Roku?

[LCHIEN]

I probably should have posted this first. I went an ordered a Roku ($99) to receive Netflix (free to subscribers) instant movies or Amazon movies (for a small fee) over the internet-wifi connection. Probably hook it up this weekend.

A small black box with a remote to select movies, and internal wifi, an RJ45 for wired ethernet, and several video/audio output options including composite, component, S-video, optical-digital audio and HDMI.

Anyone have any experiences to share with this device or the similar function from some DVD players, DVRs and other boxes?

[Kristofor]

Not with one of the set-top boxes exactly but the Xbox360 works well with Netflix on-demand. Video/audio quality isn't quite as good as the hard-media options but it's convenient and "good-enough" for most content...

I haven't sprung for Play-on yet to be able to UPNP stream Netflix, Hulu, etc. to a generic UPNP client (DirecTV receiver, PS3, PopcornHour, Mac/Linux XBMC boxes), but I keep kicking the idea around...

[leehljp]

Lately on this forum and on another, People have made references to things that are not what I perceive them to be. Some of it, I never heard of.

Roku? That means "6" to me!

[cgallery]

Can't wait to hear your report, Loring. I've thought of a Roku or similar device and I'm most interested in hearing how extensive the movie database is, and the display quality.

[LCHIEN]

Can't wait to hear your report, Loring. I've thought of a Roku or similar device and I'm most interested in hearing how extensive the movie database is, and the display quality.

Netflix claims 12,000 titles (essentially free for subscribers to the DVD rental service) and Amazon 40,000 titles for a fee. you can see the titles on netflix if you look at the instant movie titles tab, they'll just list movies available under that program. Obviouly they're not the hottest new releases, there are some a couple years old and some classics.

quality will be the question; they must have high hopes to have put an HDMI interface on it.

[cgallery]

I just went and looked at the Amazon site to see what kinds of new movies were available.

This last Tuesday I watched the Soloist. I paied $1 at Redbox, and have the movie for 24-hours (had to return by the next evening at 9pm). The RedBox machine is at my closest Wallgreens, but they have others littered around me, as well.

At Amazon, the Soloist is a $3.99 rental. But more importantly, it isn't available until 8/18. Apparently, the studios got to Amazon and they aren't allowed to release immediately. The studios apparently don't want rentals to cut into DVD sales.

Blockbuster and Hollywood are apparently exempt, and I believe they are sharing revenue or guaranteeing a certain sales level.

A second studio recently told their distributors to stop shipping to RedBox until a movie is 30-days old. The first studio (sorry, can't remember the names) is currently in court with RedBox over a similar order to distributors. It will be interesting to see how that ends up.

The reason that I'm going into all of this... If RedBox loses these lawsuits (and I suspect they will), then the Roku may make sense. My days of watching fresh new releases for $1 may be over.

I have a feeling we're moving to a stratified rate structure based upon how quickly you want to see a DVD release, with perhaps a convenience factor built-in as well. So maybe a two-week old release on Roku for $3.99 would be a pretty good deal.

It may be a good time to invest in movie studios. Some of them are making killings on the silver screen. Now some of them may make a killing on movie releases with this shared-revenue stuff.

Here is a news article on the delays:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...d=ay8qjeSWHmsE

[jackellis]

Studio's typically make several clunkers for every roaring success. The current economic climate is probably helping them some but as soon as things improve again, I suspect they won't do quite as well. I think moviemaking is a crappy business to be in and a crappy business to invest in.

As for pricing, I'll pay $4 to see a new release at home rather than $20 for 2 in a noise theater. We don't have any of the fancy gadgets or even a big screen TV...yet.

I had a reaction like Hank's when I saw the title. Something like, "What Japanese thing is Loring into?"

[radhak]

Had never heard of it, so after a quick check, looks like :
- a hardware unit (hard disk?) with built-in wi-fi (ie, you don't pay for connectivity?)
- if i am a member at Netflix then I can watch as many movies as i want
- the latest movies may not be available?
- does it store movies ? what if i have to stop watching mid-way - can i start from that point?

[LCHIEN]

had never heard of it, so after a quick check, looks like :
- a hardware unit -yes(hard disk? No) with built-in wi-fi (ie, you don't pay for connectivity?)yes
- if i am a member at netflix then i can watch as many movies as i want yes
- the latest movies may not be available? Yes-only those netflix has agreement/permission/license to stream -allegedly 12000 titles.
- does it store movies no ? What if i have to stop watching mid-way - can i start from that point? The remote lets you chose from a menu of movies selected for instant viewing from nf or amazon. Movies i understand can be paused and backed up etc with the remote. Not sure but i would bet theres a way to restart/review a movie

see answers above

[poolhound]

Not with one of the set-top boxes exactly but the Xbox360 works well with Netflix on-demand. Video/audio quality isn't quite as good as the hard-media options but it's convenient and "good-enough" for most content...

I haven't sprung for Play-on yet to be able to UPNP stream Netflix, Hulu, etc. to a generic UPNP client (DirecTV receiver, PS3, PopcornHour, Mac/Linux XBMC boxes), but I keep kicking the idea around...

I use PlayOn as I have a PS3 and Netflix still havent managed to get an agreement with Sony so it was the only way to get access to the instant stuff on my TV (without buying yet another unit). It works well although the interface is very basic, nothing like how it works on the PC or XBOX.

I now have Netflix, Hulu, CBS etc streaming to my TV. I also go some playon plugins that get access to FoodNetwrok and BBC.

Pretty cool stuff

[poolhound]

Can't wait to hear your report, Loring. I've thought of a Roku or similar device and I'm most interested in hearing how extensive the movie database is, and the display quality.

The Netflix Dbase is pretty extensive but the instant access one is much reduced. I got real Pi$$ed at block buster and switched to Netflix on their basic service and it so much better. The mailing thing works well and sometime we have put a DVD in the mail on day one and got our next one the following day.

The basic program is very good and having the instant access is a real bonus. There are quite a lot of TV shows available and I have been working my way through Mythbusters from the beginning

[jziegler]

I don't have the box, but I do watch netflix movies online regularly. Quality is good, and reportedly will be getting better in the near future. They are beta testing a HD coding, but I haven't switched (you can't switch back if you try it) because there is less content that way. I don't know what the Roku uses. Selection is large, but many of the more mainstream, recent releases may not be available. Much of what I have watched online is older stuff (my wife watches many classic musicals), art films, or foreign films. Don't expect Harry Potter or X-Men, but expect to find good stuff like "Vitus" or Keeping Mum.

Jim

[gerti]

I occasionally watch Netflix streams courtesy of our TiVo. A few observations:

- The available titles are limited, typically only stuff that doesn't sell great.
- For some TV shows they purposely leave out a few episodes so you can't get the whole season.
- The transmission appears to be adaptive and quality depends on the speed of your connection. When you start a movie it shows sort of a progress bar which indicates the quality being used. Occasionally mine goes all the way to HD, but usually that isn't a good thing because it means frequent pauses when the stream doesn't keep up. I typically end up stopping and restarting to get the 'just barely non HD' quality, which for most of the material they offer is good enough. If I want HD I wait the day to get the Blu Ray disk shipped.

[LCHIEN]

Roku report

Well I hooked it it Friday night.
It goes in real easy, although it required a power cycle to get it started because it only had a blank screen the first time i plugged it in.
Hook up the HDMI. Hook up the power.
Follow the screen prompts using the remote, no buttons on it.
select the internet type - wired or wireless. if wireless, enter the Security code or key or passphrase using the screen/remote operated keyboard. It actually figures out which protocol and if you are using a passphrase or entering the key.
It then connects to the internet and updates the firmware, then reboots and you do it over. Select screen type (4:3 or HD-widescreen or widescreen)
Then it gives you a 5-alphanumeric code and you use your computer to go to a netflix webpage and enter the code to link your network to the device.
Then it shows all the movies you have selected for instant play, on screen, with the cover art. Select one, you can then play it or delete it. The remote allows fast forward or fast backup and pause. On fast operation it jshows a series of screen thumbnails at time intervals to help identify the point.
When beginning playing or fast operation there's a little delay as it buffers the movie so it can provide smooth operation.

I watched 2 movies: Metro with Eddie Murphy and an original TV Avengers episode with Emma Peel and Mr. Steed (I loved that show).
I saw one brief digital breakup - a few squares on the screen - but otherwise it was flawless. I did play a bit with my computer doing BT3central and some googling, news netflix and wiki and I did not experience any interference. But did not try any big downloads or youtube.

Overall the picture quality was very good, I'd say definately better than VHS, analog broadcast and at least on a par with DVDs. I really did not strongly evaluate it it was as good full HD blue ray or OTA HD, but I'd say the picture quality did not interfere with my enjoyment.

I have SBC DSL rated at 3 Megabits per second download, and a new Netgear 801.2g wireless router.

Overall I'd say I'm pretty satisfied with the ease of setup & the picture quality. I'll have to wait and see if the catalog of free movies makes me happy. I already have Netflix with 2-out DVDs so the service is free and the Roku is $99. (120 with HMI, Component and Digital-optical audio cable.)