It's hard to complain about something as cool and compact as a Roku box. However, people always find a way.
The big complaint about Roku has always been: "So where's the YouTube?" Yes, the streaming service that seems to be standard with every web-enabled device was noticably absent from this little box. Well, it used to be.
Roku just debuted YouTube for its users -- well, those with the Roku 3. It's currently an exclusive on that box, for the U.S., Canada, the UK and the Republic of Ireland. However, Roku is planning to add the channel to additional player models sometime next year.
Another nifty new perk is the "Send to TV" feature. This means that you will no longer have to do all of your YouTube searches on the big screen. Instead, just pair a smartphone or tablet to YouTube on the Roku 3. From there, when you find something you like, you can send it to the TV with one button-press.
Starting today, Roku 3 users can add the YouTube channel via the Roku Channel Store absolutely free. Once installed, you'll be able to watch subscribed channels and videos in up to 1080p HD.
"The YouTube channel rounds out our industry-leading selection of streaming entertainment just in time for the holidays and the annual year-end best-of video lists like YouTube's own list of top trending videos released last week," said Roku's Ed Lee on the company's blog. "Whether it's finding a helpful tutorial, listening to the latest music, or watching your favorite videos for hours on end, YouTube has something for everyone and today we couldn't be more pleased to announce the launch of this much-anticipated channel on our platform."
The Roku 3 is the company's most recent media streamer. Besides hundreds of programming choices (including YouTube!), it also offers 1080p support, 5.1 and 7.1 sound options (where available), and an integrated headphone jack on the remote for late-night viewing. To find out more about what this little $99 box can do, check out our in-depth Roku 3 Review.
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