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Roku XD review
Connor ScalleatDownload this EpisodeSubscribe on iTunesRSS FeedFollow on Twitter
Roku is changing the way we consume television. Imagine a world where you can watch whatever you want whenever you want. Well this is possible right now, and Roku along with other competitors want to be the first to bring you this experience.
Roku XD
Features
- Works with virtually any TV (standard definition or HD)
- Plays high-definition video (720p)
- Built-in wireless (Wi-Fi)
- HDMI video output for HDTVs
- Plays 1080p HD video
- Enhanced remote with Instant Replay
- Extended-range Wireless-N (b/g/n compatible)
- Ethernet port (for wired Internet connection)
Review
Roku was founded in 2002 by RePlay TV founder Anthony Wood. Roku launched the Roku DVP, the first Netflix streaming box in 2008. Currently the company has founded itself upon this box and is pushing itself into the ever expanding internet TV market. Today Roku has three versions of there internet streaming box, the Roku HD, XD, and XD|S. Roku’s boxes run on kernels of linux with there own software layers.
Roku has had many audio problems and I have even encountered them. Forums post no explanations and Roku has not responded to these issues directly. Most of the audio complications are encountered when listening to music via the Pandora or MOG apps. In the beginning of the audio file it plays very loudly and then mellows out to it’s actual audio levels. I have not encountered this in any other applications but MOG and Roku and don’t find it to be to big of a problem.
Roku offers a multitude of channels, much more then it’s main competitor Boxee. A few of their big name channels include; Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Pandora, NHL, Roku Newscaster, UFC, MLB, NBA, MP3tunes, MOG, and Flixster.
As soon as you open the box your Roku player is ready to go, you plug it in via HDMI and go through the really quick set-up menus. The remotes and interface are super easy to use and are really snappy. All of your apps require you to set them up initially by linking them to your accounts on your computer. This system is very handy if you have a laptop or a smartphone nearby, but if you don’t it could quite possibly be the biggest pain in the but. The way it works is they give you a URL and a code. Once you enter the URL and place the code in the box your box then says thank you for linking your account to Roku and then you are ready to go.
Roku runs off of the Amazon store for all of it’s on-demand streaming content. If you don’t have an Amazon account or are not comfortable with Amazon then I really suggest you consider the Apple TV if your more of an iTunes kind of person. Likewise if you don’t have a Netflix account the Roku Box and Apple TV are kind of pointless.
Roku’s interface is something that troubles me very much but at the same time it doesn’t. Personally as a very techy person the box doesn’t blow me away, simply it just works. The Boxee box is more of the box for me although it is completely overpriced. On the flip side my house just got completely fitted with Roku boxes, and my parents who hardly can operate a computer, love the boxes! They find them super simple to use, fast, and very easy to trouble shoot. The interface is certainly not pretty but it works and works well if your installing the box in a place where all members of the family have to use it.
Overall
The Roku box is just a device for everyone. It allows you to go on it’s enclosed app store and download all the applications that you need. Once these applications are downloaded they are super easy to set-up and really easy to use. The box itself is very small and extremely easy to set-up. Featuring all the services you need, having hardware that is fantastic, and a very cheap price-point these boxes are fantastic!
Pro’s
- Extremely easy to use and set up
- Offers a wide variety of applications
- Priced very reasonably
- Very petite box size
Con’s
- Audio play-back issues
- Setting up applications is a computer required task
- Applications are not very dynamic
Price: $79.99
Where to Buy: Amazon, Roku
When purchasing with Amazon many deals are available, so I suggest to check there first.
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