So what do Roku boxes give for FREE? I've used AppleTV in the past and know it gives very little in the way of free content. There's YouTube and some internet radio stations and that's about it. I know both it and the Roku player are capable of doing NetFlix if you're willing to pay for it, and I know Roku can also do Hulu Plus subscriptions as well as some other paid subs.My question is this: what can a Roku player stream for free out of the box? Assuming I'm not paying anything per moth to any content providers. I've read that there's a news channel and maybe a few other things but are they any good? I'd appreciate any opinion current owners may have... So what do Roku boxes give for FREE? I've used AppleTV in the past and know it gives very little in the way of free content. There's YouTube and some internet radio stations and that's... » Read More So what do Roku boxes give for FREE? I've used AppleTV in the past and know it gives very little in the way of free content. There's YouTube and some internet radio stations and that's about it. I know both it and the Roku player are capable of doing NetFlix if you're willing to pay for it, and I know Roku can also do Hulu Plus subscriptions as well as some other paid subs.My question is this: what can a Roku player stream for free out of the box? Assuming I'm not paying anything per moth to any content providers. I've read that there's a news channel and maybe a few other things but are they any good? I'd appreciate any opinion current owners may have... « Show Less
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Streaming Players Club'' on Facebook everything you need to know about Roku.
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I hate the idea of giving my credit card number to them. Can't I just watch all the free stuff and not have to give roku this information?
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There is alot of free content http://www.roku-channels.com/ . Looking at my roku a couple very good "channels" are :Nowheretv http://www.thenowhereman.com/roku/ (Nowhere TV features free content from providers like HGTV, Food Network, Smithsonian Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and CNN as well as local news content from stations around the country) , Newscaster , Playon, CNET, Pandora, Tunein,TWIT, Revision3, HGTV, Chow, CrackleTV.com, JustinTV, CNN,Flixter and media fly gaming... Most of these you add trough Roku channel Store and the others are private codes you easily add to your roku..@wetwhistle A think he is referring to a channel called "Crunchyroll" has a lot of anime and asian drama showstake Care There is alot of free content http://www.roku-channels.com/ . Looking at my roku a couple very good "channels" are :Nowheretv http://www.thenowhereman.com/roku/ (Nowhere TV features free content from providers like HGTV, Food Network, Smithsonian Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and CNN as well as local news content from stations around the country) , Newscaster , Playon, CNET, Pandora, Tunein,TWIT, Revision3, HGTV, Chow, CrackleTV.com, JustinTV, CNN,Flixter and media fly gaming... Most of these you add trough Roku channel Store and the others are private codes you easily add to... » Read More There is alot of free content http://www.roku-channels.com/ . Looking at my roku a couple very good "channels" are :Nowheretv http://www.thenowhereman.com/roku/ (Nowhere TV features free content from providers like HGTV, Food Network, Smithsonian Channel, NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and CNN as well as local news content from stations around the country) , Newscaster , Playon, CNET, Pandora, Tunein,TWIT, Revision3, HGTV, Chow, CrackleTV.com, JustinTV, CNN,Flixter and media fly gaming... Most of these you add trough Roku channel Store and the others are private codes you easily add to your roku..@wetwhistle A think he is referring to a channel called "Crunchyroll" has a lot of anime and asian drama showstake Care « Show Less
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To find lots of free private channel codes for Roku that aren't in the Channel store yet, go to http://almostaccurate.com/roku/. Also, google private channel codes for Roku occasionally. People are creating them quite frequently now.
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I love streaming Netflix on the Roku, but I believe there is also a lot of great free stuff that you can stream on the Roku, including many "private" channels or "beta" channels that aren't listed on Roku's web site. Try Googling "complete list of Roku channels" and look for this list on sites other than Roku's web site for a complete listing of channels. I love Netflix, but can also stay happily entertained with just all of the free channels that you can get on the Roku.
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The other poster is right...Netflix and Hulu are the reasons to get a Roku... There are tons of channels yes, which in aggregate along with NF and H+ make it quite an entertainment value. Some of the channels I use quite often, but w/o the two paid channels its not worth it. That's not Roku's fault at all, but rather if content providers have something you would want, 9 times out of ten they're not just going to give it away
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From Roku's website. It's still all about selling us something..."Sell in the Channel StoreEnroll in Roku Billing ServicesBy enrolling in Roku's Billing Services program you can sell channels, games, apps or content to over three million Roku customers. Roku manages all the customer billing and payment processing. Customers can purchase your channel with a simple click of their remote!"
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Jason,I don't think that you can access regular Hulu with Roku and HuluPlus will not give you "regular" Hulu. Plus is a separate product with a monthly charge.I hope I'm wrong about this, but don' think so. Hopefully someone else will chime in.
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The Roku Channel Store will give you info on each available channel, including whether it is free, paid (subscription) or pay-per-view. Some of the subscription channels (like for classic movies) are as cheap as $3 per year. Specifics are on the Roku website: http://www.roku.com/roku-channel-store
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I would have to say that if you have a large itunes drm protected library, then Apple TV. But if not, Roku comes up ahead at this time due to price, quality, and choices and it does have the ability to stream content from your pc using the right channel.
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You can watch HGTV shows on the computer. ABC family channel Secret Life of the American Teenager and many others are available via computer streaming. We switched to low cost basic cable, with Netflix and a free 30 day trial to Hulu Plus. Using this ROKU box, and streaming other programs through your computer, will give you a lot of low cost entertainment.Many are in perfect HD. I think HDTV is standard def.
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No. NO Netflix and NO Pandora. = NO SALE for me. :(i guess i will get another roku...sigh...just want netflix and hulu, and cnn. ruku says it is going to get hulu 'this fall'. cnet says it is great. don't like no service.
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I am thisclose to cancelling my cable TV for Roku. I'm going to order the XD and try it out. I do have streaming Netflix. I'm sick of paying $60 a month for 80 channels and only watching maybe 6 of them. Cable TV is such a ripoff. And the 3 major Networks are PURE GARBAGE and have been for years now.
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Apple TV does include an app for Hulu plus and Netflix. Sadly there is no app for amazon instant videos.
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There is a one-time fee for buying the Roku, but then it will show you both free and paid channels. Any paid channels are per month or per use, depending on which ones you pick. Things like Netflix are per month, same as if you were watching on your PC.
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I got rid of my cable and only have the Roku. I do have subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu (for most of the TV programs). There are so many other channels on the Roku I can watch news, food channels, outdoor channels, and so many other channels that I would have received through cable. Each month more channels become available, you just have to keep an eye out each month.
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You can stream from many different apps including hula, you tube, crackle and many more. Remember this is wired not wireless so you will need a Ethernet cord from you internet modem to the player like the cords to your computer that you receive internet on. The price of 312 there showing right now has to be wrong, it goes from between 50 to 100 dollars
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Your son is wrong. I stream programs through my computer that are not available through devices such as ROKU. Example, HGTV, ABC family channel, many others. It's more cumbersome, and you can not use your computer for anything else while streaming through the computer. These devices =such as Roku, do not tie up your computer. My wife can use the computer while I stream movies through ROKU. Since Roku is both wired/wireless, you can watch it from any room. for $ 49, it's a no brainer.
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I am desperate to reduce my monthly expenditures and I think Roku may be a great option for a cable service replacement. However, I'm a still a bit foggy on the specifics of it. When I turn the TV on, it's not going to be a just an array of channels like I have now but the channels that I "subscribe" to, correct? And I won't be able to watch live TV for news, awards shows, etc.?
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You can use the roku streaming stick and so avoid another box. The roku stick comes with or without a remote ($ 20 more.) The remote which comes with the tv is said to work with the streaming stick.Or if you have one, you can use an ordinary roku box, just like any other tv. So "roku ready" is a small advantage.
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Yes and no. There are numerous channels that you can watch on your Roku for free. Some of the best are Crackle, Pandora and the Smithsonian Channel. Hulu Plus, Netflix and Amazon Prime each require a paid subscription. However, in the case of Amazon, if you have previously purchased digital content from them, you can access it via your Roku for free either through Amazon Instant Video or the Amazon Cloud Player. For a more complete list of channels visit: http://www.roku.com/now-playing
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The Roku 3 gives you the most flexibility but it may have features you don't need. It's best to go on the Roku site and look at the features each offers and see what you're going to use. I have both the Roku 3 and Apple TV. I personally like the features of Apple better although the channel choices are fewer, but I mainly wanted it for Netflix so that doesn't bother me. I find most of the choices for additional channels on Roku not to be of my liking anyway. Many of them are very niche oriented, such things as outdoor cooking, religion, etc. Many of the "free" movie channels play old "B" movies and it seems as if there are few changes in what is offered. Other movie channels require additional subscription fees or in some cases you can watch the movie "free" if you put up with a few commercial interruptions. But, again I find the choices limited and not really of interest to me. You may be different and enjoy the offerings.
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Think of the Roku just like another service such as Comcast or U-verse. You can only watch content from channels that Roku offers. Currently Roku doesn't offer any of the channels mentioned I don't believe. Go to Roku's web site to see the complete listing of channels.
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Not sure about Hula Plus but you need to have a Netflix account to access it thru the Roku.
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I have access to Uverse DVR Uverse OnDemand 'straming' Netflix 'hard copy' and 'streaming'Apple Store via AppleTV 'streaming' iTunes via AppleTV 'ripped' and 'streaming' My very nice local library 'hard copy'with all these ways to get 'content' here I stand looking at the Roku because the Amazon On Demand store it the best of them all and the only place to find certian content. As a rough, unaudited guess, I would say about 30% of Netflix's 'in the mail' content is available for streaming. Uverse OnDemand has maybe 300 movies to choose from. Apple Store is OK but I still see some stuff in Amazon that I cant find on Apple. I have access to Uverse DVR Uverse OnDemand 'straming' Netflix 'hard copy' and 'streaming'Apple Store via AppleTV 'streaming' iTunes via AppleTV 'ripped' and 'streaming' My very nice local library 'hard copy'with all these ways to get 'content' here I stand looking at the Roku because the Amazon On Demand store it the best of them all and the only place to find certian content. As a rough, unaudited guess, I would say about 30% of Netflix's 'in the mail' content is available for streaming. Uverse OnDemand has maybe 300 movies to choose from.... » Read More I have access to Uverse DVR Uverse OnDemand 'straming' Netflix 'hard copy' and 'streaming'Apple Store via AppleTV 'streaming' iTunes via AppleTV 'ripped' and 'streaming' My very nice local library 'hard copy'with all these ways to get 'content' here I stand looking at the Roku because the Amazon On Demand store it the best of them all and the only place to find certian content. As a rough, unaudited guess, I would say about 30% of Netflix's 'in the mail' content is available for streaming. Uverse OnDemand has maybe 300 movies to choose from. Apple Store is OK but I still see some stuff in Amazon that I cant find on Apple. « Show Less