Category: streaming devices

Roku launches revamped HD, XD, and XDS players, starting at $59

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We’ve been wondering what Roku had up its sleeve after the FCC leaked the Roku XD and XDS following Apple’s $99 Apple TV announcement, and it looks like those earlier price cuts were just the beginning: the new Roku lineup starts at just $59 for the basic WiFi HD streamer with HDMI and composite outputs. That’s basically impulse-purchase territory if you’re looking for a quick way to get Netflix, Amazon Video on Demand or one of Roku’s 75 other channels on your TV. The $79 Roku XD adds in 1080p streaming support for channels with 1080p content, and the top-of-the-line $99 XDS adds in a USB port for future local playback support, component video and optical audio out, and dual-band 802.11n WiFi. All three boxes share the same new slimmer case, while the XD and XDS get a new sleeker remote with new instant-replay and info buttons. Definitely an intriguing set of upgrades — we’ve been playing with the XDS for a few days, so go check out our full review!

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Hulu Plus has 14 percent more content than Hulu, 2,840 percent more Family Guy

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Hulu Plus is more than just extra content, it’s an iOS, game console and TV-based app that streams in HD, but if programming is indeed your primary concern, you might be disappointed with what’s included in your $10 monthly fee. Research firm One Touch Intelligence decided to catalog each and every episode on Hulu and Hulu Plus, and discovered the paid service had 28,418 full-length episodes — only 14 percent more than regular Hulu’s 24,854 — during one week of testing in August. Looking at the sample chart immediately above, it’s plain to see you’re getting your money’s worth if you’re a Supernanny or Law & Order fan, but Hulu’s got a content deal or three to make if it wants Hulu Plus to leapfrog its existing ad-supported service.

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Roku adding Hulu Plus channel this fall

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Oh boy, here we go: Hulu Plus is coming to Roku’s lineup of players, which now starts at $59 and goes up to $99 for the Roku XDS we just reviewed highly. That certainly makes the Roku / Apple TV comparison far more interesting — ten 99-cent Apple TV rentals or the $10 Hulu Plus monthly subscription fee? — and depending on what you watch, it could make cutting your cable subscription a no-brainer. We don’t know about resolution or bitrate yet, but we’re working to find out — and we’re definitely looking to get some hands-on time before the channel goes live this fall, so stay tuned. PR after the break.

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