APPLE TV vs Roku 3

[gladaki]

Roku 3 has some good reviews when compare with Apple TV. Wondering what you guys have to say about it ?

[MickMcGeough]

They both have their strengths. Roku has more apps. AppleTV has AirPlay. What will you use it for?


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[ResAlien]

I have a Roku 3 with a wired connection, I love it when using Netflix or Hulu Plus. Perfect HD quality streaming, easy to use interfaces, no problems at all. NHL Gamecentre has been a total piece of crap lately, garbage quality streams that fluctuate wildly without rhyme or reason and the NHL support is "reinstall the app and check your internet connection".

So if it's just for movies etc I highly recommend it. For NHL I wouldn't recommend it, instead I'd recommend hunting the developers down and burning their houses to the ground.

[oilyfan]

I watch NHL Gamecenter all the time on the Roku, I find it stable and very good quality.

ATV vs Roku. I think Roku is more versatile because it has Plex and other channels. The loss of Airplay does rankle but it is made up somewhat by screen casting from youtube.

Also the iphone app for Roku is way more full featured than ATV's remote app.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Chromecast should be included in this conversation as well. Priced super well, doesn't require a separate remote (works from any Android/Apple device) and has apps being added on a regular basis. Probably the biggest issue is that there is no access to NHL on it at the moment I believe.

[Rathji]

If you use Plex, get a Roku
If you have mixed Android and Apple Devices, get a Roku
If you all use Apple devices, get an Apple TV.

Note:
- You can stream from any Netflix app to Roku directly.
- You can get a Roku remote app for any device
- If you have Plex, Apple TV and an Apple device, you can use Airplay to play to content that is streamed to your Apple Device
- You can only get an Apple TV remote for an Apple Device
- You might not need a Roku 3, so compare before you buy. We use a Roku 1 on our downstairs TV with no issues, but it just doesn't have as high a resolution.
- It is easier to set up a US account for US content access for a Roku than it is for an Apple TV

[Superflyer]

For a Roku, what channels are available in Canada. I looked at their site and found this http://www.roku.com/channels/#!brows...-tv/by-popular but I doubt that they are all available in Canada, especially Hulu Plus.

If you have something like Unblockus setup does this help?

[oilyfan]

I use unblockus on the router, and when I set up the Roku I set up a US account on my computer, then signed in on the Roku. US channels since then.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Superflyer

For a Roku, what channels are available in Canada. I looked at their site and found this http://www.roku.com/channels/#!brows...-tv/by-popular but I doubt that they are all available in Canada, especially Hulu Plus.

If you have something like Unblockus setup does this help?

To get the channels, you just need an American address on your Roku account, which will require a call into Roku support. There is a post detailing it in the Cutting the Cord thread, I think.

Unblockus (or whatever) is separate, but also required to get Hulu or whatever US content those channels might direct to.

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by Rathji

To get the channels, you just need an American address on your Roku account, which will require a call into Roku support. There is a post detailing it in the Cutting the Cord thread, I think.

Unblockus (or whatever) is separate, but also required to get Hulu or whatever US content those channels might direct to.

You don't need to call in. You need enter the American address the way it is detailed here: http://support.unblock-us.com/custom...rticles/323038

You must create account from the computer BEFORE starting activation of Roku device. DO NOT create account if Roku box asks you to create new one, it may be created incorrectly and won’t show you new apps. If your device does not show US “channels” then you’ll need to create new account, do “factory reset” and “link” device to that account.
Recently Roku started asking users’ billing address and uses it to select apps available through Channel Store. In order to setup Roku account “compatible” with US channels you need to select “United States” as country and use ZIP code made of digits from postal code of your actual billing address. Add zeroes before and/or after actual digits in ZIP if your postal code has less than 5 digits. For example, Canadian postal code A1B 2C3 can be “converted” to 00123. The US Postal Service has a great tool to verify valid ZIP codes.

[keratosis]

Roku2XS is working fantastic for me. Picked one up for $50 at Staples before Christmas. Very impressed.
By the way, looks like Plex Media Server has gone paid unless you had an account before hand.

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by keratosis

Roku2XS is working fantastic for me. Picked one up for $50 at Staples before Christmas. Very impressed.
By the way, looks like Plex Media Server has gone paid unless you had an account before hand.

Do you mean the Plex channel has gone paid? Media Server still looks free.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by keratosis

Roku2XS is working fantastic for me. Picked one up for $50 at Staples before Christmas. Very impressed.
By the way, looks like Plex Media Server has gone paid unless you had an account before hand.

PlexPass is paid, but the regular Plex is free.

PlexPass can be pretty useful, but is not at all required to use the product, unless you are using it with Chromecast. I only activate my PlexPass when I need to download some content to my device when I am not at home to manually transfer it, which isn't that often.

I think I have bought 3 or 4 months in the year or so I have been using Plex.

[keratosis]

You may be right. I thought it was server. Didn't look to close as I'm grandfathered in anycase.

[Diemenz]

I do not think there is even a level playing field here unless the ATV is jail broken. Even still I think the Roku is a better option.
I have 3 Roku 3's in my household and every single person who has seen one for more then 15 minutes has bought one (in-laws, family, friends etc). I spent most of my Boxing Day walking 9 people through setting up a Roku and a Plex server in their homes.

When running Plex nothing can really touch the Roku. I can get any TV show within 2 hours of it being on TV streamed directly and any movie I could possibly think of streamed. There is tonnes of additional features that people do not know exist on the Roku that really make it the best media player out there (again, if your running Plex because the Roku does not support a huge amount of video formats)

Those of you with a Roku using UnBlockus or similar and then paying for Amazon or Hulu could actually find a much easier way to get the content to your device with no cost.

Plex is a huge game changer. Since I started using Plex last year I stopped transferring my DVD's and Bluerays to my server I actually stream everything. Using Channels Like NBC, CBS, FOX etc allows me to watch TV i might have missed a few hours after it airs on primetime. Or if that is too much work I can just let couch potato connect to those channels and put all my watched shows in one nice favorites folder for me so I can open that folder on plex and it will automatically stream them from the above stations. No piracy, no downloading, no infringing of copyright laws.

As an example, here is a listing of movies I could direct stream using plex to my Roku if I was so inclined to ignore the copyright laws which exist in today's society. Again I want to stress that I have not downloaded these they are just available to be direct streamed. I just used my iPhone for the screen cap.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by keratosis

You may be right. I thought it was server. Didn't look to close as I'm grandfathered in anycase.

The Plex App on Roku is in trial Status and those who did not have it installed before December will have to pay a one time fee of $4.99 to purchase the app. It is no different then buying an app from apple.

[Cheese]

I bought the Roku 3 after Christmas and LOVE it. Just waiting for my Chromecast and I will likely cut the chord.
I have Plex on my Roku and it works excellent along with unblockus for US content on my apps. Highly recommend it.

I also bought a 5 port HDMI switch to extend the number of HDMI ports on my TV that works excellent.
http://www.amazon.ca/Kinivo-501BN-Pr...Y/ref=pd_ybh_4

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by Diemenz

Plex is a huge game changer. Since I started using Plex last year I stopped transferring my DVD's and Bluerays to my server I actually stream everything. Using Channels Like NBC, CBS, FOX etc allows me to watch TV i might have missed a few hours after it airs on primetime. Or if that is too much work I can just let couch potato connect to those channels and put all my watched shows in one nice favorites folder for me so I can open that folder on plex and it will automatically stream them from the above stations. No piracy, no downloading, no infringing of copyright laws.

I have some questions:

1. what channels? On Roku? or Plex? I don't see Networks like NBC or CBS on there.
2. couch potato only works on movies I thought?

[oilyfan]

Answered question 1 myself, on Plex you have to go to region restricted channels.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

I have some questions:

1. what channels? On Roku? or Plex? I don't see Networks like NBC or CBS on there.
2. couch potato only works on movies I thought?

All my channels are on plex. Only channels I have on the Roku are Netflix, vevo, Game Center and Plex.

There is several database additions to allow couch potato to query TV shows and movies as well as several plex add ons. Here are a few



And yes the channels for plex can be install directly through plex or you can google the channels and then copy them to you plex plug in folder. I had to do this with several of mine that work just fine but were not on the plex channel list (fox, CTV, hbo go etc)