Take a few minutes to look at your home entertainment system. At the very least, you may be owning a flat screen TV, a digital music player, a mobile device, and even a gaming console. These devices have gone through a lot of developments through history before they eventually landed on your possession.
Tech developments have surged significantly over the past few years. Let us look back at how home entertainment technology has changed through the 21st century.
Music players
Radio was big in the 19th and 20th century, but the current century is the period of the digital music player. The revolutionary Apple music player called the iPod was introduced in 2001, and has changed the music landscape since. A lot of other manufacturers have followed suit and created their own music players, giving consumers more options.
On top of that, people can now enjoy their favorite songs even without a separate music player. These days, smartphones and tablets in whatever format (iOS, Android, or Windows) can now play music through downloadable apps. Exciting online music apps such as Spotify have also been created to provide thousands of song choices across any genre.
Video game systems
The gaming industry has really come a long way since the Atari in the ‘80s and Nintendo Super FamiCom in the ‘90s. The start of the 21st century saw the influx of a new generation of gaming consoles that can play DVDs and function like PCs, including Sony PlayStation 2 and the newly birthed Xbox.
Fast forward to more than 10 years, and we’re now enjoying video gaming consoles that allow for multimedia feed and better connectivity. Handheld game consoles have also surfaced, examples of which include Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita.
TV technology
Tech upgrades in the world of television have sprouted here and there, but one of the biggest breakthroughs in the 21st century is Internet television. This technology has allowed millions of TV viewers to watch not only local television programs but also online videos and media content.
Despite the emergency of new TV technology, existing systems such as broadcast television or Scottsdale satellite TV continue to dominate home TV screens because of their adoption of digital formats.
Online entertainment
Speaking of Internet content, home entertainment in the first years of this century may be defined by online media. Developments in the field of home entertainment have given rise to exciting new products such as smart TV and improved mobile connectivity.
One huge change in the way people enjoy video is through media systems that can project online content onto TV screens. Online media streaming systems and services such as Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Roku have given us access to Internet video content displayed on a much larger TV screen (as compared to mobile screens). As a result, we can now enjoy the following:
- Watch TV programs outside of their original time slots
- View cable TV shows without paying for additional subscription fees
- Play content from practically any media source, depending on your media device
Many of the changes in home entertainment were triggered by the explosion of the Internet, which has radically changed the world forever. However, we should be reminded that we’re still living the first few years of the 21st century. Let’s wait and be expectant for more exciting updates as the century unfolds.
