What is Roku?

[jdb in AZ]

Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic. hmmm. Available on Roku this fall but we're not familiar with it.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic. hmmm. Available on Roku this fall but we're not familiar with it.

It's a steaming service. https://www.roku.com/

 

[disneychrista]

Roku is a free streaming service included with the roku.

 

[bcla]

Roku itself is a company that makes streaming devices. It might not be needed with most newer smart TVs or other devices, but it might be useful if the TV is still fine but the smart TV functions are outdated or specific streaming apps aren't supported. For instance, I had some specialty apps available on my Sony Blu-Ray player and that was fine for a while, but eventually the APIs (the programming system) were no longer supported for many of those services, like YouTube or Amazon Prime Video.

But it seems that Roku has its own free, ad-supported streaming channel with specific content that they've licensed and/or commissioned, plus the ability to add paid channels like Showtime. And it seems that they have it available for anyone over the web, viewable from a browser. But it's also available via several other streaming devices and smart TVs.

https://therokuchannel.roku.com

 

[JaxDad]

You buy one of these from Amazon for as little as $20-25…

The stick goes into an HDMI slot on your TV, then you’re guided through set-up using the remote. You need to register, but there are no additional fees, ever. Roku has its own licensed content, which is pretty decent and is updated regularly. They’ve just recently started offering original content. You can also add all your existing and new streaming services to be managed through Roku using the remote. It’s a great system. I have an old “not-smart” TV, and it was my best option for managing all my streaming.

 

[_19disnA]

It wouldn't surprise me to find out they start out with a 'free' service and then over time try to push you into various paid options. That seems to be the model many internet based companies use. Social media sites are constantly talking about schemes to 'monetize' those who belong to their site.

 

[bcla]

It wouldn't surprise me to find out they start out with a 'free' service and then over time try to push you into various paid options. That seems to be the model many internet based companies use. Social media sites are constantly talking about schemes to 'monetize' those who belong to their site.

They’re already doing that. They’re serving as an intermediary for paid channels.

As a streaming device, they already include apps to access paid content, and I’m thinking they get a small cut depending on usage. I’m not sure who would pay for Showtime or EPIX through them, but it looks like they have access to some international content, although I’m not sure how hard it is to access them.

 

[_19disnA]

Figured that would be the case. Don't currently use any of these other internet based products for TV viewing but imagine they are all basically competing for the same viewing audience. Would rather wait for the dust to settle before picking one to start using.

 

[JaxDad]

Figured that would be the case. Don't currently use any of these other internet based products for TV viewing but imagine they are all basically competing for the same viewing audience. Would rather wait for the dust to settle before picking one to start using.

There are several free streaming services available—Pluto, Tubi, certain non-premium services like Peacock, etc. There are also free trials for the non-free services. If you get a Roku or if you have certain game systems, you can sample the streaming world for little or no cost. You would not lose any viewing platform(s) you already use (cable and/or antenna).

 

[kdonnel]

Figured that would be the case. Don't currently use any of these other internet based products for TV viewing but imagine they are all basically competing for the same viewing audience. Would rather wait for the dust to settle before picking one to start using.

You are truly missing out on the golden age of steaming.

I can't imagine not using streaming services. I have only used streaming services for my TV watching for the past 7+ years.

Watching old school satellite or cable tv seems so archaic when I have to use the services at hotels.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

You are truly missing out on the golden age of steaming.

I can't imagine not using streaming services. I have only used streaming services for my TV watching for the past 7+ years.

Watching old school satellite or cable tv seems so archaic when I have to use the services at hotels.

For Family and General Entertainment content, I agree. But Sports and News still need to be watched live, and the Live TV streaming services are often even more expensive than just buying a Cable+Internet bundle.

For non-sports fans it's a no-brainer.

 

[bcla]

Figured that would be the case. Don't currently use any of these other internet based products for TV viewing but imagine they are all basically competing for the same viewing audience. Would rather wait for the dust to settle before picking one to start using.

I returned my cable box from Comcast and only access that content via streaming. And they don’t count any of that data against my monthly limit. However, Comcast calls it “Xfinity Stream Beta” and I was told that there’s no timetable for when it will ever be considered out of Beta testing. I get some weird effects including low resolution sometimes where it might suddenly improve. When I was watching an NBA game on ABC, the quality was consistently better on the ESPN streaming app (as ESPN3 content is free for customers of certain internet carriers including Comcast) where it was max resolution immediately. But I could have theoretically watched it on the ABC app on my TV, only that has a weird bug where I’m supposed to sign in on another device using a code flashing on the screen, only it goes away quickly and says there’s an error. But thy have an app available on many different devices including smartphones, tablets, and streaming devices.

https://abc.com/apps

 

[kdonnel]

There are several free streaming services available—Pluto, Tubi, certain non-premium services like Peacock, etc. There are also free trials for the non-free services. If you get a Roku or if you have certain game systems, you can sample the streaming world for little or no cost. You would not lose any viewing platform(s) you already use (cable and/or antenna).

Not only that, but because they are all competing for your dollars they are offering the services cheap when you do sign up or partnering with other companies to bundle the service for free.

I pay for YouTubeTV. Started at at $35 to get me hooked but the prices have risen to $65.

I get Netflix for free, bundled with my T-Mobile service.

I get HBOMax for free, bundled with my internet from at&t.

I get PrimeVideo for free, bundled with my Prime subscription.

I get Hulu for free, bundled with my daughters college subscription to Spotify.

I get Showtime for free, bundled with my daughters college subscription to Spotify.

I get Paramount for free, bundled with a credit card.

I get Peacock for free, bundled with a credit card.

I am probably forgetting some.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Not only that, but because they are all competing for your dollars they are offering the services cheap when you do sign up or partnering with other companies to bundle the service for free.

I pay for YouTubeTV. Started at at $35 to get me hooked but the prices have risen to $65.

I get Netflix for free, bundled with my T-Mobile service.

I get HBOMax for free, bundled with my internet from at&t.

I get PrimeVideo for free, bundled with my Prime subscription.

I get Hulu for free, bundled with my daughters college subscription to Spotify.

I get Showtime for free, bundled with my daughters college subscription to Spotify.

I get Paramount for free, bundled with a credit card.

I get Peacock for free, bundled with a credit card.

I am probably forgetting some.

Is AT&T internet plus YouTube TV actually any cheaper than just paying for an AT&T internet plus TV bundle?

I used to do the same as you when YouTube TV had the much lower price, but after all of the increases it was cheaper for me to just go back to the Comcast bundle.

 

[kdonnel]

Is AT&T internet plus YouTube TV actually any cheaper than just paying for an AT&T internet plus TV bundle?

I used to do the same as you when YouTube TV had the much lower price, but after all of the increases it was cheaper for me to just go back to the Comcast bundle.

I pay $70 for 1 gig fiber internet and $65 for YouTubeTV.

Streaming is not always about cheaper though. The cloud dvr and interface of YouTubeTV is far superior to other services I have tried.

 

[Imzadi]

It wouldn't surprise me to find out they start out with a 'free' service and then over time try to push you into various paid options. That seems to be the model many internet based companies use. Social media sites are constantly talking about schemes to 'monetize' those who belong to their site.

I have a Chromecast device that plugs into the TV the same as the Roku stick. It doesn't come with any free content. Yet, it works with all my Android devices, which is why I chose that over the other devices/sticks/dongles on the market. I have a really old Android phone that I no longer use as a phone, but use it to stream stuff to my TV. This way, my phone is still my phone and and my computer is my computer and I can use them, multi-tasking while watching something being streamed via that old phone. I'd rather have a streaming device that actually works with my Android stuff than get something that is harder to configure or doesn't work with some of them, but I got the stick for the (temporarily) free stuff they offered. Or the free stuff isn't what I watch.

I had Amazon Prime for a while. After watching the Jack Ryan series and few other things, there wasn't much else I was interested in. I cancelled Prime and went back to loading up my shopping cart with $25 of stuff to get free shipping.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I have a Chromecast device that plugs into the TV the same as the Roku stick. It doesn't come with any free content. Yet, it works with all my Android devices, which is why I chose that over the other devices/sticks/dongles on the market. I have a really old Android phone that I no longer use as a phone, but use it to stream stuff to my TV. This way, my phone is still my phone and and my computer is my computer and I can use them, multi-tasking while watching something being streamed via that old phone.

Chromecast doesn't stream "via" your phone. Chromecast streams directly from the internet. Your phone is just the controller.

It's not like YouTube goes to your phone, then your phone sends it to the Chromecast device. The Chromecast device just goes and gets the content from YouTube directly.

 

[BrianL]

So, it's been ocvered what Roku and the Roku Channel are, so I just want to say that I am very much looking forward to Weird: The Al Yankovic Story and how incredibly accurate it will be to real life!

 

[Imzadi]

Chromecast doesn't stream "via" your phone. Chromecast streams directly from the internet. Your phone is just the controller.

It's not like YouTube goes to your phone, then your phone sends it to the Chromecast device. The Chromecast device just goes and gets the content from YouTube directly.

I have a 1st or 2nd generation Chromecast. As far as I know, I'm not able to access the Internet from Chromecast - as in, I can't bring up Chromecast directly on my TV. I have to use a device (my phone or PC) to watch something like YouTube, then Chromecast mirrors/casts what is on my phone, which is using my WiFi and Internet.

Are you saying I am able to connect my Chromecast device directly to my Internet? I'd love to do that and cut the phone out completely if that is possible.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

I have a 1st or 2nd generation Chromecast. As far as I know, I'm not able to access the Internet from Chromecast - as in, I can't bring up Chromecast directly on my TV. I have to use a device (my phone or PC) to watch something like YouTube, then Chromecast mirrors/casts what is on my phone, which is using my WiFi and Internet.

Mirroring and casting are two different things. Mirroring works as you described. Your phone is connected to the internet and whatever is on your phone screen shows up on the TV. When you're mirroring, clicking off your phone screen would also turn off the mirroring.

Casting is something different. When you cast, you essentially send a link to the content you're watching from your device to the Chromecast dongle. Then the Chromecast dongle streams the content from the internet.

Are you saying I am able to connect my Chromecast device directly to my Internet? I'd love to do that and cut the phone out completely if that is possible.

Your Chromecast device is already connected directly to your internet. You'll always need your phone to kick off the whole process, but there's no reason to think of your phone as "busy" or "in use" while the content is streaming.

If this is all too confusing, you could always switch to a Roku or Fire TV. They're essentially the same thing but they come with a physical remote.