Roku 3, Roku stick, Chromecast, Apple TV & Amazon Fire Stick: my thoughts

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jawnbc

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#177560 6-Aug-2015 19:34

The last piece of our cheap-and-cheerful streaming solutions arrived this week. Here's what we've got:

Lounge: 42" Samsung HD Smart TV (set to NZ), Igloo, Apple TV (set to USA), Roku 3 (set to UK), Chromecast.

Bedroom: 32" Samsung HD 3D Smart TV (set to NZ), Apple TV (set to USA), Roku stick (set to UK), Chromecast.

In desk drawer: Amazon Fire stick.

We're not big renters of films, but when we do want to find one, we tend to art house and things like that. So Netflicks (any region) is not good value for us; Apple TV (US) has great selection for rentals. We watch a lot of UK on demand--the Roku devices kicked the arse of setting our TVs to the UK because the Roku apps for the main UK networks support live streaming (Samsung apps don't). The Chromecast allows us to backfill on content from all sorts of other sources via our laptops or iPads.

Amazon's stick is in the drawer because it offers less variety of content than the Roku. Were we not focused on UK content it might make more sense.

Anyone else care to share their thoughts?

davidcole

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#1360285 6-Aug-2015 21:04

I've thought about getting a 2nd roku for UK networks. I have a 3 currently (set to us) and think it's great. I have an Apple TV also, and a gigabyte Brix now running windows 10.

But given all of those the roku is used the most. For plex and for Netflix. Renting I'll either look at vudu, mgo or iTunes - whoever is cheapest.

Previously known as psycik

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jawnbc

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#1360291 6-Aug-2015 21:17

The Roku stick is slightly sleepy compared to the Roku 3. But the smaller footprint (and it being the TV we watch less) means it works fine for us.

davidcole

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#1360302 6-Aug-2015 21:29

I think about getting a chromecast also. But the lack of remote and Ethernet annoy me.

davidcole

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#1360314 6-Aug-2015 21:40

How easy is it to swap between roku regions? Just a metter of creating a UK account and signing out and back in?

Kiwifruta

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#1360320 6-Aug-2015 22:11

jawnbc:

In desk drawer: Amazon Fire stick.

We're not big renters of films, but when we do want to find one, we tend to art house and things like that. So Netflicks (any region) is not good value for us; Apple TV (US) has great selection for rentals. We watch a lot of UK on demand--the Roku devices kicked the arse of setting our TVs to the UK because the Roku apps for the main UK networks support live streaming (Samsung apps don't). The Chromecast allows us to backfill on content from all sorts of other sources via our laptops or iPads.

Amazon's stick is in the drawer because it offers less variety of content than the Roku. Were we not focused on UK content it might make more sense.

Anyone else care to share their thoughts?

I have a FireTV and have US and UK apps (BBC iPlayer) on it at the same time, I expect the Fire Stick can do the same thing.

What the good UK services you use? I'm getting rather bored of the Hollywood flicks my kids enjoy. (I have a chromecast also)

jawnbc

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#1360425 7-Aug-2015 07:34

Switching Roku regions requires a VPN connection (since Roku's site presumes it's a US device unless you're in the UK), setting up a UK-address linked Roku account, and then linking your Roku to that account. Ostensibly you need a UK credit card, but it also accepts PayPal--and doesn't care where the PayPal account holder's address is.

In addition to the BBC we watch a lot of Channel 4 and ITV.

Dunnersfella

4086 posts

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#1360486 7-Aug-2015 08:58

davidcole: I think about getting a chromecast also. But the lack of remote and Ethernet annoy me.

You can hardwire a Chromecast, search the Whirlpool forums from Aussie for the 'how to'.

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wasabi2k

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#1360490 7-Aug-2015 09:08

davidcole: How easy is it to swap between roku regions? Just a metter of creating a UK account and signing out and back in?

It's a bit more convoluted.

davidcole

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#1360492 7-Aug-2015 09:09

wasabi2k:
davidcole: How easy is it to swap between roku regions? Just a metter of creating a UK account and signing out and back in?

It's a bit more convoluted.

Yeah this is why I should look at another one. We watch a bit of channel 4 and itv currently. And while I can sometimes watch via a plex channel, it's normally not that reliable.

jawnbc

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#1360932 7-Aug-2015 22:07

I'm a Unotelly user and they provide bomb-proof Roku region swapping instructions. Mind you, it assumes you want to switch and keep it in the new region (US or UK). Rather than ping between the two from time to time.

GeekGuy

590 posts

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#1361101 8-Aug-2015 12:00

jawnbc: I'm a Unotelly user and they provide bomb-proof Roku region swapping instructions. Mind you, it assumes you want to switch and keep it in the new region (US or UK). Rather than ping between the two from time to time.

I am with Unotelly and can register an account on the Roku UK site but when I activate my Roku I seem to get the US apps loaded on it for some reason.
I will try a few more times before I leave it to to beer oclock.

jawnbc

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#1361118 8-Aug-2015 13:04

Did you unlink from your US Roku account first? I think you need to do that, then do factory reset. Then link to your UK Roku account.

Happy beer o'clock!

GeekGuy

590 posts

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#1361136 8-Aug-2015 13:37

jawnbc: Did you unlink from your US Roku account first? I think you need to do that, then do factory reset. Then link to your UK Roku account.

Happy beer o'clock!

Thanks for the pointer ... I have finally got it to work with the UK apps.
I did have it unlinked from an old Roku account but it finally worked after I deactivated that old US Roku account.