With Apple TV you can stream whatever is on your iTunes to your HDTV set. You can get Netflix, Amazon movies, You Tube and other content providers. All you have to do is plug in the HDMI cable, the optical cable, the power and then set it up so your wireless network will know it is there. If you want to play iTunes on your HDTV you may have to let your firewall know that Apple TV is going to access iTunes on your computer. It is a good idea to download the new version of iTunes and restart your computer before you start nut other than that the Apple TV is easy to set up.
One thing I like about Apple TV is you can rent thousands of high-definition TV episodes for 99¢ per episode. Apple TV also has a large selection of movies available in HD and most new releases are available the same day they’re released on DVD. You control the Apple TV with a included aluminum Apple Remote, or you can use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. All you need to do is install the Remote app which is free to download from the iTunes App Store.
The Roku is also easy to set up and it plugs you into a world of more movies and TV shows than you can watch in a lifetime. With a Netflix subscription you can pick from a vast selection of movies and TV episodes, Hulu Plus has every episode of Glee, Modern Family, House, and dozens of other popular TV shows in HD. With Amazon Instant Video, you get over 100,000 titles, Crackle has tons of full-length, uncut Hollywood movies and TV series, Pandora delivers songs you love alongside new music you might never have found. With Disney anytime! you get Disney which is a great thing if you have children around or if you are a child.
With a NHL GameCenter LIVE® subscription you can watch up to 40 live out-of-market games every week. Also get unlimited access to the NHL Vault©, featuring condensed and full-length game replays of over 100 classic NHL® games. If you are into fights there is total UFC package, you get all the events, live and on demand, as well as a steady stream of past fights, insider information, training videos, and more. NBA Game Time has free scores, stats, news and highlights, plus the ability to access your NBA.com League Pass subscription, which offers up to 40 live out of market games, plus archived games on demand.
That is more than 100 people could watch in a lifetime. I an trying to get through all the Star Tracks and Star Gates, it is taking a while.
Another option if you want to get Blockbuster, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Pandora is the Samsung blu-ray player. The blu-ray player I like is the Samsung BD-C6500. It plays dvds, cds, cdrw, dvdrw in addition to having Blockbuster, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Pandora and it has a wireless network card-no. That means no wires.
One more option is the Mitsubishi WD-73738 73-Inch 3D HDTV. You can stream movies straight from the web, from YouTube or services like Netflix and Amazon.
Also read About Apple Tv .
David asks…
Roku vs. Apple TV, all stream vs some stream & some hard drive?
Im getting the idea that Apple TV will have better audio and video quality when streaming because the video is over a home network. However, I am considering Roku because it will handle HBO Go and Amazon on Demand (which streams from Amazon server). At this point I am in between the two products, the only thing I do not like about Apple TV is that I have to keep iTunes open a home computer to stream content. On Roku, I like the idea of watching videos from an external hard drive. (I encode SD videos at 2300 kbps via Handbrake for decent quality). Since I do not have any first hand experience with Roku, I am wondering if the video & audio quality is better on one device. I will have high speed internet, hopefully wired with 25mb download. If one device would clearly have better audio/video, that would be a deal breaker. I am trying balance quality vs convenience. All stream (iTunes purchases plus other videos) vs Amazon stream and external hard drive videos.
Ryland answers:
I have the Apple TV and the Roku. I have had no problems from any of them. The picture and sound quality have improved over the years. I can’t speak to the formats that may or may not be compatible all I can say is that I watch what I want and never think the picture or sound quality is sub par. I have never heard any unsettling comments about Roku either. It seems high speed internet is key for audio-visual quality when it comes to streaming. I don’t think you can go wrong with either. Perhaps the lean should go to the device whose “programming” best suits what you like to watch.
George asks…
Roku vs. Apple Tv vs. Another device that i don’t know about right now?
Okay i was looking for a gift for my parents, and i have alot of movies on my laptop that i downloaded and i was looking a device that i could put movies on, wirelessly, and after they copied i could turn my laptop off, and they could watch, im sorry if thats confusing like i don’t like using itunes that much because it doesn’t accept all file formats, i didn’t see the option have having streaming movies from a computer for a roku, and yea, again im sorry if thats comfusing, but help me if you can thanks
Ryland answers:
Roku does not have a hard disk to hold information. So there is no way to transfer it to the device itself. Some do have a usb port that you can connect an external hard drive to and watch all the movies you want (on that hard drive) via the free usb channel.
George asks…
roku xs vs apple tv 2?
Having a difficult time deciding between Apple TV 2 and Roku XS, (one with USB port). My main concern is audio and video quality for both converted and purchased content.
Ok, adding some detail, much of answers I received complained about only having HDMI. HDMI is better than component (component is an analog connection) and can transmit the signal in any resolution from 1080p to 480i, so that point is irrelevant.
Can the Roku XDS play HBOGO?
Also, about the 1080p. Roku can transmit 1080p, Apple TV 720p. Reason being, most internet connections can handle 720p (although highly compressed), but not a full 1080p stream (no way). Maybe on fiber optic or premium internet packages 1080p would work, but that is still scarce. Also, very, very few channels or companies produce 1080p digital file content. Maybe later this year 1080p content will be more readily available to stream, but doubtful. Bandwidth standards would have to double. The point here, I know all the technical aspects of the two devices. I’m looking for personal experiences between the devices.
I’m looking for the reliability of streaming content, net necessarily Netflix, but content I
*For some reason the other detail was deleted, anyway I’m concerned about content I have converted to mp4, via home network or hard drive, and features such as NBA broadband pass (Apple TV) and HBOGO (Roku).
Ryland answers:
Roku is better hands down. The question you want to ask yourself is if you want the Roku XS (newer stripped down model) or the Roku XDS (slightly older elite model).
Apple TV 2: 1080HD out only (no component or composite), kinda a shame since there is so little that streams in 1080 HD (a waste of a HDMI port on your tv). Does have an ethernet port for direct connect. Does have a digital optical out so can be used with home theater systems. A USB port that has no real function then just being there.
Roku 2 XS (actually 4th generation): HDMI connection and composite connection (no 720 HD component). Roku 2 stripped the 720 HD which seems stupid again. There are so many things wanting to use HDMI ports now days. You can have 1080 HD over kill since 99% of content streamed is 720 HD max, or composite? Makes no sense, they should have lost the composite if they wanted to get greedy. Also stripped was the digital optical out (seems crazy again since streaming sites are now actually using 5.1 surround sound). Does have a fully functional USB port. Does have ethernet port for direct connect. Does have a memory card slot for games (but this is no Wii by any stretch of the imagination).
Roku XDS (can still be found new online). Does have composite connections for older TV’s. Does have 720 HD component for TV’s without HDMI or to save a HDMI port since things stream in 720 HD anyway. Does have HDMI for 1080 HD if/when it becomes available. Does have an ethernet port for direct connect. Does have a digital optical out for surround sound. Does have a fully functional USB port. Does have the 12 button remote vs the 9 button. Is cheaper new (and better) then either the apple 2 or the roku 2.
*** Edit: There is no roku that can stream things that the others can not. So yes the Roku XDS can stream HBOGO BUTTTT yes that is a big but. Large cable companies like Comcast and many others do not support it. So while HBO & Roku have the options available, you can not use it if you have HBO via the larger carriers.
That is correct, due to the data usage caps, do not look for 1080 HD to be available anytime soon. Again big companies like ATT, Verizon, Comcast, not only control what you watch, they also control the the internet providers. They do not want you dropping cable so dont look for more data usage anytime soon either. Right now the only one I know of that streams 1080 HD is amazon.
I have had no problems streaming any channel on the Roku other then Hulu Plus (which is a big scam). The problem is the transition between the commercials and the show. It will hang making you reboot the Roku. Hulu Plus knows this and has no intentions of fixing it so I dropped it. They refuse to stop making you pay a fee to watch their commercials.
As for HDMI… Yes it will pass through any def, not just 1080. The point is that with so many devices using HDMI now, and so few ports available on TV sets… Why not keep the 720 HD component option available since that is all that is needed to stream with the current standards. I have a home theater, blu ray & the XBOX all using HDMI. Rather then swap them out as needed or buy a splitter (my tv only has 3 HDMI ports) I use the 720 HD component with optical digital out of the Roku XDS.
Mp4…. This was the main reason I wanted the roku. I have about 1TB of HD movies on an external hard drive. With the USB port on the XDS and the optical out going to the surround sound, there are no more DVD’s to buy or burn. I download all free from the internet and it is blu ray quality. The roku streams them all perfect. Right now there are not a whole lot of formats, but look for more as the USB to be a major selling point. There is so many people who do not realize what they have sitting there. The USB will stream mp4, mov, mkv files in 1080 HD without a problem. Wmv movie files in 480p. For audio it can use ACC LC stereo and AC3 or DTS surround (pass through). It will show slide shows of pictures (jpeg format) & play music in mp3 format.
Thomas asks…
Netflix vs Apple TV, and then if Netflix – Roku media player vs. Tivo HD Recorder?
I am about to start traveling with my job where I relocate every few months. That being said, I’m not sure what my cable situation will be from location to location or my TV situation. Most likely I will have at least a TV, and I will have my laptop where I will be able to get internet access. I like the Netflix idea but to keep changing my address every couple months may be annoying, which is why I liked the possibility of the streaming. I am debating between the Roku Media player and the TiVo HD Digital recorder. I believe both also work with Amazon video on demand as well. Which player would be better for my situation? I would greatly appreciate it if you were able to break down what each media player is capable of; movies vs tv shows, current, past? How movies and tv shows are downloaded – whether only to the device or to/from computer? Cable connection needed or not needed? Also, with the Tivo, is there a monthly charge?
Or would the Apple TV just be a better idea all together?
Thank you! I appreciate any and all advice!
Ryland answers:
I would get the tivo hd since you can record hdtv shows from a antenna for free.
Also tivo does have free music videos from music choice and live365 internet radio and youtube.
It also has rhapsody with 8 million songs but its not free. But it sounds very good and you play any of the 8 million songs and make a playlist. Its better then itunes.
Oops it also has amazon.com on demand has 20,000 movies about 500 of them are in hd there adding more hd stuff everyday.
Donna asks…
Roku XS vs Apple tv streaming box?
i need a device that is good with streaming Netflix and will work on old plasma tv with HDMI
Ryland answers:
Apple TV is a good streaming device they are on top of the game with that with iTunes Netflex its close yet I would choose Roku XDS as its more open and you get more channels and Apple TV is closed. Meaning you have to run everything through iTunes besides Netflex and few other options.
More choices and channels and better updates with the XDS and last Ta Da youre able to play third party video and Apple doesnt allow that.
Robert asks…
Apple TV vs. Netflix Player?
What are the main differences between the Roku Netflix Player and Apple TV?
Which one is better? We have a Netflix subscription already so I thinking about getting my hubby the Netflix player for his b-day… but I am checking out Apple TV as well.
Advice?
Ryland answers:
It depends on what your objectives are. The Roku player can *only* play the Netflix Watch Instantly movies, at least currently. It costs about $100, and is SD only.
The Apple player plays a variety of content, but is somewhat tied to Apple’s store. I don’t think it will play mpeg-2 content (I could be wrong there). It’s more expensive at around $250. But its *is*HD.
Donald asks…
Apple TV 1st gen VS 2nd Gen?
I can’t decide between getting a 1st generation Apple TV 160GB or a new one. They both cost about $100 so I really don’t care about the price. Plus, me and my dad might sell the Roku and split it. So which do you prefer?
Ryland answers:
1st gen: has a hard drive capable of adding new firmware, like Boxee and other non-apple stuff. Also has a usb port for external drives. Down side (for me); kinda slow streaming live media. Basically, this is a hackable unit you can add things to improve your experience. Google “apple tv hacks” and see what you get. I bought a refurbished 160g unit from apple for $185, added some totally legal software and now watch baseball on my big screen tv streamed from the internet through my ATV.
As far as I know, 2nd gen is an internet streaming device only.
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