Roku / Google TV

[Jan Van]

Does anybody here have experience with Roku and/or Google TV?

I'm wondering how easy it is to use these streamers to play random internet content. For example, we were watching a Japanese movie (with subtitles) on the PC a couple of weeks ago: Zen Master Dogen. It's a two hour movie, so if I could use something like Roku or Google Tv to stream it to my tv instead, that would be cool. But i'm not sure if that would work, so I'd appreciate if y'all could share your experiences...

Jan

[l82start]

i have a new TV that can be internet connected for streaming, but i don't use it, i decided it was easier to connect my laptop to the TV and use it as a monitor, anything that i can play/stream on the laptop i can now view on the TV, all it cost was the price of a monitor cable, no additional equipment or internet connections required..

[Coffee]

I've got a Roku box.  I used it for about 6 months (after moving, I didn't have cable hooked up to see if I could break the addiction.  I couldn't.)

To answer your question: You can't stream directly from the internet.  You have to go through Roku "channels" which pipe selected programming.  Not really so great. 

[Jan Van]

Thanks guys. Guess that excludes the Roku. Have to take a closer look at Google TV then...

[KevinW]

I also have a PC permanently plugged into the TV.  Works great.

[Jan Van]

I don't have a pc near my TV, and I want something more permanent and easy I guess. Don't want to carry around my laptop for this.

Mind you, my TV is broken at the moment, so I need to get a new one (suggestions welcome, >= 60"). And my Onkyo receiver stopped working too, that one needs to be repaired :-/

[Storm]

I don't have a pc near my TV, and I want something more permanent and easy I guess. Don't want to carry around my laptop for this.

Mind you, my TV is broken at the moment, so I need to get a new one (suggestions welcome, >= 60"). And my Onkyo receiver stopped working too, that one needs to be repaired :-/

I would stay away from GoogleTV.  Google abandoned that product line as they are now focusing more on Android so I would expect to see an Android based TV box in the near future from them.

Here are your options:

• Best - Laptop with an HDMI cable, bluetooth wireless keyboard (you can leave the laptop next to the TV and just carry the keyboard like a remote control - see http://www.logitech.com/en-us/keyboards ... vices/3848
• Better - Sony PS3 or Xbox 360 will let you stream Netflix and Hulu, as well as movies from your Windows PC (they must already be downloaded to your Windows PC)
• Good - Roku or AppleTV - Let you stream Netflix and Hulu; AppleTV is also nice because you can stream your entire iTunes library to your home theatre stereo system, as well as show slideshows with your family pictures.

If your requirement is absolutely: I want to be able to watch anything from my computer on the TV, the only thing that will satisfy that requirement is a computer plugged into your TV.  Try the bluetooth keyboard/mouse - it really does make it usable.  Another option is a 25 foot HDMI cable that you can purchase from monoprice.com.

If you just want a lean-back Netflix/Hulu streaming experience, you can get that from PS3, Xbox360, Roku, or AppleTV.

[Jan Van]

Storm, I don't think Google is abandoning GTV, and isn't that based on Android anyhoo? Logitech did abandon it, which is why their Revue is so cheap now. So I think it might still be an option.

I do have a Sony BD player that I use to stream Netflix. That works fine. And I bought a PS3 for my son yesterday, quite nice. Won't help me much, but at least I can experiment a bit with it :-)

[KevinW]

I agree with Storm, the most versatile and robust thing is a PC.  PCs can stream Netflix, Hulu, individual websites, and probably anything else that might be invented in the next few years.

In addition to conventional desktops and laptops, there are "media PCs" which are more suited to this application, e.g.
http://usa.asus.com/Eee/EeeBox_PC/EeeBox_PC_B202/

A newer option is to permanently hook up an Android or iOS device to a TV.  I wouldn't recommend that right now though since some content providers discriminate against "mobile devices," defined as devices that run Android or iOS.

[l82start]

i went with the laptop as being the most versatile as well, the wireless keyboard or the twenty foot cable would be a nice upgrade to work from multiple locations, i may go with the longer cable option myself at some point, another neat feature is getting a TV with a USB port i can download movies on my desk top and then transfer them to a memory stick/external drive which allows me to watch blue-ray/ hi-def quality movies without a blue-ray player...

[Storm]

Storm, I don't think Google is abandoning GTV, and isn't that based on Android anyhoo? Logitech did abandon it, which is why their Revue is so cheap now. So I think it might still be an option.

I do have a Sony BD player that I use to stream Netflix. That works fine. And I bought a PS3 for my son yesterday, quite nice. Won't help me much, but at least I can experiment a bit with it :-)

GoogleTV is not based on Android, it is an Intel platform.  It looks like Google is overhauling GoogleTV to run Android apps, but this surely means they aren't happy with the existing platform and are looking to redo things:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news/201 ... istake.ars

Definitely try out the PS3... it's a great streaming box.

[Jan Van]

GoogleTV is not based on Android, it is an Intel platform.

Storm, see here Google TV Frequently Asked Questions

What version of Android is Google TV running?
Google TV version 1 runs Android 2.1. Google TV version 2 will run Android 3.1.

Will my existing Android apps work on Google TV?
After we make Android Market available, your applications will work on Google TV unless they require a hardware or software feature not supported by Google TV. However, we hope developers will optimize their applications for TV to tap into the opportunities provided by a big screen and TV content.

It does look quite cool. Too bad the PS3 doesn't support it :-)

[Storm]

GoogleTV is not based on Android, it is an Intel platform.

Storm, see here Google TV Frequently Asked Questions

What version of Android is Google TV running?
Google TV version 1 runs Android 2.1. Google TV version 2 will run Android 3.1.

Will my existing Android apps work on Google TV?
After we make Android Market available, your applications will work on Google TV unless they require a hardware or software feature not supported by Google TV. However, we hope developers will optimize their applications for TV to tap into the opportunities provided by a big screen and TV content.

It does look quite cool. Too bad the PS3 doesn't support it :-)

Sorry, you're right, GoogleTV is based on Android, but it is not the same Android that runs on smartphones.  It is ported to an Intel x86 chip.  What I meant to say is that Google TV 2 will most likely run on an ARM processor similar to the Roku and AppleTV, and the apps will be incompatible with Google TV 1 (the currently available one).  That's why I said it's a dead end platform.

You likely will see a version of Google TV running Android 3.1 in 2012, but it will be on an ARM processor and more closely match the smartphone version.

[Lone Wolf]

In addition to conventional desktops and laptops, there are "media PCs" which are more suited to this application, e.g.
http://usa.asus.com/Eee/EeeBox_PC/EeeBox_PC_B202/

This is a neat idea.  Is this one that you (or anyone else) has used?  Any recommendations or advice in the "media PC" arena that you all can offer?

I have long wanted to kill my cable but have been a big wuss about it.  One of the main sticking points is that some of my wife's TV shows don't stream over services like Hulu+ but rather only over the network website.  This looks like a good solution for that.

[Storm]

In addition to conventional desktops and laptops, there are "media PCs" which are more suited to this application, e.g.
http://usa.asus.com/Eee/EeeBox_PC/EeeBox_PC_B202/

This is a neat idea.  Is this one that you (or anyone else) has used?  Any recommendations or advice in the "media PC" arena that you all can offer?

I have long wanted to kill my cable but have been a big wuss about it.  One of the main sticking points is that some of my wife's TV shows don't stream over services like Hulu+ but rather only over the network website.  This looks like a good solution for that.

I've used those and they're great, however, I would caution you that with only 1GB of RAM and Windows XP home it's not going to be a really powerful machine.  It works for basic web browsing and that's about it.  It works fine for streaming, although you might want a little more horsepower if you're going to be streaming HD video.

This is the one I would recommend if you're going to stream HD video - it has Windows 7, 2GB of RAM, and a more powerful chipset that should support 1080p:

http://usa.asus.com/Eee/EeeBox_PC/EeeBo ... ifications

Edit:  This one is even better because it has a better graphics card - you should be able to play all current and future HD content:

http://usa.asus.com/Eee/EeeBox_PC/EeeBox_PC_EB1021/

[KevinW]

I have a Dell Zino, which is a similar machine, but no longer in production.  It has worked great running Ubuntu (except Netflix but I stream that from my Wii).

I agree with Storm's suggestion to go with at least 2 GB memory.  Flash-based video players are memory pigs for some reason.

Currently the networks and studios are operating under the false pretense that there's a dichotomy between "devices" and "computers."  They seem to be limiting what can stream to "devices" (Xbox, iPhones) but not "computers."  Probably they think that streaming devices can cannibalize cable TV revenue but "computers" can't.  IMO this is all wrongheaded but there it is.  So right now you can access more from PCs.  Who knows how this will shake out going forward.

[Storm]

I have a Dell Zino, which is a similar machine, but no longer in production.  It has worked great running Ubuntu (except Netflix but I stream that from my Wii).

I agree with Storm's suggestion to go with at least 2 GB memory.  Flash-based video players are memory pigs for some reason.

Currently the networks and studios are operating under the false pretense that there's a dichotomy between "devices" and "computers."  They seem to be limiting what can stream to "devices" (Xbox, iPhones) but not "computers."  Probably they think that streaming devices can cannibalize cable TV revenue but "computers" can't.  IMO this is all wrongheaded but there it is.  So right now you can access more from PCs.  Who knows how this will shake out going forward.

That's a really good insight, Kevin.  I've noticed the same thing.  On Hulu for PS3, for example, The Simpsons says "web only" and won't stream.  I just have to switch to the laptop and I can watch The Simpsons on the same TV screen.  A lot of this probably has to do with contracts written between media companies for "TV rights" vs. "Streaming rights".  I'm sure a lot of those distribution contracts were written before streaming was popular.

[Lone Wolf]

Many thanks, guys!  This is very useful.

I also agree that the distinction between "devices" and "computers" is a very strange one (and a line that certainly grows blurrier every day, if it ever existed at all.)

[Jan Van]

Here you go, Storm!

Google TV is alive and kicking with new partners and ARM chipsets

[l82start]

not sure if this has been posted yet but it looks like roku is making some changes/upgrades as well http://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2012/01/ ... tvs-smart/

I also agree that the distinction between "devices" and "computers" is a very strange one (and a line that certainly grows blurrier every day, if it ever existed at all.)

same here, strange distinction, i am still not seeing the advantage to a "device"  when a "computer" does the same or more, and a computer will likely be easily upgradable to do anything new that a device can do pretty quickly...