If you're new to the world of Internet TV, all this talk of "VOD" and "Hulu" and "Vudu" might sound like a whole bunch of, well, voodoo. Here's a quick guide to the major streaming services you should look for in your next set-top box or connected TV--or should have bookmarked in your home theater PC's Web browser.

Hulu Plus: Since its launch in 2008, Hulu has made waves by offering a (legal!) way to get episodes of current television series free on the Web. To access Hulu from a set-top box or connected TV, you'll need a subscription to Hulu's premium service, ($8 per month, one-week free trial). Your Hulu Plus subscription also gets you access to a catalog of movies (including a Criterion Collection set) and over 29,000 episodes of older TV archives, though you'll still have to watch the occasional ad.

It's not just a DVD rent-by-mail service. In fact, its streaming service (which provides both television and movies online) is now the primary source of Internet traffic in North America, and if you're tired of DVDs, you can opt for the streaming-only subscription plan for $8 a month. But only a portion of its catalog is available on Instant Watch.

Online video rental: Besides subscription services like Hulu Plus and Netflix, you'll want access to at least one video-rental service--, , , , and so on. Each service has a slightly different selection, but the basic idea is the same: Rent a movie by download for up to $4 for a new release, or purchase a desired download for around $15.

VOD: Video on demand--services that lets you play the video or program you want when you want.