Roku Streaming Stick 2016
Used to have the Roku 3, but gave it to my mom when I got the AppleTV 4. My primary reasons for getting the new Roku stick was for Amazon Prime Video as there’s no ATV app. For Amazon, AirPlay casting from my iPhone to AppletTV works quite well, but is at times inconvenient. The Stick fulfills the reason I purchased it, but also gives me a new appreciation for my AppleTV 4:
** Scrubbing: On the Roku, there isnt any -- you can skip ahead/back in tiny increments with the left/right arrows, but if you have more than a minutes worth it quickly becomes frustratingly slow. With the Siri Remote, whether skipping 30 seconds or 10 minutes are both instantaneous with a voice command, or very quick by swiping the touchpad. Fast-forwarding is an option with Roku, but the slider moves so fast its impractical trying to stop at the right spot.
** Wireless Audio: AppleTVs is pure bluetooth, so the pause/play button on my Jaybird X2s is a great feature -- I use it often. Roku Private Listening delivers audio to my iPhone over WiFi and hands it off to my headphones via bluetooth. Works fairly well, perfectly in sync with the video. Occasionally skips, very briefly -- so short it doesnt cut off an entire word of dialog but often enough to annoy. It also has a crackling static noise like a scratchy vinyl record that distracts while viewing -- turning Private Listening off and back on clears it up for a bit, but you can count on it coming back. The static feedback doesnt block any audio, but its there. Also, its definitely not pure bluetooth. Pressing pause/play on the headphones doesnt pause but instead turns off Roku Private Listening, stops media playback and restarts whatever I was last listening to on my iPhone whether it was Downcast, iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, or whatever. Annoying. Hopefully thatll be cleared up with a future update as I listen wirelessly more often than not.
Its OK... Better as an option to supplement a primary streaming box, would be great for traveling, or for a spare TV in a guestroom -- I wouldnt recommend it as a primary streaming solution.
chazview about
The Roku App (Official)