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.
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Member since:2005-06-28
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
Member since:2005-07-06
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.
Member since:2010-08-30
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.
Member since:2005-11-09
Member since:2005-06-28
Member since:2009-12-24
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
Member since:2005-11-09
Member since:2006-11-19
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.
Member since:2009-08-26
Member since:2005-08-18
Member since:
2007-06-02
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 ...............
Member since:2005-07-07
Member since:2005-11-09
Member since:
2007-04-28
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.
Member since:2005-11-09
Member since:
2006-01-26
Member since:2005-06-28
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
Member since:2005-11-16
Member since:2005-06-28
Member since:
2006-05-19
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.
Member since:
2006-12-06
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.