Items tagged with Roku
YouTube TV launched earlier this year as the latest in a long list of streaming services aimed at people looking to cut the cord. However, the launch was limited by the fact that the service was primarily focused on watching content from a smartphone or tablet. While that may be OK for people that want to watch TV shows while on-the-go, it didn't specially address the market for people that primarily watch content in front of a big screen television. Well, that all changes today, as Google just announced the YouTube TV app is coming to a host of devices specifically designed to provide a big screen experience. Those devices include the NVIDIA SHIELD TV (which gains supports via SHIELD Software...
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Over the summer, Plex Live TV arrived in beta form for all Plex Pass subscribers. Unlike services like YouTube TV or Sling TV, this isn't a streaming service from a content provider. Instead, Plex Pass subscribers have to hook up an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to a compatible digital tuner, after which you can access OTA content from within your home or anywhere in the world using the Plex App. When Plex Live TV first launched, it was made available for NVIDIA SHIELD TV, Android TV and iOS devices. In early August, availably was extended to the Android smartphones/tablets, and Apple TV. Today, that support expands again to include Roku streaming players. Roku is currently the #1 streaming hardware...
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There was a collective "meh" from the media streaming community when Apple launched its Apple TV 4K last month. Priced from $179, many felt that the streamer doesn't really offer much over its rivals besides the ability to tap into the Apple ecosystem. However, Roku, which is the market leader in streaming players, is fighting back with an updated family of products to fight the competition from Apple, Amazon and Google. The most interesting member of the family is the all-new Streaming Stick+. This powerful little device has a "dongle" form-factor, and incorporates an advanced wireless receiver that is built into the power cord. This arrangement gives the Streaming Stick+ four times the...
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Roku has been one of the leading makers of streaming set top boxes for a long time now and it has some serious competition in the market. Those competitors include Amazon and Apple and that competition will only grow. A rumor is making the rounds that an Apple TV supporting 4K HDR is set to debut alongside the iPhone 8. One of the things that Roku needs to compete in the market is money and to get that cash, Roku has applied for an initial public offering (IPO). The company has stated that it applied to list Class A common stock on Nasdaq and wants to use the ticker symbol "ROKU". This is a big move for Roku, but some key details about the IPO are a mystery right now. Details that we don't know...
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Roku’s new streaming player family has been rumored for weeks, but the veil has finally been officially lifted. The all-new lineup includes players priced as low as $30 and tops out at $130 for the Roku Ultra. Starting at the bottom, we have the $30 Roku Express, which is in essence a replacement for the venerable Roku 1. The unit itself is roughly 75 percent smaller than its predecessor, and offers up twice the processing performance. The tiny device packs in an HDMI port, offers up 1080p streaming, and can connect to 802.11b/g/n wireless networks. An IR remote and an HDMI cable are included in the box (along with an adhesive strip to stick the device to the back of your TV if you desire). Roku...
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When it comes to the media streaming category, Roku’s family of streamers usually top the sales charts. One of Roku’s most popular products has been been the Steaming Stick, which is priced at a reasonable $50 compared to $130 for the top-of-the-line Roku 4. After four years on the market (and two years since its last update), the Streaming Stick has finally been redesigned, and it appears to be well worth the wait. The new Roku Streaming Stick retains the $50 price point of its predecessor, but brings upgraded internals which seriously up the game in performance. A new quad-core processor powers the Streaming Stick, and Roku says that it is not only eight times more powerful than the processor...
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The $129 Roku 4 may be the flagship of Roku’s streaming lineup, but that doesn’t mean that the company has forgotten about the folks that don’t need a voice-controlled remote or 4K support. That’s where the new Roku SE comes in, which is for people that just want the basics when it comes to a streaming box. First of all, the Roku SE has a suggested retail price of just $49.99, however, it will debut on Black Friday with a price tag of $25. The Roku SE will be available in “limited supplies” from Roku’s online store and select retailers, so if you’re at all interested, you’d better order it fast as this appears to be a SKU that won’t stay around for very long. The Roku SE of course supports 1080p...
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The last major play in the streaming box market has finally delivered the goods. Apple recently launched its 4K-less fourth generation Apple TV, Amazon upped its game with a 4K-capable and bargain-priced Fire TV and Google just last week unveiled a colorful new Chromecast. Today is Roku’s turn with the introduction of an all-new Roku 4. Roku calls the Roku 4 “its best streaming player ever” and we can definitely see why as it brings with it supports for 4K streaming. Support for 4K TVs is made possible by a [unnamed] quad-core processor that supports 4K streaming at 60 fps. While 4K video streaming is possible, Roku says that the home screen and user interface are still rendered at 1080p. Other...
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As we arrive closer to Apple’s scheduled September 9th keynote for the Apple iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus, we’re beginning to learn a bit more about the next generation Apple TV, which is almost guaranteed to be announced at the same event. According to a report from the incredibly well connected Mark Gurman, the fourth generation Apple TV will be priced much higher than its predecessor, and could cost up to twice as much as its best-selling competition. Whereas the current generation Apple TV is priced at $69 — it received a $30 price cut earlier this year — the next generation media streamer will cost at least $149 according to Gurman. In addition, this price might not actually be the ceiling...
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Advertising on the popular Roku set top box is about to get a big boost, thanks to a partnership between Roku and Innovid. Your Roku has a front-row seat to your viewing habits, so it’s not unexpected that the company has been looking for a way to turn that information into targeted advertising. Some outlets are reporting that Roku will sniff your Wi-Fi network for devices and base ads on the info collected from those devices, but that’s simply not true. Roku has refuted the claims and asked that the erroneous information be removed. Innovid has already worked with Facebook and other companies to create interactive and personalized advertising. The new ads are meant to improve viewer engagement...
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An increasing number of cable and satellite TV subscribers are cutting the cord and joining the streaming movement, and the landscape is becoming highly competitive as a result. Through it all, Roku's managed to keep the lead in streaming, and to help ensure it continues to be a front runner, Roku today upgraded its Roku 3 and Roku 2 players, and also unveiled new ways to search and discover streaming contnet. The upgraded Roku 3 now includes the ability to search content by voice. This is a feature that Amazon has heavily advertised with its Fire TV and Fire TV Stick devices, and now Roku lets you do the same by speaking into the included remote -- just tap the button to activate voice search....
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Apple has announced that it is reducing the price of the Apple TV from $99 to $69, likely in an effort to help the wireless media streamer gain a bit more traction against more full-featured alternatives like Amazon Fire TV and the Roku 3 (not to mention cheaper streaming sticks like the Fire TV Stick, the Roku Streaming Stick and Google Chromecast). But what may be the biggest boon for the platform is the announcement that HBO Now will be a launch-exclusive for Apple. The streaming service will give you access to all HBO programing — past and present — including blockbusters titles like The Sopranos and Game of Thrones. The only thing that you will need to access the service is an Internet...
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Cord cutters rejoice! AMC is now available on Dish Network’s $20 per month Sling TV service. That means that you’ll be able to catch new episodes of hit shows like Better Call Saul and The Walking Dead; not to mention the second half of the final season of Mad Men starting in April and numerous Breaking Bad marathons. In addition to AMC, IFC also comes to Sling TV’s $20 “Core” package starting today. This adds some robustness to a channel lineup that already includes ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS, ABC Family, CNN, and Food Network. Hollywood Extra, a new $5 add-on package, has also been announced that includes Sundance TV, EPIX, EPIX 2, EPIX3, and EPIX Drive In. This joins other add-on packages that...
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With the rise of online services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and host of others, consumers looking to “cut the cord” have plenty of options to select. However, ditching entrenched series like cable and satellite often means giving up such “luxuries” as network television broadcasts (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc.) and live sports channels like ESPN. Plugging rabbit ears into your HDTV can mostly solve the former, but the latter is a bit more troublesome. Dish Network is hoping to come to the rescue with its new Sling TV service that was announced last month and was available via an invite-only system until late last night. Today, Sling TV is open to all cord cutters and it offers a respectable selection...
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