WebProNews

Tag: Roku Streaming Stick

  • CES 2013: Roku Coming To More TVs In 2013, Now Sports Over 700 Channels

    Roku, one of the big players in streaming entertainment, announced at CES today that it has secured more Roku Ready partners in the coming year. These companies will release new televisions that can take advantage of the Roku Streaming Stick.

    In 2013, you’ll see new smart TVs from Coby Eletronics, Harman Kadon, Hisense Electronic, TCL, Voxx and Westinghouse Digital that use the Roku Streaming Stick to “provide an integrated streaming experience for their customers.” These partners join the already impressive lineup of TV manufacturers supporting Roku including 3M, Hiachi, Insignia and more.

    “Consumer electronics makers are turning to the Roku Streaming Stick to create Smart TVs, projectors, Blu-ray players, digital antennas – and even audio receivers – that give consumers instant access to the highly-rated Roku streaming platform, filled with compelling entertainment and yet incredibly easy to use,” said Chas Smith, general manager of OEM business, Roku. “With 14 CE manufacturers now turning to Roku for streaming solutions, consumers will have many choices in 2013 when shopping for new, innovative and affordable electronics.”

    Roku believes its streaming stick offers a far cheaper solution to smart TVs needing regular updates as the consumer can replace the streaming stick with the newest model at a fraction of the price of a new television. Google will tell you that its solved this problem as well with its Google TV platform by providing regular software updates and a cheap set-top box that works with most HD televisions. Both will be vying for the attention of smart TV consumers this week at CES.

    In other news, Roku announced that its platform is now host to over 700 channels. Some of the new channels include Blockbuster On Demand, Dailymotion, Flingo, PBS, Syfy, VEVO and more. It’s also host to new music and casual games from the likes of Amazon Cloud Player, Spotify and Big Fish Unlimited.

    “When we launched the first Roku player in 2008, it was the very first device to stream Netflix to the TV and offered just that one channel. Today, the content universe is vastly different with many content producers and owners embracing delivery over the Internet and recognizing the broad appeal and strength of the Roku platform,” said Steve Shannon, general manager of content and services, Roku. “We’re excited to say we have more entertainment choices on Roku today – 700 channels – and more importantly, we have the best brands in streaming entertainment.”

    Smart TVs and online content delivery were big ticket items at CES 2012. It’s already looking like it’s going to be an even bigger deal this year as more players enter the scene hoping to jump on the smart TV bandwagon before the rumored Apple TV has a chance to take over the market.

  • Roku and 3M Release a Streaming Video Box With a Projector

    Roku and 3M Release a Streaming Video Box With a Projector

    This week, Roku and 3M have teamed up to launch a unique type of streaming video player. The device is what 3M is calling a “Streaming Projector.” It functions as a normal Roku video streaming box, with the requisite Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, and other streaming services. However, the box also has a built-in projector.

    The Streaming Projector is “small enough to fit in your hand,” according to 3M. It is able to project an image of up to 120 inches and can function on battery power for up to 2 hours and 45 minutes. It has build-in stereo speakers, but the audio out for headphones or external speakers is probably a better bet for viewing, considering the device’s size.

    “We’ve worked very closely with the 3M projector team to ensure consumers get the best streaming experience available from a projection device” said Chas Smith, general manager of Roku’s Platform OEM division. “The 3M Streaming Projector creates a big-screen Roku experience for people to enjoy content in any setting.”

    This all sounds amazing, but there some caveats. Most importantly, while the device will display a 120-inch image, the image resolution is only 800 x 480, according to Boy Genius Report. So, this isn’t anywhere near a replacement for an HD projector or display. Also, the device is currently selling for $299, which is far above the price for a normal Roku HD box.

    “With the 3M Streaming Projector, parents can recreate those epic movie memories from their childhoods that can be experienced through the magic of projection,” said Mark Colin, general manager of 3M’s Mobile Interactive Solutions division.

    If anyone reading this can decipher what exactly Colin means by that statement, feel free to leave a comment below and fill the rest of us in.

  • Apple TV, Google TV – Is 2012 the Year They Take Off?

    We’ve heard it before and nothing happened, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t, right? I’m referring to the idea of Internet TV that has, up to this point, failed to really take off. But, is 2012 the year that this trend could change? There is a lot of speculation and rumors that indicate that it could.

    The concept behind Internet TV is fascinating but many of the early offerings lacked luster. The products that have taken off are the Internet video boxes such as Roku, Boxee, and Apple TV.

    Do you currently use an Internet TV device? If so, are you happy with it?

    This year, the opportunity is said to lie in TV sets with built-in Internet connectivity. The reason for this is largely a result of the shift in consumer behavior. The trend has gone from viewing online entertainment through a desktop to viewing it through mobile and tablet devices. From all indications, the next shift will be to the living room.

    At this time, Samsung, Sony, Sharp, LG, and Panasonic all have connected TVs on the market, but there are reports that Apple will release a TV set later this year. In addition, based on what Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said at the Le Web conference, Google TV will be integrated into the majority of televisions by this summer.

    (He begins talking about Google TV around 38 minutes in)

    In order for 2012 to be the year for Web TVs to become mainstream, consumers will have to be educated on what they are. For this to happen, the consumer electronics companies will have to use effective marketing strategies to create a need for consumers to want connected TVs.

    If this happens, it will, no doubt, open many doors for hardware makers, content providers, and others. However, there are questions that remain such as, what will happen to the Internet video boxes that have been, up to this point, primarily responsible for the success of Internet? While this could be a very real concern, it appears that companies such as Roku have already taken this into consideration.

    Earlier this week, the company announced the Roku Streaming Stick that plugs directly into a TV and transforms it into a Smart TV. Users will be able to purchase the Roku Streaming Stick later this year, but it will also be available as a bundle with Best Buy’s Insignia TV. According to the company blog, Roku is working to secure more partnerships with other TV manufacturers.

    While only time will tell if 2012 is, in fact, the year that connected TVs take off, hopefully, we’ll have a better idea of what to expect after next week’s Consumer Electronics Show.

    Would you be willing to buy a connected TV this year? Let us know.