Roku takes on Google’s Chromecast with an HDMI dongle
that makes TVs ‘smarter’
One of an ever-growing number of devices that adds smart
functionality to TVs, this HDMI dongle is a competitor to Google’s recently
released Chromecast model.
Whereas with Chromecast you need a computer or iOS or
Android device to stream content to and control it, Roku’s device is similar to
its more conventional ‘streaming players’ on which apps can be installed but in
a more convenient form, though it comes with some Chromecast-like
functionality.
Roku Streaming
Stick overview
Design and setup
Resembling a rather chunky USB flash drive it can output
1080p video, passthrough 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound and has built-in 802.11
dual-band Wi-fi support. There’s no Ethernet connector, but it has a micro-USB
port which, like Chromecast enables it to be powered via a USB port on your TV
or the mains (a cable and USB adapter are included).
The accompanying remote uses Wi-fi Direct so no ‘line of
sight’ is required (useful if you have the dongle hidden away around the back
of your TV) and is much like other Roku remotes with its quirky console-like
design. It has few buttons, but it’s still very usable when it comes to
navigating menus or playing content for which it has play/pause and fast
forward and rewind buttons. It doesn’t, however, have motion control
functionality for gaming like the Roku 3 controller.
Roku Streaming
Stick has a micro-USB port which, like Chromecast enables it to be powered via
a USB port on your TV or the mains
The setup procedure is straight forward including connecting
it to your network. You’re given a ‘link code’ for the dongle to be entered
into the Roku website on which you must create an account, which can be used to
pay for content.
The simple user interface is just like that found on Roku’s
streaming players and can be customised with themes and screensavers. Installed
apps can be displayed in a desired order and given a star rating.
Design and setup
Apps can be downloaded to the dongle from a Channel Store
and, certainly compared to Chromecast, support is extensive with BBC iPlayer,
BBC News, BBC Sport, ITV Player, 4oD, Demand 5, YouTube, Netfl ix, Sky Store,
Now TV, Facebook, Spotify, Picasa and Flickr among the lineup.
You can also obtain apps for a diverse, international mix of
‘internet TV’ and on-demand channels. Other apps such as Crackle, Rdio, Vevo
and TuneIn also off er video, music or online radio streaming and you can
download games such as Jeopardy and more screensavers.
Roku channels
Some, such as a Roku Media Player and Plex, can be used to
stream media from networked sources. The latter is particularly good making
excellent use of metadata and able to play many file formats. We successfully
streamed content from our computer with Windows 7 and Plex Media Server
installed. You can also use a SlingPlayer app to stream from a Slingbox.
Unavailable from the Channel Store at time of review, however, were Amazon
Instant Video, Wuaki.tv or a web browser.
Like Chromecast you can use Netflix and YouTube’s mobile
apps to ‘cast’ content (from the internet) to the dongle. Unlike it, there’s no
(Chrome) web browser mirroring from computers, but Roku plans to introduce a
way of casting content from a computer to a TV “over time”.
A free Roku app for compatible iOS (including iPhone, iPad
and iPod Touch) and Android devices can be used as a remote control, to browse
and add channels and stream media stored on your device to the dongle. An app
for Windows 8/8.1 phones and Windows 8.1 devices can also act as a remote
control.
Roku Streaming
Stick and remote
Performance-wise, video from some less-well known sources
looked decidedly ropey on our TV, but good quality video including HD content
from Netfl ix and BBC iPlayer streamed smoothly and looked great.
Verdict
The price is about right for a product that currently has
more to off er than Chromecast or indeed the also comparatively limited and
pricier Apple TV. If you’re after a versatile ‘plug and play’ multimedia upgrade
for your TV, it’s pretty much a no-brainer.
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Features
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USB media playback: None
·
Maximum video output resolution: 1080p
·
HD out: HDMI
·
SD out: via HDMI
·
Audio out: via HDMI
·
Other connections: micro-USB
·
Networking: Wi-fi Channels available include: BBC iPlayer; BBC
News; BBC Sport; ITV Player; 4oD; Demand 5; Netfl ix; Sky Store; Sky News;
Now TV; YouTube; Facebook; Flickr; Picasa; Spotify; Rdio; Roku Media Player;
Plex; SlingPlayer; WSJ Live; euronews; Vevo; Vimeo; Dailymotion; DriveCast;
TuneIn; Flixster, Crackle; Weather Underground; Jeopardy
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