You may have to install some type of DLNA application on your server device, of which there are many. In your home theater ecosystem, your tablet, smartphone, computer, or network attached storage (NAS) device would be the DLNA server, and the TV (as one example) would be the playback device. Sometimes a product can be both a server and player. DLNA-certified products consist of digital media servers that contain the files you want to play and digital media players or renderers upon which you want to play the files. All networkable products that bear DLNA certification should be able to talk to one another, as long as they are on the same network. DLNA allows for content streaming over a wired or wireless IP-based network. DLNA stands for Digital Living Network Alliance, which is actually the name of the non-profit alliance of companies that formed this standard for media transmission that is based on the broader UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) standard. Explore related reviews in our Remotes and System Control Review Review section.ĭLNA is likely the term most familiar to our audience, as it's now available in a large percentage of the smart A/V products released to the market.See more streaming, apps, and downloads news from.Read more original content like this in our Feature News Stories section.This piece focuses specifically on the technologies that are becoming common in HDTVs to facilitate video and audio sharing. The myriad options can be confusing even for those of us who attend every trade show and see every demo, so here's a basic primer to explain some of terms you might encounter. Abbreviations like DLNA, MHL, NFC, and WiDi are popping up everywhere, as manufacturers continue to explore new ways to improve connectivity between traditional AV products and mobile devices. Peruse the features list for a new, smart (i.e., networkable) HDTV, Blu-ray player, HTiB, and the like, and you may encounter some unfamiliar terms. As tablets and smartphones continue to surge in popularity, they have become yet more source components that many people would like to connect to their home theater systems.