pay for cable, it is not surprising that some viewers are seriously re-evaluating the price of cable or satellite services.

TV without a TV

The other day I was asked if there was an easy way to watch TV programs and movies now available on the Internet on a large screen TV. With Netflix, Amazon.com, iTunes and Hulu all providing more and more programs once only available on broadcast TV, cable or satellite, viewers now want to watch in a more comfortable environment than is possible sitting in front of the desktop or laptop computer. Even those who have graduated to the iPad or other tablet devices often want to watch some programs on a large screen.

There are several options available. Some of them simple and inexpensive and others a bit more pricey. If you already are using a laptop computer and you have a relatively new HDTV, very likely you can connect the two. Many newer laptops have HDMI outputs and many digital TVs have more than one HDMI input. So if you have your TV connected to a cable box using one of the HDMI inputs, you can use one of the remaining HDMI inputs to connect to your computer. Once connected using an HDMI cable, the TV serves as a large monitor for the laptop by displaying on the TV any content viewable on the laptop.

If you do not have a HDMI output on the computer you most likely have a VGA port. That port can be easy to identify since it uses a plug with 15 very small pins. Look on the side or the back; I am sure you will find it. It is also called an external monitor or projector port. Again, many new TVs have a VGA input. All you need to connect your laptop to your TV is an inexpensive VGA cable.

In both of the first two options, you still need to run a separate audio cable to your TV in order to get the audio to play from the TV. This can be a hassle.

If you are in the market for a new TV you might want to consider one that already is Internet ready. This means that you can connect the TV, via either a network cable or
your home wifi network, to the Internet. These TVs have a special remote control that allows you to select between off air, cable or internet sources. All are displayed on the large screen. Deciding to watch a video from the Internet is just as easy as changing the channel on your cable box.

Since many network programs are now available on the Internet, more and more people are reconsidering the monthly cost of cable or satellite. Broadcast TV has increased the number of free over-the-air channels in the Cincinnati market from seven in the analog world to more than twenty in the digital world. There is a fee for some Internet based services like Netflix, but considering that these programs can be watched virtually on demand with a monthly cost well below what most of us pay for cable, it is not surprising that some viewers are seriously re-evaluating the price of cable or satellite services.

TV Watching Getting More Complicated

The line separating traditional TV from TV watching on the Internet is getting more blurry as we begin a new year. More of us have given up finding a good flick at the video store. In fact, it is harder and harder to even find a video store. The selection of DVDs in those little red kiosks is pretty lame. We don’t seem to find anything to watch from cable or satellite providers and good TV programs have almost disappeared from broadcast TV.

The Internet is becoming a major source of movies and other video TV programming; with this change comes a bevy of new devices that merge our TVs with the Internet. For the past year of so, Internet-ready flat screen TVs have been promoted by the major brands. Sony, Samsung and others have HD sets that not only can receive over the air broadcasts and cable, but can also connect directly to Internet services like Amazon Video, NetFlix, Hulu, Major League Baseball and the NFL. You don’t need a computer since the TV has a special Internet browser built in that allows you to connect with these services.

Google, a company that is finding its way into most every facet of our business and leisure lives has partnered with Sony to launch GoogleTV. If you already have a gaming system like the Wii, XBOX 360 or a PS3 you can use these devices to connect with Internet video sites and watch programs on the TV connected to the gaming console. Many Blue Ray DVD players have circuitry that allows you to connect to these online services.

There are also specialized devices that you can purchase that serve as a gateway to most all video content on the Internet. One of the most recent to hit the market is called Ruku. It requires a device which is about the size of your kid’s math textbook, allowing you to search for content across many Internet TV distributors and watch it on any TV you choose to connect to. There are standard definition models as well as full High Definition models.

These services and equipment are not free. The Ruko box runs about $60 to $100, plus you need to subscribe to one or more of the Internet TV services. Google TV and Hulu Plus cost about $8 a month and NetFlix online has several different subscription plans. In order to use the service you must also have a robust high speed Internet connection like Time Warner’s Road Runner or Cincinnati Bell’s Fuse.

Look for more and more devices that will continue to blur the line between broadcast and Internet TV. And you thought that 500 cable channels were too hard to keep track of!

TV Watching Getting More Complicated

The line separating traditional TV from TV watching on the Internet is getting more blurry as we begin a new year. More of us have given up finding a good flick at the video store. In fact, it is harder and harder to even find a video store. The selection of DVDs in those little red kiosks is pretty lame. We don’t seem to find anything to watch from cable or satellite providers and good TV programs have almost disappeared from broadcast TV.

The Internet is becoming a major source of movies and other video TV programming; with this change comes a bevy of new devices that merge our TVs with the Internet. For the past year of so, Internet-ready flat screen TVs have been promoted by the major brands. Sony, Samsung and others have HD sets that not only can receive over the air broadcasts and cable, but can also connect directly to Internet services like Amazon Video, NetFlix, Hulu, Major League Baseball and the NFL. You don’t need a computer since the TV has a special Internet browser built in that allows you to connect with these services.

Google, a company that is finding its way into most every facet of our business and leisure lives has partnered with Sony to launch GoogleTV. If you already have a gaming system like the Wii, XBOX 360 or a PS3 you can use these devices to connect with Internet video sites and watch programs on the TV connected to the gaming console. Many Blue Ray DVD players have circuitry that allows you to connect to these online services.

There are also specialized devices that you can purchase that serve as a gateway to most all video content on the Internet. One of the most recent to hit the market is called Ruku. It requires a device which is about the size of your kid’s math textbook, allowing you to search for content across many Internet TV distributors and watch it on any TV you choose to connect to. There are standard definition models as well as full High Definition models.

These services and equipment are not free. The Ruko box runs about $60 to $100, plus you need to subscribe to one or more of the Internet TV services. Google TV and Hulu Plus cost about $8 a month and NetFlix online has several different subscription plans. In order to use the service you must also have a robust high speed Internet connection like Time Warner’s Road Runner or Cincinnati Bell’s Fuse.

Look for more and more devices that will continue to blur the line between broadcast and Internet TV. And you thought that 500 cable channels were too hard to keep track of!

More TV Moving to the Web

Last week we discussed the increasing number of options that many of us have to watch TV programs. Gone are the days when we had to make a pilgrimage to the living room to watch our favorite show. Now more and more we are choosing to watch TV on our home computer.

The number of programs and videos available on the internet is mind boggling and makes the inventory at even the largest video store seem puny. A recent unrelated event in my life highlights this explosion in video content that is only a mouse click away.

One of my interests is music and I play a few instruments and enjoy learning new ones. Over the last few months I had been eyeing a cello that was for sale at the Music Shoppe and a week or so ago I bought it. I figured it was just a bigger version of the violin, another instrument I picked up about 10 years ago. Since I needed to learn some basics, i.e., how to hold it, fingering patterns etc., I went to the internet.

Along with a ton of printed instructions I found a number of video lessons on YouTube and other video websites. One began with the basics of tuning the cello and advanced through some difficult techniques. All were free and available on demand. Now, for sure these instructional videos are not going to make me Harrison’s Yo-Yo Ma (just ask my violin teacher, Connie Kopp) they do provide some good basic information.

It is not just instructional videos that are available. Many us place family videos on YouTube so we can share events like birthdays or vacations with family members spread all over the world. And most TV stations like CETconnect.org have hundreds of local videos for viewing. But there is much more.

Take a look at www.Hulu.com. This site has a many of your favorite network TV programs along with many cable offerings. From Saturday Night Live to the Colbert Report, Hulu offers on demand full length TV programs. All you need is a computer and a broadband internet connection. In order to have access to all the programs you must register and answer a few questions.

Unlike using a Tivo or other personal video recorder (PVR) where you can delete the commercials, Hulu requires you to watch the commercials but in some cases allows you to choose between watching a longer 3 minute version of all the commercials or watching the commercials embedded in the program just as they would be on broadcast TV. This is a nice touch.

Hulu’s growth has been impressive. In an average month they have more than 6 million unique viewers. Not bad for a service that did not exist until 2007. While YouTube still is the leader in online video with some 40% of all video traffic, look for more services like Hulu to emerge satisfying our increasing appetite for watching TV programs when and were we want to.

More TV Moving to the Web

Last week we discussed the increasing number of options that many of us have to watch TV programs. Gone are the days when we had to make a pilgrimage to the living room to watch our favorite show. Now more and more we are choosing to watch TV on our home computer.

The number of programs and videos available on the internet is mind boggling and makes the inventory at even the largest video store seem puny. A recent unrelated event in my life highlights this explosion in video content that is only a mouse click away.

One of my interests is music and I play a few instruments and enjoy learning new ones. Over the last few months I had been eyeing a cello that was for sale at the Music Shoppe and a week or so ago I bought it. I figured it was just a bigger version of the violin, another instrument I picked up about 10 years ago. Since I needed to learn some basics, i.e., how to hold it, fingering patterns etc., I went to the internet.

Along with a ton of printed instructions I found a number of video lessons on YouTube and other video websites. One began with the basics of tuning the cello and advanced through some difficult techniques. All were free and available on demand. Now, for sure these instructional videos are not going to make me Harrison’s Yo-Yo Ma (just ask my violin teacher, Connie Kopp) they do provide some good basic information.

It is not just instructional videos that are available. Many us place family videos on YouTube so we can share events like birthdays or vacations with family members spread all over the world. And most TV stations like CETconnect.org have hundreds of local videos for viewing. But there is much more.

Take a look at www.Hulu.com. This site has a many of your favorite network TV programs along with many cable offerings. From Saturday Night Live to the Colbert Report, Hulu offers on demand full length TV programs. All you need is a computer and a broadband internet connection. In order to have access to all the programs you must register and answer a few questions.

Unlike using a Tivo or other personal video recorder (PVR) where you can delete the commercials, Hulu requires you to watch the commercials but in some cases allows you to choose between watching a longer 3 minute version of all the commercials or watching the commercials embedded in the program just as they would be on broadcast TV. This is a nice touch.

Hulu’s growth has been impressive. In an average month they have more than 6 million unique viewers. Not bad for a service that did not exist until 2007. While YouTube still is the leader in online video with some 40% of all video traffic, look for more services like Hulu to emerge satisfying our increasing appetite for watching TV programs when and were we want to.