Best TV Add-on Box
Apple TV
I look for products that have a great "bang for the buck" and AppleTV takes the prize in this category. At less than $100 and with no subscription fee, AppleTV brings so much functionality to your living room TV. Apple refers to this product as a "hobby" but with sales topping $1B in 2013, its more than a hobby - and its probably the template for a true Apple television.
My favorite feature is the ability to link your TV to your iTunes library. I can access movies, TV shows, home movies, photos and both my music and iTunes Radio - all directly from my main home desktop - that alone is worth the price of admission. Once you get used to converting your DVD's to digital (cue Handbrake), you'll never search for a DVD again.
Throw in all the included services which it allows you to access - including YouTube, NetFlix, HBOGo, huluplus, ABC, ESPN, Disney, PBS, NHL, NBA, MLS and MLB - and you have a true portal to non-cable based content. Can you say "the future of TV usage"?
The final straw to push you over the top is the AirPlay capabilities - meaning you can stream almost anything from your Apple iOS devices to your living room screen. Whether its individual photos or videos - or total screen mirroring (that's right, copy your iPad or MacBook to your home TV - then open up Candy Crush and go at it).
We have added an AppleTV to each conference room TV in our office so clients and mirror their iPads and run presentations.
All this for under $100. If you're in the Apple universe of products, no need to buy a more expensive Smart TV when you only need to add this little black box to one HDMI port.
Buy it from Apple, Amazon or just about any other electronics retailer - just buy one already!