The latest example comes from Seagate, a manufacturer of externall hard drives and media streamers.
The company's FreeAgent Theater+ media player can now access sites such as Netflix thanks to a new, automated firmware update.
Connect to your home network via ethernet or with a wireless adaptor to complete the update and then access extra content.
Netflix allows you to stream TV shows and movies via an internet-connected device, and the service relaunched in the UK earlier this year.
The media player is also now UPnP/DLNA complian allowing you to share content with any other DLNA-enabled device over your home network.
The Seagate Freeagent Theater+ media player is on sale now for around £190.