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Mar 21, 2022Liked by Matt Swider

Thanks for your dedication, Matt. You do the heavy lifting so us lesser tech-mortals don't have too. Speaking of tech, any tips on streaming devices? I'm looking for a great gift for my hubby. He's already got an Entertainment Box (E-box from the UK), an Amazon 4K firestick and a TiVo thing.

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Hi Elecia. Thank YOU for being a paid subscriber. :) re: best streaming device: I have two picks –

1) I like the Roku Streaming Stick 4K because it has every app you could think of (and many you didn't know existed) and an excellent all-app search function (you can type in a show and it finds shows without biased – I've noticed some devices, like the Fire Sticks from Amazon when I tested them out in the past, surface their own shows and don't incorporate all rival streaming platforms). Roku also has a "boring" or "easy" to navigate grid system. Some people rag on it, but it's the one that's simplest – this is why my parents have a TCL Roku TV.

2) Apple TV 4K is the best of the best when it comes to specs, but may be overkill. If you want to futureproof for 4K 60fps with HDR, this is your best option, and it also has built-in AirPlay mirroring of your devices to the big screen (handy for showing off photos and videos if you're an iPhone or iPad user).

Bonus entry: If you're an Android user, the newer Chromecast with Google TV (the one with the remote) is a great option, though I haven't tested that new one yet. You can easily cast from both iOS and Android devices and mirror your Android device. When I reviewed the original Chromecast on TechRadar way back, it relied on using your phone as the remote, and that was bothersome (sometimes you just want to flop on sofa and play with a dumb remote).

Let me know if you have any more follow-up questions! I'm sure your hubby will love any of the current-gen options. Also remember your PS5 or Xbox streams a bunch of apps, but it's nice to have a dedicated streaming device with a remote, IMO.

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Thanks, Matt. I've heard him talk about the Roku stick so I might look at that. He's kind of weird with pre-loaded apps as he does his own downloads and whatnot (he can probably use our VPN to get around the geographical restrictions). Also, I forgot that the PS5 streams as well.

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