Remember the name Roku? They may have a small set-top, but it does deliver some big entertainment. Now, they are adding three new boxes to the lineup, the Roku HD, the XD and the XDS.
Roku can access all of the movies and TV shows from Netflix and Amazon Video On Demand, assuming you have subscriptions for those services. There's also live and on-demand sports from MLB.TV, as well as content from Pandora, MP3tunes, MOG, RadioTime, Flickr, Facebook, and more.
The three new players boast HD streaming and Instant Replay features. The Instant Replay perk is new and accessible right on the remote. This gives viewers DVR-like action that skips back in 10-second increments with no rebuffering delay.
Starting at a mere $59.99, the Roku HD is being billed as the company's entry-level box. It looks an awful lot like the existing Roku HD. It still streams HD, but at 720p. Other features include built-in wireless, as well as Ethernet connectivity. It also comes with composite A/V cables to hook to any TV, or you can add your own HDMI to get it into your high-def mix.
The Roku XD has all of the same features as the HD box, but throws in Wireless-N and 1080p HD streaming (via an HDMI cable) for $79.99. The top of the heap is the Roku XDS, which adds in dual-band Wireless-N, as well as a component video output, optical audio output, and a USB port. That USB port means that customers can play stored music, photos and up to 1080p video, using a USB player channel -- but not just yet. That free upgrade is expected to be available to XDS owners by November 2010.
All three Roku players are available currently available through Roku. Amazon is also taking preorders, with plans to ship on October 7, 2010.
Where to Buy:
