Review: The Roku 2 XS Does Internet Media Streaming, Motion Gaming In A Tiny Package

Home > News & Articles > Review: The Roku 2 XS Does Internet Media Streaming, Motion Gaming In A Tiny Package

Review: The Roku 2 XS Does Internet Media Streaming, Motion Gaming In A Tiny Package

July 29th, 2011 androidoholic Leave a comment Go to comments

This is Roku’s third media pennon lineup. The UI isn’t that ample not similar from past models nor are the capabilities. We’ve used and reviewed roughly all of the Roku products, from their initial Netflix box, so we’ll keep this partial and sweet. This Roku array ushers the media pennon in to unintentional gaming interjection to suit controls and Angry Birds . Yep, nonetheless other Angry Birds incarnation.

Roku has always featured a dead-simple UI; I’ve always mentioned it’s boring-simple because, well, it’s a rsther than drab interface. The home shade features a quarrel of icons is to existing stations. Clicking on a brings up an interface unique to that station.

The most appropriate thing about Roku gadgets are that they are normally bulletproof. This a doesn’t appear any different. Once set up, the device runs without issue. Most of the time if a hire crashes, it will solidify and then take you back to the principal interface, that is a improved substitute than a vie crash. That’s not adage the box doesn’t ever close up. It’s a consumer electronic device so things can and will come about eventually.

There are 3 new models inside of the Roku 2 lineup with the most costly being the $100 XS model. This choice nets buyers the Wii-like gaming coordinator that doubles as a network remote. The top-tier XS model moreover sports 1080p/720p HDMI output, an Ethernet dock a microSD card container for future gaming applications. The $79 XD model supports 1080p/720p outlay where the $59 bottom Roku 2 usually does 720p. The two least costly models are moreover matching with the suit gaming controller.

Unfortunately the ultimate Roku models still need a great treat of initial setup. So ample so that it takes a great 15 mins to offshoot up the box, download the ultimate update, record the Roku online, then choose and setup the channels. This amount of slow and tedious setup of course kills the hum of a new toy.

Roku streamers have never played kind with local media servers or shares. You can’t watch downloaded calm over a local network on a Roku device. The new XS model does underline a USB dock and a few calm may be played back from a spark expostulate – just not bitrate-rich MKV files. The XS strictly supports just H.264 MP4, AAC, MP3, JPG, and PNG.

Roku has always been about adding new calm to their gadgets and so unintentional games have probably been in the functions for a few time. The $100 XS model ships with a Bluetooth remote that looks similar to a Wii Remote. Along with the typical media playback controls, the remote features a 4 way maritime desk pad and A/B buttons. The Wii Remote more aged is more than just looks. For improved or worse, it functions just similar to a Wii Remote total with the unsure on-screen indicating finger.

But it works. Hold the OK button, probably lift back on the Angry Bird’s slingshot and let ‘em fly.

Angry Birds is now the usually diversion existing on the stage so hopefully you haven’t already played by it on your iPhone or Android phone. Roku promises more games are in the functions but mentioned games are Angry Birds Seasons and Angry Birds Rio. Presumably, at least given the firm built the gaming platform, more titles are on the way but until that happens, purchase the Roku 2 is to media capabilities rsther than than the guarantee of gaming.

The ultimate Roku functions similar to the formerly Roku. That’s a great thing. The firm updated new features, shrunk the device to a silly size, and kept the cost the same. These models uncover the firm is far from restored notwithstanding unbending contest from Apple TV, the Boxee Box and all the rest. The insufficient of local network playback is probably a treat breaker for many, though. Look to the Boxee Box or WD TV if you need local and Internet streaming. I’ve always felt that Roku gadgets are the most appropriate broad consumer media pennon and that’s even more loyal now with the unintentional suit gaming. Highly endorsed (if you do not want/need to fool around local files)

Product Page