Web TV Wire » Roku Player http://www.webtvwire.com The Business of Internet Television and Video Fri, 28 Jun 2013 05:40:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Roku Adds 10 Free Channels To Netflix Set-Top Box | Open TV Platform Means More To Follow http://www.webtvwire.com/roku-adds-10-free-channels-to-netflix-set-top-box-open-tv-platform-means-more-to-follow/ http://www.webtvwire.com/roku-adds-10-free-channels-to-netflix-set-top-box-open-tv-platform-means-more-to-follow/#comments Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:15:25 +0000 Dave Parrack http://www.webtvwire.com/?p=10115 Roku BoxWhat started out as a means of streaming Netflix ‘Watch Instantly’ content has now evolved into something more. And it could just be the start.

The Roku box has now had 10 new, free channels added to its line-up, and thanks to the open platform nature of its Channel Store this could increase massively over the next few months/years.

Roku Netflix Player

The Roku set-top box made its debut in May 2008 when it was known as the Netflix Player. That, rather obviously, is because Roku had teamed up with the DVD-by-mail and video streaming company to provide a means of getting the content to televisions.

The Roku box cost $99 at launch and, despite reservations from some due to the distinct lack of content, it sold rather well at that super-budget price point. But the time has come to move the product on a little.

More Content, More Choice

The Roku box had/has to evolve mainly because Netflix’ ‘Watch Instantly’ service is available on a huge number of devices. Anyone (in the States at least) who owns a PS3, an Xbox 360, an LG television or Blu-ray player, and more besides would have no need for a Roku box is Netflix was “it.”

As early as September 2008, Roku signaled its intent to become a fully-fledged video player. Deals with Amazon VoD and MLB followed. And then just last month, two new models of Roku box were unveiled.

There were also promises of new channels, and they have no arrived.

Channel Store Line-Up

The 10 new channels being added to the Roku box are Blip.tv, Facebook Photos, Flickr, FrameChannel, Mediafly, MobileTribe, Motionbox, Pandora, Revision3, and TWiT. All are optional and all are free, although some will require users to sign up.

Some of these channels are better than others, with two being nothing more than photo viewers. However, rather than being about the channels themselves, this is about what their addition represents.

Open TV Platform

Roku has made its Channel Store an open platform, meaning there is nothing stopping other content providers from setting up home on it in order to push their wares to owners of Roku boxes.

While network content such as Hulu would be ideal, that looks like being a pipe dream thanks to the networks and cable providers wanting to keep control. If the powers-that-be won’t allow Hulu on Boxee then they sure as hell won’t allow it on Roku.

[Via NewTeeVee]

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]]> http://www.webtvwire.com/roku-adds-10-free-channels-to-netflix-set-top-box-open-tv-platform-means-more-to-follow/feed/ 1 Roku Netflix Player Makes Debut | Streaming TV & Movies To Your Living Room For $100 http://www.webtvwire.com/roku-netflix-player-makes-debut-streaming-tv-movies-to-your-living-room-for-100/ http://www.webtvwire.com/roku-netflix-player-makes-debut-streaming-tv-movies-to-your-living-room-for-100/#comments Wed, 21 May 2008 02:00:40 +0000 Dave Parrack http://www.webtvwire.com/roku-netflix-player-makes-debut-streaming-tv-movies-to-your-living-room-for-100/ Netflix LogoThe long-awaited Netflix box is finally here, with Roku, better known for making streaming music hardware the first hardware partner to release their product on to the market.

The box, which is available now from the Roku website, costs just $100 and allows users to stream movies and television from Netflix to their TV using the Instant Viewing feature.

Easy Install

Users install the box by hooking it up to their TV sets using composite, component video cables, HDMI or S-Video and then connecting it to their Wi-Fi network or via an Ethernet cable hooked to the box.

Set-up is simple, and as long as your broadband connection is strong and consistent, the picture quality is good, and streaming is aid to be almost, but not quite, lag-free.

An HD Future

High Definition video isn’t currently an option, but the box can handle them, and they are promised to be offered in the future. For now, those who insist on HD should stick to Apple TV or Vudu.

So assuming you’ve paid out the $100 asking price, which is very chap compared to some of the competition, and paid the $8.95 minimum Netflix plan (if you’re already on an unlimited Netflix plan, the content is free) what do you get?

Roku Netflix Player

Current Lack Of Content

Although Netflix offers a 100,000 plus library of content, because of the lack of streaming licenses, only about 10% of that is currently available through the set-top box.

Sure, that 10,000 strong library beats most of the streaming competition, but there is an earth of new and in-demand content currently available through the service.

This means most of the content on the service is already available to watch via Hulu, although Tim Twerdahl, Vice President of consumer products for Roku has promised the range of content will improve over time.

A Bargain, If and When?

The box is small enough to sit nonchalantly in your TV cabinet, and the $100 asking price seems to be a snip even for the content currently available.

If and when the amount of content rises to be more in line with the whole Netflix library, and the HD streams come online, this could and should be an Apple TV killer.

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