First Class
TIVO PREMIERE: The company that introduced
the digital video recorder in 1999 still makes the best one
on the market. This latest release is a complete overhaul
of the interface that has won over millions of users, and
now includes access to streaming movie services such as
Amazon Video On Demand and Netflix as well as free content from You Tube, the Onion and cnn.com. The Premiere
comes in two versions—one that records 45 hours of HD
programming and another that captures 150 hours, features THX-certified sound and comes with a backlit remote
control. TiVo’s monthly service fees are still a drag, but you
can use TiVo in place of a cable box, which helps cut your
monthly provider fee down. $299/$499; tivo.com monthly provider fee down. $299/$499; tivo.com
The Revolution
Will Be
Downloaded
In a battle reminiscent of the Betamax
versus VHS wars, Blu-ray beat HD DVD
in 2008 to become the high-def standard in home entertainment centers,
more or less dooming standard DVDs.
But now Internet streaming options like
Netflix and i Tunes are aiming to take
over your TV set. The launch of the
much-heralded $99 Apple TV device
may finally spark mass adoption of
downloaded movies and shows, but
these four boxes also provide plenty of
reasons to ditch your discs.
XBOX 360: How does a 5-year-old gaming console make it onto the list of top entertainment download devices? Exclusive access to more than 3,500
ESPN programs, the Xbox Video Marketplace where
users can buy TV shows and movies, and online
music capabilities through services such as last.fm—
that’s how. In addition, a recent redesign of the
console has it thinner, smaller and packing wireless
Internet capabilities. Throw in Microsoft’s new Kinect
capabilities, which allow users to control the system
with body movements, and it’ll be a hands-down
favorite. $299; xbox.com
t
i
favorite. $299; xbox.com
Contributors to First Class include Shelley
Flannery, Alison Lowenstein, Jen A. Miller,
John Patrick Pullen, Shannon McKenna
Schmidt, Niki Vettel and Tamara Warren
