The Roku Streaming Stick vs. Other Set-top and Stick Options
There are many dictated - top boxes stick devices that offer different features and sets of channels at widely alter price . pick the one that ’s best for you ask a second of inquiry , but here are a few of the offerings as of mid-2014 .
Boxee Box , like Roku , provide a declamatory number of channels , and has a few superfluous fringe benefit , like cyclosis from your domicile connection , a full WWW web web browser , a qwerty keyboard on the back of its distant control , two USB port wine plusEthernet , and the handiness of the springy TV twist , a wad - in appliance that lets you stream local broadcast stations . Boxee is price much higher than Roku , though , at around $ 180 for the box , and $ 50 for the Live TV machine . Boxee was purchased by Samsung in 2013 , but the machine are still on the market as of 2014 .
Apple TV streams content from the iTunes program library on your estimator flat to your TV via anHDMI cableand WiFi . It also stream over 30 channels include Netflix , HuluPlus , HBO Go , YouTube , Vimeo , Flickr , Crackle , PBS , several Disney distribution channel and a few sports channels . It is missing some of the major player ( no Amazon , Spotify or Pandora , for representative ) . Like all but the Roku 3 , it does n’t grant for external store ( besides your computer iTunes content ) and acts as a streaming - only machine . But Apple telly allow you to mirror capacity from your iPhone or iPad straight to your TV , so it might be a good option if have an iOS gadget or if you are a heavy iTunes substance abuser . It retail for $ 99 .
Google TV comes integrated into some telly , but is also usable via localise - top boxes including the Sony Internet Player for around $ 130 and the VIZIO Co - Star for around $ 100 . These include a full Android operating system with the Chrome Web web browser app . Both occur with remotes that include a touchpad and keyboard and enable you to use your television set as a basic app - type reckoner , but require a little more computing gadget literacy than boxes like the Roku . Sony has come out with a more full - featured MHL stick with Google TV capabilities called the Bravia Smart Stick . It only works with new Sony Bravia high-definition television and carries a price of around $ 150 .
In late 2013 , Google unleash a wildly popular stick streaming equipment send for the Chromecast . At $ 35 retail , it is about $ 15 less than the HDMI Roku Streaming Stick . With only 14 apps as of this composition , it does n’t have nearly as many TV channel choice , although you could purchase content through Google Play and cast Chrome web web browser pages . Chromecast also does n’t have Roku ’s television set interface or handy cross - channel search feature , and does n’t come with a remote control . It uses your mobile phone or tablet ( or even your laptop computer in some cases ) as the remote and the user interface . Like the late Roku stick , it is HDMI and therefore has to be plug into a power reference . Your earpiece and Chromecast have to be connected to the same WiFi web for it to work .
Two other stick devices pop out as Kickstarter projects in 2012 and are both now on the market : the Equiso Smart TV and the Pocket telly by Infinitec . Both are ovolo movement - sized sticks that stop up directly into your TV and reserve you to use an Android operating organization to channel-surf the net or stream gamey - definition substance . The Equiso is an MHL marijuana cigarette that also work with HDMI when plugged into power . It retail for $ 69 . The Pocket TV is HDMI - only and its inclination price is $ 99 or more , depending upon distant model , but it can be had for half price on sale .
true statement be told , you may already have a streaming machine hooked up to your television receiver . The Xbox 360 , PS3 and Wii gambling platforms and many Blu - beam players and DVRs bring home the bacon streaming via a host of apps . Xbox requires an annual Xbox Live Gold membership , the Tivo DVR has a monthly fee on top of the respectable box Mary Leontyne Price and cable and artificial satellite DVR box require monthly subscription fees .
live Roku boxes also contend with their little stick siblings , since they provide the same interface and streaming experience . The HDMI Roku Streaming Stick is tied with Roku 1 as the cheapest Roku , plus its bantam size and the addition of dual - band WiFi and Netflix and YouTube casting are advantages .
