Help
Post your comments for First look: Roku Players here
First look: Roku Players
#2
pcharles 
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 901
- Joined: 23-February 04
Posted 22 September 2010 - 06:02 PM
For me, the inability of the Roku to wirelessly stream your own content is a huge deal breaker. I understand it can go through a third party site, but that seems ridiculous when you should be able to stream directly.
#4
OldManDotes
- Newbie
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 4
- Joined: 27-March 09
Posted 22 September 2010 - 07:37 PM
The statement that the Roku can't play your own content without the USB drive is patently false. There are at least 4 different solutions for that, 3 of which are free. I use MyMedia, and in addition there are Gabby, Rokxbox, and one other, the name of which escapes me. There are also channels which work via the cloud, such as MotionBox.
I will say, however, that Roku's technical support is abysmal. Let me summarize it here: "Have you tried turning it off and back on again? Try resetting it to factory defaults." Of course, the power cycle has worked every time, but it shouldn't take 3 days to get an email back telling me to do that. And of course I've already done it by that time anyway, so why even bother answering?
I will say, however, that Roku's technical support is abysmal. Let me summarize it here: "Have you tried turning it off and back on again? Try resetting it to factory defaults." Of course, the power cycle has worked every time, but it shouldn't take 3 days to get an email back telling me to do that. And of course I've already done it by that time anyway, so why even bother answering?
#5
KBCraig
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 85
- Joined: 22-October 05
Posted 22 September 2010 - 10:49 PM
I stream content from my iMac to my Roku using Chaneru. It's not nearly as elegant as Apple's offering, but it works.
The new Roku models look good, but there's nothing to make me dump the one I already have.
I expect Apple to allow app development for the aTV, and soon we'll see more public and private channels offered.
The new Roku models look good, but there's nothing to make me dump the one I already have.
I expect Apple to allow app development for the aTV, and soon we'll see more public and private channels offered.
#7
jescott418
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 159
- Joined: 06-April 10
Posted 23 September 2010 - 04:17 AM
I bought a Roku HD because it has more options in outputs then Apple TV. I like the fact that Roku still offers a Analog audio output. Whereas Apple only offers digital.
For me Apple's old model provided better options then their new one. I also like the fact that even though right now I am only tied to Netflix I have the option of using Amazon. I did not like the limitation with Apple TV right now.
For me Apple's old model provided better options then their new one. I also like the fact that even though right now I am only tied to Netflix I have the option of using Amazon. I did not like the limitation with Apple TV right now.
#8
joebot
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 248
- Joined: 12-April 07
Posted 23 September 2010 - 05:44 AM
I have the previous high-end model, the HD-XR, which also has a USB port. It appears that the USB port on this model has finally been made useful as well. I'll have to try it this weekend.
http://support.roku....-usb-hard-drive
http://support.roku....-usb-hard-drive
This post has been edited by joebot: 23 September 2010 - 05:46 AM
#9
Jason Snell
- Advanced Member
-
- Group: Moderators
- Posts: 3,258
- Joined: 11-December 00
Posted 23 September 2010 - 07:38 AM
OldManDotes, on 22 September 2010 - 07:37 PM, said:
The statement that the Roku can't play your own content without the USB drive is patently false.
I decided not to mention it because, while you _can_ add those private channels, it's not something any regular user would do. If Roku would like us to consider that a real feature of the product, they should support it and put it in then channel store.
#10
himbo
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 732
- Joined: 22-November 04
Posted 23 September 2010 - 08:28 AM
KBCraig, on 22 September 2010 - 10:49 PM, said:
I expect Apple to allow app development for the aTV, and soon we'll see more public and private channels offered.
Apple has been pretty clear on the fact that the AppleTV is not running any flavor of iOS, and as such will not have any kind of app functionality.
#11
Bubbsdaddy
- Newbie
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 04-December 08
Posted 23 September 2010 - 08:29 AM
KBCraig, on 22 September 2010 - 10:49 PM, said:
I stream content from my iMac to my Roku using Chaneru. It's not nearly as elegant as Apple's offering, but it works.
The new Roku models look good, but there's nothing to make me dump the one I already have.
I expect Apple to allow app development for the aTV, and soon we'll see more public and private channels offered.
The new Roku models look good, but there's nothing to make me dump the one I already have.
I expect Apple to allow app development for the aTV, and soon we'll see more public and private channels offered.
I really like these, but one of the main reasons I'm looking at an AppleTV is the ability to stream my iTunes music through my surround sound... but I really like the ability to connect a hard drive or flash drive to the Roku, that's a huge plus.
You mention Chaneru though... can that stream music from iTunes easily? I'm guessing not quite as smoothly as an AppleTV would, but if it works well, I would really consider going with Roku.
#12
GBrown
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 44
- Joined: 26-December 07
Posted 23 September 2010 - 09:21 AM
I have spent a long time building up and organizing an extensive iTunes library. I can't see any reason to NOT get the new AppleTV for my new basement man-cave, as I want to continue to use iTunes.
Until something else comes out that can interface with iTunes, I'm going with what I know.
Until something else comes out that can interface with iTunes, I'm going with what I know.
#13
tony_d
- Member
-
- Group: Members
- Posts: 513
- Joined: 19-January 07
Posted 23 September 2010 - 09:44 AM
himbo, on 23 September 2010 - 08:28 AM, said:
KBCraig, on 22 September 2010 - 10:49 PM, said:
I expect Apple to allow app development for the aTV, and soon we'll see more public and private channels offered.
Apple has been pretty clear on the fact that the AppleTV is not running any flavor of iOS, and as such will not have any kind of app functionality.
I don't remember Apple denying that the Apple TV runs on iOS, that comment was about the Nano (I could be wrong.) Over at Ars they saying it is.
http://arstechnica.c...reak-target.ars
My guess is Apple has plans to do "channels" on this device, but as always they are slow to implement certain features.
#14
Dan Frakes
- Advanced Member
-
- Group: Moderators
- Posts: 4,585
- Joined: 14-April 03
Posted 23 September 2010 - 09:59 AM
himbo, on 23 September 2010 - 08:28 AM, said:
KBCraig, on 22 September 2010 - 10:49 PM, said:
I expect Apple to allow app development for the aTV, and soon we'll see more public and private channels offered.
Apple has been pretty clear on the fact that the AppleTV is not running any flavor of iOS, and as such will not have any kind of app functionality.
Apple hasn't said what OS the new Apple TV is running. (Maybe you're thinking of the company's statements about the new iPod nano?) It's a good bet the Apple TV is running some variant of iOS, given that the Apple TV is using same A4 processor as Apple's iOS devices. TUAW has also reported finding iOS configuration files mentioning the new Apple TV.
Dan Frakes / Senior Editor, Macworld
