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I very briefly considered developing "channels" (apps) for Roku, but backed off quickly: - the entire vibe of the Roku content ecosystem is a Venn diagram of "
by peteforde 3y ago
I very briefly considered developing "channels" (apps) for Roku, but backed off quickly:
- the entire vibe of the Roku content ecosystem is a Venn diagram of "right-wing fever dream" meets shovelware
- the developer experience (language, API, tooling) is like an alt-history where ASP, XML and DRM-for-everything won
- there is a distinct two-tier class system where big players can write native executables in something C-like, but everyone else needs to use a slow, interpreted template script thing
- it's basically impossible to create something that can be discovered without pouring a lot of money into platform ads
I encourage anyone still reading to fight back by not buying Roku-enabled products.
- loloquwowndueo 3y agoWhat’s your recommended alternative?
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- project2501a 3y agoWhy has there to be an alternative? Just don't. Roku is not exactly solving world hunger, it is not essential.
- loloquwowndueo 3y agoSo do you watch cable and broadcast tv exclusively? Or to rephrase my question - what should I use for streaming, for example, Netflix to my nice big tv?
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- stonogo 3y agoJust cast to it from your phone like most people?
- Talanes 3y agoMy Roku is the device I use to do this? I'm aware that I could buy something from Google, Apple, or Amazon to do the same thing, but that's just trading one shitty provider for another.
- peteforde 3y agoI do not agree with your conclusion. Google ChromeCast dongles cost a third or half as much a equivalent Roku gadgets. More importantly, Google doesn't make any attempt to prevent you from running vlc or mpv apps that you download. Roku explicitly blocks 3rd-party media playing apps. The Roku media player has a terrible UI/UX and can't play many file codecs. Also, Roku has nothing resembling a web browser app, whereas there are a few crappy web browsers available for Google devices. This isn't my use case, but it could be important for some. Having spent time with both Roku and ChromeCast, I am hard pressed to present a single compelling reason to stay on Roku, much less choose it over Google.
- Talanes 3y agoPersonally the reason I chose a remote-based option over a cast was A: that price difference didn't manifest when I was shopping, and B: I don't want to have to deal with making sure everyone in the household has the login credentials to every streaming service we use.
- loloquwowndueo 3y agoOh so casting from phones magically works over broadcast airwaves? It doesn’t. You need a set-top box. Those can run Roku, fire tv, chrome cast, Apple TV or something else. So for the third time - which of those does the OP which is so vehemently opposed ro Roku, recommend? It’s not a hard question if you stop being snarky about it.
- treyd 3y agoI have my old laptop running PopOS connected to the TV with a wireless keyboard and mouse and I watch content streamed from a Jellyfin/Plex server or YouTube. It works fantastically and I never have to worry about DRM getting in the way of anything.
- loloquwowndueo 3y agoThanks for the concrete suggestion!
- project2501a 3y agoi watch neither. youtube mostly, but that's only instructional videos or something.
- alemanek 3y agoNot OP but Apple TV is pretty good these days. Solid little set top box.
- peteforde 3y agoThe direct answer to your question is that I decided to not develop TV apps. The answer to the question I suspect that you're asking is that I've been enjoying my ChromeCast dongle.