Best 5 home video products
John P. Falcone
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Panasonic DMP-BD35
Best standalone Blu-ray player
Blu-ray made some big strides as a mass-market format in 2008, and the Panasonic DMP-BD35 is no better proof of that. That player delivers everything we'd expect from a Blu-ray deck--full compliance with BD-Live titles, onboard decoding for all high-resolution soundtrack formats, and (of course) excellent video and audio quality--and it's widely available for under $250. That said, we'd be willing to pay extra for the Samsung BD-P2550 (which adds Netflix and Pandora streaming compatibility) or the Sony PlayStation 3 (which doubles as a great game machine and media streamer).
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TiVo HD (20 HD hours)
Best high-definition cable DVR
Except for a smaller hard drive and more-generic cosmetics, the TiVo HD delivers, essentially, the same feature set as the earlier Series3 model, but for a much more reasonable $300. In addition to TiVo's best-in-class interface, you'll also get a panoply of Internet and network-friendly features: Multi-Room Viewing; TiVoToGo; downloadable videos from TiVoCast and Amazon's Unbox; Internet radio; Rhapsody; podcasts; streaming of music and photos from a networked PC; and online scheduling control. In other words, the TiVo HD is a full-service network media device that runs circles around those "free" DVRs from your cable company. Have satellite instead? DirecTV subscribers should opt for the HR20, while Dish Network subscribers should go for the excellent ViP722.
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Slingbox Solo
Best video placeshifting device
Can't spend any time away from your favorite TV shows? Slingbox is the answer to your prayers. This magic little box makes the TV signal from your cable or satellite box available anywhere you can get a broadband Internet connection--be it in another room of the house, or on the other side of the world. View and control your home TV from any broadband-enabled Windows PC or Mac, as well as many models of Windows Mobile, Palm, and Symbian smartphones; software for Blackberry models is slated to hit before the end of 2008, and a prototype iPhone version has been shown as well. Bottom line: the Slingbox is the traveling couch potato's best friend. (If you want HD resolution for in-home streaming, splurge instead for the Slingbox Pro-HD.)
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Microsoft Xbox 360 (60GB)
Best high-definition gaming console
The Nintendo Wii is a lot of fun to play, and the Sony PlayStation 3 has more built-in features (Blu-ray, Wi-Fi, Flash-enabled Web browser). But the Xbox 360 remains the pick of the litter for anyone looking for the best combination of gaming and home entertainment at the current time. In addition to its impressive line-up of current and upcoming exclusive games (including Gears of War 2, Fable II, and Left 4 Dead), the best-in-class Xbox Live online service, and HD video choices (via Netflix streaming or downloable movies on Xbox Live), the 360 now offers HDMI output and a larger hard drive--all at a lower price than when the console originally debuted.
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Logitech Harmony One
Best universal remote overall
It's not a "home video" product per se, but a universal remote is a key element in any serious home theater. And the Logitech Harmony One is king of the hill. Its task-based macros are automatically programmed by the sophisticated software--choose "play DVD," for instance, and your TV and AV receiver will automatically switch to the correct inputs, while the DVD player powers on. The Harmony One controls up to 15 devices, and--while it retails for a somewhat pricey $250--it's worth every penny. (If that price is too rich for your blood, check out the Harmony One's little brother, the Harmony 550. It's widely available for under $100.)
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