(Part 3) Top products from r/Roku

Yes! Most people here probably won't agree (in the wrong subreddit lol), but I am looking to make the switch away from my Roku 3.

The Roku 3 was awesome when it came out, but the competition has surpassed it since it's launch. If you are very price sensitive and you can get a Roku 3 for ~$60 then I think it's justifiable. Otherwise hell no!

Here are the alternatives:

• Chromecast - $35
  
• Very compelling price. Much cheaper than a Roku 3
  
• BUT it requires another "smart" device to do anything
  
• Nexus Player - $99 (Not confirmed)
  
• Just launched today!
  
• Don't have all the information, but it appears to have a solid SDK for 3rd party development. In comparison, developers don't seem to enjoy working with Roku's SDK. The result is a lonely app ecosystem outside of major (although most important) big providers like Netflix, HBO Go, etc.
  
• This is what I will probably switch to
  
• Amazon Fire TV - $84
  
• Great if you are already in the Amazon ecosystem (have Amazon Prime, a Kindle, etc.)
  
• Retails cheaper than Roku 3
  
• Apple TV - $99
  
• Great if you are already in the Apple ecosystem (have an iPad, use iTunes, etc.). Check out airplay to learn more.
  
• Can't use airplay unless your using an Apple device. Pretty exclusive ecosystem.
  
  In my opinion ANY of the above devices are better than the Roku 3. I got mine before the Chromecast launched. Since then the Amazon Fire TV came out and now Google Player has launched. Don't get me wrong, I loved my Roku when I first got it and I think it was a damn good device in its day. But it is clearly in need of a refresh, and I'm not sure Roku is up to the task of competing with the 800lb gorillas that are fighting tooth and nail in this space.
  
  Just for good measure here are some major gripes I have with my Roku 3:
  
  
  

1. The interface. This thing is on my 50" TV in my living room and the interface is hideous. It's unacceptable.
   
   
2. Lack of cool apps (channels). Roku has been unable to foster a vibrant development community. As a result, I haven't seen more than a handful (and I think that's being generous) of useful channels outside of the big content providers. I consider apps like Netflix and Hulu to be a given when buying a set top box, but where are the apps that come out of left field and wow us? These 3rd party apps nobody sees coming are the result of cultivating a thriving ecosystem of developers who are empowered to create awesome stuff. I am hoping that's what Google's Nexus Player achieves, but if history is any indication Apple will be the first to make that happen. Either way it will be a tech behemoth that has the intense resources required to make it happen.
   
   
3. Lack of "casting". Now I should say that a week or so ago Roku had a blog post about how screen mirroring has been added in an update that is rolling out as we speak. My box has not received that update yet, so I haven't had a chance to give it a try. That being said, this was likely made a priority as soon as the Chromecast launched and started eating into Roku's sales. It took them this long to provide their response to that market pressure. This is what I mean when I'm talking about Roku not being able to compete with the likes of Google and Apple. I don't necessarily blame them for it, but it affects their users.
   
   TL;DR: There is no reason to buy a Roku 3 at this time.

On Kodi (not on Roku, but can be installed on cheap android sticks) there is an addon named Pseudotv that should do exactly this. It can also "build TV channels" around internet streams. Be sure not to stream illegal content (a lot of youtube videos showing how) and get your mother in law in trouble. Should work great for local content.

If you use a windows based HDMI stick (maybe with a cheap flash drive for storage, there is a nifty Pseudotv library tool.

Note, this can be accomplished without a windows stick for a lot cheaper, using an android stick, and you get better app support (windows 10 apps do not support remote controls out of the box. If you go that route use this to enable remote support in netflix)

There are a lot of options when it comes to client/server setup.

The Roku Ultra goes on sale for about 69$ very regularly, and looks like it went down to 50$ last black Friday. Maybe gives more evidence to /u/Somar2230/'s post saying it will be 50$ this black Friday as well.

You can see the price history of both here:

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Roku-Ultra-Streaming-Player-Now-Headphones/product/B07HDHXZH4

https://camelcamelcamel.com/Roku-Premiere-HDR-Streaming-Player-Premium/product/B07HDBZN7Q

Looks like the lowest a new Premier has been on Amazon is 29$. I'm sure both are great devices. I got the Ultra just cause I like being able to control the TV power and volume w/ the Roku remote. I also thought the wifi might be better and like the option of having a wired ethernet port. My last Roku lasted quite a few years so I figured why not just get the best one. I would look through the feature list another user posted and see if any matter for you.

Pretty much your only option is the pricey but awesome Harmony 650.

When I was exploring options, I settled on the much more affordable RCA 6-Device Remote. But my Roku is in line of sight...

still, it's very compelling even if you are not an amazon prime member. if i didn't already have a roku3 i would buy the amazon box, since i'm just watching a third party subscription on them (netflix+hulu), so who provides the $100 box means nothing as long as it's got the best possible specs inside.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CX5P8FC

amazon's comparison chart has a few obvious mistakes. i do get bloomberg tv and pandora on my roku, while hbo go only works in your house if you already have a cabletv subscription in your hose. i think roku will finally have to come out with a keyboard if they want to compete with voice recognition.

Pretty sure it was this one. I bought mine from Target out of convenience instead of Amazon for one, haha.

​

What's "incompatible" is that it covers the headphone jack, which is a problem if you do private listening using the remote. I always use my phone and the Roku app for private listening, though, so this isn't a problem.

>Roku has long since stopped selling players with composite and component inputs, so you're out of luck if you want to watch Netflix on an old TV that doesn't have HDMI. 

As somebody who recently bought a Roku Express+ to feed the ancient CRT television in my bedroom, I can assure you this statement is patently false.

(And furthermore, I would expect a site like Engadget to know the difference between inputs and outputs. But it seems I'm expecting too much.)

Watching OTA channels is as simple as hooking up an antenna to your TV. If you want to record OTA, you can build a MythTV box or buy something like this

Now if you want to be able to stream content to different TV's in your house, something like Simple.TV might be what you're looking for. The Simple.TV hardware is made my Silicon Dust (aka HDHomerun).

If you want a cheap alternative, I have the $10 RCA and it works great for our TV, Blue Ray & Roku 3.

> Basing a purchasing decision just on this wouldn't make much sense unless you're looking for something specific.

Except the firestick and the roku streaming stick are similar prices so what else should I base the decision on? Which one has a better color scheme?

and amazon does have abc: https://www.amazon.com/ABC-News/dp/B008KPB8P8

and xfinity: https://www.amazon.com/Comcast-Interactive-Media-XFINITY-Stream/dp/B01DUQOSRQ

It depends on where you buy it. If it comes from Walmart it will have Netflix, Hulu, Vudu Sling. From Bestbuy Netflix, ESPN, Hulu, Sling. I think Amazon's has Netflix, Sling, Hulu, NOW. It looks like one button changes depending on where you buy it. If my Harmony remote I use with my Ultra ever breaks I'll look hard at this.
https://www.amazon.com/Sideclick-Universal-Remote-Attachment-Streaming/dp/B07D5JDM3N/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2G860TPF6SUWU&keywords=sideclick+roku&qid=1567436842&s=gateway&sprefix=Sideclick%2Caps%2C517&sr=8-3

You can buy a "smart" power strip like this

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003P2UMQ2

so when the TV turns off it'll turn off everything else plugged into the strip.

I use a splitter on my hdmi input and when I hit any button on the Roku it automatically switches to it.

• come to think of it, that’s not correct. Actually, for the Roku it goes into a sound bar and it’s set up so it will auto turn on the tv when I hit any button on the Roku remote. The splitter I use is for the laptop, ps3 and ps4 which share an hdmi port on the sound bar.
  https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030AZ44O/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Amazon cable that does 4K @60

https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-High-Speed-HDMI-Cable-1-Pack/dp/B014I8SSD0

This one doesn't:

https://www.amazon.com/Dynex-DX-AV008-HDMI-Cable-10-2/dp/B006UWJMV0

The SD Card only stores programing info for the Roku's apps
If you want to view you media then you need a usb flash drive
I use this on my Roku 3
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BGTG2A0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EYV22O/

This is cheapest one I found.
Confirmed working (but not the most intuitive for Roku control).

This is what I am using Harmony 650.

https://www.amazon.com/Roku-Express-Streaming-Player-Composite/dp/B01M2AJZ5P

I'm not sure what the question is, but if you're saying you can't use an extension cord because it will protrude too much, try one of these - or look for something similar:

https://www.amazon.com/Extension-Cord-Flat-Rotating-Plug/dp/B008I5SHKE/ref=pd_sim_60_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B008I5SHKE&pd_rd_r=CFXMCG0ZBY399FK5KCR9&pd_rd_w=V4AQo&pd_rd_wg=ZhuWK&psc=1&refRID=CFXMCG0ZBY399FK5KCR9

you could buy a smart power strip that senses when the TV is turned off, and thus cuts power to the Roku.

You mean the TotalMount?

I have one and it works fine, but it blocks access to the Roku's USB port (which I use for movies). If you don't use that port, the TotalMount does exactly what it's supposed to and keeps the Roku out of the way.

Let me Google that for you:

https://www.amazon.ca/Roku-Ultra-Streaming-Player-Voice-Headphones/dp/B07HDHXZH4

Also, Roku has quite limited content available in Canada compared to the US, and in particular lacks support for many Canadian networks/stations. No CBC, no TVO, CTV, City .....

I got one of these for my TV, which worked, but there's an audio lag inherent in bluetooth that made it unusable in my case.

I use these because I got tired of others breaking after a few weeks.

• Good mid frequency response
  
• Multi silicone tips for decent fit
  
• Fairly sturdy
  
• $7.99
  
  Of course, they're not Sennheisers, but then you won't have to hock a kidney if you lose them.
  

I have three of these, no complaints.

I recently switched all of my living room cables to Mediabridge Ultra with no problems or complaints https://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-Cable-Supports-Speed-Hand-Tested/dp/B0019EHU8G