Roku

Netgear goes after Roku with NeoTV

The Roku 2 XS is currently our pick for best media-streaming solution under $100, but today Netgear looks to stiffen the competition with NeoTV, the company's latest Internet-connected TV add-on for just $80.

Using an HDMI and Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) connection, NeoTV offers up a handful of media channels including the standard Netflix and YouTube portals as well as Vudu, Pandora, Napster, Picasa, Revision 3, and more. Users can also use their iPhone or Android device as a remote control.

We'll have a full review of the NeoTV later this month when it's also set to hit stores. Click through for a quick video demo of NeoTV.… Read more

Apple TV vs. Roku 2: What's the best streaming-media device for under $100?

There are more ways to stream Internet video--Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and the like--than ever before. On that subject, I've laid out my hardware recommendations for a variety of consumers in an earlier blog post ("Which streaming-media device is right for you?"). But looming large in the marketplace these days are the two $99 offerings: Apple TV and Roku 2. It's enough of a horse race that it's worth a separate discussion.

Before we start, a few key points apply to both units:… Read more

Roku 2 XS review: Beats Apple TV for now

Roku is calling its new line of streaming-media boxes "Roku 2," but this is actually the fourth iteration of the device, which started its life as the "Netflix Player" in 2008. Like Apple TV, this is still a Netflix video streamer at its core--and a very good one--but along the way Roku has shrunk the box down; added several new "channels," including Amazon Video, Hulu Plus, Crackle, and Pandora; and bulked up feature-wise, upping the ante this go round with a new Bluetooth motion remote (included with the top-end $100 Roku 2 XS) that … Read more

New Mac products galore

Roku adds motion-sensing gaming to its streaming media box, Sonos offers a lower cost, wireless Hi-Fi speaker system called the Play 3, and Apple unleashes Mac OS X Lion, updates MacBook Air and Mac Mini, and releases a Thunderbolt Display.

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Apple unveilsMac OS X Lion, new MacBook Airs, new Mac minis and the Thunderbolt Display

Roku 2 gets motion-sensing video gaming

Lower-cost, Sonos Play 3 networked, wireless speakers

New T-Mobile "unlimited" smartphone plans

Google adds malware warning to search

Roku officially unveils new game-enabled video players

Roku is updating its lineup of streaming video boxes with a trio of new products for 2011. The new models add Wii-like casual gaming, controlled by a new Bluetooth motion remote. The ubiquitous Angry Birds is the debut Roku title, and it's included for free with the flagship $100 Roku box.

The news of fresh Rokus confirms weeks of rumors and FCC leaks that had surfaced earlier on Engadget and Zatz Not Funny.

The new game-enabled boxes are known as the Roku 2 line--a particularly curious name, since it's the third or fourth incarnation of the streaming-media box (depending on how you count) that first debuted in May 2008. Truth in numbering notwithstanding, the new models carry over the basic functions of the existing Roku line, with more than 250 streaming media channels (including Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant, MLB, NHL, NBA, UFC, and dozens of others), HD video, and built-in Wi-Fi support. The tiny enclosures are smaller even than archrival Apple TV--just 3.3-inch square, and less than an inch high. … Read more

Get a refurbished Sony Blu-ray player for $49.99

Need an inexpensive set-top box that can sling Netflix movies and TV shows, play tunes from Pandora and Slacker, and stream the latest YouTube videos? The Sony BDP-S270 can do all that for just $49.99 (after applying coupon code OUTLETBDPS270 at checkout).

Oh, it's also a Blu-ray player.

Funny how priorities change, right? Think about it: if I showed you a Roku box for $50, you'd probably snap it up. Well, the BDP-S270 streams a lot of the same services (Amazon Video on Demand, Hulu Plus, Vudu). And unlike a Roku box, it can play those quaint … Read more

Roku partners with Rovio for Angry Birds

Roku has inked a deal with Angry Birds creator Rovio to bring the company's video games to its set-top boxes.

The companies have entered into a "strategic partnership" that will see Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio come to Roku's Channel Store, Roku said late yesterday. An Angry Birds video channel with game-themed animated shorts, as well as a marketplace to buy game-related merchandise, will also be available in the Channel Store.

However, a Roku representative confirmed to CNET today that the games will not be available on the company's current hardware. Instead, the titles will be made available to owners of new hardware expected to launch this summer.

Roku has come a long way since its initial set-top box launched in 2008. Earlier this year, the company announced that more than 1 billion content streams have been sent to TVs through its set-top boxes, which currently range in price from $59.99 to $99.99. It currently offers more than 250 entertainment options in its Channel Store, which basically acts as an applications store, allowing people to add those channels to their personal menu and watch the content associated with them.

Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and NBA Game Time are among the channels Roku offers.… Read more

The 404 821: Where the water's polluted with germs (podcast)

After a 26-day service outage, Sony finally kickstarted its PlayStation Network, allowing users to resume online gameplay. It turns out the original server hack was hosted on Amazon's EC2 Cloud Computing network, but the outages aren't over yet--the servers crashed again after being flooded for password resets.

In other news, the Internet organized a mean prank victimizing online daters in New York on Friday, so to make all you single dudes out there fell better, we go around the room telling our favorite pranking stories. Let us know if you have a good one!

The 404 Digest for Episode 821

Hiccups dog PlayStation Network restoration. Internet organizes cruel, but kind of funny, online dating prank.

Episode 821 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Roku XD player heads to Best Buy

For the first time, Roku is bringing one of its set-top boxes to the bricks-and-mortar world.

Starting today, customers who peruse the store shelves at Best Buy will find the Roku XD in store, Roku announced today. The device will also be available on Best Buy's Web site. In addition, Roku said that its players are available at BJ's Wholesale Club, Fry's Electronics, and RadioShack.

The Roku XD is the company's middle-of-the-road set-top box between the cheaper Roku HD and the more expensive Roku XDS. The XD retails for $79.99 and lets users play up … Read more