Apple TV vs. Roku
- Thread starter ZipZap
- Start date
I thought about getting a roku before, but we got the xbox instead, which i really do like. i have the ability to stream netflix, rent or buy video from zune, MLB, facebook, and last FM as well.
I purchased an ATV last weekend, and now that sharing is working properly, i really like the functionality of it, it's very nice and works seemlessly with my TV. I don't get all the features of the xbox, so i will keep both on that TV.
as far as roku, i think that in my case at least, i wont be going that route, that between the ATV and the xbox, i have what i was looking for!
I purchased an ATV last weekend, and now that sharing is working properly, i really like the functionality of it, it's very nice and works seemlessly with my TV. I don't get all the features of the xbox, so i will keep both on that TV.
as far as roku, i think that in my case at least, i wont be going that route, that between the ATV and the xbox, i have what i was looking for!
Most of the channels on ROKU are actually available on ATV2 just not as "channels."
Airplay may allow more of them?
ROKU
Pandora
RadioTime
Roku Newscaster
Revision3
Twit.tv
Flickr
Facebook Photos
Vimeo
Netflix
Major League Baseball
MP3Tunes
Hulu Plus coming this Fall
Amazon Video On Demand
Airplay may allow more of them?
ROKU
Pandora
RadioTime
Roku Newscaster
Revision3
Twit.tv
Flickr
Facebook Photos
Vimeo
Netflix
Major League Baseball
MP3Tunes
Hulu Plus coming this Fall
Amazon Video On Demand
I am tossing the ATV purchase around and I am not sure I can justify it. I have a PS3 hooked up to the main TV which can stream everything I need (and an Xbox360 on the other TV).
I would like to dump my blockbuster and or netflix and use ATV. As long as I keep below the monthly unlimited movie rental fee I was paying I am ahead of the game.
The feature I wanted from ATV but not sure it has is the ability to log onto CBS or NBC's website and watch a prime time show that I missed or forgot to record (think Survivor or Amazing Race etc).
I do not see where the ATV allows you to "surf" the web or set up the network channels.
Can anyone confirm if you can or are you limited to the iTunes store and the mobile me gallery?
Thanks
I would like to dump my blockbuster and or netflix and use ATV. As long as I keep below the monthly unlimited movie rental fee I was paying I am ahead of the game.
The feature I wanted from ATV but not sure it has is the ability to log onto CBS or NBC's website and watch a prime time show that I missed or forgot to record (think Survivor or Amazing Race etc).
I do not see where the ATV allows you to "surf" the web or set up the network channels.
Can anyone confirm if you can or are you limited to the iTunes store and the mobile me gallery?
Thanks
If you already stream everything, ATV won't add much except your iTunes library & AirPlay in Nov
You still need Netflix account but streaming is unlimited
You can not log onto CBS, NBC or Hulu. This may change. (JailBreak will probably get it)
You can not surf the web and I doubt you ever will be able to, if JB allows you to it will be sloppy. I think google TV will have that.though
I use Mobile Me so the gallery access was a nice feature on the ATV to display all our pictures (I can do it now from the computer to the PS3 or Xbox, but not as clean as the ATV setup) and if it would do the Netflix and the TV website streaming, it would be perfect combined with the .99 rentals.
But without web surfing and the TV web site viewing, guess I will stick with what I have.
But without web surfing and the TV web site viewing, guess I will stick with what I have.
I own two of the new ATV's and I just bought a Roku box and a subscription to Hulu+.
At the risk of sounding like a fan boy. The Roku box does a lot of the same stuff and in some ways more. However, that thing is just clunky and ugly. The people who have come by my abode and seen the ATV are impressed. It really is a good looking and easy to use device. The interface is stylish and pretty.
Just look at and hold the two respective remotes if I am unclear in my point.
At the risk of sounding like a fan boy. The Roku box does a lot of the same stuff and in some ways more. However, that thing is just clunky and ugly. The people who have come by my abode and seen the ATV are impressed. It really is a good looking and easy to use device. The interface is stylish and pretty.
Just look at and hold the two respective remotes if I am unclear in my point.
i got an Apple tv for xmas and am returning it this week. its literally of no use to me.
i guess i need an htpc. i don't rent from iTunes or netflix and to keep the lappy open all the time just to have access to my library seems absurd. not to mention everything on it is formatted for iPhone.
i guess i need an htpc. i don't rent from iTunes or netflix and to keep the lappy open all the time just to have access to my library seems absurd. not to mention everything on it is formatted for iPhone.
I am in the market for one of the two..
Everything I own is Apple (iMac, iPod, iPhone, Airport)
Does anyone have both and can compare?
Thanks in advance!
Everything I own is Apple (iMac, iPod, iPhone, Airport)
Does anyone have both and can compare?
Thanks in advance!
Apple TV is pretty sweet depending on what you are buying it for. I am a huge hater of wires so using my TV as a monitor wirelessly sounded pretty cool when I considering getting the Apple TV. The only problem is that you have to go through iTunes for EVERYTHING. If you have a crappy torrent or even just a ripped movie in your Mac and want to watch it on your TV you have to send it to iTunes first which means converting. Most conversions will take depending on the video type but some are so bad to begin with that they just get worse when uploaded to iTunes. And it's still a pain in the ass to have to convert using iTunes if you have a separate library. For now, I'm fine using an hdmi cable to hook up my Mac. I also use my iPhone as a remote anyway so there's no inconvenience whatsoever. Not sure if this helped or not lol.
Sent from my Human CentiPad
Sent from my Human CentiPad
Not sure if the prices are similar, but assuming they are, I'd go with the ATV. Both will play Netflix just fine, and the ATV will integrate better with all your Apple stuff.
You don't have to go through iTunes with an Apple TV 2. I stream movies that are not in an itunes-friendly format to my iPhone via the Air Video app (it does live conversion) and then use Air Play to kick it over to the Apple TV 2. The iPhone is the middleman, and it saves a lot time since you don't have to convert movies and then add them to iTunes. The quality is excellent and they stream flawlessly.
I agree. It's very high on my list of most useful apps. It's really nice to not have to convert media and import it into iTunes.
I have both. Apple tv is a more polished experience and has some great integration with iPhone and iPad (60 minutes app rules as does the previously mentioned air video). I HATE the remote that comes with Apple TV, way too small! I threw it in desk drawer and use either universal remote or iPhone. There's a high probability that I would lose Apples remote if I had to use I on a daily basis.
Roku has native support for Hulu plus and a LOT of other 3rd party channels. Really, Rokus channel store is excellent. Rokus interface is a little sluggish. ESPECIALLY Hulu which uses a custom ui which isn't very optimized. Rokus remote is pretty basic, but at least you can hold and use it comfortably. There is also an app in the app store to control the roku. Works pretty good, but keyboard only works with Netflix. Roku does 1080p, has smaller footprint (though neither are very big).
I haven't jbed the Apple tv. There's a chance that might close the gap with Hulu. I haven't looked into it a lot. One of the solutions used Playon which is an unsatisfactory experience on other devices. Xmbc(?) might work better. Just looked like too much work to bother with for me since I already have roku to use Hulu plus.
Roku has native support for Hulu plus and a LOT of other 3rd party channels. Really, Rokus channel store is excellent. Rokus interface is a little sluggish. ESPECIALLY Hulu which uses a custom ui which isn't very optimized. Rokus remote is pretty basic, but at least you can hold and use it comfortably. There is also an app in the app store to control the roku. Works pretty good, but keyboard only works with Netflix. Roku does 1080p, has smaller footprint (though neither are very big).
I haven't jbed the Apple tv. There's a chance that might close the gap with Hulu. I haven't looked into it a lot. One of the solutions used Playon which is an unsatisfactory experience on other devices. Xmbc(?) might work better. Just looked like too much work to bother with for me since I already have roku to use Hulu plus.
