How to Change the Default Media Player on a Mac. In this Article: Article Summary Community Q&A. This wikiHow teaches you how to set a media player software as the default player option for a media format on your Mac. You have to change the default player settings separately for every different file format such as MOV, AVI, MP3, and MP4. The Windows software has been considered by many to be one of the best audio players available. When I began my computer audio journey in 2006, I turned to JRiver as a superior alternative to the Windows Media Player. The JRiver Media Center 18 for Mac is presently in an Alpha version.
Show More Whether you’ve or want to supplement your TV package with online video, now’s an excellent time to buy a media streaming device. Compared to the typical smart TV, standalone streamers such as the Roku Streaming Stick and Amazon Fire TV tend to have bigger app selections, faster performance, and more features. And with so much competition between device makers, the hardware is becoming faster, more capable, and more affordable. We constantly test all the latest devices, including Roku players, Fire TV devices, Android TV devices, Apple TV, and Chromecast. We review each new generation of hardware and constantly revisit the software and app selection so we can help you determine which platform is right for you.
Here are our picks for the best streaming boxes and sticks, along with all of our most current product reviews. Our recommendations will change over time as new products come to market. Updated November 21 to add our review of. The concept isn’t as appealing as it once was, because the prices of media streamers with dedicated remote controls—included Roku and Fire TV products—have dropped so far in price. Google’s streamer still makes it easy to screen-share from Android devices and laptops, view pictures stored in Google Photos, and control your TV using Google Assistant.
Latest media streaming device news. Spotify is returning to Roku after being unavailable since late 2017 due to technical issues. The platform returns by way of Roku’s OS 9 update, according to, which comes to all Roku TV models in 2019. But Roku devices running OS 8.2 or up can now install Spotify from the company’s channel store in the meantime. Google Assistant control has arrived on Roku streaming devices. Now you can use the voice-controlled assistant to search movies and TV shows, launch channels, and control playback. Roku has a guide on.
Apple plans to launch its TV subscription service in more 100 countries with the service coming to the United States sometime in 2019, reports. Apple’s TV subscription service will allow sign-ups for networks like HBO and Showtime and include original content, placing Apple in direct competition with Netflix and Hulu. Best 4K HDR streaming device. Amazon's new Fire TV Stick sheds past mistakes and streams 4K HDR at an unbeatable price. Amazon got pretty much everything right with its latest streaming stick. The Amazon Fire TV 4K of course supports 4K streaming, but it also delivers all the HDR formats you could want (including HDR10+ and Dolby Vision), it supports Dolby Atmos soundtracks for truly immersive audio, and it includes hardware-accelerated MPEG-2 video decoding for cord cutters who want to stream live TV over their home networks. You’ll find Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant onboard, too, and the new remote can control your TV’s power and volume—including a mute function.
It’s not absolutely perfect—YouTube TV subscribers will be disappointed to hear they’ve been ignored—but it is the best deal in media streaming hardware you can buy today. Roku's mid-range streamer gets even better, with TV controls, voice recognition, and 4K HDR video. While it hit the market around this time in 2017, the Roku Streaming Stick+ remains a strong contender, and it’s a great choice for YouTube TV subscribers. You’ll find a lot to like in Roku’s user interface, its dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi adapter, and its remote control. It’s a 4K streamer of course, but it supports only conventional HDR, not HDR+ or Dolby Vision. If you don’t need to the stronger Wi-Fi capabilities the Roku Streaming Stick+ offers, the latest version of the offers many of the same features and costs $10 less.
Other options to consider. Sling TV subscribers who are also interested in receiving over-the-air broadcast TV might be interested in looking at the AirTV Player + Adapter, although we found it to be a disappointment. What to look for in a media streaming device Still trying to decide between all these options? Here are some additional factors to consider when making your decision, followed by a chart comparing the features of the boxes we’ve mentioned above. Performance: In general, set-top boxes are faster than streaming sticks, and the amount you spend correlates pretty strongly with the loading speeds and smoothness you’ll get.
Playback quality and resolution: If you have a 4K or 4K HDR television, you’ll probably want a streaming box that takes full advantage of those capabilities. But these days, you won’t find any modern devices that don’t at least support 1080p resolution.
App selection: Traditionally, this has been the most important factor in choosing a streaming device, but over time app selection has started to look pretty similar no matter which device you choose, at least among major streaming services. Our will help you any particular service you’re interested in. Ecosystem tie-ins: Apple apps and services are only available through Apple TV, while Fire TV devices are the most convenient way to watch Amazon Prime video, and Google’s video and music services are generally best-accessed via Chromecast or Android TV. Roku is more of a neutral party, offering apps for Amazon, Google Play Movies & TV, and several other competing video services, but it lacks the sophisticated virtual assistants and smart home controls you’ll get with other platforms. Content discovery features: Media-streaming devices are starting to evolve beyond a static list of apps.
Features like and the help you keep track of new arrivals, while Amazon includes recommendations directly on the Fire TV home screen. Read up on these approaches to decide which one sounds most appealing. Private listening options: Many devices support Bluetooth headphones for when you don’t want to disturb your spouse or kids. Roku players also support wired headphones through the Roku mobile app, and through the remote control on its pricier set-top boxes. Captive portal support: If plan to take your streaming device on the road, you may run into Wi-Fi networks that require a web browser for logging in.
This is known as a “captive portal,” and not all streaming devices support it. Remote control features: Some remote controls are loaded with buttons for fast forward, rewind, and other special functions, while others take a more minimalist approach. Some remotes can control your television’s volume, and some include microphones for voice commands. No remote is perfect, however, so take a look at the ones that are included with each box to decide what’s most important to you.
Audio codec support: An increasing number of streaming services are supporting object-based soundtracks, such as Dolby Atmos, which add height cues to surround sound. If your home audio system can also take advantage of it—and even many of today’s soundbars can—you’ll want to hear it.
Connectivity: Do you plan on connecting a USB storage device, ethernet cable, or sound system via an analog or digital optical audio cable? Make sure your streaming box has the appropriate connections. You’ll also want a device with the latest 802.11ac Wi-Fi if you’re worried about bandwidth on an overcrowded home network. Our latest media streamer reviews.
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