Roku 3 Streaming Player Review
De BISAWiki
If you’re already subscribed to services like Netflix or Hulu Plus, now may be the time to make the switch. You will still need a computer or system that can access all of that content for you — more commonly, it’s called a media streamer or a home theatre PC. While you can build your own HTPC , it might be easier to just buy something like the Roku 3 We purchased a unit to review and give away to a lucky reader , so let’s see whether it lives up to the hype! About the Roku 3
But then I saw the new Roku 3 had just been announced. Was it better? Was it new and improved? Should I take a chance on it again? Oh what the heck, why not. I ordered it I believe the day it was announced, and since Amazon was not stocking it quite yet, I purchased directly from Roku. The unit was about the same size, but a little heavier. I assume they added weight so it would not slide around as much. Annoying animation on boot up was still there, some things don’t change too much. After the booting, the setup was automatic, and totally wrong.
But the true killer app on the Roku 3 is the new unified search. The Roku 3 will search your installed and configured channels for the movie or TV show you want to watch. Then it will give you the options for where you can see it, how much it will cost you, and whether or not it is available in HD at each provider. You can even search by actor, director, etc. We found what appears to be a bug where content that is only available for purchase from Vudu didn’t appear in the search, but everything else came up just fine. And the searches are fast. Lightening fast.
As far as downsides are concerned, nearly every reviewer continues to focus on the glaring omission of native YouTube. Granted, there are channels like VideoBuzz that provide a round-about way of streaming it. You can also do it through Plex, but many users say the experience isn’t all that great For a box that now includes access to more than 700 streaming channels –by far the most of any dedicated streamer–this does seem like a pretty big oversight. In the grand scheme of things, however, we’re not convinced YouTube ranks up there with other premium services. We certainly wouldn’t give it the same deference as HBO GO and Amazon Instant.
Popular with consumers who have ditched expensive cable and cut the cord, Roku hardware has long offered access to many popular streaming video applications for a fairly low cost. Released during March 2013, the new roku 3 hardware provides upgraded speed, a slick interface and a nifty feature on the remote control that helps you watch content privately. At a $99 price point, the Roku 3 replaces the Roku 2 XS in the Roku lineup. Roku is continuing to offer the Roku LT , Roku HD and Roku 2 XD at prices ranging from $49.99 to 79.99. Hardware
The general experience across all apps is pleasing. The user interfaces are easy to navigate, and best of all they are pretty predictable after you’ve looked at one or two channels. For example, if you want to watch a TV show or movie on Netflix, it’s really easy provided you already have your Internet connection set up. Just navigate to the Netflix channel and hit OK. Then, after it loads a little more, you can scroll around for your TV show or movie, and then hit OK again. Then just hit Play on the screen, and it should load.
