Roku XD Unboxing and First Impressions

[thegenrl]

what about accessing from NFS or NTFS file shares?

[megahustlenflowspare]

so how can i get my own internet acces i know it costs some money to keep it going (most likely)

[SPORTSandGAMEs4LIFE]

Do you get ESPN on this device

[MrPavePaws]

ROKU.com account signup is *NEVER* mentioned in the "3 minute set up" they refer to.

[JamJells]

For some reason your voice didn't seem to match you speaking in the last clip of you speaking. It was absolutely clear. What mike system do you use in your videos?

[thisweekinlinux]

@JamJells The middle section, where I was actually demonstrating the Roku, I was using the built-in audio of the camera, which was mediocre at best. When unboxing the device and talking at the end, I was using the Rode Videomid on a boom mic stand overhead, plugged into the camera using the 3.5mm audio jack.

Probably should have used the Rode for the center section as well, to be honest.

[jercubsfan]

Your mother-in-law is awesome!

[suspekt29]

It boasts 300 channels. Where are the 300 channels?

[thisweekinlinux]

@suspekt29 in the Channels menu, there are lots of channels. Not sure about 300 of them, and a lot of them are paid channels, but there are definitely quite a few good ones out there (Crackle, Revision3, BlipTV just to name a few)

[suspekt29]

@thisweekinlinux Someone also told me that you can hack it as well. Others told me they could hook it up to an external hard drive for music and movies. Thanks for the response. Any idea how yours differs from the new one they just released. I am sure I could find this version cheaper.

[thisweekinlinux]

@suspekt29 not really sure what's different about the new ones. I know Woot has a refurbed one available today for a reasonable price though.

[uzumaki38]

Thank you for his video. It saved me from a purchase I would have regretted!

[djdarrin91]

I also have the XD model,i love it! being linux based is the icing on the cake for me!

getting ready to trade my apple tv for another one :P

[thisweekinlinux]

@SomeReallyGoodStuff If you have an Android-based device, check out the app for it. Very handy, if you don't have line of sight on the device (helpful for starting another episode of a show for my kid when I'm in the kitchen)

There might be an iPhone app available as well.

[thisweekinlinux]

@Skradis354 There are quite a few. I use Netflix, Amazon VOD, and Revision3 mostly, but there's also Hulu Plus, Blip.TV (where you can actually get all of my videos!), TWiT, lots more. If you go to the roku website and click "What's on", it has a list of channels that are free and premium.

[thisweekinlinux]

@PenultimateRun I put about as much thought into it as you did into your first comment. :)

Have a nice day, kthxbai!

[thisweekinlinux]

@PenultimateRun I think that would depend on your level of persistence and, um, physical size.

I haven't tried myself, and have no intention to, but if you do, make sure to send Roku a support request letting them know how it works out for you.

[GenoSkill]

1:22 "all of that fun stuff" haha lol

[MetalxShredder600]

can u watch youtube on it?



[thisweekinlinux]

@MetalxShredder600 yup, there's a YouTube channel. :)

[Scottrb1982]

really glad I watched this, been looking for something to get netflix streaming to the tv i dont have a wii ps3 or bluray player on, now i just gotta decide between this and a google tv device. nice to have a lower cost option!

[thisweekinlinux]

@Scottrb1982 I would have preferred the Google TV device, but $300 is a bit ridiculous.

[Scottrb1982]

@thisweekinlinux yah, the logitec one is $250 now, but still way too high. at that price point I'd rather get a ps3.

i'd just use a netbook with linux hooked to the tv but no netflix on linux sucks... i'm sure it'll work eventually though.

[DaemonAnt]

I'd be more likely to build an atom based linux box than buy one of these, probably. More fun :D

[thisweekinlinux]

@DaemonAnt would be more fun, yes, but more expensive and take more time/effort. :P

[daeamarth]

Good review. Thanks!

You mentioned pixelation... was this primarily in black areas and the likes of ocean scenes or semi-random?

I wonder what happens if X service decides to go down. All your content you purchased lost or do they have a guarantee of access via some other route etc?

[thisweekinlinux]

@daeamarth mainly in black areas, yes.

not a clue about the content, sadly. I have a feeling that it just goes away. that's why I'm not in a hurry to buy much of anything on amazon.

[woutervddn]

I want your mother in law..

[bartjoboy]

0:24 That's what she said...

[duminicad]

very nice presentation I must say!!

[naryanr]

The ELMO cancels out the Glee.

[nemesis8722]

Have you jailbroken it yet?

[vargulf19]

No Doctor Who? I'm more surprised than the Xbox thing. Especially when you have Battlestar Galactica on it

[thisweekinlinux]

@vargulf19 just haven't paid for the Doctor. I've always watched it on Netflix or BBC America in the past. :P

[vargulf19]

@thisweekinlinux Alright, I was gonna say. Nice review, always looked into these type of things. The only set back is I've been looking for one with a cable input, so I could do internet and tv at the same time. Because, as I mostly use netflix, I could just use my PS3 as a media player.

As always love the show, and have a great New Year, can't wait to see what happens in the Linux community 2011.

[thisweekinlinux]

@vargulf19 thanks very much, same to you. :)

[frvfilms]

jail break /homebrew

install ubuntu on it!!

of course free content will win

[DAudIcI]

Can't say the interface is all that appealing without animations. Isn't the UI cluttered with all the additional channels?

[JakeTheFakeReal]

Your mother-in-law got you one hell of a gift, man.

[thisweekinlinux]

@JakeTheFakeReal agreed. Of course I actually ordered it. She said "spend $80 on yourself and ship it to my house". so I spent $65.

[vhmbdc]

this kinda stuff just dont work on brazil :P... netflix, vevo... all this cool and idiot things dont accept other places then us, uk...

[thisweekinlinux]

@vhmbdc it's a shame, I agree, but I think it's the content providers (not Netflix/Hulu/etc) that are forcing their hand, sadly.

[vargulf19]

@thisweekinlinux I agree it's the content providers, but it's also the netflix etc... people also, because different countries have different copyright laws, which they want to avoid issues with that too. That's why so many "pirated" things are usually on servers in places like Russia

[depro9]

After seeing this I'll be buying one today. Thanks again for the awesome information you provide.

[thisweekinlinux]

@depro9 awesome! the more time I spend with mine, the more pleased I am with it. :)

[zooyork2002]

rolfffffffffffffffffffffff glee .... unsubscribing

j/k

[thisweekinlinux]

@zooyork2002 ohnoes! :) I can't help it, I love musical theatre type stuff, so I'm a Gleek.

[chilledice]

@zooyork2002 who's rolf?

[zooyork2002]

@chilledice it was a typo ROFL (roll on the floor laughing)

[technoboi0]

I've not seen the advantage of running any of these boxes over that of a small footprint computer - which can run the Boxee application, MythTV etc. except for, possibly, the price and ease of use for non-tech people.

[thisweekinlinux]

@technoboi0 those are exactly the advantages. I showed it to my wife, who is less technical (but moreso than most people I know) and she was immediately able to use it.

[7715z]

Dont lite that movie if for you (a)

[thisweekinlinux]

@7715z mayyybe. :P

[7715z]

@thisweekinlinux lie* xD

[castra73]

Looks like a very nice box, but I would not trade it inn for my WDTV live device. Seams kinda missing out on few features. Does it support UPNP in case if you wanna hook up Xbox or media center from windows?How about NFS or SMB share?Youtube?

[thisweekinlinux]

@castra73 it's got a youtube channel, and there's a way to add a channel that can connect to a media server, but you have to download/install the media server. I might give that a shot and make a video about it soon.

[Iamthemaster2]

for your son? Suuuuuure...

[thisweekinlinux]

@Iamthemaster2 la la, la la, la la, la la... elmo's song. :)

[Skaryon]

This is by far not the first video I watched of you, but I only just yet realized I have the exact same little table standing next to me with my coffee on it :)

[thisweekinlinux]

@Skaryon orly? The one with my printer on it in the background?

[Skaryon]

@thisweekinlinux No I mean the one you are showing the roku box on :)

[thisweekinlinux]

@Skaryon ohhh, that's actually a set of drawers I got at Ikea that goes under my desk. :P

[Skaryon]

@thisweekinlinux O okay, I got mine from ikea too and I guess it just has the same top incidentally^^

[any5dollarfootlong]

I wish I were you...

[thisweekinlinux]

@any5dollarfootlong it's overrated. :P

[TheLifeRuiner]

Cool! I bought one for my little sister for Christmas too! I sprung for the XDS though, since it was $80 flat on Amazon! :)

[thisweekinlinux]

@TheLifeRuiner I missed out on the $80 one, or I would have gone for it.

[exXcaliber27]

@thisweekinlinux

I'd be interested in seeing a full review.

As the way the Roku box looks now, it seems to be buffering quite a bit. Understandable with the a wireless hub.

However, with further benefits like a usb port and optical out, I'd be interested.

[thisweekinlinux]

@exXcaliber27 it doesn't buffer much at all on SD content, but with HD, it does. My wireless router is just too far away, to be honest.

[tcpnet]

I'm looking at getting a Logitech revue....

dont think this device is gonna change my mind. its good for accessing your web media.. but something with more features would be better..

for some reason i hear the windows device removal sound every time you press the button. must be my headphones...

[thisweekinlinux]

@tcpnet I'd really love one of the Google TV devices, honestly. The mix of live TV with the web is just amazing, but a $300 price point is a bit ridiculous.

Btw, the "boop" sound when I hit the buttons? Turned it down right after I stopped filming. :P

[TrapStar972]

Xbox? took you for a ps3 guy

[thisweekinlinux]

@TrapStar972 yeah, I was into the online service for Xbox a while back with friends.

[ShadowApex]

I'd love to see if someone comes out with some sort of jailbreak for this device to allow installations of other Linux-based operating systems. I've been looking to build a Linux-based media center that runs XBMC at an affordable cost. $60-$100 for a media center is definitely worth it.

[thisweekinlinux]

@ShadowApex that would be really interesting...

[justinrixx]

Has anybody seen Tron Legacy? Did you see any significance with isos? I recognized iso as a CD/DVD image, but how does that make them a miracle?

[thisweekinlinux]

@justinrixx I haven't seen it yet. :/

[unrealjeff]

BIG FRIGGIN TV

[thisweekinlinux]

@unrealjeff a bit. :P

[experimental0000]

watched your thisweekinlinux vids on it yet? it is a good box and it sounds like a good value, but with a wifi connected blue ray dvd player with netflix and youtube (and other apps preinstalled) having a box like the roku would be redundant

[thisweekinlinux]

@experimental0000 I have indeed, using the blip.tv channel. tried on the youtube channel, but it appears to be a bit buggy.

I looked into the blu ray players with a bunch of internet channels, but the amount of stuff I could get on roku just seemed better for me (lots of channels available, and I've already got a blu ray player)

[experimental0000]

@thisweekinlinux cool. we upgraded to one after our old dvd player kicked the bucket soit wouldn't be good for us to get another box for now. one day I'll build a htpc for such things but for now the sony does the job just fine

[DarthScape]

i would watch so much anime on that

[thisweekinlinux]

@DarthScape I found the "Crunchyroll" channel last night. :P between that and netflix, I'm going to be worthless.

[cusinndzl]

xD, I really like that name.

[JeremyPassarelli]

Never heard of it.

[jorn1233]

xD

[thisweekinlinux]

@jorn1233 exactly. :P

[VideoGuyNC]

Nice review. One tip though. Be careful of your purchases of video on demand from Amazon. I purchased a movie, which was later removed from their system. When I contacted Amazon because I hadn't gotten the chance to view the full movie, I was told they were showing I had accessed the film once, (had to stop 10 mins in for emergencies). No refund. The reason for removal was lack of interest from customers.

[thisweekinlinux]

@VideoGuyNC seriously? Ouch. I think I'd fight that one... If it was a purchase, you're entitled to it, period. Just like the books they've pulled from the kindle store, people have fought it and gotten refunds.

[thejoesteiger]

I have thought about it but not sure how it works. All of those preloaded channels cost money. Can you go over any channels that may be free?

Im waiting for Netflix to come to linux before i reopen my account.

[thisweekinlinux]

@thejoesteiger once I've got a bit more experience with it, I'll go into other channels and do a full review. :) There are quite a few awesome ones out there. They're pretty much all things you can get on your PC, but this way you can watch it on your TV as well, very easily. (I found my own content on Blip.tv, hehe!)

[nagrom97]

"All that fun stuff", you have said that twice in this video. Why do you always say that? Is there a story behind all that fun stuff?

[thisweekinlinux]

@nagrom97 no real story behind it. I just like fun stuff. :P

[Linux4UnMe]

nniicceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­. Cheers for lettin us know about this cool device ;)

[thisweekinlinux]

@Linux4UnMe :) glad to do it. I was so excited to get home with it, that I had to do an unboxing. :P

[ttk1opc]

Sweet, So why can't I have netflix on linux?

[thisweekinlinux]

@ttk1opc I think it's DRM-related. that's why even though they're bringing it to Android, it's only coming to specific models to begin with.

[Aspie12345]

This video is excellent. Did it work on wifi after hard wire ethernet update? Does the money stop at $59 or does Roku require more money annually for a fee or something?

[thisweekinlinux]

@Aspie12345 it DID work on Wifi after the initial update, sorry, forgot to mention that. It still had some buffering (a bit more than I had on my wireless bridge, but that's a higher quality, dedicated network device with a large antenna).

Roku doesn't have any sort of fees other than the initial purchase. "Premium" content like netflix, videos on amazon, and hulu plus does cost.

[xXGhostChuyXx]

looks nice.

[KennyMataz]

oh, great unboxing btw :)

[thisweekinlinux]

@KennyMataz thanks. :) I'm really enjoying these unboxings, and the mic is becoming so much more useful than I ever expected!

[KennyMataz]

i hate sku's, even if there are only 3, thats too much for a media player

[thisweekinlinux]

@KennyMataz it is a bit awkward, but I know there are a lot of people who would rather pay a little less to get into it and sacrifice a couple of features. Me, for example, I didn't really need the dual-band wireless or the USB media playback, and it cost $20-40 less or so

[KennyMataz]

@thisweekinlinux totally agree with the dual-band statement, but USB, I would really need that if I was going to gift this to someone who isn't as tech minded as me or you, I would need either internal storage or a usb port, wireless streaming, even though pretty easy, is still a bit of a pain.

also, the mic is fantastic, I'm glad you're able to spend less time in post production and still have that high quality finish -Micheál.

[thisweekinlinux]

@KennyMataz that's a very good point. of course they regularly have deals on the XD|S model as well, which has the built-in USB (it was $79 before Christmas, I think)