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I just bought a Roku for my elderly in-laws; I was expecting the experience to be awful but instead it was very nearly everything I could hope for from an embed
by phjesusthatguy3 8y ago
I just bought a Roku for my elderly in-laws; I was expecting the experience to be awful but instead it was very nearly everything I could hope for from an embedded device. If these changes mean they get pointed to free content first (above what the thing already did!) I'm going to have to say this is a good change.
They're going to be watching live TV on Sling for the most part. We're going to add on an AirTV so they can get PBS in the Sling interface as well. They already watch Netflix on their Vizio TV, and hopefully we can get them to turn off the TV's internet connection with the Rokus.
- asark 8y agoNow that all TVs are "smart" the ones with built-in Roku are just about the only ones I find tolerable. Pretty fast booting, especially from "sleep", compared to the rest, and the interface isn't garbage. The remotes are pleasantly simple and normal. You can use your phone as a remote if you lose it. You can "upgrade" older TVs to have the same interface with one of their cheaper stick products. Pretty nice. Like the poor (frugal) person's Apple TV, and not as big a compromise in experience as one might think. I kinda like them better, in fact.
- tssva 8y agoI sold my Apple TV and replaced it with a Roku Premiere +. I found the Apple TV to be a usability nightmare.
- scarface74 8y agoRoku’s interface is slow and ad ridden compared to the Apple TV. I have three Roku TVs and like them. But, I have two ATV 4Ks (free because of the DirecTVNow promotion) - one attached to our main TV. But Roku is the only non-Apple tv platform that I can stand.
- stult 8y agoGet a pi hole. Totally eliminates the ad problem.
- tssva 8y agoI have not found my Roku's interface to be any slower than the Apple TV it replaced.
- scarface74 8y agoI posted this to another reply, but the CEO of Roku basically said that they purposefully use very low end hardware to keep the build of materials cost down - especially for TV manufacturers. I don’t have a text link, but he said it during an interview on the Recode podcast. https://www.recode.net/2018/9/13/17852908/roku-anthony-wood-apple-google-amazon-tv-competition-peter-kafka-media-podcast https://www.recode.net/2018/9/13/17852908/roku-anthony-wood-...
- tyingq 8y agoI can say that any sort of auto play previews are immensely annoying. I watch more Prime than Netflix now, and that autoplay preview is high on the list of why. Free content is similarly irrating because it's loaded with commercials that you can't even fast forward through.
- julianlam 8y agoIf you use Firefox, the "Netflix Tweaks" plugin is quite nice and stops the autoplay.
- int_19h 8y agoI think they're referring to Roku. The Roku Netflix app is notorious for its aggressive autoplay. Like, you are browsing the list of episodes for some show, and they will autoplay whichever one is currently highlighted in the list, even as you move selection around. It's infuriating.
- cdubzzz 8y agoGet them to join PBS Passport, as well! (: https://help.pbs.org/support/solutions/articles/12000012972-how-do-i-log-into-my-passport-account-on-my-roku-device- https://help.pbs.org/support/solutions/articles/12000012972-... Disclaimer: I work for a PBS member station.
- redstar92 8y agoAny chance for an Xbox one app by PBS? Paying member of passport but this would really increase my watching. It's weird that there is a pbs kids app but not the full pbs app on Xbox one.
- cdubzzz 8y agoUnfortunately I don’t have any deep insight on big PBS’s plans in that respect. I do know some major changes are coming to their OTT apps, but PBS has been tight lipped about it. KIDS is funny, they are basically a (well staffed) separate entity and often test the waters of new/potential technologies for the whole org. Fun fact: pbskids.org is a static site! I can’t remember what generator they use, but apparently the codebase is a bit of a beast with all the interactive games.
- phjesusthatguy3 8y agoYep, they're going to do that too, but they want the antenna because they're mostly set in their ways and want to watch live TV. Netflix was a huge step forward for them.
- scarface74 8y agoI bought my dad a Roku TV. He hates the login process and it seems to randomly sign him out from his cable provider. Every time I go home I have to re sign him in. While I don’t have to do that with Netflix, the discoversbilty of any videos that aren’t recommended is awful.