Best Roku Yet!

Story from - http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/roku-2-xs-best-streamer/

A few days ago, Roku announced its latest streaming box, the $100 Roku 3. It hasn't been extensively reviewed at this point, but the consensus by those who've spent some time with it is that it's a more than worthy successor to our previous pick, the XS, which it also happens to be replacing.

(Last Updated March 13, 2013: Switched our pick to the Roku 3.)

What makes a good streaming box?

Streaming boxes are rapidly becoming a must have component of most modern living rooms. Basically, they allow us to watch internet TV on our real TVs, which is great because that means less dependence on expensive cable subscriptions and the like.
We’re not quite at the point where we can write-off cable entirely–live sports and same-day TV show access remain sticking points–but if those aren’t major concerns for you, there’s not many good reasons not to try switching to a streaming only option for a bit to see how you like it.
Sure, the multiple subscriptions needed to access all the content you want can start to add up pretty quickly ($8 for Hulu+, another $8 for Netflix, then there’s Amazon Prime, and the fact that you need to pay per episode/season for current season shows…), but at least there’s fewer commercials and it’s still cheaper than most cable/satellite plans. And you get the watch-when-you want flexibility of having a DVR, without having to deal with an extra box and subscription add-on.
So those are the reasons for trying streaming out, but what makes a good streaming box?
Well first and foremost, it should stream a lot of different content.
And it shouldn’t cost too much–about $100 is the norm. Much of the draw of streaming is the fact that it’s so cheap. It’s not worth spending a big chunk of change on something that’s supposed to save you money. Plus, a lot of Blu-Ray players, including our pick, come with apps that allow you to access most major streaming services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon instant video. So a good streaming box should offer a bit more than just basic functionality.
We find that $100 is a good price point that gives you everything you need, like access to all the major streaming services, full HD 1080p output,  and an easy to use interface; and features you want, like faster dual-band Wi-Fi for quicker and better quality streaming  and access to more obscure, but often useful services and apps; without tacking on too many cost-adding features, like cloud-based DVR stuff.
Developer support is key. You want to know that your box will get the support it needs in the form of firmware updates and additional software-based features for at least a couple years.
The Roku 3 meets all these requirements with minimal drawbacks.

Our pick

If you haven't purchased a streaming box thus far and are looking for cheap access to tons of movies and shows, we thinkthe Roku 3 is easily the best fit for most people.

It has the same channel line up as the old box, best in class. (You can check the Roku’s channel line up here.)
But the Roku 3 is a thoughtful upgrade with some legitimately useful new features.
Most noteworthy is the completely revamped interface and a new remote that allows for a private listening mode.
With regard to the new UI, CNet's Matt Moskovciak says "the first thing you'll notice is you can now see nine channels at once, compared with just five on the old interface." "The new layout also reveals three more channels with every click," he says, "which lets you zip through all your channels in a fraction of the time."
Mossberg adds that the streamlined UI makes it far easier to get into the channel store where you can add and remove channels as needed. "The whole thing is just cleaner and easier," he says. Combined with that faster processor and dual band Wi-Fi, reviewers say navigating and universal search are also much snappier on the Roku 3.
The new private listening mode is accomplished through a built-in wireless headphone jack in the remote. Plug in the included pair of earbuds (or your own) and the TV will automatically mute. You can also adjust the volume directly on the remote with a rocker on the side.
"It's essentially a makeshift wireless-headphones solution," says Moskovciak, "but I think it's a feature that will get regular use." Mossberg agrees. He used the feature while working out on a treadmill, which has a noisy motor and typically requires him to crank up the volume on the TV.
Another cool thing about the remote is that it works on direct Wi-Fi Direct so you don’t have to point it at the box for it to work.
The Roku 3 also comes equipped with a faster processor and support for dual-band Wi-Fi (a/b/g/n). It’s hard to tell why a streaming box that can already handle HD needs a better processor, but its not like that added to the price of the box over the last generation model. However, the Wi-Fi is a  welcome addition, as many Roku 2 owners have complained about poor or unreliable wireless connectivity.
Lastly, the box itself has been redesigned. The edges are now slightly rounded, it's a little bit smaller, and yet also weighs about two ounces more (5 ounces vs the XS's 3). This has the added benefit of keeping it in place, not always an easy task with a heavy HDMI cable shooting out the back.
Roku, like other streamers, is also constantly improving over time thanks to new deals and firmware updates. When Roku announced the new 3, they also announced that the new interface would be coming to models that are coming up on 2 years old at this point. That demonstrates a commitment to their users.
Furthermore, At this year’s CES the company announecd a deal with Time Warner Cable to bring over 300 live cable channels to Roku boxes. Of course, it's only available to people that actually subscribe to cable and is contingent on what package you have, but still, live cable on an internet streaming box is pretty exciting. The Roku XS 1080p is also among the few devices capable of taking advantage of Netflix's new "SuperHD" streams (provided your ISP supports the Open Connect protocol).
Who else likes it?

There aren’t too many reviews out there at this time, but overall, every reviewer so far has come away impressed by the Roku 3.
The most comprehensive review we’ve seen so far comes from David Pierce, senior review editor at the Verge, subtitled “This is how you make a set-top box.” Pierce gives the Roku 3 an excellent score of 8.9/10, stating in no light terms, “While testing the Roku 3, I got the sense over and over that the company just gets what people want from a set-top box.”
Pierce goes on to praise the new interface, that’s made faster by the new processor which “improves the whole experience — menus and videos load faster than on the Apple TV, and much faster than on any previous Roku.” However, his favorite feature was the ability to plug headphones into the remote. He describes it as a seamless experience: “Plug in a pair of headphones, and audio automatically stops playing on the TV and comes through your headphones instead; unplug them, and it starts playing on your TV speakers again, all without the video ever skipping a beat.” He concludes by saying that he no longer uses his AppleTV for anything but AirPlay, and that’s only because he has so many other Apple products. If you’re not an Apple person, it’s a no-brainer, the Roku is the best media streamer for your TV, bar none.
StreamingMediaBlog's Dan Rayburn says "Roku already had the best content available and with a new user interface, faster loading channels, increased Wi-Fi performance and quicker video playback, the new Roku 3 is easily the best $99 streamer in the market."
CNet's Moskovciak agrees: "The new Roku 3 feels like a very polished update to a series of streaming boxes that were already excellent," he says.
Mark Spoonauer of Laptop Magazine gave the Roku 3 an Editor’s Choice designation and described it as “a first-rate media-streaming device at a great price, turning any TV into a smart TV.”
But if you already own a previous-gen Roku box, this latest version doesn't quite raise the bar high enough to justify spending another $100. As Walt Mossberg says in his video review, the Roku 3 is "more of an evolutionary update, not a revolutionary one.
Speaking of the previous gen Roku, many of the reviews for the Roku 2 XS still apply to the new model since all the good stuff like channel variety and simplicity still carry over.
CNet editors John Falcone and David Carnoy give the older XS model a 4/5 rating and Editor’s Choice, noting its all-around value: “Put another way, even with the increased competition–most notably in the Apple realm–and despite some shortcomings, the simplicity, affordable price, and superior programming selection of the Roku 2 XS make it the go-to choice for buyers looking for a sub-$100 solution for accessing the increasingly attractive panoply of online streaming-media services.”
AnandTech editor Ganesh T S likes the XS as a set-top for the everyman: “As long as the prospective customer understands what he is getting (a very good VoD player for subscription services with Angry Birds on the TV, and the promise of more paid games to come), and is comfortable with the price he is paying for it, there should be no issues.”
It’s not perfect
As far as downsides are concerned, nearly every reviewer continues to focus on the glaring omission of native YouTube. Granted, there are channels like VideoBuzz that provide a round-about way of streaming it. You can also do it through Plex, but many users say the experience isn’t all that great . For a box that now includes access to more than 700 streaming channels–by far the most of any dedicated streamer–this does seem like a pretty big oversight. In the grand scheme of things, however, we're not convinced YouTube ranks up there with other premium services. We certainly wouldn't give it the same deference as HBO GO and Amazon Instant–two things still missing from the Apple TV (HBO GO can be accessed via AirPlay on ATV and supposedly there’s a native app coming soon).
The new Roku 3 also loses the component output that came with its predecessors. Again, this shouldn't be a deal breaker for most people. But the absence is worth noting for those thinking about using it with an older TV.
We are also concerned that the motion sensitive controller might chew through batteries but no reviewer has addressed this yet. It might be a good idea to get some rechargeables for it, here's our pick.
The Roku also lacks wireless screensharing capabilities like AirPlay and Miracast. This isn’t really a dealbreaker–especially considering you can get much of the same functionality when it comes to viewing media by using Plex–but it’s still nice to have. Apple users should seriously consider the Apple TV instead because of this reason, but for the most part, we feel the Roku’s better UI, myriad channels, and its unique private listening mode more than make up for its shortcomings.

Last year’s model?

As for last year’s pick, the XS, if you can find it, we still think it's a great little box but ultimately not worth it since it costs about the same and is inferior.

If it does get to be about 50% of the cost of a Roku 3, it might be worth it if you’re insistent on saving a few bucks. Just like the new Roku 3, the XS offers heaps of content and will play locally-stored files (MKV and MP4 (H.264), AAC, MP3, JPG, PNG) from an attached USB drive. Come April, it and the rest of the Roku lineup will also receive the same revamped UI via a firmware update. It's unclear at this point how this may affect performance on Roku 2 boxes, if at all. But again, the new Roku 3 does feature a faster processor and that better wireless and the remote headphone jack.
It's largely because of this impending update that we are recommending current Roku users not run out and buy the new Roku 3. Dieter Bohn of The Verge agrees with this advice, saying "[the Roku 3 is] almost surely not worth the upgrade for current users — especially since Roku will be disseminating the new interface to 'current-generation Roku devices' as a software update this April."
Laptop Magazine’s Spoonauer is in agreement: “If you currently own a Roku box, there isn’t much incentive to upgrade,” he says, “as the updated software is coming to all current-generation Roku devices in April.”

Apple TV?

Sure, if you’re an Apple owner who makes regular use of iTunes for music and movie purchases, Apple TV is worth having instead, or also, since these things are no more than $100 each. Check to make sure the streaming services and videos you’ll likely use are supported on each before buying either, though.

Streaming from a PC?

Many readers have also been asking about the best streaming box for playing the widest variety of downloaded movie files.

The Roku by itself is admittedly not that great at streaming files from a PC. And Apple TV is really only good for streaming iTunes purchases from a desktop or files you’ve imported into iTunes, which means it’s finicky about which files types it will play.
Based on our research, there are really two good options here. While it hasn't received the same critical praise as the ATV and Roku boxes, the WD Live TV tends to lead the streaming pack when it comes to file compatibility. It’s still missing some pretty big streaming services like HBO GO and Amazon Instant, but it does support nearly every media format you can think of, including AVI (Xvid, AVC, MPEG1/2/4), MPG/ MPEG, VOB, MKV (H.264, x.264, AVC, MPEG1/2/4, VC-1), TS/TP/M2T (MPEG1/2/4, AVC, VC-1), MP4/MOV (MPEG4, H.264), M2TS and WMV9.
In fact, CNet’s Ty Pendlebury says "the reason you'd buy this over the Roku is if you have a large library of digital files.” "The laundry list of supported types misses very little and includes notables such as FLAC, AAC, MKV, DivX, and even ISOs,” he says. “The small Dolby TrueHD logo on the top suggests that the device will also play Blu-ray 'rips' with full-quality sound (although we didn't test this)."
Unlike ATV and Roku 3, the WD TV Live also supports DLNA, although many reviewers note that performance can be spotty. Keep in mind too that choosing this box will also mean you won't get the same robust lineup of streaming channels that Roku has, although mainstays like Spotify, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Vudu and Pandora are included.
The other option for those with a diverse portfolio of file formats is to simply use media server software like Plex, which is available on all Roku boxes, Google TV devices, some LG connected devices, as well as some Samsung HDTVs. Plex for Roku gives you access to all your local media by connecting to your Plex Media Server on your computer. This will also enhance your ability to play a number of different formats because the content you point it to on your computer can be transcoded by the servers before it is streamed. Keep in mind that, depending on the hardware that's doing the actual transcoding, the results can vary.
There’s no evidence at this point that the souped-up processor on the Roku 3 does much to enhance the Plex experience. According to a Plex employee, the biggest benefit in the short term will be a snappier UI. “In the short term all I'd expect to see as a result [of the faster processor] is for the UI to be a bit snappier,” he said in a forum post. “And as of now, the new UI is limited to the Roku screens, not channels. So you'll get a much more modern home screen and greatly enhanced search features (as demoed on the Roku blog). I can only assume that that will change over time as the new SDK is made available to channels.”
The competition
The Roku is our best streamer for the masses, but there are other options out there that may be better for specific tasks:

• Boxee Box ($175) is great if you want the most features and don’t care about price. It has top-notch file compatibility, a decent library of content partners, web browsing, and even a cool QWERTY remote. It’s knockedin reviews regularly for minor bugs and crashes, but the UI is smooth.  Boxee is also the only device in this lineup (save for AppleTV) that supports AirPlay. It’s iPad app is fantastic for streaming video to the tablet. Licensing disagreements means no Hulu Plus (for now) but if you're willing to shell out another $50 for Boxee's HDTV tuner you can watch OTA TV. These individual features can be found in cheaper devices, but if you must have everything in a single box (and don't mind the added expense) then Boxee is your box. Boxee recently released Boxee TV, which is a cloud-based DVR that lets you record as much as you want, and play back via any device that can load an HTML 5 webpage. However, it's currently only available in certain markets, only works with over-the-air signals (or unencrypted cable), and has a $10/month subscription. An interesting product for sure, but not really competition for the Roku, at least not yet. (*The Boxee Box has been discontinued, although D-Link and Boxee have stated they will still support it for at least the near term. It's replacement, Boxee TV, features a more limited set of streaming apps, but integrates dual digital TV tuners and provides a DVR function backed by cloud-based storage and watch-anywhere services. It started shipping last November at $99 but its DVR features were limited to only a handful of major markets. This is still the case.
• Western Digital’s TV Live ($89). As noted above, this box is ideal for streaming a wide variety of files across your own network, but it’s lighter on content and overall stability. It’s perfect if you’re mainly wanting to playback downloaded video files and is also compatible with Plex and other media server software.

• The WD TV Play ($70) is the new step down model to the Live and has much of the same flexibility when it comes to streaming files on your local network, but it's cheaper and loses support for DTS audio and MPEG video playback. It's getting some good initial reviews from CNet(4 stars) and Ars Technica, but it's crippled by a lack of Amazon Prime Instant, HBO GO, and sports streaming services. Furthermore, it only has a middling 3 star Amazon rating averaged over 21 reviews. We say pass, especially considering you can use Plex to get much of the same functionality on the Roku.
• The Xbox 360 ($199), PS3 ($245), connected Blu-ray player, or SmartTV you already own most likely streams Netflix and plays local files too. Fan noise might be a problem with the consoles, but they’re just as capable and offer a lot of the same content. These boxes tend to spin their fans loudly when playing HD video, so there's that to consider, too.

• AppleTV is a no-brainer for heavy iTunes users. The show/movie library isn’t as big as Roku’s, but AirPlay–the streaming protocol that lets Apple gadgets send video and audio to the AppleTV and your big screen–adds a huge value for anyone with an iPad or iPhone. At $99 it's also one of the cheapest ways to add AirPlay to your home theater setup.

• Now's a good time to mention there are $60 and $70 Roku 2 boxes. They lose full 1080p HD and ethernet and so we think the extra money is worth it. The XS has angry birds and a motion controller for that, which is useless, but the ethernet is nice to have. If you don't plan on using a Roku 2 with a wired connection, you can get the Roku 2 XD and save $15.
• Google's Nexus Q media streamer ($299) is the opposite side of the AppleTV coin; it's only a great fit for Android users. As of its announcement, it only supported Google's in-house "Play" services for streaming music, movies, TV, and YouTube. Otherwise, bread and butter services like Netflix and Pandora are MIA which easily puts the Q behind cheaper content powerhouses like the Roku 2. You can't use it to stream media from most any app like you can on Apple TV. And it costs $299. Sure, it sports a 25 watt amp for powering speakers, along with micro-HDMI out, optical out, dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, and an ethernet port. But I'd rather see a $50 box that plays and streams from any app and many services rather than just "Play" media. Oh look, we're not alone in thinking this box is a weird, overpriced one. Thankfully though, Google seems to have realized how half-baked the Q was and are now postponing its launch indefinitely so it can spend some more time in the oven. Hopefully they'll address all the aforementioned issues and make it into something normal people might actually want, but that might just be wishful thinking.
• Roku recently launched the Streaming Stick, which looks like a large USB flash drive. Inside, however, are all the basics of Roku’s regular boxes (including WiFi). It’s the same price as the 2 XS, streams 1080p video, and doesn't require any external cables. However, you will need a TV with the new MHL (Mobile High-Definition Link) interface. This looks just like an HDMI connection, but also transfers power to the connected device. If you bought a mid- or high-end TV in the last year or so, you might have an MHL connector. Check your owners manual, or the back of the TV, as MHL inputs should be labeled as such. The Streaming Stick’s advantage over the 2 XS is only the lack of extra wires, so unless you have a new TV and are looking to reduce clutter, the 2 XS is still our pick.
• LG's Smart TV Upgrader ($70) offers LG's suite of connected TV features in media streamer form. While it does include a web browser, the current lack of Amazon Instant Video limits its desirability.
• Google TV soldiers on in products like the Logitech Revue, Sony NSZ-GS7, and Vizio Co-Star. None have received many positive reviews. CNET, in their 2.5/5 review of the Co-Star, put it succinctly: "The Google TV software continues to disappoint." Viewed as just a media streamer, Google TV offers similar streaming services as the Roku, but with a clunkier interface.
• The Asus Qube, which debuted this week at CES, aims to fix Google TV's interface problem by implementing a–wait for it–cube-based interface involving motion and voice controls. It's certainly different, but we didn't find it particularly better than the straightforward navigation offered by Roku.

Wrapping it up
Even though the Roku 3 is great, you might need a combination of devices if you want to cover every single base. None of the current devices on the market truly ace the mix of form+function+content+price+advanced features that make a phenomenal streamer. On the bright side, they’re mostly inexpensive.