Digital Home Thoughts: Belkin Routers Doing Double Duty

"For starters, Belkin has made the app integration seamless and the process easy. Also, the apps are actually helpful; software will be around to help you print without wires, transfer music, stream media and do all sorts of other fancy networking tricks that usually require lots of in-depth knowledge."

It must be tough to be in the networking business. Networking standards seem to come along as a glacial pace. Once you have a router that handles all your routing needs, how do you keep your routers fresh and enticing? Well, if the past few years have been any indication, it is to pack a gazillion features into your router! Some routers offer NAS capabilities while others allow you to monitor your kids with parental controls. Belkin has decided that routers should be more like computers and offer a variety of apps for their new line of Play and Play Max routers. It does make sense, I have to admit. Unless you have need of a more powerful NAS, a router should be more than capable as acting as a competent multi-functional device. Since it is always on, it can act as the hub for all things networked. Short of the aformentioned monitoring capabilities, it looks like Belkin's new solution covers pretty much everything all the other routers from those other guys. One that is particularly interesting is its focus on music, and how it can stream and organize them for you. Is this enough to entice you into buying a new router?