Compare and find an international mainstream streaming media player for yourself

Faced with a wide variety of media streaming boxes, it is very different for you to judge which one is the best for you! Here we compare some accepted streaming media players for you to save your time to find their pros and cons and choose the best one for yourself. (In alphabetical order) 

1. Apple TV/ Apple TV 3 – Best solution for Apple fans 

 

The black Apple TV and Apple TV 3 are simple devices that stream content -- iTunes music, video, and photos -- from a Mac or PC, an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad (running iOS 4.2 or later) to an HDMI-equipped HDTV and allows one to pay for movies and TV shows from Apple. Both have built-in support for Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and other streaming services as well. 

Pros: 

• Tiny, sleek case design. 
• Easy to connect to an HDMI-equipped HDTV and setup for streaming. 
• Easy to use interface (although text entry can be quite awkward without an iPod touch, iPhone or iPad). 
• Easy to stream iTunes content from a Mac or Windows PC (and iPod touch, iPhone or iPad) as
• well as support for Netflix, YouTube, Flickr and other streaming services as well. 
• HDMI, optical digital audio, 10/100Base-T Ethernet and 802.11n support standard. 
• Support for "true" 5.1 channel surround sound and 720p or 1080p video (2nd Gen only supports 720p, 3rd Gen supports 1080p). 
• Inexpensive (US$99).

Cons: 

• Limited functionality -- does not play CDs or DVDs or have any ability to record programming. 
• No cables provided as shipped. Compatible cables have to be purchased separately. 
• Does not support older HDTVs that lack HDMI support. 
• No official internal storage or the ability to store content. 
• Hardware cannot be upgraded -- processor, RAM or storage. 
• Limited support for audio and video formats. Discontinued 2nd Gen model does not support for 1080p streaming (3rd Gen does). 
• Small selection of rental content on iTunes, no ability to purchase content directly.

2. Google Chromecast 

  
Google's Chromecast beams videos from your mobile device or computer directly to your television. The Chromecast is about the size of a USB flash drive and attaches to a spare HDMI port on your TV, it supports Android and iOS on the mobile side and Windows 7 / Mac OS 10.7 and higher on the computer side. 

Pros: 

• Inexpensive. 
• Supported apps work well. 
• Chrome tab casting is very useful. 
• Easy setup. 
• Compact design.

Cons: 

• App support limited to Netflix, YouTube, and Google Play. 
• Tab casting offers pixelated video for now. 
• No central playback controls.

3. Microsoft Xbox 360 

  

When Microsoft shed light on the next-generation Xbox One at the E3 gaming trade show earlier this year it simultaneously announced that it was revamping the current-generation Xbox 360 too. Despite 2013 being the launch platform for next-gen, current-gen is set to have a bumper year with some huge titles on the horizon. It makes sense that Microsoft - like Sony - is still plugging its existing gear in a fresher way. But is the Xbox 360 in 2013 any different than before; is it a console solely for the last-minute deal-hunters or a console worthy of upgrade? 
Pros: 

• Xbox LIVE is an amazing service. Undoubtedly the best way to play games online. 
• Multiplatform games aften run better on 360 
• Kinect (If you see that as a "pro" or not) 
• Superior controller, in most people's opinions

Cons: 

• Considerably fewer exclusives 
• Very shooter-centric console. There's a noticeable lack in variety of the exclusives 
• $60 yearly charge for Xbox LIVE 
• Can't play blu-rays

 4. Roku 3 

  
The Roku 3 has solidified the company's position as one of the most popular set top boxes. The Roku 3 features a faster processor than its predecessor, dual-band Wi-Fi support, as well as a revamped user interface that should make discovering content from its 750 partner channels a lot easier. As far a ports are concerned you get Ethernet, HDMI with up to 1080p support, a microSD slot and USB with support for H.264 MKV video files. 

Pros: 

• New remote with a built-in headphone jack. 
• Great new interface. 
• Faster processor. 
• Very responsive. 
• Over 750 channels are supported, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, MLB.TV, Amazon Cloud Player, and Vudu.

Cons: 

• No YouTube Google Play support. 
• Gaming selection limited. 
• Isn't great streaming your personal digital media collection.

5. Sony PS4 - Best solution for gamers 

  

PS4 is a great game console for early adopters and it serves up dazzling graphics, runs on a simplified and logical interface, and boasts a fantastic controller. It's $100 cheaper than rival Xbox One and has the upper hand on indie and digital-only games. It also doubles as a great Blu-ray player and has plenty of streaming entertainment apps. 

Pros: 

• The launch games aren’t as mediocre as you’ve heard. 
• It’s $100 cheaper than Microsoft’s $500 Xbox One. 
• It’s the most refined games console Sony’s ever built. 
• It ships with the most refined gamepad Sony’s ever built.

Cons: 

• You’re looking for the Super Mario 64 of next-gen. 
• You’re looking for the Wii Remote of next-gen. 
• You’re thrilled with your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. 
• Your social network’s on another platform. 
• It doesn’t partner with your TV or offer Kinect-caliber voice recognition.

6. WD TV Live - Best solution for hard-core tech geeks 

  

Network media players keep getting smaller. The WD TV Live Plus HD Media player by Western Digital is smaller than a paperback book. Still, it is powerful enough to find the media on your network and stream it to your TV in 1080p full high definition. This network media player has a fast processor that loads media quickly and is compatible with just about any photo, movie or music file format except those with copyright protection. The WD TV Live Plus is "plus" because it adds Netflix and Mediafly, and Hulu Plus* to the WDTV Live model. 

Pros: 

• Plays MKV files no problem (for me) when they contain x264 and AC3. 
• Plays most MP4 files fine when using x264 and AC3. 
• Plays AVI files fine, assuming they don't have weird or ancient codecs. 
• YouTube feature works well enough 
• Pandora is nice. 
• Networks easily enough, quirks aside.

Cons: 

• Some MP4 files exhibit sync loss, making them unwatchable. 
• Most containers don't pass-thru AC3 / surround channels intact (only MKV and M2TS do, along with ISO/VOB?) 
• Support for HD digicam footage is mixed. To be fair, some companies use weird codecs. 
• YouTube no longer plays HD and a lot of SD content is flagged "No Syndication" and won't play either. 
• Network issues, if you get them, will drive you insane. 
• Infrequent and modest firmware releases. 
• Not the best choise if you rip DVDs to ISO or VOB (no DVD menu support) 
• No BluRay menu support (and there never will be).