Sony BDP-S780

Give a Blu-ray disc playback and online movie streaming with Sony’s BDP-S780 ($250). This player has built-in Wi-Fi for accessing Sony’s Bravia Internet Video service, which includes Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and YouTube, among others. It’s ready for a home network with DLNA technology to enable easier wireless hookups and even supports Skype calls (though a web cam is not included). The BDP-S780 is 3D-ready and can upscale DVDs to squeeze every last drop of resolution. Rounding out the feature set is a free app that turns mobile devices (Apple or Android) into a remote control for the player.

Power Up

It’s possible to stream high-def video over a Wi-Fi connection, although older 802.11g wireless networks might struggle with the heavy data load. To ensure a smooth stream, new set-top box owners can either upgrade their router to an 802.11n version or make a hard-wired connection to their router using an Ethernet cable. If they can’t connect their new media player directly to an Internet router using an Ethernet cable, they might consider a Powerline adapter. Netgear’s AV 200 adapter kit ($125) lets them establish a high-speed connection from the media player to the router using the electrical wiring in their home. Set up is simple – just plug both adapters into a wall outlet and connect one to the router (via Ethernet) and the other to the set-top box (again, via Ethernet).

Video Game Consoles

If there’s a gamer on your holiday shopping list, all the major platforms – PlayStation 3 ($249), Wii ($149) and Xbox 360 ($199) – support Netflix. PlayStation 3 also can stream from Vudu (including 3D movies) and Sony’s own collection of titles in the PlayStation store. Xbox offers both Netflix and Hulu Plus through its subscription-based Xbox Live program.