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$100 Roku Netflix Player Targets Apple TV

Posted by kdawson on from the all-you-can-watch-from-a-very-limited-menu dept.

Binge notes CNet coverage of the Netflix Player by Roku, which it calls "bare-bones." Less than 10% of Netfilx's catalog is available for the Instant Viewing option. Three more Netflix players are said to be due for release by the end of the year. The Roku is "...the first product that allows subscribers to have movies and TV shows from the service's Instant Viewing feature (aka 'Watch Now') to be streamed directly to their TV screen... With the release of the Netflix Player, subscribers need only have a wired or wireless broadband connection to access the entire Instant Viewing catalog through their TV."

9 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I wonder what is inside... by gEvil+(beta) · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is a very cheap box that can stream HD media over a network.

    Where did you get that from? The article goes out of its way to mention that it won't deliver HD-quality content.

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    This guy's the limit!
  2. Re:I wonder what is inside... by yincrash · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Future Netflix is planning HD streaming, and this box will support it. When Netflix gets HD streaming content, they'll update the box by firmware to support HD resolutions at higher bitrates of 4-6mbps, including 5.1 surround (everything is stereo now). The menus will also be upgraded to HD res, too. In the future, the Roku-branded box will be upgraded to accept non-Netflix content, too. (And btw, the update on the Mac client situation is that they're just trying to sort out the DRM issues, or lack of a suitable system they can stream to Macs on.) http://gizmodo.com/389698/first-netflix-streaming-box-review-100-and-unlimited-downloads
  3. Re:I wonder what is inside... by Bill+Dimm · · Score: 2, Informative

    According to a different review:
    "Netflix is planning HD streaming, and this box will support it. When Netflix gets HD streaming content, they'll update the box by firmware to support HD resolutions at higher bitrates of 4-6mbps, including 5.1 surround"

  4. Re:Interesting Box by MBCook · · Score: 2, Informative

    The articles (and the FAQ on the box) say that it is capable and ready of showing HD content, but right now nothing in Netflix's instant viewing catalog is in HD. That's why I put "all ready for HD". The CNet article doesn't seem to mention that.

    From Wired's article:

    "Higher quality streams are available, and over time, HD streams will show up, which the box can handle."

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    Comment forecast: Bits of genius surrounded by a sea of mediocrity.
  5. Re:er? by mattack2 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Only $8.99 and higher plans get the streaming service. Your intended point is valid though.

  6. Re:er? by Reece400 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Well, starting at $8.95 per month, I think you could still afford to go & purchase a few DVD's a month. Alternatly hook up your VCR (Or DVD recorder) and record it just like you would from Cable TV :D

  7. anthony wood by trb · · Score: 3, Informative

    The cnet article missed the interesting bit - that Roku's founder (and Replay TV's as well), Anthony Wood, worked at Neflix for a while on this and then returned to Roku, and Neflix bought a stake in Roku, as reported here.

  8. Re:er? by RareButSeriousSideEf · · Score: 2, Informative

    Hmm... I've had the opposite experience; Netflix's streaming video has been nearly DVD quality most of the time for me. My broadband is usually ~4.5Mbps down.

    With no monthly limit plans starting @ $8.99 a month, that ain't a bad deal IMO. Watch as many DVDs as you can mail back in a month, plus unlimited titles from their streaming catalog.

    I wish their streaming catalog was a bit more robust, but I expect that will only improve over time.

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    Pi Ran Out
  9. Re:Is it a full Roku Box? by tji · · Score: 2, Informative

    There is a forum on Roku's site which has threads discussing this device:

    http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?t=16685

    Unfortunately, it appears it is built as a "closed" device. But, if it could be hacked, the chip it's based on looks quite nice: http://www.nxp.com/#/aip/aip=[aip=416]|pp=[t=aip,i=416]

    The device is at least partially based on free software, so that may help in loading an alternate OS: http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?t=16691