Roku 3 Streaming Player ~114.57 aud delivered from Amazon US
EDIT: it is now US$99.65. ~AU$109.64
CamelCamelCamel.
Roku is a brand name in the United States.
LoL n00b!
45 OzBargainers fell for this troll
Apple is synonymous with restrictions, great hardware but restricted. If they made a gaming console I would feel assured that even if it did get hacked they wouldn't be able to copy off their photos off :P.
Roku is much better and chanels .. need vpn for greater contents like hulu.
I have been thinking about getting one of these for a while, they work well if you use a service like Unblock-us along with Netflix, Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video. The device itself is a bit more unique than the Apple TV, there is a headphone jack built into the remote, as well as an accelerometer for games like Angry Birds.
how is this different from using those chinese brand android stick?
Both the Roku 3 and an Android Mini PC can access services like Netflix etc, the Roku 3 however offers a better overall user experience, in my opinion.
The Chinese brand android sticks are more versatile…
More versatile doesn't necessarily mean better. If you want to be able to use your TV like a mini PC, and connect a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse to surf the internet etc, then get an Android Mini PC.
If you however want a very good overall user experience when it comes to accessing services like Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora, Spotify etc, then get a Roku. The difference is apps designed for the Roku vs apps that were really designed for Android tablets.
TV like a mini PC
I didn't say its better, just stated the fact that they are more versatile, like you've pointed out…
P.S I am pretty sure you can download roku apks and install them on to those sticks…
Roku does not run on Android platform, so no you cant download and install roku apps on android tv sticks
Oh ok I saw an identical app called Roku created by Roku, Inc.: http://android.downloadatoz.com/apps/com.roku.remote,82818.h…
EDIT: Bah seems to be only a control center for your Roku streaming player.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.roku.remot…
this is locked to whatever channels exist from the Roku Store.
On the other hand, it just works, and has a nice interface.
Android stick does not have a simple interface, or the ease of use of the Roku channels. Nor the excellent Roku remote.
You can get access to channels outside of teh Roku store - http://streamfree.tv/roku/private-channels/
how do we actually use this roku3?
i read in WP forum, its very complicated to set it up
sorry if OOT
ta!
That's what this article says too. http://m.canberratimes.com.au/digital-life/digital-life-news… . For those in the know it's probably not too difficult.
I have the previous model which I picked up in Target for about $30 and it was one of the easiest pieces of tech I have set up - what exactly were they saying was complicated about it?
Most of the free stuff seems to work anywhere in the world without restriction - I tried connecting to the geo-blocked content just by using a free DNS service that was on OzBargain a month or so ago and it worked fine.
I used this : http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/112269
I have no idea. But the article says there is something different about setting up the roku 3 than previous models interms of watching US content.
not sure what's complex about it… took about 5 minutes here…
I heard there is no You Tube?
iView?
Doubt it, it is a US focused device.
hey all, does anyone own one of these and if so what do you use for power? I am trying to avoid using a converter and would prefer a whole new cable.
The power supply works anywhere in the world - it's multi-voltage and dual Hz - you just need to "adapt" the pins.
I take mine travelling especially to places like Japan where you don't always get a big choice of English TV channels - I have an older model which works with both LAN Ethernet or WiFi.
[" "adapt" the pins "]
You mean: to actually twist them to a diagonal position to fit an Australian power socket?
You could do that for Australia (Japan is pretty much the same as the US) but it's pretty hard to make them round for Europe or bigger for the UK ;-)
I prefer to use a cheap "travel adapter" for each of the countries I travel to.
Edit
Note : I recall looking at them in Costco US a few months back (they were about US$75) and those Roku 3 models used a different power supply to all the previous models and it was only 110V / 60Hz, so maybe they have changed the power supplies in the latest batches ?!?
Mine worked fine for a while on 240v but the power supply has failed now. It's just a 12v 1A power supply so I'm going to source a local one.
Not so in this model -it's 120v only. I had to operate on mine using cannibalised parts and a different transformer to get it running.
i have used roku2 since last xmas. very convenient.
No iview or you tube. These work great with Plex Server, and you can get You Tube through that (sorta)
I have a 2XS, and I'm tempted to get one of these for the bedroom just for the headphone jack in the remote. Very clever idea imho.
Loving my Roku with Plex and Netflix.
I have a number of android sticks and a couple of roku's.
Firstly, Netflix runs terrible on the dual core android tv sticks and I found only the quad cores do a decent job. Really, you get the android sticks to run XBMC and add the video plugins for a world of entertainment that few devices can even dream of (eg free cable sort of thing). Again, only the quad cores do a decent job (you can get them for $70 now, much what the dual cores used to be).
Putting that aside, if you want a Netflix device, the Roku vomits all over android. With its simple remote, the ease of use and slick interface, Roku is king. If you were planning on getting the device for a parent as an example, they'll feel right at home with the Roku, whereas Android can be awkward.
But even as someone who is comfortable with android, I always switch on the Roku for Netflix.
The only negative I currently have with Roku is the number of decent (and known) channels have dropped. Every month a good channel is removed to be replaced by 30 crap channels. After discovering what XBMC can offer, I'm using Netflix alot less now.
how do you control the sticks?
cheers
What if my main or only objective was to stream through PLEX. What would the recommendation be from those using them between the Roku and an Android stick?
I use the Android Midnight Box mx2 ($99 USD + Postage) with Plex and love it, I don't have any experience with ROKU though.
Thanks
Some quick searching, this looks pretty good. I investigate this further.
Where did you buy from? Amazon wont ship to AU
Looks like you need to change the DNS settings of the modem to stream Netflix etc. with this device. The Apple device allows for changes to the DNS settings on the device itself but doesn't have all the channels I might want. Is there another device that will give me the best of both worlds that someone could recommend?
Thanks for the post. My order is in the works. I already have a media player (AC Ryan PlayOn Mini) but I ordered the Roku 3 for 1) the headphone jack in the remote and 2) so I can hookup the old media player to the bedroom TV. The headphone jack going to be so awesome for watching movies at night in the lounge once the family has gone to bed!
more good reasons now to bite @ the eneloop battery packs that always goes on bargain here… mix bags of people experiences with battery life on the roku3. some say earphone usage of 7-10days with 5hrs/day and another saying he changes it everyday. whichever the case.. eneloop will save the day.
Still a great device roku3 so I'm biting!
I ended up cancelling my order after re-reading that the Roku 3 is not a good player for local content (of which I have a ton). Having to setup a Plex server on an internal computer doesn't sound worth it, even for the headphone jack.
New to this Roku unit, was reading it has 750+ channels? What are these channels and will they work here in Australia out of the box?
If so, are there any Free Movie Channels apart from Crackle?
Also does it play all movies files fine? AVI, MKV etc? I just wanna connect my Portable USB Hard Drive to it and let the Roku cover art and info the movies, then sit back and watch away. I was reading it only does some files? Doesnt sound correct for a unit like this???
without looking it up,(now i mean, i reserched it a bit before) it doesnt play avi, its a bit limited in that respect that it doesnt play much at all most people have plex transcode their stuff and then play it (there is a native plex app for it)
i was tossing up on a roku3 or wdtv live, and in the end went the wdtv live.
for cheaper than this its worth i think
This is your reason for a neg vote? The price is still pretty good. WDTV live SUX, so now I neg you :)
i didnt think id negged it, must've been an accident. but since you brought it up, ill leave it there, as i guess you can get something that actually plays files natively,not have to rely on plex to transcode, , the dns settings on the roku cant be changed. (they have to be done at the router) and will work without adapters or bending pins. but yes,you can get an adapter for 20 bucks which kind of defeats the whole $101 price tag.
so at $120, i guess that would be a neg.
cheers
Just got mine from Amazon it comes with a US adapter for 110 which is not auto switchable. I got an adapter from http://search.jaycar.com.au/search?w=power%20adapter&view=li… to get it work for 220 V centre plug for +. No doesn't show Netflix or Hulu unless you change DNS servers in your router to VPN service.
Good info to know on the adaptor, the previous models were 100~240v and just needed the prongs adjusted.
I bought one two months ago. Even when the power adapter says 110v works fine in AU. Lots of review on whirlpool of people working successful with it just with a $1 us to au adapter.
Sonys Australian Bluray players support Netflix, amazon instant video, vudu, huluplus, pandora, sonys video and music offerings, and heaps more. I simply set it to the US rather than AU locale and use unblockus for around $4 a month. My kids use the hell out of it. I am on amazon prime too to I get heaps of free TV series and movies. U should check this out if u already have a 2011 or later sony bluray player.
As fore Roku, I would recomend it but for the fact u cannot customise the boxes DNS settings locally. I think is is a great unit otherwise.
SOB.
I bought this 2 weeks back using shipitto
Mine arrived today.
Power supply is only 120v in 12vDC out :-/
I cut the low voltage cord off theirs and spliced it (it was a breeze using my $10 ozbargain/Hobby King Soldering Iron the roll of solder cost more than the iron!) to a spare 240v in 12v DV power supply from an ozbargain/$69 3TB WD external HDD enclosure as the tip size is weirdly small.
Setup has been easy so far only now it wants me to activate it….
Setup options are only US & Canada so I have no choice but to say I'm a yank. Not sure how to proceed.
If I tell it USA and it sees the Australian IP it will brick it or something? Makes me wish I went for the free proxy when that deal was up. Oh wait I think I did!
I'm going to neg that remark saying it's a universal power supply. No hard feelings only it's plain wrong in my case.
is your adapter model AAW-00? I have one and even when it says 120v, work fine with a $1 us2au plug. Check whirlpool forums, several people is using it without any problems.
to watch netflix do I need to pay for subscription? is there any charges to watch the other channels? Im hoping that its free much like tvpad….
price error?
MasterNoob on 01/09/2013 - 20:45 Comment score below threshold.