Roku TV streaming ?

[vinnywright]

OK so I was wandering if anyone hear has used a Roku and if their is any advantage to using it over just making the TV your desktop and streaming with a web browser?

so far reading the documentation and looking around if you can place a web browser on you TV their is no reason for it other than having a wireless connection to the TV .

if you have a media server (like "minidlna" you probably have it already and just do not know it)running on your box the Roku will let you play local media as well with a "channel" like "Roku media player" but like I said ,,so what ,,,if you can use the TV as a monitor ?

SO what do you know about it ?

VINNY

[oshunluvr]

I have a Roku on my Plasma TV because (it's not a TV at all - it's a monitor - no tuner) it's real old (2004 model). There's only one HDMI port and it doesn't support much anymore due to all the encryption they've introduced to HDMI over the last few years. I got the Roku to stream from my server (minidlna in the past, now Plex) and watch Netflix (which you can't do well with a pc). It also has an app that let's be browse my server files directly. Plus it has a USB port so I can watch anything from a thumb drive using it. I got it back when I lived in L.A. and "cut the cord" from pay TV. I had a Hulu Plus account and my son's "HBO To Go' log in so it was very useful.

Now that I'm here in NC, cable is a lot cheaper than it was in L.A. plus not many channels without it. So we have a Tivo now along with cable. The Tivo doesn't let you play from a thumb drive nor does it support Plex so the Roku still gets used, but not often. My newer Samsung TV in my bedroom has Plex installed as an app and has two USB ports too so a Roku is not needed there. I'm basically waiting until we buy a house, then I'm getting a new modern Samsung TV for the living room and retiring the old Panasonic Plasma monitor and the Roku along with it.

BTW, I have a Chromecast that I picked up for $35 and it works great. Limited to Chrome browser windows (doesn't display your desktop - only the browser window) but works great for that. It's cool to kick back in bed and play on-line poker on the larger screen.

[Feathers McGraw]

There's only one HDMI port and it doesn't support much anymore due to all the encryption they've introduced to HDMI over the last few years

Interesting, I had no idea. Is this what you're talking about (from wikipedia)?

High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP), is a form of digital copy protection developed by Intel Corporation[1] to prevent copying of digital audio and video content as it travels across connections. Types of connections include DisplayPort (DP), Digital Visual Interface (DVI), and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), as well as less popular, or now defunct, protocols like Gigabit Video Interface (GVIF) and Unified Display Interface (UDI).

The system is meant to stop HDCP-encrypted content from being played on unauthorized devices or devices which have been modified to copy HDCP content.[2][3] Before sending data, a transmitting device checks that the receiver is authorized to receive it. If so, the transmitter encrypts the data to prevent eavesdropping as it flows to the receiver.[4]

In order to make a device that plays material protected by HDCP, the manufacturer must obtain a license from Intel subsidiary Digital Content Protection LLC, pay an annual fee, and submit to various conditions.[5][6][7] For example, the device cannot be designed to copy; it must "frustrate attempts to defeat the content protection requirements";[7] it must not transmit high definition protected video to non-HDCP receivers; and DVD-Audio material can be played only at CD-audio quality[7] by non-HDCP digital audio outputs (analog audio outputs have no quality limits).

Cryptanalysis researchers demonstrated flaws in HDCP as early as 2001. In September 2010, an HDCP master key that allows for the generation of valid device keys—rendering the key revocation feature of HDCP useless—was released to the public.[8][9] Intel has confirmed that the crack is real,[10] and believes the master key was reverse engineered rather than leaked.[11] In practical terms, the impact of the crack has been described as "the digital equivalent of pointing a video camera at the TV", and of limited importance for copyright infringers because the encryption of high-definition discs has been attacked directly, with the loss of interactive features like menus.[12] Intel threatened to sue anyone producing an unlicensed device.[11]

[oshunluvr]

Precisely. My old TV's HDMI port won't play anything anymore. I did have an HDMI splitter that unintentionally removed the copy protection so it allowed me to use the HDMI port on the TV, but it failed and the newer models all support HDCP. I have to use the Component port and swap cables to change devices. I've heard that DVI to HDMI doesn't carry DHCP. but I don't have any devices that use DVI so that doesn't help. All it takes is a weak cable and you'll get a "Cannot play copyrighted material" message. I think the whole "fsck the consumers, the corporations have rights" model of law they apply here in the US is getting very tedious.

[vinnywright]

and watch Netflix (which you can't do well with a pc).

I have no problem watching Netflix on the TV as a monitor @hear through the HDMI connection from the PC to the TV ,,,, even amazon prime video witch is DRM protected.

so basically the Roku is just a wireless connection to the TV and the internet ,,,,,and if you have a situation where your computer is close enough to the TV to not be bothered by a HDMI connection it is redundant ,,,, yes/no ?

VINNY

[oshunluvr]

Basically, yes. It has some native apps and "channels" but most are a waste. Really, those devices (Apple TV, Roku, Amazon whatever it is...) are for people who don't want to connect PCs to the TV. IMO a waste of time in most cases, unless you want to Netflix with a remote or Hulu Plus. The boxes have some minor game capabilities too, but the SteamOS box is the way to go for that I think.

[vinnywright]

Basically, yes. It has some native apps and "channels" but most are a waste. Really, those devices (Apple TV, Roku, Amazon whatever it is...) are for people who don't want to connect PCs to the TV. IMO a waste of time in most cases, unless you want to Netflix with a remote or Hulu Plus. The boxes have some minor game capabilities too, but the SteamOS box is the way to go for that I think.

thank you then ,,,,,,,,,,,I think I will forgo that expense then , as my computer is right next to the TV and just using the TV as a monitor is working just fine for watching net content .

VINNY

[dequire]

BTW, I have a Chromecast that I picked up for $35 and it works great. Limited to Chrome browser windows (doesn't display your desktop - only the browser window) but works great for that. It's cool to kick back in bed and play on-line poker on the larger screen.

For $35 - Chromecasts are incredible little devices. BTW there are tons of Chrome browser extensions available for the little device, and one is called Videostream. It's also an Android app for your phone. It lets you browse and play any local media on your PC or media server. Additionally, the Chromecast extension lets you play any streaming content from a browser window or your phone. Coincidentally, your phone also acts as the remote. Pretty sweet. Finally, (and Google as always is your friend here), there are other 3rd party apps for Kodi (XBMC) media center that allow you to use Chromecast with the Kodi Android app to cast to the TV. Official support (which would also allow connecting Kodi to the TV from a PC / laptop) is coming soon.