Roku Launch New Range Internet TV Set-Top Boxes

Roku serious competition for Apple TV?

Roku are gearing up for the battle with rival product Apple TV by launching three new revamped Roku set-top boxes. The new boxes have a smaller footprint, lower prices and improved performance including a sub $60 HD ready version.

The hardware entry level box is the $59.99 Roku HD which can handle 720p HD. Next in line is the $79.99 Roku XD which comes with improved Wi-Fi 802.11-n. And finally the $99.99 Roku XDS coming with dual-band 802.11-n and optical output. It also has a USB connection allowing viewers to watch media from other devices.

All three versions have a new, smaller sized low profile casing just slighly larger than the new Apple TV box, plus you get a new and slimmer remote control. The XD, XDS versions have an intruigingly named ‘Instant Replay’ feature. This allows viewers to skip through streams with no buffering delays.

The new Roku is fully loaded with content, from companies like Netflix, Amazon on Demand, Vimeo, MLB, UFC, Revision3, MediaFly, YouTube, NASA, plus a range of channels from independent content producers. There will also be a range of social media services to call up.

So Roku are looking like Apple’s biggest rival right now, Apple TV is similar but only has a couple of TV networks up in ABC and FOX. But then Roku does not allow streaming on other devices around the house. It may be best to let the market sort out who is top internet tv dog.

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Steve Sanger

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7 Responses to “Roku Launch New Range Internet TV Set-Top Boxes”

Roku Experience Sales Boost Thanks To Strong Competition on December 21st, 2010 at 12:41 pm

[...] is going to be tough for any small fry, right? Well actually Wrong, especially if you happen to be Roku. The company have been selling it’s set-top box since 2008, originally just as a way to bring [...]
jack stapleton on February 16th, 2011 at 2:49 pm

am very disapointed in roku they promised netflix and we cant get ,jackit
Roku XD Streaming Set-Top Box Goes Mainstream on March 31st, 2011 at 9:56 am

[...] Roku is a simple box that pulls in streaming content to viewers tv sets. From online streaming services Netflix, Hulu and Amazon to Youtube and other services including music from Pandora, Youtube videos, Facebook and Flickr. [...]
Jane Tucker on April 1st, 2011 at 2:32 pm

I wonder with the XD S model if I have to move it each time to other tv’s to get them working, or if they may work wirelessly because of it. How does this process work, please. May more than one tv be on at the same time using this? Thank you for any information you may provide me. Also, is there additional parts that I would be required to buy to use more than one tv?
P.J. on July 8th, 2011 at 1:51 pm

I would like to know how can I order this box and curious to know if it will pick up any Asian channel.
Ian on September 3rd, 2011 at 12:27 pm

I would like to know when and if Roku in Canada will be able to use content distributors like Hulu?
Roku Evolve Internet TV From Set-Top Box To Stick on January 5th, 2012 at 5:29 am

[...] TV Onto a standard TV set used to involve connecting a box of some kind, until now that is. Roku have revealed they will be launching a ‘Streaming Stick’ that negates the need for a [...]