In episode #17 of the BYOB podcast we discussed Media Players and how we use them. During the podcast, when talking about the Roku XDS, it was asked if this player could get content from your home network. Out of the box is does NOT, but I am hoping to find a hack or solution in the coming months. The Roku does however, make the grade for being a great media player for online content. Read on to see the specs and watch a short video on the Roku XDS.
BYOB Podcast #17
This week BYOB is all about media streaming. The BYOB crew, along with special guest John Zajdler from The Home Server Show, discuss all types of media playback devices from HTPCs, streaming boxes, OTA, the cable/satellite dilemma and more. We also have a brief discussion various file formats and containers.
To hear all about media players check out the BYOB podcast at:
What is Roku?
Directly from their website:
Roku is a small device that streams movies, TV shows, music, and other entertainment to your TV via the Internet. Since Roku streams (rather than downloads) video, it provides instant access to a huge library of entertainment without having to use a computer or store files locally on a hard drive.
Once you set up Roku, you do not need a PC to make it work. Roku connects directly to your TV and to your wireless (or wired) home network, then lets you access the streaming entertainment channels that you sign up for (like Netflix) right from your TV, using a handy remote.
What Does Roku Provide?
I have been using the original Roku for a year and a half. I enjoy it and it has no problem accessing the online contect that they provide. The picture is really good and the content loading is fast.
USB is new to Roku and offered on the XDS.
A USB port is offered on the XDS and should be working with a firmware update by November of 2010.
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What Does Roku Cost?
Roku Store as of October 20, 2010.
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My original Roku from February 10, 2009 was:
This new Roku from October 12, 2010 was:
Hey, at least shipping was cheaper. Ugh.
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How Does Roku Work?
Check out the video below:
Compatible Wifi Devices
http://support.roku.com/entries/215674
Be sure to check our site for information on other types of media players and all things for the Digital Connected Home.
Timothy Daleo
Thanks. You might consider a lapel microphone.
Ordered a Sony WCS-999 Wireless Microphone System just now so you will hear me better. It should be interesting.
can you play back movies from your whs?
All of the content comes from the Internet. There is no Roku support for playback from home networks.
There is however, one option from an outside source:
http://roksbox.com/home/
but it is quite a bit of work to convert and set up the videos.
Thanks for the response. I've been a "media center guy" for the past 4 years, but recently we moved to a new house and I don't have a space to put a full fledged htpc, so I started looking into these media streamers. I tried the wd tv live hub and wd tv live plus last week, but was only slightly impressed by the hub (disappointed by the plus). I have been excited about the boxee box, but early impressions indicate that it's a bit of a letdown (mainly due to bugs). But also it seems as though boxee is suffering the same fate as googletv in that content providers are being a roadblock to the device's success. In forums relating to media streamers, the roku is widely praised, but the one thing I wrote it off for was the lack of local media playback. Right before I wrote the post, I had been reading how it is technically possible to play from a whs, but the solution needs work. I thought, in your infinite whs wisdom and owning a roku, you had maybe been more successful than some of the others on the web. I'm sure I'm not alone when I suggest that you maybe spend some time on this (since you have access both devices), and you could also squeeze an article out of it.
I have been using a Roku since it first came out and I really do enjoy it. I will see if I can dedicate some resources to the channel setup via Roksbox over the Thanksgiving holiday.
As far as network TV though, they will always keep it over the browser since this is the only way they can control their advertising. I doubt that position will ever change and most of these Roku, WD, Seagate, Apple, Google, Boxee type devices will always be limited to subscription services (Netflix) and basic free content like YouTube and podcasts.
That would be awesome if you had the time to delve into that, but I don't want to pry you away from your family. Thanks for the quick responses, and thanks for all your hard work on the site.
By any chance, do you know of any media streamers capable of playing netflix and playing back local media stored on a whs in an elegant manner? i might just have to bite the bullet and buy an aspire revo running media center (wasn't looking to spend that kind of money right now) and mount it to the back of the tv.
Your best bet would be to build a small HTPC or buy a cheap unit like a Dell Outlet PC. You can usually get a Dell Inspiron for about $200 that will connect to your TV right out of the box. You can then slowly add parts (like a dual core CPU) as you get more cash.
Tim
I think the product fom other vendor such at UEBO (www.uebo.net) works better if oyu don't care much about streaming content. Let's face it. The internet today is not fast enough for true high definition streaming. Do you really want to watch and wait for the buffering??