Netflix made simple?

[panteragstk]

The neoTV box I posted has youtube built in.

[tvmaster2]

lol went to Costco, picked up a Roku 2, and the only image it produced from HDMI was a pink screen. Two different tvs and two different HDMI cables. Didn't matter what settings were used, or what channel was selected.
Menus all looked great, but as soon as a program was selected (Netflix, Hulu, Revision 3) no video...only pink screen. Audio was fine. Also, RCA video outputs worked, but the resolution was so bad I'd never watch it.
Roku "tech" support recommended exchanging the unit.
Anyone have this problem? Sounds like an HDCP handshaking disaster to me

[MattHelm]

You have a broken Roku. Get it replaced!!!

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by MattHelm

You have a broken Roku. Get it replaced!!!

thanks - that's what I was afraid of

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

The neoTV box I posted has youtube built in.

so your NeoTV box - can that stream content from my server like the WDTV can (without any additional server software being installed)?

[tvmaster2]

by the way - the seniors have their second Roku (first one was defective) have had a lesson and are watching streaming movies (surprised how many movies from say 30 years ago aren't part of Netflix listings - The Stunt Man..My Favorite Year... lame).
thanks for the tips

[nlkelly]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

I also have access to a 'WD TV Live Plus'.

Anyone used one of those in comparison to a 'Roku 2 XS' (the only Costco model I could find)?

I have both - get the Roku !!!! If you doubt the advise look at the complaints on the WD live forums. it asazing what the WD live can do - but the roku just plain works !

The only issue on the Roku is the lack of long term warranty ( only 90 days basic warranty) i think you can buy an extended warranty

[IVB]

I personally prefer the top line Roku as its the only one with a hardwired connection. Its a whopping $99, but its always on sale somewhere so you can get it for $90. I bought two, we now rarely use SageTV.

[tvmaster2]

I have a WDTV now for accessing Sage recordings. wondering if the NeoTV can do the same. Roku is great for Netflix, but I'm not a big Netflix user as 5.1 audio isn't very prevalent.
for the seniors, the Roku is perfect.
I need more flexibility

[panteragstk]

No, the neotv only streams content. No local file playback on this model. There is a higher model that can playback local content if that's what your after. I got mine for netflix and hulu only.

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

No, the neotv only streams content. No local file playback on this model. There is a higher model that can playback local content if that's what your after. I got mine for netflix and hulu only.

ok, thanks for the info

[derelicte1]

I picked up a refurb roku 2 xs (the top of the line one) for $75 from roku. We only use it for netflix. I have to say, I'm not that impressed with it.

before the roku, we used a wii to watch netflix. the wii (and most other netflix players) have a just for kids interface as well as the regular one. not the roku. if you have kids, you will quickly appreciate how great the kids version is. they don't see r and unrated movies next to my little pony and dora the explorer.

getting the roku up and running requires creating an account with roku on a computer and a credit card. the credit card thing really bugged me. I have zero intention of buying any channels. I later found you can call them and create an account without the card or you can delete it after the fact, but come on. that is a crappy policy, imo.

the main reason for replacing the wii with the roku was so I could use our universal remote to operate it instead of the wiimote. since I bought the fancy one with the bt remote, I couldn't teach my remote the roku commands and it wasn't in the database. it took a couple of hours to find and figure out how to import some pronto codes into it. this isn't roku's fault, but after the credit card thing I was starting to really hate the roku.

the main roku menu is terrible and the ads really bother me. however since I only see it when the box hangs and I have to power cycle it (which happens more than it should), it isn't a deal breaker.

however it does work ok for netflix. the ui is a little slow sometimes, and I despise the netflix ui in general, but that isn't roku's fault.

my biggest gripe is the lack of just for kids on the roku. since many people (myself included) consider the roku the premier netflix player, this is inexcusable. roku got the whole netflix player thing started but now it seems to be the forgotten child.

also, roku used to have a native youtube channel but google made them pull it. they are supposedly still working with google on this, but in the meantime I believe there are third party youtube channels available.

[flavius]

The latest Apple TV has a much better interface than the roku which I also own. While I'm not a huge fan of Apple's latest updates - the big tiles - it's still a refined and modern interface - you can't say that about the Roku. That one looks like it's from the late nineties.

[derelicte1]

perfect. the xbox is now getting the just for kids interface. but not the roku.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/09/n...kids-xbox-360/

roku really doesn't care.

[panteragstk]

In all honesty I haven't found a streaming interface that does't look dated, but something consumers don't know is that the interface is done by the streaming partner, not the device manufacturer. The netflix interface on my neotv is EXACTLY the same as that found on numerous tv's, blu-ray players and the like. So when you see a crappy interface, you have the streaming company to thank for it. Apple and MS have more pull than anyone else so their more likely to get a better interface if they ask. Why netflix can't simply port it to other devices is beyond me...The interface for 7MC looks great by comparison.

[drewg]

Originally Posted by panteragstk

In all honesty I haven't found a streaming interface that does't look dated,

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I couldn't care less what a streaming interface looks like as long as it actually works right.

For example, Amazon recent introduced an Amazon instant video app on the Xbox360. It is all flashy and pretty like most Xbox video apps. It does make searching a bit easier than on my LG smart TV, but the way the player works is still craptacular compared to any other streaming service I've tried on the 360. Eg, the thing that I've always hated about the LG AIV app is the inability to see where you are when fastforwarding or rewinding. Eg, fast forward, go roughly where you want on the timeline, wait 5-10 seconds for video to buffer, and then realize you're ahead or behind where you were trying to go, rewind, wait 10 seconds for buffering, rinse, repeat, throw remote through the TV in anger. For an example of an Xbox360 video app which does this "right", the ESPN 360 app which uses "fast motion" is pretty decent.

It is this sort of crap from streaming services that make me watch everything possible via SageTV, even if it means waiting for a re-run, etc.

Drew

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by drewg

Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I couldn't care less what a streaming interface looks like as long as it actually works right.

For example, Amazon recent introduced an Amazon instant video app on the Xbox360. It is all flashy and pretty like most Xbox video apps. It does make searching a bit easier than on my LG smart TV, but the way the player works is still craptacular compared to any other streaming service I've tried on the 360. Eg, the thing that I've always hated about the LG AIV app is the inability to see where you are when fastforwarding or rewinding. Eg, fast forward, go roughly where you want on the timeline, wait 5-10 seconds for video to buffer, and then realize you're ahead or behind where you were trying to go, rewind, wait 10 seconds for buffering, rinse, repeat, throw remote through the TV in anger. For an example of an Xbox360 video app which does this "right", the ESPN 360 app which uses "fast motion" is pretty decent.

It is this sort of crap from streaming services that make me watch everything possible via SageTV, even if it means waiting for a re-run, etc.

Drew

That is the issue with most streamers, tv's, and blu-ray players. The processing power for a quick, smooth interface just isn't there.

TBH when I say they look dated I mean they are just terrible in the way things are organized. No logical progression to the menu's. I love my cheapo neotv, but the hulu app is a nightmare to navigate through. It is pretty though . The netflix app on it isn't bad, but I've seen MUCH better. At least everything in the netflix app is organized in a logical way. I REALLY miss the old netflix plugin for sagemc. That was by far the best one I've used. It had the information you were looking for, trailers for movies, nice looking covers and fantastic organization. Too bad that will never happen again.