Ok, I know this is an Apple forum and I was going to go right for the Apple TV because I am a HUGE supporter of Apple but Roku looks like it is more functions.
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Apple TV or Roku?
- Thread starter amycishere
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Never had a Roku, but on ATV2 I'm currently running the latest build of XBMC, including Icefilms, Navi-X and FastPassTV plugins. Grooveshark is running on Lowtide (fairly stably) and all the other normal functions of ATV2 continue to work. I get all the Hulu content I want via Navi-X and everything else with the other two plugins. Other than live TV streams, I can't see what else you would want for 99 bucks and some labor with JB and configuration.
Former Apple employee and current fanboy:
I just got my girlfriend a Roku. She gets her Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, etc without having to patch, crack, etc...and best of all, she set it up herself in about 5 minutes and I'll never need to be tech support. Until AppleTV comes with native Hulu support, I think Roku is the way to go if you need those providers.
I just got my girlfriend a Roku. She gets her Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, etc without having to patch, crack, etc...and best of all, she set it up herself in about 5 minutes and I'll never need to be tech support. Until AppleTV comes with native Hulu support, I think Roku is the way to go if you need those providers.
+1
Add to that the fact that the ATV plays nicely with my iPhone, iPad, iTunes, Airport Express. And don't forget AirPlay. With the above plugins, I don't miss Hulu much. Admittedly, I would have bought an ATV2 even without the ability to Jailbreak & add XBMC. Having just bought a used ATV1 for my office, I can now stream music to all of the rooms in my house. At 99$ for an ATV2 or ~$50 for a used ATV1, they are worth even if you just used them for music streaming, IMHO.
If you are looking to stream iTunes content or use Airplay, then Apple TV is the way to go. If you are looking to stream internet content from multiple providers (other than Netflix), Roku is the way to go. Roku has a large number of providers while ATV is still limited until/if they get an App Store.
Agreed....unless you Jailbreak, install XBMC & the Add-ons mentioned above (& others) allowing you to stream and even download from all kinds of content. Granted, not everyone wants to go down that road for various reasons but if you are the sort of person that doesn't mind.....or even likes to tinker with their tech toys and has no moral qualms about content from other than "legitimate" sources then an ATV + XBMC offers an almost endless supply of content from sources that are never going to be available with Roku. Those Add-ons make Hulu and other sources less necessary, IMHO. And new Add-ons are created almost daily.
Don't get me wrong, I do agree that if you aren't inclined to jailbreak & want Hulu etc., then a Roku may in fact be a better choice & there are friends and family that I might steer in that direction for that reason.
Alright thank you. I think I'm actually going to go with Apple TV. I love having youtube and not interested in hulu.
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I have both, and which is better really depends on what you want to watch and whether you have a large library of iTunes movies.
Both have Netflix. Netflix on Roku is pretty good, I would venture to say I like it better on Roku than
TV2 . Another thing is with the Roku you can connect an external hard drive with movies on it and watch them. Although you can pretty much do the same with iTunes home sharing, it just streams the movies though your local network. The TV2 is better if you like to rent most of your movies through iTunes. Roku does support Amazon video which has cheaper movies and tv shows that you can buy and not rent.
Both have Netflix. Netflix on Roku is pretty good, I would venture to say I like it better on Roku than
TV2 . Another thing is with the Roku you can connect an external hard drive with movies on it and watch them. Although you can pretty much do the same with iTunes home sharing, it just streams the movies though your local network. The TV2 is better if you like to rent most of your movies through iTunes. Roku does support Amazon video which has cheaper movies and tv shows that you can buy and not rent.
I have both as well.
Until Apple comes out with an app store, I see no reason to go with the ATV2 (and I'm pretty much an Apple Fanboy). The lack of Hulu was a deal breaker for me.
My ATV2 is now relegated to "Airtunes" status.
Until Apple comes out with an app store, I see no reason to go with the ATV2 (and I'm pretty much an Apple Fanboy). The lack of Hulu was a deal breaker for me.
My ATV2 is now relegated to "Airtunes" status.
I have both, and which is better really depends on what you want to watch and whether you have a large library of iTunes movies.
Both have Netflix. Netflix on Roku is pretty good, I would venture to say I like it better on Roku than
Your crazy
Netflix on the roku is awful , interface wise
I have both as well.
Until Apple comes out with an app store, I see no reason to go with the ATV2 (and I'm pretty much an Apple Fanboy). The lack of Hulu was a deal breaker for me.
My ATV2 is now relegated to "Airtunes" status.
REally??!? Hulu was a dealbreaker? I don't get the attraction of Hulu Plus AT ALL.
1. It's a paid service that STILL puts commercials in its content. Wha??
2. You can't access standard Hulu movies from a mobile device (at least not Apple ones in Safari).
3. See #1.
The only real benefit of Hulu Plus is for new episodes of Television shows. I'm on the fence with "cutting the cable" and Apple Tv's lack of Hulu support is making things difficult for me.
The Roku's loading times look atrocious to me and I prefer the Apple TV navigation and options in Netflix. Come on Apple and embrace Hulu Plus...so what if it cuts into your TV show sales.
Well, Netflix already cuts into their TV show sales. I found Firefly on both services, can rent episodes from Apple for 99cents OR can watch it on Netflix (which I already subscribe to). Why, Apple? But, Apple has "Defying Gravity" which I loved when it aired in 2009, Netflix doesn't - yet.
And I can watch Battlestar Galactica on Netflix...and ALL the Star Trek series are coming next month (TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, and ENT).
If Hulu Plus would stop insulting its subscribers by putting in ads, I'd consider it.
Oh I totally agree. At least make an Ad version that's ridiculously inexpensive or free. It's not like people can't record their favorite shows on major networks on their DVR's OTA.
As for Apple TV, I'm really hoping for some nice new features with iOS 5.
When you have a wife and kids in the house and you are trying to "cut the cord", getting network TV shows is a big deal. Netflix's selection isn't there yet, so....yeah, lack of hulu plus is a deal breaker.
Nah, the interface is fine. It's a little different from the ATV2, but it does everything I need. Not to mention I do alot of my searching and queueing up on my MBP with a web browser from work.
The last time I checked, cable and satellite TV services charge much more for their paid service and put far more commercials in their content. What I don't understand is people who look at Hulu Plus like they are doing something out of the ordinary. In fact, it seems a much better proposition than the 80% or more of people who pay for expensive, ad infested cable and satellite subscriptions.
I really don't understand your comment. You're acting like TV services don't usually charge you and put ads in their content which in reality it is the complete opposite.
In fact, the ONLY real exceptions are Netflix but they only have mostly old seasons of shows and iTunes which is very limited in TV offerings and much more expensive than Hulu Plus. All the rest of the tv providers including Comcast, Time Warner, DirecTV, Dish Network, and the HUNDREDS of other cable and satellite operators all put commercials in there content so I really don't understand your comment at all.
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Can u still use AirPlay ?
I'm really hoping ATv 3 - yes three runs at 1080p for my mkvs!!
With the EyeTV app and Airplay, I'm getting live TV streams on my ATV2. No jailbreak required.
With the EyeTV app and Airplay, I'm getting live TV streams on my ATV2. No jailbreak required.
N/m, I just looked at this and realized you need an antenna that is receiving a signal.
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I wasn't comparing Hulu Plus to broadcast, cable or satellite TV. I was comparing it to Netflix and iTunes video offerings, which are its direct competitors for people thinking about cutting the cord.
And Netflix is not alone in providing commercial-free videos/movies. Apple doesn't do it. I don't think VUDU does it either. (Maybe someone who's used VUDU can speak to that).
The topic is internet video, not broadcast or cable/satellite video. And, in that field of competition, yes Hulu Plus is doing something unusual by charging you AND inserting commercials.