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Apple TV, Roku, Google TV, etc

Rod

Rod

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Todd
I recently purchased a Roku unit for $50. It's pretty cool, in that I can link to my Netflix account and stream movies right over the internet to my TV. It also has a bunch of different apps and channels, most of which are free. Apple recently released something similar, and Google will be releasing their version of internet TV this month called Google TV. It seems TV is beginning to change drastically again, as the internet may finally be the "provider" of channels, opposed to Satellite or cable. Makes sense to purchase only the channels you want, rather than being stuck with hundreds of useless channels (ie: DirecTV, DISH).

Anyone else have one of these device? I want to purchase another device for my den, however am waiting to see what Google TV has to offer. The Roku works great, and is cheap.
 
I have a netflix enabled Blu-ray player. The kids are having the time of their lives streaming Thomas movies over and over and over and over and over... At least, I didn't have to buy all those movies.
 
I have a AppleTV on order right now. But to be honest, I'm already disappointed with it and I don't even have it yet. The lack of format it supports, combined with having to leave a PC on with iTunes running in the background irks me.

I have 2 Asus O!Play's on my house. One for my bedroom, and one for the kids Den. They work great. At about $110 each, they are about the same size as the Apple TV. They allow wireless, Network, or USB streaming, and every format Ive ever thrown at it. It will even read mp3's or mixed content from within zips, rars and ISOs. They can even read VOB files no problem, if your into straight ripping DVDs.

Only downside of the O!play device is that the interface isn't that great. Very basic. Movies, Photos or Music only from the main menu.

What Id love to see is one of these units use "Widgets". I think turning on your bedroom TV in the morning and launching a weather / random news widget would be very cool. Much like displays at an Airport terminal.
 
I have a RokuHD that I mainly use for Pandora. We stream Netflix or buy movies from Amazon every once in a while. Nice, easy to use box, but I don't see it replacing actual television any time soon. I'm in a Future of Video course right now (literally, right now) and this is one of the topics of discussion (Internet TV vs conventional cable/satellite/broadcasting). It's "getting there" and these products will help, but still a ways to go, imo.

Google TV is supposed to support a full web browser, so I'm keeping an eye on that.
 
The infrastructure is not changing(yet)....the delivery/transmisson/reception devices are.

They commercial way to transfer data is over a wire/fibre or Sat.

Until we expand the limitations in all aspects, the above devices will just be 'ok'.

Don't forget, the early adopter phase seems to be over, until a new technology comes along.

This will be one of the new modes of transportation: Linky!

As for the boxes for TV....who has time...being on CP an all! ;)

....edit...

I also think it would be a waste of bandwidth to try to run shows streaming...unitl the packets are less and smaller....and the advertising is removed. (That's next to come along...btw!) :(
 
I would love to get in on the Apple TV, streaming netflix stuff
I have a PS3, and all i do with it is watch BluRay, I don't own a single game.
But I cant do any of that yet, with an IP from Brussels, most of the content is restricted to the US.

T
 
Since I moved about 10 miles out of town my only options for internet were cell card or satellite and both are bandwidth limited. I chose satellite since I could get 7.5GB on a rolling 30 day period but the speed is only 500Kbps and quite often less. Together these two limitations make streaming content pretty much out of reach. If you exceed your 7.5GB limit they slow you down to dial-up speed until it drops below it. Hopefully I'll be able to get DSL in a year or two.
 
What we need is a true multicast architecture/protocol on the Internet. So one source packet of video gets split down the line and sent to everyone watching that video. Cable systems or wireless providers would source one packet that every viewer would receive instead of individual UDP streams.

The problem presented by the Internet is timeshifting and not much is presented "live" or on a schedule.

John
 
I use my Wii to stream netflix. Never really had any issues with it.

What I want is the ability to have the NFL package directv offers on my cable system. Of course they have that lacked down tight. I know you can stream it over the internet and I've used my buddys account, but it has enough issues to make me not want to buy it. I would pay the fee though if I could get it over cable....I have to think directv is losing a chunk of money to people like myself. Oh well.
 
JHolmes763 said:
What we need is a true multicast architecture/protocol on the Internet. So one source packet of video gets split down the line and sent to everyone watching that video. Cable systems or wireless providers would source one packet that every viewer would receive instead of individual UDP streams.

The problem presented by the Internet is timeshifting and not much is presented "live" or on a schedule.

John
Click to expand...

Multicast streaming has been around at least since 2000. If I'm remembering correctly the problem is it requires ISPs to use special hardware to support/deliver it. They don't have much of an incentive to invest in the hardware since it won't do anything to reduce the bits going from the ISP to the customer. But who knows.

It would sure be nice to have viable alternatives to cable/sat which basically behave like a cartel.


 
We have a Samsung Blue Ray that has Netflix and other apps built in, I have had Roku and use a Wii to stream as well...I also have AT&T Uverse which is basically just video streaming live TV, so far I love it....
 
I watch television over the internet, mostly on Hulu.com, although several shows I get through Amazon's Video On Demand (which works GREAT and is worth the $2 per episode) and one, Spartacus, through Netflix. Since I have a 20" iMac and only watch a handful of shows, it works out well for me.

The big flat screen home theater system is only for movies on DVD, anymore.

~Boar
 
I didn't even know about ROKU till this thread, I heard about Apple TV but since we currently get DVD's from NetFlix, I wanted to stay with them.
I'm checking out the ROKU forum for anything I need to be aware of before I get it.
 
I am going to be waiting to see what GoogleTV has instore. I have learned with Google that they always go above and beyond with their products. I am so happy with my Droid Incredible, that I think I will just hope that the TV is as good. :thumbs:
 
my brother runs a refurb mac-mini using plex. Used cheap pc's ultimately make the best "media centers" because they'll always be compatible with every new format. And now with Android and iOS, remote control via your phone is easy. Plus, they can act as sling boxes for you by setting them up as upnp servers with a static ip address to the outside world.
 
I can't find the article now, but I read something that described GoogleTV and an "input 1" device and AppleTV as an "input 2" device. Meaning, GoogleTV will hook into your primary television input and be the way you interact with our television on a daily basis. Search the program guide, run apps, browse the web, etc.

AppleTV, on the other hand, is a secondary device. You interact normally with your cable box, satellite box, whatever for normal TV watching and _switch_ to AppleTV to interact with it.

I thought it was an interesting distinction. Each will have it's own appeal to different groups while still competing directly on some levels. Good times, either way. :)

-John
 
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