Roku 3

Got my Roku 3!

Why did I get it since I already had a Roku HD?  For one thing, even though youtube was recently added to my Roku HD, it was very sluggish especially trying to handle my long playlists.  So it should be more responsive on the Roku 3.

Secondly, Hulu Plus plays poorly on the Roku HD, often hanging up (or at least stalling enough to make me think it hung up).  It seems to me that the problem occurs when turning on the closed caption and you can tell something is wrong when the closed caption is stuck and the video is playing and you can't navigate to the home screen.  Hopefully it will play better on the Roku 3.

One thing nice about the Apple TV is that it plays Hulu Plus well and the captions used are the system captions rather than the internal Hulu Plus captions on the Roku HD.  Another plus for the Apple TV is that the video is better than on the Roku.  (That would be a big plus for many.)

Why not get another Apple TV?  For one thing, their youtube app doesn't support captions.  Secondly, they don't have Amazon Instant Video.  Plus I kind of like the Roku feature of being able to plug headphones into the remote.

So the Roku 3 it is.

I went down to Costco earlier in the week, but the Roku 3 was out.  I wanted to buy it at Costco because they included an HDMI cable and a month of Hulu Plus and it was like $5 off the retail price.  I checked  Best Buy.  They had it, but no HDMI cable, no free Hulu Plus, and it was at the retail price.  I was thinking about Amazon which also matched Costco's price (and without sales tax), but they didn't advertise the HDMI cable or Hulu Plus.  Plus I could more easily return it to Costco if something went wrong.  So I held off.

A couple of days later, it was back at Costco.  But it was a little different.  It was in a cardboard bubble wrap, instead of a box.  And no Hulu Plus, but a $10 offer from MGo.

OK, time to open the box.  Bubble wraps are tricky to open and less clean to open than a box.  I prefer a box because you don't have to rip it apart and can reuse it.  I wound up prying open the cardboard.

The first thing I checked is the power supply.  Though it looks similar to the Roku HD power supply, it's different.  It's a 12V, 1 amp power supply vs. 5V for the Roku HD.  Looking it up, the new power supply works on the Roku 3, Roku 2, Roku 1, and new Roku LT, but not on the older models.

Plug it in.  The Roku 3 is heavier than the Roku HD and requires an HDMI input (the Roku HD also supported composite).  But it has an ethernet port and a USB port which is not on the HD.

The new remote also feels heavier than the old remote and has a tether (so it doesn't fly into the wall when you're swinging it playing games).  The OK button is in a different place.  On the old remote it was in the middle of the cursor pad.  On the new one it's below the cursor pad and in between the instant replay and * buttons.  The old remote doesn't have a replay button, so I guess that's a plus.

OK, the display comes up asking you to select your language.  Select English.

Then it tells you the next three steps on the next screen: connect to your network, get the latest software, activate your roku.  Continue.

Select Wireless (Wi-Fi) or Wired (Ethernet).  I'll select Wireless.

Seven networks were found my network at the top with the best signal - one bar below the max.  Hey, looks like my old remote works too!  That's a bonus.

Enter in my network password.  Unlike the Roku HD, there's no option to hide your password as you're typing it in.  Connect.

Get the latest software.  Continue.  Your Roku will automatically restart once the update is installed.

The Roku logo wiggles when it restarts.  Cute.

Activate your Roku.  For an internet connected devices, go to roku.com/link.  The enter the code YYK4.  I suppose I could do this on my ipad, but let's try my laptop (which is on WiFi).  My laptop must be updating something as it taking a long time for firefox to come up and the hard drive light is flickering.  Wait...

Forget it, let's do it on the iPad.  Do you have a Roku account?  Yes.  Sign in to Roku account.

Then it goes to Add some channels to your account.  There's a lot selected that I don't want, so unselect them.  I'll unselect them all except for Angry Birds Space.  Make sure I'm not getting charged anything (Total $0.00).  Continue.

You're Done!  Happy Streaming.

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it goes to www.targetticket.com/uv-promotion

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OK maybe later.  Back to the Roku.

Updating channels.  Channel update x of 71.  So I guess it's importing the channels I already have.  I wonder if VideoBuzz and the other unofficial channels like Nowhere TV will get added?

Meanwhile, my laptop is still locked up. CTRL-ALT-DEL to go to task manager, then it goes back to the screen.  Seems OK now?  Restart and see what happens.

Back to the Roku.  Congratulations!  You're done and everything looks good.  Let's start streaming.

I see Nowhere TV, but no VideoBuzz.  And the apps are all out of order.  OK, no problem I'll just reorder them.

Checking Settings, I see Diplay type is set to 720p, which is correct since that's what my plasma TV supports.  Captions are set to instant replay.  Turn them on.  Remote is paired to the Roku.  Time zone is set to Hawaii. About: Roku player 4200X.  Network signal strength: excellent.  Themes: Roku (default).  Screensaver: Bouncing Roku Logo (default).  Change to facebook.  You must link device to Roku.  OK, let's link later.  I see a Twit.TV option.  Let's set it to that for now.  Audio Mode: stereo (the other option is surround sound).  Sound effect volume: medium.

Let's try youtube.  Yep, much faster than on the Roku HD.  Let's test the captions.  Search for natgeowild.  Choose Delta and Dong Dong.  The captions work, but the top line is partially off the top of the screen (and the bottom is partially below the bottom of the screen).  That's disappointing.  Try switch to 1080p.  Nope.  That's a strike.

Let's try Netflix.  Have to sign in.  Interesting.  The keys are in qwerty order.  Where do you want to go?  Netflix or Kids.  Netflix.  The interface is different.  Everybody Love Raymond.  The subtitles look OK, but season 1, episode 4 is stretched out of proportion.  I think Netflix screwed up.  Let's go to episode 7.  Yep, now in 4:3.  The subtitles are in white with no background.  Let's try to change the system settings.  Nope, looks like Netflix app is using their own captions.  Strike 2.  Although the captions aren't bad especially compared to the old captions on the Roku HD Netflix app.  But I like the system captions on the Roku HD for Netflix betters.  So strike two.

The big test is Hulu Plus.  Log in.  Please visit www.hulu.com/activate on your computer and enter this code:  9JD5YHD  Remain on this screen while logging in with this activation code.  Hulu Plus has been activated on your Roku.  You can start watching Hulu Plus now.  Let's try Cesar 911.  Screen goes blank for several seconds as it loads the commercial for EndGame.  It looks like it's using the system captions.  Which is acceptable.  But there's still the odd problem of a block of background showing when there's no text.  Change text color to default.  Nope still yellow.  Let's change color to white.  Nope still yellow.  So it's using their own captions.  Check swing.

Crackle.  Seinfeld.  OK, looks like the system captions as it's white.

OK, let's go to Amazon instant video.  Sign in.  Get Started on Your Roku (the other option is Get Started on the Amazon website).  OK, I'm in.  Looks like they're using their own captions which are kind of small.  Let's try make the system captions bigger.  Hey, too big.  I guess they are using the system captions.  Change from extra large to large.  Still kind of big.  Try medium.  OK, that's about right.  I guess I had it on default earlier.

Nowhere TV.  Nowhere TV 2.7.  This version introduces a new style grid screen.  If you encounter any problems using this screen, please let us know.  If you prefer the old style grids screen, you can switch back to it from the options menu by pressing the * button on your remote.  chris@thenowhereman.com

So let's sum up.

Netflix looks the best on Apple TV, then Roku HD, then Roku 3.
Hulu Plus looks the best on Apple TV, then Roku 3, then Roku HD.
Crackle about the same on all.
Amazon Instant Video.  Roku 3 and Roku HD about the same.  Apple TV not supported.
Youtube.  Roku HD video is actually the best picture as the captions are not off the screen.  Roku 3 app is better than the Apple TV app which doesn't support captions.  Maybe it'll get updated later.

Breaking down by device,

Apple TV: does a good job on Netflix and Hulu Plus, but doesn't support auto-play on Hulu Plus.  The youtube app doesn't support captions and doesn't find some foreign (Korean) videos [like my Return of Superman playlist].  Doesn't support Amazon Instant Video.

Roku 3: does OK on Netflix and Hulu Plus, but the captions are from the app and not customizable.  Supports captions on youtube, but they're top (or bottom) of multi-line captions are partially off the screen.  Amazon Instant Video is supported with system captions.  Plus I kind of like the headphone jack in the remote, which is unique to the Roku 3 and Roku 2 (so far).

Roku HD.  I actually like this better than the Roku 3 for Netflix since it uses the system captions.  Hulu Plus seems to lock up particularly when using captions.  Youtube app is very sluggish, but captions display OK unlike the Roku 3 (oddly).  Amazon Instant Video is OK.

So none of them are perfect, but I guess I'd go with the Roku 3 since it support Amazon Instant Video and youtube is more responsive than the Roku HD.  The big drawback is that the youtube captions are partially off the screen which is somewhat hard to believe.  Let me try it on a 1080p LED screen and see if it's better.

If you want just Netflix and Hulu Plus, I'd go with the Apple TV.  If you want iTunes videos, you pretty much have no choice.  But if you want Amazon Instant Video (free from HitBliss) or Amazon Prime, Apple TV is not an option.  If Roku 3 cleans up the youtube caption problem, then that's the way to go.

Maybe I should try the Amazon Fire TV..  Or wait for the new Google set-top box (Android TV) that's supposed to be coming out.  Or maybe even the Chromecast.

*** 5/5/14

YouTube on Roku update.  Tried plugging in my Roku HD via HDMI, then setting the display to 720p.  Same problem.  Part of the caption is cut off at the bottom (or top) of the screen.  But if you set the display to 16x9, then the captions don't cut off.  Unfortunately there's no 16x9 option on the Roku 3.

OK, maybe it's my TV.  Plugged it into my mom's Samsung 32".  Same thing.  Then the bigger Samsung in the lounge.  Same thing.

I kind of like the headphone jack in the remote, so maybe a Roku 2 might be OK.  It supports composite, so likely has the 16x9 option.  I think I might return the Roku 3.  Plus now I see the Roku 3 is $10 off at the website.  So if I return it to Costco and buy at the website, I'll gain a few bucks.

***

Looking at CordKillers on the Roku 3.  Turned on automatic captions.  These captions display OK.  Comparing the Roku TV video to the youtube video on my computer, I can see the edges are slightly trimmed on the TV.  I see there's three lines of comments on the TV whereas on the computer there's three and a half.  And I see the C of the CordKillers logo on the bottom left is partly cut off on the TV.  So that's the problem.

[5/17/14]  Here's another thing I prefer the Roku HD to the Roku 3.  On Netflix, when you press the * on the Roku HD controller you get the option to "View more like this".  This option doesn't exist on the Roku 3, as far as I can see.  On the Apple TV, they give a list of "More Like This" at the bottom of the description screen (8 items).  On the computer, you get a scrollable horizontal listing of "more like.." at the bottom of the screen (the number of items varies, I counted 23, 22, 24 items). On the ipad, you get a "More Like" list at the bottom of the screen (non-scrollable list of 5 items).

Decided to hook up both the Roku HD and Roku 3 simultaneously.  (The HD is via composite.)  Comparing the youtube captions.  And here's the problem.  The cut-off captions occur when the HD is set to 720p video.  When I change it to 16x9, the Roku actually displays the captions lower (with the captions at the top of the screen) then when it's set at 720p.  So it's actually a Roku problem.

And now that I have the Roku HD on composite, I can't switch back to 720p.  So apparently the way you set it to 720p with composite cables is to plug it in via HDMI, set it to 720p, then connect via composite.

I think I'm going to return the Roku 3 and get a Roku 2.

[5/17/14]  According to this, it appears you can set the caption appearance from the Netflix settings on the computer and changes will appear on your Roku 3.

[5/18/14] It works!  But I still like the Roku HD captions a little better.  They're a little more customizable and you can do it on the Roku instead of having to go back and forth to the computer.  An annoyance is that the same settings are used for the computer and the Roku 3.  They don't necessarily translate the same to the TV.

[posted to forum, we'll see if I get any response]

And still another quirk on the Roku 3 (or Netflix in general?) is that the captions default to off.  You have to set them on whenever starting a new show.

Hmm..  Maybe this will work (though it was for the Fire TV).   "She told me to turn off the subtitles in Netflix on the PC and let the movie play for 10 minutes, at which time the "off" setting for subtitles would be saved as the default preference. It worked. No more subtitles on the PC, no more subtitles on the Kindles."  So I assume the reverse will work?

[5/18/14] posted the youtube captions problems to forum.  We'll see what response I get.