Roku HDMI Stick Turns Regular TVs into Smart TVs

[Guest]

The upcoming CES is likely to provide some juicy TVs that may entice you to go shopping for a new TV later this year.

Roku HDMI Stick Turns Regular TVs into Smart TVs : Read more

 

[drwho1]

I really do not want a "smart TV" that might "think" that I should be watching something else...
I rather control my TV with my good friend.... the remote control.

 

[alyoshka]

This is nearly a month old news.....

 

[JOSHSKORN]

Does Smart TV mean it'll automatically block dumb shows like the Kardashians? I could only wish.

 

[g00fysmiley]

not bad for the pricepoint... but I think I'd rather use a micro itx platform with a low power cheap chip and a passivly cooled sinlge slot graphics chip (or sandybrigge processor to not need one) with wifi that way you can not only stream netflix and videos from online, but you can hook up a HDD and have a DVR to boot ... heck you chould fraps programs while you watch for later use without having to chew up your bandwidth later

 

[nebun]

not a bad idea...hope the implementation is good

 

[DaddyW123]

[citation][nom]drwho1[/nom]I really do not want a "smart TV" that might "think" that I should be watching something else...I rather control my TV with my good friend.... the remote control.[/citation]
I don't think you understand the idea of a smart TV. the Roku is not like the Tivo's of old. Yes, Netflix itself does suggest movies to you based on other movies and shows you've previously watched... but its much more.

For a few years now, I've been running a HTPC with Windows 7 Media Center. I love it, because I was able to get rid of cable and I'm close enough to Washington DC that I get all of my major channels for free in HD over the air. 3 HD tuners, and I can record 3 HD shows at once. Plus the integration with Netflix built into Media Center is pretty good.

However, my father-in-law currently has an SD roku box (he just got a new TV so he's upgrading soon), and it actually is pretty sweet. Not only does it have Netflix built in, but it also has Hulu, Pandora, Slacker Radio, that other movie website that starts with a "V" but I can't remember what it is right now - and a bunch of other custom "channels" you can watch, like a video channel for the allrecipes.com website. The only thing it DOESN'T do is record live TV for a DVR.

Now here is why it's potentially better than a HTPC - on a HTPC, you can't get away from needing a keyboard and mouse. Yes there is a hulu desktop software, but it's not integrated into Media Center. So it's difficult to use the remote for it. Same with Pandora radio - not built into Media Center like netflix is.
If there was a way to easily integrate these, almost like "apps", then Windows would be king of home entertainment.

Maybe that is something windows 8 will bring to us? But somehow I doubt it.

Anyway, I'm debating about getting a roku box in complement of my HTPC. Not being able to use my remote (and yes it's a Harmony remote) for everything on the computer is really the only reason I don't use Hulu and those other services more.

Oh and one more thing - anyone using the Windows Media Center version of Netflix - the Roku interface is MUCH better.

 

[cybneo]

I have the Roku 2 XS, and its great! True it doesnt have a built in DVR "yet". I read that there might be a future update to allow recordings. The version i have has a USB port, so its possible to connect to other sources to stream media. It does have access to over 300 channels, but most are unknown to me... It also has games like Angry Birds...

 

[Guest]

I have had 2 Roku boxes for almost 2 years- who needs a dvr when most of the stuff I watch is static on nwtk servers and there is massive number of channels. I watch Netflix most nights- seeing a lot of foreign films and TV shows, all with no commercials. I have 1 for my SD TV on 1st floor and 1 for my HD TV on 2nd floor, we watch both at same time via wireless "N"- love it!

 

[xx_pemdas_xx]

[citation][nom]g00fysmiley[/nom]not bad for the pricepoint... but I think I'd rather use a micro itx platform with a low power cheap chip and a passivly cooled sinlge slot graphics chip (or sandybrigge processor to not need one) with wifi that way you can not only stream netflix and videos from online, but you can hook up a HDD and have a DVR to boot ... heck you chould fraps programs while you watch for later use without having to chew up your bandwidth later[/citation]

You mean an AMD APU, last i checked sandy bridge GPU can't watch youtube at 1080..