My husband stopped trusting me with his PS3 after I burned three Netflix PS3 software disks (a known problem), so he asked me to get my Netflix kick with another device (that was before the disk-less PS3 solution). So I bought the $99 Roku XD|S, the highest Roku model, a Linux-based video streaming TV device.
The Roku XD|S is a pretty small device, about 1/2 the size of the older AppleTV, and about 2x the size of the new AppleTV. Connecting the device is very easy, but you will need an extra HDMI cable (it only comes with composite cables). I connected the device via Ethernet, since my WiFi at home is flaky because of wireless over-crowding.
The boot procedure takes about 1 minute. Upon its first boot, it asked me to activate the Roku player with the Roku web site, so you will need a computer next to you the first time. Then, you can set the resolution of your TV (up to 1080p), the audio mode you would like to use (supports 5.1 Surround). The Roku never turns off (it has a semi-standby mode), so when you don’t use it, it will display a screen saver in that TV Input. Roku says that the device uses 6 watts in peak, and 4 watts in standby mode. The device doesn’t get hot — definitely way less hot than our first generation AppleTV, or our Comcast DVR.
Its remote control is very clean in terms of design, very few buttons comparatively to remotes of devices. Roku’s interface is very nice and clean, easy to navigate through, usually via “scrolling cards”. These cards, are called “channels” in Roku speak, and are equivalent to applications. Roku has a developer program, so various services can add their own channel.
Some of these channels are available for browsing before adding them to your collection, some others are “private” channels and you need to know a special code in order to activate them. This was the case for the third party-created YouTube channel (code: B8VVK, HD works automatically only when your connection to Youtube’s servers is good), but also for the Roku-created “USB Media Browser”. My Roku XD|S came with a USB port, and it has a powerful decoding DSP in it, so it was a surprise that you can’t do anything with that USB port unless you first activate a channel that doesn’t appear in any listing, but you need to know a secret code for (code: HMKLI).
The main attraction of Roku is Netflix. It’s its selling point, but I foresee its appeal shrinking, as every new serious device has support for Netflix as of late. Anyways, Netflix works well in HD, but its interface is not as nice/fast-to-use as the new UI on the PS3. Hopefully there’s an update coming!
I guess the second biggest feature of Roku is Hulu Plus. Roku is the only TV device apart the PS3 that’s scheduled to get Hulu Plus so far. That channel is not working yet, as Hulu is still busy blocking Google TV and other devices from accessing its web site. There is also Amazon HD On Demand, to counter iTunes’ renting/buying service, which I haven’t tried it as of yet (soon).
Other channels include the on-demand music service MOG (7 day trial, $5-$10 per month after that), Flixster with HD trailers (the app doesn’t always want to stream, and in one case it rebooted Roku), TuneIn Radio with many radio station options, FlickR/Picasa photo viewer, MediaFly for A/V podcasts (I love the TED talks personally), and the popular Pandora radio.
The USB media browser can read FAT32 USB disks/cards. While the DSP of the particular model has hardware support for many formats, Roku has only implemented support for .MP4 h.264/AAC files, up to 1080/30p (I successfully was able to smoothly playback a 12-16 VBR mbps 1080/24p file). No other formats or video containers work. Some users suggest that you should make sure you export your 30p videos at exactly 29.97 fps, or there might be long times of buffering. During playback, fast forwarding was really fast, and as expected.
My favorite part of Roku is none of the above though. Truth is, every Roku service can be found in one form or another in other TV devices as well. But Roku does something that no other can: Vimeo. Vimeo works on Roku really nicely, in full HD: it let’s you search, view your own videos, the official Staff Picks and HD Channels, view your “likes” videos, your “watch later” queue, and a good chunk of your subscription videos (but not all). Vimeo has become the premiere service of independent filmmakers and enthusiasts videographers who publish quality video work — in contrast to the chaotic YouTube. Having Vimeo on your TV, is a blessing for all of us who like to view art.
I hope for an RDIO client though instead of MOG (since I’d want to use that account with my Android phone too, and I find MOG too crashy on Android). Also, I’d love a nicely designed weekly Weather forecast channel, and a Google Reader channel that can read plain text (I’m not even asking for a full HTML parser of the RSS feeds). Hopefully, work will start at Roku for a UPnP client too, and support for more video formats.
Overall, I’d say that I really like Roku. It’s going to be my main entertainment device via Netflix and the upcoming Hulu Plus (especially since I’m planning on canceling our Comcast TV service). And its Vimeo support is the cherry on top of the cake.
Rating: 8/10
FTC 16 CFR Part 255 Disclaimer
I bought this item by myself, and Roku or any other company had no influence or involvement in the article’s findings and opinions.
Windows Media Center
Erm, no. There is no support for serious online services in Media Center apart from Netflix — you can only view your own local videos (is there Youtube, Vimeo, Hulu, Amazon support?). TV is only accessible if you buy a TV tuner. Setting aside this, having to move off your couch to turn ON a PC that is possibly in another room, is not a living room experience. Personally, I hate streaming off of PCs for that exact reason. My PCs are in my office, and my living room is on the other side of the house. And if I was to have the PC on the living room, then it wouldn’t be my main PC, which would mean that I would have to spend a LOT more than Roku’s $99 to get a full PC just for media. In my opinion, Windows Media Center and all other streaming-off-of-the-PC solutions are lacking in terms of user experience. Same goes for Apple’s new AppleTV, where they removed the HDD.
I don’t appreciate comments without substance btw. You just wrote these “three words”, and you left us in our devices. I spent quite some time writing this article, so some basic respect for this would have been nice, in the form of actually expressing your thoughts and opinions in a more verbose manner, where it could stimulate real discussion. Just because “this is the internet” does not give you a free pass.
Edited 2010-10-23 00:50 UTC
I use PlayOn – it is installed on my Quad-core PC downstairs and streams to my PS3 in the living room. It has Hulu, Netflix, Amazon, CBS and many others. There are plug-ins for other services, too. It does a good job of aggregating all of these services and presenting them in a nice interface. I was going to cancel my DirecTV. Instead, since I was out of contract, I called and negotiated my service to a basic package at half the price.
There is a PlayOn Beta app for the Roku. You’ll have to dig around to get the code for that channel. It works alright – you can watch Hulu, etc.., with the PlayOn app. It’s not as smooth as the other Roku channels, but that may be because of the PC that I have PlayOn installed on.
But, Roku cannot be used to stream LAN media.
A UPnP client is coming, from what I read online. Besides, there’s a USB port for local media.
Not having a uPnP client out of the box is very disappointing, most of us have a home network, LAN or uPnP based, filled with content, be it music or video. I have ripped my favorite music from my cds or even lp and stored those file on a NAS server. And my home made videos are also on that NAS device as are my favorite shows. No more cd/dvd handling, available from every location in the house where a PC or media streamer is available.
The whole device smells a bit like an unfinished, work in progress, requiring you to wait or search for functionality (the ‘unlock codes the OP publishes are a funny example).
For media streaming better alternatives are available!
Edited 2010-10-23 08:31 UTC
do you have a link to an article for the uPnP stuff? I’m trying to decide if I should get an xBox 360 in Jan. which will give me the local media and Netflix, hulu, and much of the rest that roku supports, or just wait for the Roku uPnP support.
It depends on the plugins you have. Out of the box the support is limited. But it’s easy to expand.
As a base nothing can best it on live tv/dvr capabilities on Windows. It’s very easy to use, and there are no extra fees. And ability to share with extenders or other Windows machines (Win7 only) is a great plus.
And, adding plugins for YouTube, RSS/Vodcasts, Hulu, and even Boxee/XBMC is very easy. I believe there is even a PlayOn plugin as well.
However you need an entire PC with a large hard drive, and powerful processor/gpu.
Meh…..this is the internet
Edited 2010-10-23 11:09 UTC
One word: off-topic
I had a friend of mine turn me onto it a little over a year ago. I have an XBox 360, it’s fair with playing Netflix and it’s damn loud. The Roku box is about the size of a 4 port switch, silent and “just works”. The interface is great, has a lot of other optional channels other than just Netflix, like Hulu, Amazon and a whole lot of other free and subscription channels.
I love it ……………
Agreed. I love my Roku as well. One of the best purchases I’ve made in a long time.
it still needs to be able to play LAN media. I rip all my kid’s DVDs to my media server and I want a nice viewing solution for the living room. With the added features of Hulu Plus and Amazon’s On Demand movies, it kind of makes the need for Cable TV obsolete.
I realize that I am not as experienced as most of the posters on osnews, but what I found that works for myself and my wife is a computer hook up to the tv. Our favorite site is apparently not mainstream enough to be a selection on Roku or any other device. We both love Korean tv dramas and it was getting too expensive to keep buying the dvds so no we watch all we want on DramaFever.com. A typical set of dvds for one of these dramas can be as much as $100 or more. The money we are saving more than pays for the computer upgrades that we needed.
Roku needs to make it easy to publish appified versions of web sites to it. Then all these 3rd parties could just create the app and fas could install it to their roku.
Doing a review of the new Apple TV? Im headed to the Apple store right now to do a demo.
No, I won’t do a review of the new AppleTV. I already have a first generation one, and the new AppleTV has the same UI essentially, plus Netflix, and without HDD. Not much has changed.
I might do a review of the GoogleTV though, which arrived yesterday at my home.
Edited 2010-10-24 20:23 UTC
Please do. The Logitech Revue with GoogleTV looks interesting.
I bought the Sony BD player with GoogleTV, not the Revue one. I have already previewed the Revue on osnews, make a search.
The Roku has access to over 100 channels. Most are public but some are private. Finding the list of private channels is a 5 second search on the Roku forum. Many of the private channels will only appeal to a select few, but there is something for everyone. If you don’t find the exact channel you want you can download the SDK and make your own. My Roku is one of the best purchases I made in the last couple of years. It is part of the reason I was able to dump cable a year ago.
re the Roku XDS, Netflix Online, Hulu Plus, Pandora, MOG etc
Would I be correct in assuming these are available in only one country in the world (the US)?
Any word on such devices and services available to rest of us?
Till then, I guess I’ll just have to keep torrenting… or give up half my income to pay for pieces of plastic to be pressed, packaged, shipped, distributed, stored, priced and displayed when I all need is the data on them.