[mythtv-users] Netflix's new Roku product.

[Scott D. Davilla]

>Netflix has a new set-top product, apparently designed by a company
>called Roku.  It is designed to be used with their subscription service,
>and in most ways resembled the AppleTV.  It doesn't have HD, but
>there are rumors that this is limited through software for now;
>apparently, they are not ready to deliver HD content, so they have
>disabled it or now, and will enable HD later when they are ready.  It
>is less expensive than the AppleTV, though, at about $100 compared
>to about $230 for the AppleTV.

I know all about Roku, have one of their orphaned HD1000 (was running 
Linux). Never believe them with their promises of HD until they 
deliver it. They lost the ability to manufacture the HD1000 several 
years ago after various 3rd party software additions really expanded 
it's capability.

The HD1000 was replace by their inferior BrightSign products (not 
running Linux) and they have since dropped ethernet from their lower 
cost version (a listed feature) and have yet to bring ethernet to the 
other (after two years).

Roku has a history of failing to deliver features. You might remember 
them better as the founder created the ReplayTV.

>Anyway, there are other rumors that this product is running Linux, as
>some people are concluding from looking at the end-user licensing
>agreement, which alludes to things like OpenSSL.  If this is true, it
>would be interesting if someone will find a way to get a general-
>purpose distribution like Ubuntu running on it, and hence a MythTV
>frontend.  An HD-capable MythTV frontend with component-out  for
>$100 would be very attractive.
>

Not a chance, it's most likely based off their BrightSign product 
line, does not run Linux and is a closed box. Everything inside is 
custom hardware/software including the video decoders so even if it 
did run Linux, it the ReplayTV hardware game again. And with 64MB of 
ram, no way can it run Linux and a Myth frontend.

Reading the reviews, only 10 percent of the catalog is available for 
streaming and that does not include any current DVD releases. It only 
has 64MB of ram with no other temp storage so pure streaming. Their 
software will detect your bandwidth and you need better than 2Mb for 
480p. Only 480p is supported right now. HD content is promised 
(there's that word again) for when Netflix moves to HD content and 
Roku provides the firmware update.

And forget about streaming your content -- not possible.

My bet is that once Netflix starts to see the costs related to 
on-demand streaming they will have to rethink their pricing 
structure. They will sell many boxes but I'm staying away. Burned too 
many times with Roku.