Roku 3 Users

[r00ney08]

Afternoon,

I was hoping someone with a Roku 3 could just give me some feedback as I am looking by one.

I currently have a Popcornhour which I use to stream from a media server and also access content on the local drive. The interface can be a bit slow and I was thinking about changing to the Roku. While I have read that the Roku works should be able to stream from a local library, I was wondering if anyone is doing this and if so does it work well?

How is the actual interface in terms of accessing local and networked content?

And advise is greatly appreciated!

 

[ngwe23]

A Roku is NOT for local media. Sure you can do it with limited capability, but I would get something else for those purposes.

 

[r00ney08]

A Roku is NOT for local media. Sure you can do it with limited capability, but I would get something else for those purposes.

Does local mean internal drives, or internal drives and networked drives?

 

[Bona Botse]

Roku 3 works great for local media if the server has Plex server installed. I use it primarily (80%) for just that, and it hasn't skipped a beat. I was previously using WDTV Live but the slow and sometimes unresponsive interface made me switch to Roku. I now have 2 Rokus with a third one incoming.

 

[buyeye]

I bought 2 when I was tired of hacking my apple tv. The interface is not as shiny as the apple tv but more user friendly like the size of movie posters in hulu which I can actually see on the roku but are too small on the apple tv.

About local streaming you need to install a plex media server and it works flawlessly.

I also have a question about how to get bbc iplayer on the roku 3 as I have uk account with roku and unotelly setup but I can't find the Chanel in the Chanel store.

 

[r00ney08]

Roku 3 works great for local media if the server has Plex server installed. I use it primarily (80%) for just that, and it hasn't skipped a beat. I was previously using WDTV Live but the slow and sometimes unresponsive interface made me switch to Roku. I now have 2 Rokus with a third one incoming.

Thanks for that, it helps with my decision as I thought it would work but wanted to be certain. I have read about the Plex, but I wanted to find out how people with the device were using it.

Are you just buying your devices directly off Amazon?

 

[r00ney08]

One final Question, I have 4 screens in my house, 3 are 1080P and one is 720p, will it work with the 720p screen?

 

[JV_011_]

best device you can invest on. I use mine for Netflix, Hulu+, Vevo, Pandora, SkyNews, CNN, BBC and ocasional eNCA(If it doesnt bom out). Its fast, comapred to ps3, easy to use, pluss the remote is awesome. It has headphones jack if you dont want to make noise.

 

[Bona Botse]

Thanks for that, it helps with my decision as I thought it would work but wanted to be certain. I have read about the Plex, but I wanted to find out how people with the device were using it.

Are you just buying your devices directly off Amazon?

Yep, I order directly off Amazon.

One final Question, I have 4 screens in my house, 3 are 1080P and one is 720p, will it work with the 720p screen?

Should work fine on 720p TV as long as the TV has HDMI inputs.

 

[Yotch]

Have you looked at one of the locally available android machines which can run XBMC? These are android tablets without screens which are much more powerful than the Roku. They also presumably have warranties in case of a malfunction which may be more of a problem in the case of an import from Amazon.
http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/droidtv-with-android-422-and-xbmc-p-437
http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=108&products_id=941

 

[Smokey_sa]

I also have a question about how to get bbc iplayer on the roku 3 as I have uk account with roku and unotelly setup but I can't find the Chanel in the Chanel store.

I have opted for the Plex Channel of BBC Iplayer, works fine for me.

 

[Ancalagon]

Have you looked at one of the locally available android machines which can run XBMC? These are android tablets without screens which are much more powerful than the Roku. They also presumably have warranties in case of a malfunction which may be more of a problem in the case of an import from Amazon.
http://www.avsupply.co.za/product_info.php/droidtv-with-android-422-and-xbmc-p-437
http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.php?cPath=108&products_id=941

I ordered the first one you mentioned yesterday - should get it tomorrow apparently. Will let everyone know how it performs.

 

[123Eish]

How is plex on the roku, is it as quick and responsive as the pc version, as well does it support all the features that the pc version supports, channels, etc. Another thing can you stream 1080 via wifi or do you need Ethernet. Also on the pc version you can install skins, can you do so on the roku

 

[weelzSA]

How is plex on the roku, is it as quick and responsive as the pc version, as well does it support all the features that the pc version supports, channels, etc. Another thing can you stream 1080 via wifi or do you need Ethernet. Also on the pc version you can install skins, can you do so on the roku

Plex on the Roku is to me the best way to use Plex. Everything just works. Menus are fast and content displays perfectly. Haven't had any problems in the last 10 months with using my Roku 3 and Plex to stream local content. FYI - Plex gets used everyday.

 

[Yotch]

I ordered the first one you mentioned yesterday - should get it tomorrow apparently. Will let everyone know how it performs.

It definitely appears that the android based media players will start to dominate the media player/streamer market in the near future. New, better and faster processors are being released every few weeks with the older versions dropping in price. Geniatech has already released a new player using the latest quad core Amlogic processor. The G-Box Midnight MX2 (very similar if not identical to the DroidTV MX) currently seems to be selling very well on Amazon. Give us some feedback on how well this unit performs.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics/352696011/ref=sr_bs_1

 

[MongooseMan]

Just a note that MediaBrowser have a Roku client, currently in public beta.
I don't have a Roku, but use MB3 on my PC, iPhone and iPad, and prefer it to Plex/XMBC/etc.

Use it, don't use it...

 

[Ancalagon]

It definitely appears that the android based media players will start to dominate the media player/streamer market in the near future. New, better and faster processors are being released every few weeks with the older versions dropping in price. Geniatech has already released a new player using the latest quad core Amlogic processor. The G-Box Midnight MX2 (very similar if not identical to the DroidTV MX) currently seems to be selling very well on Amazon. Give us some feedback on how well this unit performs.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics/352696011/ref=sr_bs_1

The DroidTV MX is actually a clone of the G-Box Midnight MX2 and can in fact run the same firmware. There are lots of clones of it available.

Will let you guys know as soon as I get it setup.

 

[ngwe23]

Roku finally gets YouTube. Quite neat esp the Chromecast like features. :thumbup:

 

[goofball]

Roku finally gets YouTube. Quite neat esp the Chromecast like features. :thumbup:

Awesome!

But what chromecast type features?

 

[ngwe23]

Awesome!

But what chromecast type features?

You can cast your videos from your YouTube app to the Roku connected TV. The phone then takes over remote functionality.