Vimeo Comes to Roku

Vimeo has finally arrived on Roku. Following the likes of Pandora, Netflix and Amazon VOD, you can now sort videos according to their picks, your uploads and selections saved for later viewing. Of course, nothing is perfect as the service lacks sharing, albums, and channels, but it's a start. Vimeo itself recently added HTML5 for iPhone and iPad support.

Via USA Today

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Watch Alice Free with Amazon VOD Signup

Roku owners can watch Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland for free if they sign up for Amazon VOD. Already have the service? Then you can rent it for $3.99 in SD or $4.99 in HD or buy it outright.

Via Hacking Netflix

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Roku to Add Netflix Channel

Roku has decided to update its UI to make it more user friendly. The Netflix Channel, due out in June, is a free update. New additions include the ability to search the entire Instant Library from your TV, browsing of movies and TV shows and adding same to Instant Queue.

We have to admit we are definitely fans of Netflix Instant Streaming. Our current "Dexter" marathon is only equal to our recent "Damages" run. It's a wonder we get any work done here these days.

Via Roku

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Roku Adopts Open Platform Channel Store

Now might be the time to consider a Roku investment. It now has an open platform Channel Store that allows producers to implement their video services in addition to current providers that includes Netflix Amazon OD, Flickr, Pandora and Motionbox. If you already own one, updating is free and works on all models, including the HD-XR and SD.

Via Roku

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Roku Unveils SD and HD-XR

Roku has released its SD and HD-XR. Both stream movies and TV in HD. The SD plays your Netflix Instant Watch library at no additional cost, streams Amazon OD, sets up in 5 minutes and can be used either wired or wireless.

The top of the line HD-XR loves Amazon OD content in addition to Netflix, has an extended Wi-Fi N dual-band built in and plays both DVD and HD on any TV.

And if you really want to impress the neighbors, the HD-XR comes in a Premium Cable Pack.

Via Roku

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MLB.TV Available on Roku

MLB.TV Premium subscribers will now be able to watch games on their Roku. Included are out-of-market games as well as access to on demand from the week. Of course, your Roku can be used to pause, fast forward, rewind and resume to replay that unassisted triple play endless times for any family member that missed the first 600 viewings on TV. The player should automatically update with the new channel and if you are not yet a MLB.TV subscriber, it will cost you $35.00.

Via Roku

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Amazon Offers HD VOD

Good news for HD TiVo and Roku owners. Amazon is now streaming HD on its VOD service. There are over 500 movies and TV shows. Rent a flick for $3.99 or $4.99 or a TV episode for only $3.00.

Via Amazon HD VOD

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VUDU First to Sell On-Demand Movies in HD

VUDU has become the first on-demand service to offer HD movies for download to own. While users have only been able to rent about 1,400 of them, the company unveiled a collection of 50 independent movies available in both HD and HDX. Included are films from Independent Studios FirstLook, Kino and Magnolia's
"Man on Wire," the recent Academy Award Winner. Those that are purchased can be stored in the VUDU itself or in VUDU's Vault free online storage, which is certainly a plus considering that the company offers over 13,000 total movies and TV episodes. Each film is priced between $13.99 and $23.99. By the way, the company recently lowered the price of its player, no doubt to compete with
Apple TV and the Roku.

via PR Newswire

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Amazon VOD Private Beta Available for Roku

There may now another reason to invest in one of our favorite gadgets, the Roku. According to their forum, Amazon Video On Demandhas entered into private beta. Unfortunately, if you were not one of the initial users to jump on their bandwagon, you cannot participate, but we expect the VOD will open up to us all very soon. And perhaps the next stop is HD.

Via Roku Labs

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Netflix Streamers Comparison

Last week, engadget decided to compare Netflix streaming devices and went into incredible depth in their assessment. They included:
the Roku,
TiVo HD,
Samsung BD-P2500,
Xbox360,
LG BD300. The winner? Although they like the Samsung for picture quality, there were no losers. They suggest newbies start off with the Samsung or LG to play your discs and the Roku for its lower price. You can read the entire review on the link below.

Via engadget

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Roku Netflix Player Firmware Upgrade to 1.5 Now Available

Back in October we told you HD was coming to the Roku Netflix Player. It's now being reported that the new 1.5 firmware update is available and may take up to 10 days to get to every customer.

As of this morning, we still weren't seeing the update here at the NAV headquarters. Luckily we found the trick to force the update at the Roku Forums:

Just go to Settings>Player Info>Check for update. It will say "Your software is up to date" Check again 2 more times. On the 3rd time it should start downloading the software.

Visually the new updates adds a few features like a home screen (supposedly to navigate through the new content that's been promised) and of course the ability to watch HD programs which looks really good. We'll give you more details as we check out the update.

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Netflix Player Hack To Force 2.2 Mbps Streaming

Got a little extra bandwidth just lying around the house? If you do, you might just want to force your Netflix player to use that bandwith with a little hack at the Roku forums that sets your player from automatic to 2.2Mbps. According to Mark12547 at the forums:

Using the remote, hit Home Home Home Home Home Rewind Rewind Rewind FastForward FastForward (that's 5 Homes, 3 Rewinds, 2 FastForwards), keypresses about 1/2 second apart. You may have to try several times and the trick is to make the keypresses spaced out far enough. (Remember, the last two are <<< Rewind and Fast Forward >>>, which are on the bottom row of buttons, not the < and > keys to the side of the select button.)

There's a lot of debate whether ayone even needs to do this since the "automatic" setting keeps everything in line. We here at NAV has used our Netflix Player everyday for months and have almost always had the top stream speed using the automatic setting. So unless you have issues, you may want no want to mess with your settings. Don't you love it when someone gives you a hack and tells you not to do it?

At HackingNetflix.com

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Netflix Hires Video Streaming Pro to Grow it's Streaming Business

We here at NAV are firm believers that with more content and more marketing, Netflix will be the leader of streaming movies and tv. It was evident with the introduction of the Roku Netflix Player, Netflix was serious about being competive in the streaming market. Now there's signs that Netflix is heavily investing in streaming media with it's recent hiring of Bill Holmes, a streaming media professional. According to HDTV.biz-news:

Netflix has hired Bill Holmes, a five-year veteran of digital-media company DivX, to help build its video-streaming business.

Holmes is to head its business-development efforts as it continues to try to boost sales from its video-streaming service.
His appointment is the latest in various moves by the company to build on its 8.4 million subscriber base with it's streaming services.

It has entered onto a partnership with LG to produce a new Blu-ray Disc Player with direct internet access to the Netflix film catalogue.

Netflix, the largest U.S. movie-rental service via mail, said that it brought on Holmes to help embed software into more devices that will allow customers to stream content from Netflix

Pretty impressive news! It won't be too long till we have Netflix in our toasters (hey, we can dream can't we?).

At HDTV.biz-news

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Netflix Streaming to Stay Subscription Based

While the news may dissapoint some Netflix streaming users, we like the news that Netflix has no plans to be a pay-per-view model. According to Gizmodo, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings states:

"We don't plan to enter the pay-per-view segment, where Apple, Amazon, Sony and others focus, or the ad-supported segment, where Hulu, YouTube and others compete,"

While Netflix does need to work on more streaming content, we here at NAV like the current concept and simplicity of the Netflix streaming model. We can always get pay-per-view from other sources if we really want it.

At Gizmodo.com

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