Items tagged with Roku
Roku has already crafted a bit of a name for itself as the best, slickest, most fully-featured streaming box around, and it's about to get even better. Redbox Instant, the latest streaming service to rival the likes of Hulu, Amazon and Netflix, already launched on Google TV -- but soon, it'll be in far more homes due to the added support of Roku. The service will hit the Roku streaming platform "this summer," offering up $8/month access to tons of digital content as well as four credits for use at Redbox kiosks. "We've received overwhelming demand from our customers for Redbox Instant by Verizon on their Roku devices, and we're pleased to be expanding the service this summer to meet that demand,"...
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There’s a major evolutionary step that the television needs to take in order to become as svelte, powerful, immediate, and simple as most other consumer technology is these days. Major players including Apple, Google, and Microsoft, in addition to smaller though no less potent competitors such as Roku, are knocking on the door. Another contender, Fan TV, hopes to kick that door open. Armed with loads of feedback from its iOS app, Fanhattan spent two years creating Fan TV, which promises to make viewing your content pulled from live TV, streaming services, and DVR accessible in a simple and attractive way. For however well (or not) the system executes its goal, the centerpiece of the whole...
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When Roku introduced the Roku 3 range, it also brought a sleek new user interface. But to date, that UI has been reserved for use on the newest hardware only. For those still using an older Roku to stream media, there's a bit of good news on the UI front. Roku has started to roll out the new interface to prior units. You can pull it down manually by selecting Settings > Software update > Check now on your Roku player. For everyone else, you'll get it automatically over the course of the next two weeks. The new update (v5.0, build 804X) will roll out to the following supported players in all regions: Roku 2 XS (model 3100), Roku 2 XD (model 3050), Roku 2 HD (model 3000), Roku LT (models...
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Who would've thought that a tiny, unheard-of media streaming box would really have a future? While the likes of Boxee hit a surge and then faded, Roku has seemingly nailed a sweet spot. Now, the company's introducing the Roku 3 -- the fastest, most powerful Roku player yet. It's a new flagship product, with a sexier design and plenty of new features. The remote now has a headphone port on it, enabling a more private aural experience for those watching on the couch. Additionally, the remote doubles as a motion-sensing game controller for playing games like Angry Birds Space. There's also a software change in the form of a tweaked user interface. The new interface will automatically roll out as...
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Amazon is evidently looking to aggressively push its Cloud Player platform on as many devices as it can by the end of the year. In two separate announcements, the mega e-tailer announced that its Cloud Player is now available on Roku streaming players and Samsung's 2012 model Smart TVs in the U.S. "We’re excited to bring Cloud Player to Roku, one of the most popular and best-selling streaming entertainment platforms. Cloud Player music customers can now use Roku to listen to their music through their home entertainment systems," said Steve Boom, Vice President of Music at Amazon. "Our goal is to make it easy for everyone to enjoy their entire music library anywhere they are–whether...
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Roku's Streaming Stick is about to get even more powerful. The USB thumb drive, which plugs into an MHL port and gives your television all sorts of new abilities, will soon be able to plug into something else: a 3M projector. It's the first product announced to truly work in concert with the Streaming Stick, dubbed the "3M Streaming Projector." The 3M Streaming Projector uses the Roku Streaming Stick to provide access to the more than 600 channels on the Roku platform. It'll beam out a WVGA image up to 120 inches, and it has a battery capable of running the projector for nearly three hours. So long as there's Wi-Fi around, you're golden. If you already have a Streaming Stick coming your way,...
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Google TV's initial struggles are long behind it, and some noteworthy device makers are stepping up up to the plate. One of these is Vizio, which announced pre-orders for its new Co-Star Stream Player VAP430 at $99.99. That's a much better price than we've seen from some earlier Google TV devices, and it puts the Co-Star in the same galaxy as the Roku, price-wise. The Co-Star is expected to ship August 14th and, as of this writing, Vizio is sweetening the deal with free shipping. As we reported last month, the Vizio Co-Star is a do-everything set-top box. (well, almost everything. It doesn't have a Blu-ray drive.) The device makes your plain-old HDTV an Internet-connected TV (via Ethernet or...
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Oh, those lucky Canucks. Today, Roku announced that the Roku 2 XD and Roku 2 XS set-top streaming players are available in Canada. The Roku 2 XD connects to the Internet via WiFi and offers 1080p video; the Roku 2 XS offers the same, as well as a remote control with motion control, an Ethernet port, and a USB port. The players include over a hundred channels of entertainment, including sporting events, Netflix, music, photos and video, news, weather, and even (casual) games. Roku says more channels are coming, bringing Canadian Roku users closer to the 450 channels available in the U.S. The Roku 2 XD costs $89.99 (CAD), while the Roku 2 XS is available for $109.99 (CAD)....
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Roku's hardware expansion efforts have been duly noted, but now they're looking to follow in the footsteps of Netflix and spread their wings into international markets. The company's streaming platform is now making a beeline outside of America, as the company expects that consumers in the United Kingdom and Canada will be able to purchase Roku streaming players beginning in early 2012. Roku is expanding its open platform to support region-specific channels. Publishers of video, music, games and other Internet-delivered content can now reach their customers' TVs directly through Roku. Content can be free, ad supported or paid. Those interested in developing for Roku should contact partners@roku.com....
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Roku users should listen up: HBO GO is a GO. If you're an HBO GO subscriber, and you also own a Roku box, you can now get unlimited access to over 1,400 of your favorite HBO shows, including HBO original series, hit movies, sports, comedy specials–plus bonus features, and more. It's probably just one of many streaming deals to land in HBO's court in the coming months, but what's most interesting here is that HBO GO is already available in typical Web browsers for HBO subscribers. But if you already own a Roku box, it's just more convenient. Plus, HBO on demand may not have everything at once; on your Roku, the whole catalog is there. So, you game? Er, going?...
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Another Roku? How about a purple one?! Roku just announced a new $50 model, the purple-hued LT model. In conjunction, the company announced that HBO GO would be launching on the Roku platform, bringing 1400 HBO titles to streaming. We're told that it'll include every episode of every season of the best HBO shows, and it'll be available on all Roku boxes at the month's end. HBO GO is available at no additional cost to HBO customers who subscribe through a participating television provider. As for LT? Aside from the lovely $49.99 price point, it'll work with virtually any TV and deliver the Roku experience you're used to with more than 300 channels including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video,...
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Blackberry developer Research In Motion is reportedly working on a media box that connects to televisions and streams content from Netflix, Youtube, and other nearby media devices. The box, which is code-named the Blackberry Cyclone, is intended to compete with similar products from Apple, Google, and others. The specs for the box, which come from an unnamed source, include HDMI-out, wi-fi connectivity with the ability to interact with other devices on a network, and streaming content from Youtube and Netflix with "more to come." The device supposedly looks like a larger version of the Blackberry Presenter, a BlackBerry smartphone accessory that allows users present Microsoft PowerPoint...
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As more and more devices come with Netflix streaming baked in -- would you really be surprised if your next toaster oven had a Netflix label on the side of the box? -- Roku is doing everything it can to keep its low-cost dedicated set-top box relevant. Towards that end, Roku managed to get Walmart to start selling its Roku XD player. "We know that our customers love having instant access to entertainment on their TVs – and at great value. With the Roku XD player now available at Walmart, customers can get dad the perfect gift just in time for Father’s Day," said Roku Founder and CEO Anthony Wood. "Whether it’s dad-centric flicks, sports or tips for grilling the perfect steak,...
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You're used to playing Angry Birds on your smartphone, tablet and even your PC and Mac, but have you ever imagined what it would be like to fling these creatures across your swank living room HDTV? You won't have to wonder much longer. Roku, makers of the self-titled set-top box, and Rovio, creator of the uber popular cash cow known as Angry Birds, inked a deal to bring the first Angry Birds experience to the TV. Under terms of the deal, Roku will offer Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio videogames, as well as launch an Angry Birds video channel featuring animated shorts based on the game, and sell Angry Birds merchandise, all via the Roku Channel Store. "Angry Birds is the...
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