Roku launching in the UK this month

justjax · 10-01-2012, 21:49

Perhaps they were waiting for the Netflix launch, but Roku have just annouced they are launching in the UK, with pre-order on Amazon now.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rok...and-2012-01-10

http://www.roku.com/

Could be very cool. If they have deals with to offer iPlayer, 4OD, Demand 5 and ITV Player, along with Netflix and LoveFilm then this could be amazing. If they manage the above I'd buy it no question.

mrkite77 · 10-01-2012, 23:50

Roku is pretty great. It's what my parent's have used to stream netflix for the past 3 years.

It's nice because it's pretty cheap (looks to be launching in the UK at £49.99 for 720p and wifi or at £99.99 for 1080p and wifi+ethernet) and super simple to set up (the wifi version has a power plug and an hdmi port, that's it). It's tiny and quiet (obviously, as it has no moving parts).

While it does have other "channels" (the US version has Hulu, HBO Go, Pandora, and hundreds of specialized channels like an X-Factor channel), most people I know just use it for netflix only.

noise747 · 11-01-2012, 00:00

i think i will give it a miss.

1andrew1 · 11-01-2012, 00:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by justjax

Perhaps they were waiting for the Netflix launch, but Roku have just annouced they are launching in the UK, with pre-order on Amazon now.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rok...and-2012-01-10

http://www.roku.com/

Could be very cool. If they have deals with to offer iPlayer, 4OD, Demand 5 and ITV Player, along with Netflix and LoveFilm then this could be amazing. If they manage the above I'd buy it no question.

Looks good, you're right they definitely need the four catch-up services or it will end up being a niche product like Apple TV.

Shame there's no SCART connection for older televisions (but as you don't get this connection in the US it's not a total surprise). Can I take it that it will work with an RCA to SCART adapter like this one? http://www.amazon.co.uk/RCA-SCART-Ad.../dp/B0035XB4Z4

azimo · 11-01-2012, 00:31

£50 for the Roku LT and it has composite out, so it works with non HDMI TVs Bargain

mrkite77 · 11-01-2012, 00:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by azimo

£50 for the Roku LT and it has composite out, so it works with non HDMI TVs Bargain

Oh yes, it does have composite out. Here are pics:

Roku LT

Roku 2 XS

ElusiveNL · 11-01-2012, 01:09

Wow, this is great news.. The killer app as far as I'm concerned is the ability to add private channels.. Streaming packages in Turkish etc for me.. The possibilities are endless..

daleski75 · 11-01-2012, 07:54

They both look like neat little boxes and they undercut the rather expensive in my opinion boxee box and are competing with the apple tv and the like at the £99 price range.

I think 2012 is going to be a very interesting year for VOD!

gomezz · 11-01-2012, 08:07

Yet another crippled access product.

noise747 · 11-01-2012, 08:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by azimo

£50 for the Roku LT and it has composite out, so it works with non HDMI TVs Bargain

composite? It should have RGB at least, composite is pretty awful, then then this is what we get when a device that is made for the states is imported here with no modification.

i suppose it is still a good way to get Netflix on your box if you don't want to pay out for a PS3 or Xbox, sayiung that you may be able to get one at a good price second hand if you look around and the PS3 at least is a good media machine

noise747 · 11-01-2012, 08:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

Yet another crippled access product.

That is the way it is going to be and it will get worse.

one2escape · 11-01-2012, 09:14

Wonder if Amazon on demand service is due to hit soon now?

mrkite77 · 11-01-2012, 09:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

Yet another crippled access product.

How is it crippled? It was designed specifically to stream netflix, and has had tons of features added to it over the years.

noise747 · 11-01-2012, 09:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkite77

How is it crippled? It was designed specifically to stream netflix, and has had tons of features added to it over the years.

That is what he means, it is fixed to do one thing and one thing only, you can only use it for what the manufacture wants it to do. but that is the way for everything anyway. the only way to get a system that can acesss everything is to use a computer.

mrkite77 · 11-01-2012, 09:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by noise747

That is what he means, it is fixed to do one thing and one thing only, you can only use it for what the manufacture wants it to do.

That's not what crippled means. It's not a multi-purpose machine that has had features removed, it's a tiny little box the size of a pack of cigarettes, built from scratch to do one thing.

If you want a computer, buy a computer.

If you want to call it "closed", then by all means, call it closed. Although there is a free SDK.

gomezz · 11-01-2012, 09:53

I call it crippled because it is crippled. If you get one only expecting it to do the limited small thing you want it to do fine, but many people will get one then start asking when they will be adding this, that and the other service then starting whinging when it is explained probably never. Better to warn them up front that it is crippled and that there are better options that offer unlimited access to anything that is out there.

daleski75 · 11-01-2012, 10:30

I think it depends on how you define 'crippled' like you said if you buy it for one reason and that reason alone then the roku serves that purpose well however for me the definition of crippled would be more down to lack of connectivity port wise, no wireless etc as the software can be updated and features added as and when.

Esot-eric · 11-01-2012, 10:49

It's too locked down and limited to be a good fit in my household, since everything is stored on the NAS rather than streamed.

I'm hoping that some alternative firmware will eventually become available (something like OpenElec).

The Roku is based on Linux and some of the source code is available but it uses a proprietary graphics driver. However, i believe the Raspberry Pi uses the same SOC and ships with a binary blob for the graphics, so it might be possible for some enterprising hackers to create firmware combining the two and give us a cheap box running XBMC.

noise747 · 11-01-2012, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrkite77

That's not what crippled means. It's not a multi-purpose machine that has had features removed, it's a tiny little box the size of a pack of cigarettes, built from scratch to do one thing.

If you want a computer, buy a computer.

If you want to call it "closed", then by all means, call it closed. Although there is a free SDK.

Maybe closed is a better word.

Having composite is a bit of a downfall to be honest, my Wii had composite, got it running on component these days, but even RGB would be better than composite, as I said before that is the problem with importing video equipment from the States to Europe and not make any changes to them.

plenty of people still got old T.V sets.

justjax · 11-01-2012, 13:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomezz

I call it crippled because it is crippled. If you get one only expecting it to do the limited small thing you want it to do fine, but many people will get one then start asking when they will be adding this, that and the other service then starting whinging when it is explained probably never. Better to warn them up front that it is crippled and that there are better options that offer unlimited access to anything that is out there.

I think most people will be very happy with it doing what it does and probably the reason why the cost is so low is that its simply a streaming device for online services.

The bigger question for me and I suspect others is what services or 'channels' it will offer. I guess if your going to be a regular user of Netflix and don't have a Smart/Internet connected TV with a Netflix app, then at £50 its a great and very simple way to watch Netflix on your TV. I already have a Samsung Smart TV (although still waiting for the Netflix app to show up), but if they pull off getting all the main networks catch-up services (could live without 5 Demand) then I wouldn't think twice about buying one. I wonder when we'll get confirmation of the channel line-up.

gomezz · 11-01-2012, 17:36

You see? It has started already.

drgeoff · 11-01-2012, 19:48

The "About Roku" paragraph on the Market Watch page has the statement "Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR". That's a bold claim!

mrkite77 · 11-01-2012, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by drgeoff

The "About Roku" paragraph on the Market Watch page has the statement "Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR". That's a bold claim!

Hum, turns out it's true. Anthony Wood is the founder of ReplayTV, which was the first DVR.

Btw, here's a little cnet review of the roku LT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0XOhB7Vdak

noise747 · 11-01-2012, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by justjax

I think most people will be very happy with it doing what it does and probably the reason why the cost is so low is that its simply a streaming device for online services.

The bigger question for me and I suspect others is what services or 'channels' it will offer. I guess if your going to be a regular user of Netflix and don't have a Smart/Internet connected TV with a Netflix app, then at £50 its a great and very simple way to watch Netflix on your TV. I already have a Samsung Smart TV (although still waiting for the Netflix app to show up), but if they pull off getting all the main networks catch-up services (could live without 5 Demand) then I wouldn't think twice about buying one. I wonder when we'll get confirmation of the channel line-up.

give it a few years and it will become redundant as apart from the very cheap T.V sets they will all be so called smart sets, which is strange because they are not smart, they just connect to the net.

I wonder how many so called smart sets are out there that will never be connected to the net? i know my next door neighbours won't and they got the internet for the computer, but their Samsung will never see the internet.

I wonder how much these smart functions are adding to the cost of the t.v? i rather pay less and not have the feature.

azimo · 11-01-2012, 23:18

Its a mass market device and alot of people are not going to be that concerned about it only having composite out as long as it does what its supposed to do which is letting you watch movies on your tv in your living room via Netflix, and at a starting price of £50 I bet they are going to sell alot

10-01-2012, 21:49	#1
justjax Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 911	Roku launching in the UK this month Perhaps they were waiting for the Netflix launch, but Roku have just annouced they are launching in the UK, with pre-order on Amazon now. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rok...and-2012-01-10 http://www.roku.com/ Could be very cool. If they have deals with to offer iPlayer, 4OD, Demand 5 and ITV Player, along with Netflix and LoveFilm then this could be amazing. If they manage the above I'd buy it no question.

10-01-2012, 23:50	#2
mrkite77 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: arizona Posts: 5,220	Roku is pretty great. It's what my parent's have used to stream netflix for the past 3 years. It's nice because it's pretty cheap (looks to be launching in the UK at £49.99 for 720p and wifi or at £99.99 for 1080p and wifi+ethernet) and super simple to set up (the wifi version has a power plug and an hdmi port, that's it). It's tiny and quiet (obviously, as it has no moving parts). While it does have other "channels" (the US version has Hulu, HBO Go, Pandora, and hundreds of specialized channels like an X-Factor channel), most people I know just use it for netflix only.

11-01-2012, 00:00	#3
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	i think i will give it a miss.

11-01-2012, 00:23	#4
1andrew1 Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 3,981	Quote: Originally Posted by justjax Perhaps they were waiting for the Netflix launch, but Roku have just annouced they are launching in the UK, with pre-order on Amazon now. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/rok...and-2012-01-10 http://www.roku.com/ Could be very cool. If they have deals with to offer iPlayer, 4OD, Demand 5 and ITV Player, along with Netflix and LoveFilm then this could be amazing. If they manage the above I'd buy it no question. Looks good, you're right they definitely need the four catch-up services or it will end up being a niche product like Apple TV. Shame there's no SCART connection for older televisions (but as you don't get this connection in the US it's not a total surprise). Can I take it that it will work with an RCA to SCART adapter like this one? http://www.amazon.co.uk/RCA-SCART-Ad.../dp/B0035XB4Z4

11-01-2012, 00:31	#5
azimo Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 927	£50 for the Roku LT and it has composite out, so it works with non HDMI TVs Bargain

11-01-2012, 00:54	#6
mrkite77 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: arizona Posts: 5,220	Quote: Originally Posted by azimo £50 for the Roku LT and it has composite out, so it works with non HDMI TVs Bargain Oh yes, it does have composite out. Here are pics: Roku LT Roku 2 XS

11-01-2012, 01:09	#7
ElusiveNL Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Northampton Posts: 331	Wow, this is great news.. The killer app as far as I'm concerned is the ability to add private channels.. Streaming packages in Turkish etc for me.. The possibilities are endless..

11-01-2012, 07:54	#8
daleski75 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,014	They both look like neat little boxes and they undercut the rather expensive in my opinion boxee box and are competing with the apple tv and the like at the £99 price range. I think 2012 is going to be a very interesting year for VOD!

11-01-2012, 08:07	#9
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	Yet another crippled access product.

11-01-2012, 08:46	#10
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	Quote: Originally Posted by azimo £50 for the Roku LT and it has composite out, so it works with non HDMI TVs Bargain composite? It should have RGB at least, composite is pretty awful, then then this is what we get when a device that is made for the states is imported here with no modification. i suppose it is still a good way to get Netflix on your box if you don't want to pay out for a PS3 or Xbox, sayiung that you may be able to get one at a good price second hand if you look around and the PS3 at least is a good media machine

11-01-2012, 08:47	#11
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz Yet another crippled access product. That is the way it is going to be and it will get worse.

11-01-2012, 09:14	#12
one2escape Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 642	Wonder if Amazon on demand service is due to hit soon now?

11-01-2012, 09:17	#13
mrkite77 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: arizona Posts: 5,220	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz Yet another crippled access product. How is it crippled? It was designed specifically to stream netflix, and has had tons of features added to it over the years.

11-01-2012, 09:29	#14
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	Quote: Originally Posted by mrkite77 How is it crippled? It was designed specifically to stream netflix, and has had tons of features added to it over the years. That is what he means, it is fixed to do one thing and one thing only, you can only use it for what the manufacture wants it to do. but that is the way for everything anyway. the only way to get a system that can acesss everything is to use a computer.

11-01-2012, 09:40	#15
mrkite77 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: arizona Posts: 5,220	Quote: Originally Posted by noise747 That is what he means, it is fixed to do one thing and one thing only, you can only use it for what the manufacture wants it to do. That's not what crippled means. It's not a multi-purpose machine that has had features removed, it's a tiny little box the size of a pack of cigarettes, built from scratch to do one thing. If you want a computer, buy a computer. If you want to call it "closed", then by all means, call it closed. Although there is a free SDK.

11-01-2012, 09:53	#16
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	I call it crippled because it is crippled. If you get one only expecting it to do the limited small thing you want it to do fine, but many people will get one then start asking when they will be adding this, that and the other service then starting whinging when it is explained probably never. Better to warn them up front that it is crippled and that there are better options that offer unlimited access to anything that is out there.

11-01-2012, 10:30	#17
daleski75 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,014	I think it depends on how you define 'crippled' like you said if you buy it for one reason and that reason alone then the roku serves that purpose well however for me the definition of crippled would be more down to lack of connectivity port wise, no wireless etc as the software can be updated and features added as and when.

11-01-2012, 10:49	#18
Esot-eric Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,173	It's too locked down and limited to be a good fit in my household, since everything is stored on the NAS rather than streamed. I'm hoping that some alternative firmware will eventually become available (something like OpenElec). The Roku is based on Linux and some of the source code is available but it uses a proprietary graphics driver. However, i believe the Raspberry Pi uses the same SOC and ships with a binary blob for the graphics, so it might be possible for some enterprising hackers to create firmware combining the two and give us a cheap box running XBMC.

11-01-2012, 12:19	#19
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	Quote: Originally Posted by mrkite77 That's not what crippled means. It's not a multi-purpose machine that has had features removed, it's a tiny little box the size of a pack of cigarettes, built from scratch to do one thing. If you want a computer, buy a computer. If you want to call it "closed", then by all means, call it closed. Although there is a free SDK. Maybe closed is a better word. Having composite is a bit of a downfall to be honest, my Wii had composite, got it running on component these days, but even RGB would be better than composite, as I said before that is the problem with importing video equipment from the States to Europe and not make any changes to them. plenty of people still got old T.V sets.

11-01-2012, 13:33	#20
justjax Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 911	Quote: Originally Posted by gomezz I call it crippled because it is crippled. If you get one only expecting it to do the limited small thing you want it to do fine, but many people will get one then start asking when they will be adding this, that and the other service then starting whinging when it is explained probably never. Better to warn them up front that it is crippled and that there are better options that offer unlimited access to anything that is out there. I think most people will be very happy with it doing what it does and probably the reason why the cost is so low is that its simply a streaming device for online services. The bigger question for me and I suspect others is what services or 'channels' it will offer. I guess if your going to be a regular user of Netflix and don't have a Smart/Internet connected TV with a Netflix app, then at £50 its a great and very simple way to watch Netflix on your TV. I already have a Samsung Smart TV (although still waiting for the Netflix app to show up), but if they pull off getting all the main networks catch-up services (could live without 5 Demand) then I wouldn't think twice about buying one. I wonder when we'll get confirmation of the channel line-up.

11-01-2012, 17:36	#21
gomezz Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Buckingham Posts: 28,590	You see? It has started already.

DS Forums

Roku launching in the UK this month

11-01-2012, 19:48	#22
drgeoff Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Felixstowe Posts: 258	The "About Roku" paragraph on the Market Watch page has the statement "Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR". That's a bold claim!

11-01-2012, 19:57	#23
mrkite77 Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: arizona Posts: 5,220	Quote: Originally Posted by drgeoff The "About Roku" paragraph on the Market Watch page has the statement "Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR". That's a bold claim! Hum, turns out it's true. Anthony Wood is the founder of ReplayTV, which was the first DVR. Btw, here's a little cnet review of the roku LT: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0XOhB7Vdak

11-01-2012, 23:14	#24
noise747 Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Herefordshire Posts: 22,810	Quote: Originally Posted by justjax I think most people will be very happy with it doing what it does and probably the reason why the cost is so low is that its simply a streaming device for online services. The bigger question for me and I suspect others is what services or 'channels' it will offer. I guess if your going to be a regular user of Netflix and don't have a Smart/Internet connected TV with a Netflix app, then at £50 its a great and very simple way to watch Netflix on your TV. I already have a Samsung Smart TV (although still waiting for the Netflix app to show up), but if they pull off getting all the main networks catch-up services (could live without 5 Demand) then I wouldn't think twice about buying one. I wonder when we'll get confirmation of the channel line-up. give it a few years and it will become redundant as apart from the very cheap T.V sets they will all be so called smart sets, which is strange because they are not smart, they just connect to the net. I wonder how many so called smart sets are out there that will never be connected to the net? i know my next door neighbours won't and they got the internet for the computer, but their Samsung will never see the internet. I wonder how much these smart functions are adding to the cost of the t.v? i rather pay less and not have the feature.

11-01-2012, 23:18	#25
azimo Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 927	Its a mass market device and alot of people are not going to be that concerned about it only having composite out as long as it does what its supposed to do which is letting you watch movies on your tv in your living room via Netflix, and at a starting price of £50 I bet they are going to sell alot