Why the new AppleTV will kill the Roku Player
Let me first say that I currently own an older AppleTv and I also own a Roku Player. I use my AppleTV to stream content/media (movies & music) from my computer to my tv as well as rent movies from iTunes. I use my Roku Player for Pandora and Netflix.
THe new AppleTV has basically integrated the best that Roku has to offer. Meanwhile, Roku hasn’t done anything new recently save release new hardware. I’ve always wished that my AppleTV could play Netflix and Pandora or that my Roku could stream my content.The new AppleTV has done just that.
I am assuming that Pandora will be available on the new AppleTV via an app and Netflix will be integrated. What more could I want?
I know that there are ways to stream my media from my computer to my Roku, but they are all hacks as the Roku doesn’t do this as a channel. Besides Pandora, Netflix, Amazon Video & MLB.tv, most of the channels that Roku offer are public access type programming broadcasted over the internet. Yes, there are some gems here and there, but for the most part its stuff I’ll never watch. Kinda like buying a car cause the back seat has cool cup holders.
The new AppleTV is consolidating devices in my entertainment center. It is doing everything the Roku does and more. It won’t take long for Apple to have content agreements in place with the same providers that Roku has. When that happens, the Roku will officially be done for…unless…Roku has something up their sleeve that has not been floated around the internets. Will the Roku offer a channel to stream media from my computer?
The real nail in the coffin is that the new AppleTV will allow you to stream (via a wireless connection) from my ipad to the AppleTV. This means that Hulu will now be able to be streamed without connecting my laptop to my tv. Goodnight Roku!
Unless I see something from Roku soon, my old AppleTV and my Roku player will be listed on Denver Craigslist in the near future. Want to make me an offer?
