- Faster and more powerful. With up to 1080p HD video* and extended-range, dual-band wireless performance for increased speed
- Amazing remote with headphone jack. Use the included in-ear headphones to crank up that late-night flick while the kids (or parents) sleep
- One-stop search. Find your favorite movies and TV shows all from one place?from top TV and Movie services like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video or Hulu Plus
- 750+ channels and growing. The best selection of streaming out there.Everything from Netflix to Hulu Plus to HBO GO to Major League Baseball
- Free iOS and Android device app. Use it like a remote. Browse and add new channels. Even stream your music and photos from your phone or tablet to your HDTV
True for all Roku models: there's an enormous amount of channels to choose from, including most popular ones. And if there's something that you can't find in the official store you can always check the private channel listings (I included the URL of my favorite site) which is where I found things such as streaming CNN, CNN International and BBC World.
The streaming is exceptionally smooth. Quite impressive considering that I set this Roku on the second floor, some 60-70 ft. and two floors away from our Wi-Fi router located in the basement.
This model especially, due to the more powerful processor is easy to operate through Roku's very basic remote control.
Roku 3 and all Rokus are stable. I didn't have the Roku 3 for too long (will update) but my experience with a Roku LT was that it almost never crashes and I only had to manually reconnect to my Wi-Fi router once over a 6-months period.
The 'universal search' feature is quite amazing. You simply type in the name of a movie or show even an actor and you will see all you options on all channels and you will know in advance whether it's going to be free or exactly how much it was going to cost. On the Roku 3 all information appears almost instantly.
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THE FAQ
I will try to keep this section as objective (factual) as possible.
Q: Why would I want a Roku?
A: Roku has, by far, the largest number of 'channels' vs. any other competing product. If you like exploring content beyond the popular services (Netflix, Amazon, etc.) you should consider a Roku?
Q: Why would I want a Roku 3?
A: When compared to previous models, this one has a much faster processor, 5 times faster. The faster processor allows you to quickly navigate the new and much improved user interface but if 'speed' is not an issue, the new interface will appear on the older models by April, 2013. This model also adds a 'private listening' capability through a provided pair of headphones that plug directly into the remote control. In addition it supports Dual-band wireless for faster streaming when connected to a router that supports the feature and has a USB port.
Q: When I shouldn't pick a Roku 3 over other Roku models?
A: Roku 3 does not support 'standard' (non HD) TVs but earlier models do. You should select a 'lesser' model such as the Roku LT when price is the issue and/or your HD TV is limited to 720p and 'speed' is not an issue.
Q: What can I play through the USB port?
A: Video: MP4 (H.264), MKV (H.264); Audio: AAC, MP3; Image: JPG, PNG.
Q: Is the Roku 3 expandable?
A: Yes. There a MicroSD slot for additional game and channel storage memory.
Q: Can I use a Roku 3 with any TV lacking an HDMI port?
A: No.
Q: What are the best screen resolution and audio supported by Roku 3?
A: 1080p, 7.1/5.1 surround sound.
Q: Is the Roku 3 energy efficient?
A: According to Roku, typical power consumption is 3.5W when streaming HD video.
Q: How do I connect a Roku 3 to the Internet?
A: You can do it wither via Wi-Fi or through the wired Ethernet port. Technically speaking: 802.11 dual-band (a/b/g/n compatible) with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 support (wireless) and 10/100 Base-T Ethernet for the wired connection.
Q: What is not included but I must have to make my Roku 3 work besides a TV and an Internet router?
A: An HDMI cable.
Q: Can I control the Roku 3 with a universal remote?
A: Yes.
Q: Do I need line of site to control the Roku 3?
A: No if you use Roku's own remote, yes if you use a universal remote control.
Q: Can I play games on the Roku 3?
A: Yes, it comes with Angry Birds Space preloaded and you may add more games from the store.
Q: Are the Roku channels free?
A: Many of them are but Roku also streams 'premium' channels for which you will require a separate subscription.
Q: What are private channels.
A: These are channels that, for whatever reason, are not listed by the channel store. You can easily make them 'appear' on your TV by picking them from one of the sites that lists such channels. See the first comment to this review for the URL of one such site.
Q: How much it costs to use a Roku?
A: Once purchased, it could cost you nothing. Or you may subscribe to one or more premium services.
Q: Can I search for a specific movie or show across all of Roku's channel?
A: Yes, you can. Even better, Roku will not only tell you which channel carries it but you will know in advance if it will cost you and how much it will cost to view or 'rent' it. You can also search for other related information such as movies featuring one specific actor.
Q: Can I watch YouTube on the Roku?
A: Roku does not offer native Youtube support currently but certain channels such as VideoBuzz do provide a round-about way to stream it.
Q: Can I get live news channels on the Roku?
A: Yes. The private channels site will allow you to add channels such as CNN, CNN International and BBC World, among others.
Q: Are non-video streams supported?
A: Yes, radio stations and music streaming channels such as Pandora are supported.
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NOTE:
My initial rating was 4 stars due to the lack of YouTube. After a few days with Roku 3 I upgraded it to a 5-star. I still wish Roku supported YouTube natively but the lack of it is mitigated by the major improvements this new Roku has over its predecessors. Amazon's reviewing guideline suggests that 5 stars means "I love it" and I absolutely do love Roku 3. Indeed, I can easily switch to my PS3 or Blu-ray player if I wanted to watch YouTube but there's no other device with such a great selection of channels and the better, faster user interface alone is worth one extra star.
Buy Roku 3 Streaming Player Now
I have the Roku XS, and have enjoyed it for about a year. The day the Roku 3 was released I had purchased it and had it delivered the next day. Set up was very easy just as it was with the last model.The interface is an answer to my prayers. You can move channels and get to them a lot faster. The Themes option is nice but purely aesthetic. The new search options are nice so you can search by actor as well as movie or show name, and I beleive other options as well. These options should be rolling out to other Rokus (XS, XD, Etc) in April or May, so if you can wait a month or so it will save you some cash.
I used the same internet connection and HDMI cable on the same TV so the only difference was the Roku itself. Loading times seemed a little faster, but I think the limiting factor is going to be your network connection. My best estimation is that it loaded about 20% faster, which for me was only a few seconds.
Bottom line, if you do not already have a Roku this is a GREAT product, I can not recommend it more highly. If you already have a Roku then this is not going to be a huge improvement. The interface is a lot nicer but that should roll out to the Roku XD, XS, et all in April or May. I am sure they will develop new channels and apps that take advantage of the new hardware, but at this time they are not available so the performance increase is not that noticeable to justify the $99 investment if you already have one. If you need one for another TV or a gift then by all means its worth it!
Read Best Reviews of Roku 3 Streaming Player Here
The Roku 3 is an awesome upgrade from my previous Roku 2. (and from my previous Apple TV)First of all, it is very easy and quick to set up.
The Roku 3's user interface is just awesome, and much snappier than the pervious one.
It's much easier to navigate the channels with the new user interface. They also added a centralized search where you can search for titles or actors across all channels and they then show which channels offer that content.
This is really an AWESOME and very useful feature!
Besides the improved UI, I really love the new remote control, which contains a head-set jack and volume controls.
When you plug-in a head-set, the audio on the Roku's HDMI interface is automatically muted, and re-routed to the head-sets. This is awesome when watching movies at night when your loved-ones are asleep, and might be equally useful when you ask your kids to use the head-set, so you don't have to listen to Dora the Explorer all day long..
I should add that the audio-quality on the headsets is truly HiFi it blew me away!
Roku offers TONS of channels on the Roku! No comparison to the very limited number of channels on the Apple TV.
I think Roku says they have +700 channels now.
Some of my favourite channels are:
Amazon (some movies included with Amazon Prime!!)
Vudu (amazing video quality!)
Netflix (their selection really gets worse every day)
Hulu
TimeWarner channel
HBO Go
Disney
Smithsonian Channel
great music channels, like: Pandora Radio, Amazon Cloud Player, SomaFM, ...
tons of science & tech channels, like: TED Talks, CNet, NASA, ...
tons of food channels
tons of domestic and international news channel, like CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera, Euronews, Tagesschau, Deutsche Welle, and many more!
lots of international channels
many more..
Do a web-search to find the complete list of all available Roku private channels, and check out the VideoBuzz channel!
One almost hidden feature of the Roku3 is that it has a USB3 port on the side -that means that you can plug in a USB-flash drive or a USB disk, and play content you own from there! USB Media Formats: Video: MP4 (H.264), MKV (H.264) Audio: AAC, MP3, Image: JPG, PNG.
One small thing to look out: make sure to switch your video to 1080p in the settings menu, it starts with 720p resolution.
My home-theater setup consists of an Optoma 1080p projector, with the Roku3 connected to it, and a 133" screen.
The video quality is just amazing!! I lOVE my new Roku 3!
Compared to the Roku2, there is no audio-out jack on the back of the Roku3 this was not a big issue for me, because I have an inexpensive HDMI Switcher which provides audio-out: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L14WB8/
Last not least: how does the Roku3's price of $99 stack up against the competition? With the Roku3 you get more channel choices than what you get with the Apple TV.
If you compare it to "smart" TVs, like Samsung and others, these manufacturers charge exorbitant amounts for their "smart" TV features, compared to their regular TV models -you'd pay several hundred dollars more, and you would end up with less -and you'd be waving your hands at your TV.
So if you compare the Roku3 to "smart" TVs, the Roku3 is an obvious choice because of it's low cost, more channels, and the much sleeker user interface.
All in all, I think this product is a BIG step up from the previous Roku 2 and far ahead of the Apple TV, which I have not used since I switched to Roku.
If you own an Apple TV, or already own a pervious Roku model, I'd definitely recommend to upgrade to the Roku 3!
If you are in the market for a new TV, then go for the non-smart version, and add a Roku3!
You won't regret it! It's awesome!
P.S.:
It puzzles me that some people have left bad reviews for the Roku3. Some comments where related to streaming quality, which sounds more like they have only a very basic internet connection. If you want to stream HDTV video over the internet, make sure that you have an adequate / high-end internet connection (don't try to save money on that). Another comment was the 90-day warranty. Sure, that's true, but I don't think it's an issue given that the Roku3 does not contain any moving parts -chances of it breaking are very very very slim. I had my previous Roku for years and it still works like a charm.
last not least, one comment was that you have to provide a credit card to connect to the Roku channel store. That's just the same with a lot of other services, and devices, e.g. the Apple TV. It's really no surprise, as there are some Roku channels which can be purchased. Does any of that make the Roku3 a bad device? Absolutely no! It is the best device in it's class, and I find it just awesome to use.
Want Roku 3 Streaming Player Discount?
Let me first say that I have been a Roku user for a number of years now, and own a Roku 1 XD, XDS, and a Roku 2 XS. I have also owned and used in the past the Logitech Review using GoogleTV, the last two non-Google TV Sony boxes, and two generations of the WD TV Live streamers. After owning and using all those, the Roku is the only one that has a place in my livingroom, and here's why...Without boring everyone on the specs of the R's, let me start by telling about my experience setting it up.
Once unpacked one simply plugs the power adapter into the wall and an HDMI cable into the TV and the Roku, that's it. The unit begins booting up then asks you to select whether you want to use a wireless or wired network connection. I selected wireless and it then shows a list of the networks it detected. Once you choose your network you input the password for your network and in a few seconds it connects right away.
Finally it displays an activation code which you are to use to activate and attach the Roku to your online Roku account. For some seeking out a computer that may or may not be near the TV might be a pain, but I simply opened Safari on my iPhone and added the code to my account while sitting in front of the TV.
Once the code is entered, as part of the attaching process you are prompted to add payment info just in case you want to buy a channel or game in the future. You can not bypass this but IT'S OK. Enter it in and finish the account set up. Once you do you can simply choose to delete the payment info and it's erased from the Roku servers.
Once the account is made and successfully linked, the Roku automatically downloads the channels from your account (if you are attaching it to an existing account) or just quickly downloads the few selected during the account creation process, including "Angry Birds Space".
That's it, its that easy to get it set and ready to stream. Of course with some premium channels you will either need to log in to your account from the Roku (Netflix) or similarly link the box to your online account using a computer, smartphone, or tablet browser (Amazon Instant Video).
I have found that the set up is incredibly easy over the numerous boxes I've used over the last few years and always recommend a Roku to especially those less adept at setting up electronics/computers/networking items.
The interface--
The interface of the Roku units has always been a sore point.. When it started out with just Netflix and then just a few channels, the horizontal row of channel icons was fine, but now with HUNDREDS of channels it was sorely needing a refresh. The interface alone was one of the biggest reasons I was always trying different streaming boxes..
I'm so pleased to see the new grid-style interface on the R3. Not only is it beautifully rendered, but it is very, very fast to navigate and to find whatever it is you want in your channel list. Very modern-looking and functional.
One huge thing I notice over the older units in the interface is that besides it being "pretty", even the channels load much faster than previous units thanks to a new processor.
The universal search function is great too, allowing you to search for movies, shows, and even actors across the major providers.
The USB port--
USB functionality is a great add-on for the top tier Roku. The Roku units are first and foremost internet streamers, but the convenience of plugging in a thumb drive and being able to play some of my personal movie collection is great. Video format is rather limited, but again this is an add-on feature not a main selling point. Because I'm an iTunes user, I rip all my movies/shows as H.264 MP4 files because thy are iPhone/iPad compatible, and just so happen they are compatible with Roku as well. Very nice.
Programming----
This is where Roku is just second to none, and why I choose to use it over all the others. Besides the big players like Netflix, Vudu, etc. Roku has such a wealth of programming that I actually hate it. I hate the fact I'm not independently wealthy and have to work for a living, and consequently don't have enough time in the day to watch everything on there I want to. You may very well feel the same way, but not to worry.. Unlike broadcast TV, everything on Roku is on-demand, meaning its there when you want it, not when its being broadcast.
Now sure, there's no YouTube. That might or might not be coming so if you get one, just assume you won't have it. Cute little kitty videos are fun to watch on the TV, but there's tons more you can watch on other channels. I love the fact I can get live streaming news from the BBC or CNN International, or watch cheesy, badly dubbed Kung fu movies, or B-movie horror and sci-fi all night long for free from my Roku if I want lol. The Roku's available programming really is like a buffet, its all you can eat and there's something for everybody.
The remote ---
The remote is very comfortable in the hands and acts as a motion-controlled controller for gaming. It it also isn't infared like a traditional remote so that means it doesn't have to be pointed right at the TV in order to work. The private listening mode worked really nicely when I tried it and I can imagine many uses for it.
Overall the Roku 3 is a great upgrade from the previous Roku 2, mostly because of the new UI (which will be coming to the roku 2 units in a month or two), the faster processor, and the wireless private listening mode. If you already have an R2 XS, I don't honestly think its worth upgrading since its biggest noticeable feature (the UI) will come in time.
For some just now dipping their toes in the world of internet streaming, I personally would get this Roku 3 hands-down over any other competing player on the market. Its so easy to use and that's why not only is it what I use but what my elderly parents use too. The best thing about them is they keep getting better.
The quality of the streaming is excellent, but the most important thing is that the experience of using it is wonderful. With my Sony, it always took a while for things to happen. Press a button and pause to let the action happen, then press the next button, etc. The Roku is so speedy! It's awesome.
There are so many reviews and resources about this product that I don't need to repeat it here. The things I will say:
REMOTE: If your remote doesn't work when you first set this up, go immediately to the last page of the setup guide to pair the remote to your Roku. They really SHOULD have added a note that about that to the setup steps.
USB: In order to view content from a USB, you must first go to the "Channel Store" and install the free Roku USB Player app. (I think I found that in the "Featured" section... not sure). We popped in a USB with an MP4 home movie, and it was incredible to see it flawlessly play on the big screen with absolutely no hassle or delay.
HEADPHONES: As advertised, as soon as you plug headphones into the remote, the TV mutes and the sound is routed to the remote. The sound quality was great, but there were occasional, extremely minimal drops. I honestly don't think it's enough that I would care, unless I was watching something like "Powaqqatsi" or some other music-oriented show.
STREAM FROM LAPTOP: The only feature this is missing is the ability to easily stream whatever is on my Windows-based laptop (or iPad, or other device) to the TV screen, a feature that my AppleTV-using-friends enjoy. Someday I hope there will be an app in the Channel Store for this...
SO -even if you already have a device for streaming video, I highly recommend the Roku 3
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