Roku Announces Roku 3 With A More Powerful Processor And A New Interface

[sholling]

It looks like the Roku 3 replaces the Roku 2 XS. The faster processor and new interface make it look interesting because both needed improvement. Some may also appreciate the private listening mode. The good news for those of us with a Roku 2 XS is that we're supposed to get the new interface in April.



Why it's cool | Roku Streaming Player

Roku 3 Raises the Set-Top Box Streamer Bar | Gadget Lab | Wired.com

In a world where content is king, the Roku 3 has access to more than 750 channels, including Netflix, Amazon Instant Video and HBO Go. It will play games like Angry Birds in Space, which comes pre-installed. And it ships with a remote control that features a headphone jack that wirelessly streams audio from the box. You can consume all that content without disturbing your friends or family, or block out their inane gabbing with an episode of House of Cards.Get to your favorite channels quicker. Photo: Roku

While the “shut up I’m watching my stories” feature is nice, the box also ships with a brand new UI that during our demo of an early device was swift and a huge improvement over the current Roku UI. A more powerful processor probably has something to do with that smooth UI.Roku wouldn’t comment on future products or channels, but the 3′s faster processor could mean the little streamer finally gets an official YouTube channel soon. According to Roku, a YouTube channel would tax the previous hardware and create a disappointing experience.

“Roku 3 introduces thoughtful new features that will be useful to many customers,” Anthony Wood, founder and CEO, Roku said in a statement. “The intuitive new interface makes it easy to find favorite movies and shows quickly while the private listening mode is perfect for late-night streamers who don’t want to wake up the family.

 

[panteragstk]

I may be looking at the wrong thing, but I don't seem to be able to find a last.fm channel. That sucks. That and the fact that DirecTV has blocked HBO go on roku. I'm so close to getting one, but little things keep holding me back.

Thanks for the heads up.

 

[slipperybidness]

I may be looking at the wrong thing, but I don't seem to be able to find a last.fm channel. That sucks. That and the fact that DirecTV has blocked HBO go on roku. I'm so close to getting one, but little things keep holding me back.

Thanks for the heads up.

I bought the Roku 2 XS over the holiday sales. It was pretty cool, but it just would not play nice with my Asus router. I ended up taking advantage of Amazon's return policy. Kind of a shame, but sometimes that's just the way it goes.

 

[panteragstk]

I bought the Roku 2 XS over the holiday sales. It was pretty cool, but it just would not play nice with my Asus router. I ended up taking advantage of Amazon's return policy. Kind of a shame, but sometimes that's just the way it goes.

Which router? I have the RT-N66U.

 

[afterlife2]

Nice Thanks Sholling a new interface would be nice on the XS. My router works great on the Roku XS. Maybe try another channel?

 

[GlocksRock]

They also just added a Time Warner channel, I've been waiting for that, and it's the reason I bought a roku 2. Too bad you have to have actual cable tv service to use it, not just their internet.

 

[j_garcia]

I've had my XS for a while and I stopped using it. On Netflix it is fine, but with many of the other channels, it freezes or drops to the main menu completely. The last software update seemed to help, but it still does it a lot with Amazon Cloud, the app I would most like to use. I'll fire it back up once they release this update or sell it and pick up a 3.

 

[sholling]

I may be looking at the wrong thing, but I don't seem to be able to find a last.fm channel. That sucks. That and the fact that DirecTV has blocked HBO go on roku. I'm so close to getting one, but little things keep holding me back.

Thanks for the heads up.

I looked and didn't see last.fm under the official or private channel lists either but I've never used last.fm.

Channel Store | Roku Streaming Player

I bought the Roku 2 XS over the holiday sales. It was pretty cool, but it just would not play nice with my Asus router. I ended up taking advantage of Amazon's return policy. Kind of a shame, but sometimes that's just the way it goes.

I cabled my house so I've never tried to use the built in wireless. Perhaps you could relocate the router or add a hardwired access point elsewhere in the house? I've done that for my laptop and I'm getting great throughput.

I've had my XS for a while and I stopped using it. On Netflix it is fine, but with many of the other channels, it freezes or drops to the main menu completely. The last software update seemed to help, but it still does it a lot with Amazon Cloud, the app I would most like to use. I'll fire it back up once they release this update or sell it and pick up a 3.

That's interesting I've had that happen with the Revision3, but only if I left it sitting in the channel overnight, and one other very buggy premium channel that I wound up canceling. My only complaints have been speed and the way outdated interface. I have like 100 channels loaded up and it just takes forever to scroll through them. Anyway I ordered the 3 last night and will report back what I think. I just hope they write the code for the 2 XS update tight enough that it doesn't slow down an already slow device. I have my Rokus connected via Ethernet to a 75/35Mb internet connection so I know for sure the pokiness isn't network related.

 

[slipperybidness]

I cabled my house so I've never tried to use the built in wireless. Perhaps you could relocate the router or add a hardwired access point elsewhere in the house? I've done that for my laptop and I'm getting great throughput.

Sure, I COULD have tried lots of things. It didn't work out of the box for me as expected, so it got sent back.

It just was not worth my time, money, or effort at that point. I have too many other projects and hobbies going on to be bothered with it. It was either gonna be plug and play or booted back to Amazon and it got booted back.

 

[sholling]

Sure, I COULD have tried lots of things. It didn't work out of the box for me as expected, so it got sent back.

It just was not worth my time, money, or effort at that point. I have too any other projects and hobbies going on to be bothered with it. It was either gonna be plug and play or booted back to Amazon and it got booted back.

I'm not criticizing the decision to return it, just offering ideas to help if you decide to try again. I guess I've been a tech for too many years and problem solving is just ingrained in my soul.

 

[zhimbo]

There WAS a Last.fm channel, but the developer apparently "abandoned" it a little while back. There may be unofficial versions around, I haven't tried.

 

[slipperybidness]

I'm not criticizing the decision to return it, just offering ideas to help if you decide to try again. I guess I've been a tech for too many years and problem solving is just ingrained in my soul.

Yeah, I'm usually like that too. I just didn't have the patience for this one, too many other tech problems and car maintenance on the list, it would have been a long time before I had any ambition to try it.

 

[sholling]

Walk Mossberg has a mini review.

Video - Mossberg Reviews the Roku 3, Says Its a Great Improvement Over Previous Roku Models - WSJ.com

 

[sholling]

My Roku 3 arrived today and so far I'm really happy I bought it. The two things that really jump out are improved response/speed and the new interface. I installed a 4GB micro SDHC from my old Roku because I have roughly 100 channels installed and with the new (claimed) 5x faster processor there are virtually no delays when scrolling through the menu and even making selections within the channels is much faster. For example I'm a fan of Revision3's techie programming however scrolling through their list of programs was painful with my old 2-XS but with the Roku 3 it's almost snappy. It could still be a bit faster but the improvement is really nice. The interface is much better than it was because it's a vertical list 3 columns wide and with the faster processor picking out which of 100 channels is really fast. What's still missing is built-in organizing by genre (movies, news, tech etc) and a YouTube app but you can still move the icons around and organize them manually.

 

[afterlife2]

Any date on the software update for the older models?

 

[sholling]

I've been wondering about that myself. I'm sure they're still tweaking the code to make it play nice on the slower boxes.

 

[GlocksRock]

It's supposed to be out sometime in April, so that doesn't leave them much time to get it out. But I'm anxious for it as well, I just hope it's worth the wait.

 

[afterlife2]

I think someone posted that the update would have been last week. I keep going to update software everyday and nothing, frustrating. Hopefully it will happen before May.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I used Roku once about 4-5 years ago and returned it to Amazon.

So I'm not too familiar.

But what is the advantage of getting a Roku vs a Sony BD player that can stream (5.1 DD+ Netflix, 5.1 DD Amazon) and play BD?

 

[j_garcia]

I think someone posted that the update would have been last week. I keep going to update software everyday and nothing, frustrating. Hopefully it will happen before May.

That was me. The email I got from them said it would "start rolling out" last week. Apparently it hasn't hit everywhere or it didn't go out. I am still waiting too.