magnoliasouth wrote:My husband travels a lot and cannot lug around a gaming system. Will this work with hotel wifi? Does anyone know?

Maybe...Sometimes...

Would be best to plug in via Ethernet cable.

ljw143 wrote:Already got a couple of PCs, so that's no biggie for me. Question (in case you know): I assume you have to have the computer running at the same time Playon's streaming, but does that keep you from using the computer for other things at the same time? I like to do e-mail, etc. while I watch TV.

That's all a question of available resources (cpu, memory, and Internet and local network bandwidth).

I have Plex running on a dedicated server and it is able to run streams to six devices at a time without breaking a sweat, and while I don't use that server as a desktop PC, it does do other duties which are sometimes intensive. Your mileage will vary based on your hardware and environment.

craigthom wrote:I don't know if the interface is the same on all models, but on mine I go to the Channel Store, scroll up to My Channels, wait for it to populate, then select the channel I want to delete and select "Remove channel".

Easy.

If you have a 12 button Roku remote (as is in this XD, my XDS, etc) use the "*" asterisk button...(look on your tv screen) and it's self explanatory.

CowboyDann wrote:As always, this is great to take to hotels that have free wi-fi. Provides plenty of entertainment at no extra cost.

Really? Most hotels I've been to have absolutely terrible bandwidth, not to mention paywalls that require you to log in, which I'm not sure how you'd do on a Roku, which lacks a browser.

ljw143 wrote:re: Playon's lifetime license sale:


I just checked Playon's site, and it looks like they stream directly to a Roku box. Am I missing something?

And they're also offering this deal: http://www.playon.tv/bundle/buy/ A lifetime license for Playon and Play Later (ie: record and watch whenever) bundle for $129.99, and you get a free current-gen Roku XDS.

Wooters, my head is swimming! I am very excited to get in on this "dump my monthly cable bill" group of smarties, but I have a couple of questions before I drop $129.99 for a lifetime license.
1. How will this work w/2 televisions? Do I need to buy 2 bundles?
2. If one of my TVs dies, will I be able to 'connect' this subscription to my new set(s)?

Thanks oh wise ones!

RaptorFan wrote:Can anyone tell me how to delete channels on a Roku box to free up space? Thanks...

Yes, go to the Channel Store and look at 'My Channels' (it's the top row).
Click on one that you want to remove and you'll see the options 'Go to this channel' and 'Delete this channel', then just click the appropriate one.

I'm not sure why you'd use this one-trick pony for home media control when a tablet with mini-HMDI port does the same thing and more. However, my Woot Vizio tablet doesn't have a hard ethernet port, only wireless, so could be disadvantage for travel. Also, tablet can't be used for other things when being used for TV, although I haven't really tried anything fancy.

I have this and the XS. I would spend the extra money on the XS. It comes pre-loaded with Angry Birds. Also, it seems less glitchy.

Roku now has an Android and I am sure Ipod remote application.

Was so blown away by my first Roku Woot that I waited patiently for it to come around again and bought another one. Any additional TV's I get in the future will get Roku'ed pretty quickly. Ethernet, WiFi-N, HDMI, and standard 480. What's not to like?

I have the Roku LT and this week installed the Plex server on my Mac Mini allowing me to stream all my locally stored content via the Plex channel. It is absolutely perfect. So good in fact that I went and ordered the XS from Woot's parent this week. (Also now up and running and great in all its 1080p wonderfulness).

I also have an Apple TV 2 hacked to run XBMC so that I can also watch locally stored content. The Roku and Plex configuration is soooo much easier and reliable. XBMC on ATV2 looks great but you have to really dig into how you configure it to make it work well.

Roku + Plex is the way to go.

auntpat wrote:With one of these babies and Netflix you can pretty much ditch cable (unless you're a news junkie).

I really want to understand these kinds of declarations because they are so common. I absolutely want to ditch cable, but I can not agree with that statement. I can't find an easy way to watch current tv shows when they broadcast, or breaking news or watch live sports using roku without cable. If you don't use your cable that way, how are/were you using cable tv?

TV shows - I use Hulu Plus to get current shows, but I have to wait till the next day. I'm not generally impatient, but that's a big kink in what most people consider to be "watching tv." Plus only a portion of what's broadcast ends up on Hulu... most sitcoms are not, and most cable content is not (That's a DUH, but there is a lot of mainstream TV that's cable only).

Everyone says "use netflix instead of cable," but Netflix only accounts for stuff that's already out on DVD... like last season of your favorite tv shows.

And I know you can use things like NBA League Pass to watch sports, but those have their own limitations. Like you only get access to stuff that's NOT on cable... like THE PLAYOFFS!

Please I want to be wrong, so someone tell me what I'm missing.

Very pleased with mine. Bought it for the sole purpose of watching Netflix on my HDTV & am now using it for HBO GO, YouTube (though a 3rd party channel), Hulu+ and EpixHD content (although I won't be paying for the last 2 after the free trial). I had a little difficulty connecting to Netflix after activating the device but a simple Google search helped me out. All I had to do was hold down the OK button until Netflix connected to the content and I haven't had an issue since. Very, very pleased.

Can I stream content from my PC wirelessly through the Roku? Or do I need a Slingbox or something like that to do it?

CowboyDann wrote:I love my roku box, I haven't paid for cable in over 6 months and I don't miss it at all!

As always, this is great to take to hotels that have free wi-fi. Provides plenty of entertainment at no extra cost.

If you do this, I hate you. you're the reason I can't get any work done at the hotel because the internet is too slow.

I have both old and new Roku models. I recommend to pay a little more for the newer ones. There are a few channel/apps that only run (or run better) using the newer model Roku's.

I got one of these the last time around.
It was a poorly "refurbished" unit.
scratches all over it and the former owner's email address was still stored on the unit.

Bad business.

But it works and I glued it to the back of a 24" 1080P monitor for a mobile media device.

For only $15 more you can get a brand new not refurbished one directly from Roku!

Woot has $50 plus $5 shipping, $55 total.

Roku has a sale on right now $80 minus $10 discount plus free shipping, $70 total.

Refurbs are great and all, but I'd say $15 is worth it to get a brand new one.

cole103 wrote:Just plug into the hotel's ethernet cable into the Roku's port!!!

Not an answer. I am at a Hilton right now (and have been for 2 weeks) I can only get 1mb/s if I am lucky over their network (wired OR wireless)
Which means I can't stream anything but pandora to my Roku... which I brought along thinking it would be fine. I'v used it all of 20-minutes so far this trip. Ended up just buying an adapter for my laptop to connect to the TV for $6 so I can get my Dr. Who fix.

mshultise wrote:Roku now has an Android and I am sure Ipod remote application.

Just installed the official Roku app on my Android phone. Sweet.

Yes you can stream from your computer (or phone) via Plex.

http://elan.plexapp.com/2011/05/03/plex-on-the-roku/

I'd love a Picasa photo album on my ROKU. How do I go about it? Do you have a link to info on the web? Any help will be appreciated.

You have to Plex? you can't just use any media generic media streaming software over your router?

ride365 wrote:I really want to understand these kinds of declarations because they are so common. I absolutely want to ditch cable, but I can not agree with that statement. I can't find an easy way to watch current tv shows when they broadcast, or breaking news or watch live sports using roku without cable. If you don't use your cable that way, how are/were you using cable tv?

TV shows - I use Hulu Plus to get current shows, but I have to wait till the next day. I'm not generally impatient, but that's a big kink in what most people consider to be "watching tv." Plus only a portion of what's broadcast ends up on Hulu... most sitcoms are not, and most cable content is not (That's a DUH, but there is a lot of mainstream TV that's cable only).

Everyone says "use netflix instead of cable," but Netflix only accounts for stuff that's already out on DVD... like last season of your favorite tv shows.

And I know you can use things like NBA League Pass to watch sports, but those have their own limitations. Like you only get access to stuff that's NOT on cable... like THE PLAYOFFS!

Please I want to be wrong, so someone tell me what I'm missing.

Most people will want to keep basic cable and then add some combination of:

Netflix ($8/month)
HuluPlus ($8/month)
Amazon Prime-VOD-VideoOnDemand) ($80/year)
{this includes the free shipping stuff)

minkusdominkus wrote:Can I stream content from my PC wirelessly through the Roku? Or do I need a Slingbox or something like that to do it?

From another post:

Download the Plex Media Server on your computer and set it up to source your movie and tv show files. Then add the private channel "plex" on your roku account. Your LAN will then retrieve and stream directly from your computer, in many formats including avi.

Helpful links:
http://www.plexapp.com/
http://www.tested.com/videos/quicklook/videos/5762-quick-look-at-plex-for-roku/
http://forums.plexapp.com/index.php/forum/84-roku-streaming-players/

add the Plex Grid channel

phlypp wrote:I'm not sure why you'd use this one-trick pony for home media control when a tablet with mini-HMDI port does the same thing and more. However, my Woot Vizio tablet doesn't have a hard ethernet port, only wireless, so could be disadvantage for travel. Also, tablet can't be used for other things when being used for TV, although I haven't really tried anything fancy.

If you have a $50 tablet with multiple video output ports and a remote control and you'd be happy having it permanently connected to a TV and it comes with an easy to use interface for selecting video content, then you've equaled or bettered this deal with your tablet.

Be sure to add the Woot private channel to your newly refurbed Roku.

http://streamfree.tv/apps/roku-private-channels/by-category/special-interest/woot-1069-thread.html

auntpat wrote:With one of these babies and Netflix you can pretty much ditch cable (unless you're a news junkie). Be sure, however, to check first with your ISP and see if they have a limit on downloads as this will definitely up your usage.

Or Turner Classic Movies. That's what keeps me from ditching the satellite dish.

Not sure if anyone here has mentioned this yet, but Plex does even more than give you access to local media on your network. It also has its own channels, similar to Roku channels. One of the channels is a YouTube channel, which means you can actually get access to YouTube on your Roku. Of course, you have to first open the Plex app, and then open the YouTube channel from within it, adding an extra step, but that's it.

Plex also has a Hulu and Netflix channel of its own. The way the Hulu channel works is Plex loads the stream up on your server PC, transcodes it, and then sends it to your Roku (or other device using the Plex app). What this means is you can get access to the free version of Hulu, rather than needing Hulu Plus. It also means if you're in a country that doesn't have access to Hulu, you could find a friend in a country that does and have them set up Plex on their computer with the Hulu channel and have them share their Plex server with you (you can add multiple remote servers to Plex). This means you can now watch Hulu, even without having access to it in your country, because it's the Plex server in the other country that's loading the initial stream, not you.

Anyways, when in the Plex app on your Roku, go all the way down to the bottom row of icons (where the Settings icon is), and go to the arrow on the far right; click this to load the Channels store. Note that certain channels, like the Hulu and Netflix one, require your Windows computer to be running Windows 7 or 8 (no XP), or your Mac to have installed a certain plugin (from the Plex preferences panel on your Mac). They're not available through a Linux server, though. This is because those channels use Flash or Silverlight, and it needs to be able to access the video and audio streams within them. YouTube will always work though because they provide their videos in HTML5 as well as Flash.

ALSO, another way to get access to YouTube videos (and some other ones) through Plex is by adding the bookmarklet script to your browser (or the extension to Chrome). When on a video page in your browser, you'd click on the extension/bookmark and it'll add the video to your myPlex Queue. Make sure you have a myPlex account, and that your Roku is logged in to it through the Plex settings. Your queue will then show up on the Plex main page, and you can watch the video from there.

syninthecity wrote:Good price on these first gen players, does everything the 2nd gen xd does for 20 or 30 dollars less. You can do anything but play angry birds.

Save your shekels and buy a Roku II. The hulu client on these is broken and will crash periodically. Hulu claims to have developers working on the problem, but I have no issues since I got a Roku II.

DameEdithDivine wrote:I'd love a Picasa photo album on my ROKU. How do I go about it? Do you have a link to info on the web? Any help will be appreciated.

There's a Picasa web channel if you have your albums synchronized: http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=30575

mshultise wrote:Roku now has an Android and I am sure Ipod remote application.

Yep, the iOS app I have has been out for years. There are several.

If you have an Android phone, you can download an app that will let you use your phone as a remote. I have it and it works great, especially for those times that I don't want to walk ALL the way across the room.

Zerxer wrote:Plex also has a Hulu and Netflix channel of its own. The way the Hulu channel works is Plex loads the stream up on your server PC, transcodes it, and then sends it to your Roku (or other device using the Plex app). What this means is you can get access to the free version of Hulu, rather than needing Hulu Plus.

If it works for you. I have an XR, and the Hulu Plex channel will list the shows, but if I try to play them I get an error.

You do not need anything more then your PC to act as a server and the ROKU box. The other devices work with ROKU, but they are just other devices to act as your ROKU box does, a way to get the different channels to your TV.

You must have PlayOn running on a PC in your home network and that will act as your PlayOn Server to send to your ROKU. So youselect the PlayOn Channel that you will install on your ROKU and a whole new set of channels appears, including NETFLIX.If you are not clear just send me your EMAIL, glad to help clear it up.

As to the other poster asking me how I get HBO2GO o my ROKU, I did nothing. Just added the channel and it works.There was no "special tweaking" involved.

sindex23 wrote:Sounds good, but this requires a little more than just "a few bucks" since it requires a Wii, xBox 360 or PS3. So in addition being a much more expensive service, you need a $250-400 device to stream.

D:

I got a Roku XD in a Brick of Carbonite and even though I already had a Wii, computer, etc., the Roku is by far my favorite way to watch Netflix. You don't realize how convenient it is to have an always-on device like this until you use one. It's also nice to know it only draws about 6 watts during playback, so you're saving on power.

And this is nitpicking, Woot, but the instant replay button skips back 7 seconds, not 10.

Agreed, I use NETFLIX Streaming Only for $7.99 a month. Theres plenty of Movies and TV shows to keep you going, BELIEVE ME !! Lol. Whats my favorite perk is I will find a TV Series that is on NETFLIX that I had never seen before. Suddenly you have 1 -2-3 seasons (even more) of a show to watch, in a row. Many a time I will watch a whole TV Series over the course of a few days to weeks. No commercials and I dont wait from week to week or even season to season to see what is up!!

cdeviney wrote:Most people will want to keep basic cable and then add some combination of:

Netflix ($8/month)
HuluPlus ($8/month)
Amazon Prime-VOD-VideoOnDemand) ($80/year)
{this includes the free shipping stuff)

You are spot on. All you need is a PC running PlayOn as your server and your ROKU. Also keep in mind that your PC will also serve as a server for other PCs on your networkAND allow you to view on your different Mobile devices. Works great to watch on my IPAD when I am out and about. Also will work with almsot all of the popular Smartphpone protocals, Android, Apple etc.

I forgot about the PlayOn -ROKU deal. Another good option. Remeber the license sale dos end on the 13th I think.

Also, one more thing, PlayOn also will give you a You Tube channel to watch on your ROKU !

ljw143 wrote:re: Playon's lifetime license sale:




I just checked Playon's site, and it looks like they stream directly to a Roku box. Am I missing something?

And they're also offering this deal: http://www.playon.tv/bundle/buy/ A lifetime license for Playon and Play Later (ie: record and watch whenever) bundle for $129.99, and you get a free current-gen Roku XDS.

craigthom wrote:Or Turner Classic Movies. That's what keeps me from ditching the satellite dish.

I must admit, TCM is great. I never thought I would sit around watching old B&W movies. Until you spend some time watching the "Greats", you do not know what you are missing. Back when acting and talentand directors were what made the movie. No CGI, special effects etc. Just plain incredible acting skills. Don't get me wrong, we have excellent actors today as well, but until you watch Cagney, Garbo, John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, William Holden, John Garfield, The Barrymore Family (Yeah Drews Grabdfather LOL ) .... OK Mini Rant / Off Topic Post isover.

JW, your PlayOn license goes with the software that runs oin your Homes Server. What connects to that is up to you. Change PCs, simply load PlayOn on the new PC and let the devices find your PlayOn server running on the new PC and your off and running. Remeber, with the PlayOn software you are able to watch TV, Home Videos on every PC in the home network (as well as many mobile devices as have listed)

Please accept my apologies for so many response posts. But I do want to answer any questions my fellow Wooters have. The PlayOn server software does lend itself to creating questions, no doubt. I am fairly knowledgeable about PlayOn as I had been a tester many many moons ago, so I do know a fair amount about PlayOn as well as ROKU.

vinylpvc wrote:Wooters, my head is swimming! I am very excited to get in on this "dump my monthly cable bill" group of smarties, but I have a couple of questions before I drop $129.99 for a lifetime license.
1. How will this work w/2 televisions? Do I need to buy 2 bundles?
2. If one of my TVs dies, will I be able to 'connect' this subscription to my new set(s)?

Thanks oh wise ones!