Roku Intros Pretty New 3rd-Gen Streaming Player

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By Kevin Parrish
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Roku has refreshed its streaming player with a better SoC, a better interface and an enhanced remote.

Roku introduced on Wednesday its third-generation streaming player, the Roku 3. The refresh includes a faster processor and an enhanced remote packed with a headphone jack (and included earbuds) for private listening. It also introduces the company's new user interface which promises a more fluid experience during browsing and navigation.

"Roku 3 introduces thoughtful new features that customers will love," said founder and CEO Anthony Wood. "The intuitive new interface makes it easy to find movies and shows quickly while the private listening mode is perfect for late-night streamers who don’t want to wake up the family."

In addition to the headphone jack, volume buttons on the remote allow the user to control the audio while private listening mode is in use. The new remote also doubles as a motion-sensing controller for playing games like Angry Birds Space. Even more, there's an Android and iOS app that transforms a phone or tablet into "the ultimate Roku command center".

As for the new interface, Roku said it will also be rolled out as a free update to all current-generation Roku devices including the Roku LT, Roku HD 2500R, Roku 2 HD, Roku 2 XD, Roku 2 XS and the Roku Streaming Stick. "Roku’s new interface maintains the simplicity that Roku is known for, while providing improved access to channels," the company added. "And the fully integrated Roku Channel Store and one-stop search lets customers easily pinpoint what they want to watch – and get there instantly."

The new Roku 3 offers more than 750 channels of entertainment including Time Warner's TWC TV, Blockbuster On Demand, iHeartRadio, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Crackle, Amazon Instant Video, NBC News, and more. Other channels launching soon include FOX NOW, PBS and PBS Kids. On the specs end, Roku doesn't provide a detailed list, but said it sports dual-band Wireless N connectivity, an Ethernet port, USB ports, a microSD card slot, and 1080p HD support. It weighs 5 ounces and measures just 3.5- x 3.5- x 1-inches.

The new Roku 3 is available now in the States for $99.99 USD through Roku.com and online retailers like Amazon. It will be offered in retail stores nationwide beginning in April. 

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Kevin Parrish
11 Comments Comment from the forums
  • thechief73
    Was this known to be in the works? I don't mean just speculated either. I did catch wind of the new streaming stick but not this. Just kinda disappointed I got a Roku 2 XS for X-Mas and it is already out of date hardware. Bummer :\
    Reply
  • tobalaz
    As much as I used to want a Roku, I decided to get an OUYA instead.
    By the time I get one in, it'll do everything Roku does plus play android games, emulators and play streaming games from my pc.
    Now if they dropped the price sub $50 it might be worth giving a second look, but at the $99 price point the only thing Roku has going for it is a snazzy remote.
    Reply
  • lpedraja2002
    tobalazAs much as I used to want a Roku, I decided to get an OUYA instead.By the time I get one in, it'll do everything Roku does plus play android games, emulators and play streaming games from my pc.Now if they dropped the price sub $50 it might be worth giving a second look, but at the $99 price point the only thing Roku has going for it is a snazzy remote.

    Ouya cost $150, you can have a roku for much less but the roku is appealing for people who don't have a smart tv, smart blu-ray player or don't want to connect the laptop every single time they want to stream something online. My biggest complain with my Roku is that it doesn't support multiple video formats like other similar devices.
    Reply
  • tobalaz
    lpedraja2002Ouya cost $150, you can have a roku for much less but the roku is appealing for people who don't have a smart tv, smart blu-ray player or don't want to connect the laptop every single time they want to stream something online. My biggest complain with my Roku is that it doesn't support multiple video formats like other similar devices.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouya
    $150 (US) is the price for an OUYA with a 2nd controller, $99 (US) is base price for a console and single controller.
    Reply
  • assasin32
    For my family I would still tell them to get a Roku over an OUYA. It's purpose built for streaming and it just works. OUYA will get the job done but probably not with as much simplicity, though it can do more there is no arguing that. And when you have remotes for the cable box, tv, dvd/vhs player, and roku having that simplicity in something is a breath of fresh air. Even for me working the TV/DVD/VHS/Cable can get confusing but the Roku on the other hand is dead simple, for the others theres too many remotes and overlap in what things do.
    Reply
  • calmstateofmind
    I like my Roku.
    Reply
  • dimar
    According to wikipedia it uses Broadcom ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core. Why couldn't they use A15 instead??
    Toms, do you think you could do a review and compare it to Western Digital TV Live?
    Reply
  • anathema_forever
    I am asume the roku still can't stream stuff off your network without a 3rd party setup like playon or whatever.
    Reply
  • amdwilliam1985
    Can you get youtube in roku now?
    The last time I was shopping for a non-tech friend, I was going to go with Roku but the lack of youtube forced me to buy WD Live TV.
    Reply
  • scythe944
    amdwilliam1985Can you get youtube in roku now?The last time I was shopping for a non-tech friend, I was going to go with Roku but the lack of youtube forced me to buy WD Live TV.anathema_foreverI am asume the roku still can't stream stuff off your network without a 3rd party setup like playon or whatever.

    As far as I'm concerned, yes it still doesn't support network streaming. Playon works but isn't free.

    I've found Plex to work well with multiple formats and does support a crappy version of youtube as well.
    Reply