Almost every recent Apple event has been preceded by rumors of a big Apple TV update and yesterday’s WWDC was no different. The rumor mill was expecting a full-blown app store for Apple’s set-top box, but instead the Apple TV was mentioned only in passing, primarily to demonstrate AirPlay. That lack of an update wasn’t …

Built-in AirPlay is a marquee feature for the Denon AVR-1913, but is it better to add AirPlay through the Apple TV? Sarah Tew/CNET If you’re buying an AV receiver these days, one of the main decisions you’ll need to make is whether or not you care about built-in AirPlay. It’s an easier call if you don’t have any iOS devices, …

A new Google TV box powered by Android 4.0 is coming this summer from Honeywld Technology, according to a story from IDG reporting from Computex. The new set-top box will apparently feature AirPlay-like capabilities, allowing Android phones to stream media directly to a TV. However, unlike AirPlay, users will need to run a separate app to stream content, which doesn’t …

Simple.TV’s innovative take on the over-the-air DVR made a splash at CES 2012, winning CNET’s Best of CES award in the home theater category. Now the company has turned to Kickstarter, looking to raise $125,000 before the product launches this summer. While Simple.TV’s concept of streaming and recording over-the-air TV hasn’t changed (read my initial CES story for more information), …

The JBL SB 300 has only two inputs on the back, but you can connect many more devices by using your TV as a switcher. Many sound bars offer a shockingly small number of inputs, with often just a single digital and analog audio input on the back to handle your gear. That’s hardly enough for a modern home theater …

Sound bars are an excellent compromise between shelling out for an expensive surround-sound system and settling for the tinny sound from your TV’s built-in speakers, but that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. In fact, sound bars have quite a few real-world problems and limitations that are often glossed over, only to rear their heads after you’ve got one set up at …

Last week, I was reminded that cable-cutting can beat cable when it comes to a commercial-free TV-watching experience. Yesterday, an excellent story from Ars Technica reminded me why streaming often feels much more satisfying than watching Blu-ray. The U.S. government yesterday rolled out not one but two copyright notices, one to “warn” and one to “educate.” Six major movie studios …

When people ask me if they should “cut the cord” and cancel their cable subscription, I tend to focus on negatives. You’re going to miss a lot of sports, reality TV, and live TV events — even if you get free, over-the-air TV using an antenna. That’s all true, but it’s easy to forget that sometimes the cord-cutting experience is …

Denon is always last to announce its new AV receivers each year, but the company just rolled out its new 2012 line. Denon’s AVR-1912 was a hit last year with built-in AirPlay support, and now AirPlay is available on all but the entry-level $250 Denon AVR-1513. There aren’t many surprises otherwise, although Denon’s back panels are looking more minimalist than …

Now playing: Watch this: The Editors’ Choice winning Blu-ray player from Panasonic 2:25 If I had to recommend just one Blu-ray player for 2012, it would be Panasonic’s DMP-BDT220 ($130 street price). It’s in the sweet spot of Panasonic’s Blu-ray lineup, with built-in Wi-Fi and an excellent set of streaming-media services, including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, Vudu, MLB.TV, and …