Gift Guide: Gifts for the TV and Movie Buff

UPDATED FOR 2016

 

If you are wondering what to get your loved ones, all you have to do is think about what they love. Many of us are movie buffs. A movie can touch you, make you feel emotional, or teach you about history. I'm all about a great movie. And I love streaming TV shows. My home is setup to stream just about from every room in different ways. My kids and I love it that way. We love being able to either gather together in the family room and watch a movie, or spread out all over the house to watch our favorite shows without disturbing each other.

 

Here is my list of favorite streaming devices that work out well for us. Any of these would make great gifts for the TV and movie buff in your life.

5 Great Gifts for the Movie Buff

Amazon Fire TV: Have you seen that great commercial with Gary Busey? Not only does he talk to his pants, he also shows off talking to his Amazon Fire TV to search for movies. The voice feature is by far the most impressive. Instead of concentrating really hard while navigating the on screen keyboard, you just hold the voice button and talk to your voice controlled remote. If you are an Amazon Prime member the Fire TV is a great addition. Not only does your Prime membership get you free 2-day shipping on thousands of items, but you can also stream unlimited Prime movies and music. In addition, it allows you to stream other online services. I spend my day watching Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crackle, and more. The Fire TV also allows you to turn on Freetime parental controls which is great if the unit will be used by children.

Google Chromecast: Unlike the Amazon Fire TV the Google Chromecast is not just about streaming movies and TV shows. It also allows you to share whatever is in your computer's Google Chrome browser to your TV and also interfaces with several streaming apps and games. This opens up a world of possibilities. You can project YouTube videos, webpages, or even presentations. And since it is so portable Chromecast can go with you to a friend's house or anywhere that you can access a WiFi connection that you have access to. NOTE: Currently there is no real way to connect to public WiFi networks that pop up a login screen, so keep this in mind if you want to use it in a hotel room.

 

Tivo Roamio Plus DVR: While you may have a DVR from your cable service, it does not do all that the Tivo Roamio Plus can do. You can record up to 6 shows at once. No one in the home will fight over having their favorite show recorded. And with built-in streaming to mobile devices there will be no fighting over the television. The Roamio also provides access to Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, VUDU and more. At $320 from Amazon + service this is not a cheap gift, but it will make your streaming buff very happy.

The newest version is the Roamio Blot available starting at $159.

 

Netflix Subscription: Did you know that you can give someone the gift of Netflix? Netflix offers gift cards which are available in Target and some other retailers. They can be purchased towards Netflix memberships. Of course this allows the receiver to stream thousands of TV shows and movie until their hearts content.

Apple TV: If you movie buff is an Apple fan the Apple TV is a great choice for a streaming device. It easily connects and streams all of the popular service, plus has access to the iTunes store, and many other networks. You can use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch as a remote for the device. The interface on the Apple TV is one of the easiest to navigate.

 

Disclosure: Some items mentioned in this post were either provided to me for review or I purchased them on my own. No compensation was received. Affiliate links included. All opinions are my own.