Re: The Roku Thread
 

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Add Channel to Roku - VideoBuzz

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Plex is the also the best way to stream movies and music from a PC. It actually builds a Netflix like interface with movie info and cover pictures for movies on your PC as well as album covers for your music. Beats the USB drive by a mile since it plays any format and has a far better interface

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Just got the Roku 3 from Amazon. I can try to answer questions if anyone has some.

Love the new menu. Much easier to browse. But it's still one big list. I wish you could group channels like Favorites, Movies, Internet TV, etc.

This thing is blazing fast when using the Roku remote. But when using the Harmony remote, it moves at the same speed as the older boxes. And the Harmony is less responsive. Sometimes I have to push the button twice. The difference when using the Roku remote and the Harmony is very noticeable.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Have you tried adjusting your delays and stuff on the Harmony? It isn't strange for different devices to have different response times. I doubt it is the Harmony's "fault". Sounds like the 3 is capable of quicker inputs than the 2. Try tinkering with it...hopefully it will help!

Re: The Roku Thread
 

I tried tweaking the delays and repeats on the Harmony, and that helped a little. The Harmony remote works, it's just less responsive than the Roku 3 remote. I think I'm either getting IR interference or the Roku 3 doesn't process the IR signal as quickly.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Same here. The new interface is coming to the Roku 2 (and some of the other earlier players) later this year, so I'm not sure there's much about the new version that we won't eventually have...I couldn't care less about headphones.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

It's not much of an upgrade from the Roku 2. The headphone feature might be appealing to some people, but I'll probably never use it. The only other feature is that the Roku 3 is noticeably faster than the previous models. I'm flying through the menus, channels come up almost instantly, and videos start sooner. Not sure that's worth $100, but it's nice.

Also, the Roku 3 supports Wi-Fi Direct which is needed for the upcoming Miracast features. It's an open Wi-Fi streaming standard similar to Apple's Airplay. I don't know what they're planning, but it sounds like an interesting feature. And that might make the upgrade worthwhile.

Here's more info on Miracast:

http://arstechnica.com/information-t...ut-the-router/
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/...#ixzz2AnD9bG7X
http://gizmodo.com/5944578/what-is-miracast
Miracast Demo from CES 2013 - http://youtu.be/cYagdOp9y7E

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Here's a couple Roku 3 reviews:

Engadget - "Our favorite media streamer"
Laptop Magazine - 4/5 Stars (Editors' Choice)
The Verge - 8.9/10 "The best, most versatile, and most usable set-top box on the market"
PopSci - "The Roku 3 is the best media streamer"
Gizmodo - "The New Best Streaming Box"


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Re: The Roku Thread
 

Glad to hear the new interface will roll-out to the Roku 2 next month. I don't plan on upgrading though will likely be envious of the improved performance.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Damn, I was just about to bite on a Roku 2 XS when I saw the price dropped to $79 on Amazon and now I see there is a Roku 3 for $99... I am seriously torn now.

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Don't be torn. Get the Roku3. You won't regret it.

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Any reasons why to convince a very cheap bastard?

Re: The Roku Thread
 

The main reason I would recommend the Roku 3 is the upgraded hardware. Earlier models won't be compatible with WiFi Direct features like Miracast. And there's some discussion that the faster processor will be required for new features that slower boxes won't be able to handle. But I haven't heard any concrete examples.

Roku 3 also has Dual Band WiFi and that remote headset thing. Personally, these features are worthless to me. But some people really like them.

For $20, I'd pick the machine with the latest hardware. Right now, you won't notice much difference between the two models. But if they get these upcoming features implemented, you might regret having an outdated box.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Yeah, I guess you are right. Damn it, will technology just stand still for a minute?

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TheBigDave said it all. :)
For a mere $20, you're getting the better hardware that will be supported much longer. I love my Roku 2, but the occasional lagginess gets to me.

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But cheap has served me so well in the past. I have some piece of crap I bought at Wal-mart for $37 that I need to turn on and off at least three times when I want to watch Netflix. It only takes 2 oe 3 minutes per reboot so it is wonderful because it gives me time to read.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Another vote of "buy it" for the Roku 3. I upgraded my XS a couple weeks ago and I'm loving the faster processor and new menu. Plus, everything streams much faster. Definitely worth it, you cheap bastard.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Got the e-mail that my Roku 2 will be getting a new UI.

Anybody know when the PBS channel will be going live?

Re: The Roku Thread
 

I got that new UI email on both my 2XS and LT accounts.

PBS was in the Roku Lounge at SXSW 2013 to hype the upcoming Roku app. Here's a video interview. The PBS rep says they're targeting a late-April/early-May launch.

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Re: The Roku Thread
 

Here's another way to get Youtube videos on your Roku. Twonky is an Airplay-style app that streams from your Android/iOS device to your Roku. Cnet made a great video tutorial on how to set it up.

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http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-...ideos-on-roku/

Re: The Roku Thread
 

I'm still waiting for my email on the UI. I even thought if I went to the menu item and attempted to update it would do so.....no such luck.

I'm also waiting for the PBS channel..............

Thanks,

Rick

Re: The Roku Thread
 

So, I went into my Roku 2's settings last night and checked for a system update. Surprisingly, one came up called "New Roku Experience" or something like that. I got giddy, thinking, "It's here!!" only to find out that it's just a single-screen ad for the new UI, saying that it's "coming soon."

:gah:

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Yeah that pissed me off too.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Bought a Roku 3 since I had some gift cards for Amazon and nothing to waste them on.

Great little device, I wish the SDK was a little more indepth though - stuff like Netflix would really benefit from having the next episode play like it does on the Playstation 3 App (still the best version of Netflix out there, including the PC). Since you can develop games for the system, maybe more advanced apps are on the way. I played through a little Angry Birds Space (runs alright, very responsive with the remote) and You Don't Know Jack (which froze half way on me).

Otherwise I'm impressed with it, the search feature is fantastic. If I were Roku I would pull an Apple and find a way to patent that thing.

The Vevo TV feature reminds me that I miss old MTV but at the same time kind of hate popular music these days.

Pros:
+ Despite some animation lag from time to time, it's still a very snappy responsive device
+ Search feature kills the one that Google TV is trying to implement
+ Cool remote (Audio Port + Gyro) that uses RF so I can use it from upstairs and wireless HDMI to my TV
+ Lots of "Channels", easy to use interface
+ Dual Band Wireless is fantastic for streaming
+ PLEX Channel -- Could use a facelift but works great.

Neutral:
+/-: No Youtube, though VideoBuzz works great
+/-: USB Port, Support is a little spotty

Con:
- Comcast doesn't allow us to use HBO Go on the Roku -- Specifically the Roku, works fine on the 360 and PC, that almost seems illegal.
- Could more "Live Stream" Channels, there is an Aereo app but the service is not yet in my area.
- Some bugs here and there
- Channels are still very, very simple

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Roku is shutting down the VideoBuzz channel:

:sad:

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Roku absolutely needs to get this YouTube channel bullshit resolved.

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Yeah, I have a coupon I can use at work to get a Roku box, I think it'd be fun to have one, but the YouTube thing is a big deterrent. And our meager electronics department don't seem to have Apple TV.

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Just setup Twonky in connection with my Nexus 7, works very well for YouTube :up:

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Google owns YouTube and doesn't want to aid the biggest competitor to their Google TV. I doubt we see a legitimate YouTube option on ROKU.

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Makes sense....still don't like the result however.

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Honestly, I think it's less about that than it is about the likelihood that Roku doesn't handle ads in a way that Google approves. If Google can't deliver ads the way they want to on the Roku, then they have no interest in creating (or approving) an app with no ads.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

It might be another month until Roku 2 owners get the new UI.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

My Streaming Stick was updated overnight.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

PBS and PBS Kids are now available on the Roku. You have to select your local PBS affiliate and enter your email address. I took a quick look through the offerings, and I'm not too impressed. Seemed to be a couple random episodes in each category. I didn't see any complete shows/seasons. And the video quality was SD.

I wish there was a premium option. I'd be willing to pay $10 a month for full shows/seasons in HD quality.

PBS - http://www.roku.com/channels/#!details/23353/pbs
PBS Kids - http://www.roku.com/channels/#!details/23333/pbs-kids

Re: The Roku Thread
 

I think I was incorrect. Looks like they use adaptive streaming, so it takes around a minute for HD to kick in. If I had to guess, I'd say it's 720p. At least on the recent stuff. Haven't checked anything older than 2008.

I wish the bitrate was a little higher. I notice some banding and macroblocking. Especially on stuff like Austin City Limits where the lighting creates gradients. But it's not awful. Probably on par with HD Cable TV.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

PBS won't work on the old Roku 1 boxes. Roku posted some info on their forum:

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Thanks for this info. I had no idea about this, but set it up on my Nexus 7 and I can watch YouTube and even Burning Love on Yahoo on my Roku. Very handy.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

I know everything official mentions "by the end of May" for the UI update but I really wish it would hurry up. Still won't have faster Hardware but like the look of it. Now if I can find the time to watch the remaining Murdoch Mysteries. I just watched the first episode of season 3 (and all the previous seasons) so with 12 more for the season and 13 each for seasons 4 and 5..........I'll never make it. Not interested enough to lay out the cash for media.

Just rambling...........

Thanks,

Re: The Roku Thread
 

I bet they regret putting that ad up on the Roku that made it look like the release was coming in the next day or so. I suspect they ran into some last minute bugs.

Re: The Roku Thread
 

Wish my employer would pull back sometimes and wait to release software until they shake out the bugs. I hate the release buggy now, fix later approach.