By one account, 58 percent of Americans are streaming video on their high-tech devices. Some are using their smart phones, their tablets and computers, but more and more are streaming right to their television sets.
"I would say 90 percent of the time, TV shoppers are looking for smarter capabilities on the TV," said Luis Fernandez with the Sony Store in Fashion Valley.
Sony sells Google TV. It's a small device that comes with a voice activated remote. It sells for $200 and allows you to activate Netflix, YouTube and many other sites on your home television. It also lets you do a Google search on your big screen.
Besides Google TV, there is the Roku, Apple TV and game players like XBox that will connect your TV your home WIFI connection. Now there is a new device on the market and it is surprisingly cheap.
The Google Chromecast is a small device that plugs into the back of your television set through your HDMI connection. It works like the other devices by connecting your TV set to the internet but it differs by selling for only $35. Chromecast does not come with a remote control, instead you control your set through your smartphone (Android, IOS, Windows or MAC).
There are no cables but you do need a USB connection to power the device.
Tech expert Mark Burgess says this is another sign that your TV is becoming the family connection, on and off line.
