All it takes is an Internet connection to turn an ordinary set-top box into an entertainment library that knows no limits. Here are the season’s most desired devices

There are few things in this world more irritating than paying an oversized cable bill (OK, paying an oversized gas bill comes close). Thankfully, TV fans don’t have to suffer the indignity of paying a monthly bill for thousands of shows and movies they don’t watch. Services like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video can deliver the latest movies and TV shows at modest subscription fees over a high-speed Internet connection. These services can land in the living room through a media player/set-top box, a Blu-ray player or even popular gaming consoles. They use either a Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection to hook up to a router, and they can multitask, too. In addition to Hollywood fare, they can usually connect to a home network to view digital photos, videos and music on an HDTV.

D-Link Boxee

D-Link’s Boxee ($199) certainly is the most uniquely designed set-top box on the market. Beyond its cutting-edge design, the Boxee can stream movies from Netflix and Vudu to a TV via an HDMI cable, which is included. It connects to the Internet using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet and supports applications like Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Pandora Internet radio, Vimeo, MLB.com and CNN. When digesting other people’s content becomes tiring, the Boxee can access digital photos, videos and music stored on a networked computer. When you are at work or on the road, send online videos and TV shows to the Boxee with a “watch later” feature. They’ll be ready to play on the TV once it’s time to relax. Boxee supports full 1080p high-def video playback and comes with a double-sided remote with standard controls up front and a QWERTY keyboard in the back for easier browsing.

Roku 2

Few media players offer the depth of content that Roku packs into its tiny Roku 2 set-top box. Choose from Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video and Crackle to stream movies and TV. Users can tune into Pandora’s Internet radio or watch live sports on several channels (NHL, NBA, MLB and MLS). The Roku 2 is available in three varieties: • The Roku 2 HD ($59) features built-in Wi-Fi and 720p HD playback. • The Roku XD ($79) adds the ability to play back 1080p high-definition video content. • The top-of-the-line Roku 2 XS ($99) has all the features of the XD, plus built-in Bluetooth to allow wireless gaming with the Roku remote (it’s not yet enabled for wireless headphones). A microSD card slot and a USB port are built in for viewing personal digital content. The XS also includes an Ethernet port and a free copy of the popular game Angry Birds.

WD Live Hub

For the avid photographer or videographer on your shopping list, the WD Live Hub ($199) combines a streaming set-top box with a builtin 1TB hard drive to offer the best of both media worlds. With a USB port, users can hook up camcorders, cameras and other digital devices to back up files on the Hub. In addition to personal blockbusters, the Hub can stream from Netflix, Hulu Plus, CinemaNow, and Blockbuster on Demand. Other Internet services are available too, including YouTube, Facebook, Flickr and Pandora. The Live Hub can connect to and display digital files from a home network through an Ethernet connection to a router or via Wi-Fi with an optional wireless USB adapter (around $30).