Connected TV might still be a gamble, but it’s hard to purchase anything these days that doesn’t have the ability to connect to the Internet. Refrigerators can tweet for goodness sake! We live in a connected world — in theory, anyway.
One of the most frustrating aspects of living in a world full of connected devices — computers, smartphones, iPads, set-top boxes, game consoles — is getting those devices to talk to one another.
Microsoft and Apple have both improved the overall home networking experience on Macs and Windows computers — making it easier to share content on a local network — but increasingly, users want to access that content via other devices.
Fortunately, a growing number of companies ar e developing software and services to make sharing content across devices easier and less stressful. We’ve put some of these services through the paces and have outlined what they do, how much they cost and what audiences they serve.
DLNA: A Primer
Before getting into the services themselves, I want to give a little bit of background as to how various media sharing technologies currently work.
Believe it or not, most video game consoles, Blu-ray players and a growing number of set-top boxes and connected television sets support have the ability to talk to one another over a network.
In 2003, Sony established the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) with the stated goal of “using standards-based technology to make it easier for consumers to use, share and enjoy their digital photos, music and videos.”
More than 250 companies are members of the DLNA and thousands of “DLNA Certified” produ cts have been produced....
