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I just purchased a roku box and am so far pretty pleased. I'm looking for info to help me go from "no knowledge" to at least "working knowledge". Anyone here use a roku that would recommend any streaming channels (I do miss live tv), "must haves" for the roku, or any other info in general?
I'm also looking into information on "PlayOn" and would appreciate any input folks may have in that regard as well.
I've had Roku boxes since 2008. I have 3 of them on my home network now. Best tip I can give you is that there are more channels for the Roku than those listed in the Channel Store. Look into private channels.
My advice on PlayOn (and Plex) is not to bother with them. They require dedicating a computer to feed the Roku while they are in use. IMO, if you're going to do that, you might as well just connect the computer directly to the TV. Roku is the best box for streaming Internet content. It's not the best device for viewing local content.
Location: Mableton, GA USA (NW Atlanta suburb, 4 miles OTP)
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Roku needs an equivalent of bluecop's Free Cable plugin for XBMC (which harvests various legal (maybe legalish? Unsure) TV streams from the web), but I'm sure there's one I don't know about somewhere. I've only had my LT since Christmas.
Nowhere TV is a nice centralized place for a zillion channels.
I've had Roku boxes since 2008. I have 3 of them on my home network now. Best tip I can give you is that there are more channels for the Roku than those listed in the Channel Store. Look into private channels.
My advice on PlayOn (and Plex) is not to bother with them. They require dedicating a computer to feed the Roku while they are in use. IMO, if you're going to do that, you might as well just connect the computer directly to the TV. Roku is the best box for streaming Internet content. It's not the best device for viewing local content.
Thanks for the info and input on PlayOn. I'm going from years of Satellite usage to Roku and it's a little bit of a shock. Trying to find what I want to watch has been tough and a lot of it looks like public access....just trying to gather info and advice.
Alpha8207, recsteiner, and brianjb... just a follow up on PlayOn. I've been using Roku and PlayOn since Feb 2011. The Roku is great in that it provides that interface for Netflix and such, some news broadcasting, and tons of other media. And yes, you can add private channels as indicated by Bo.
If you have that Roku then I'd like to suggest you take a look at PlayOn's free trial. You won't know until you try it. PlayOn installs on your PC and you tell the Roku it's a private channel. Roku will access the PC's IP address and the PlayOn 'server'. What you use the PlayOn for is largely up to you.
PlayOn functions through the use of scripts. Most scripts are written by other PlayOn users and shared for free. There are a couple of outstanding scripts for which there is a fee. One dedicated to movies is $10, one time. Another links to dozens of channels, many of which you may have watched last year. That script is $5, one time. As scripts are updated those updates are sent to you by email, no extra cost. The catch... in order to access many of the great scripts you have to be a PlayOn 'Gold' member. $7 a year.
So, for the free trial you might invest $7. When the Roku accesses the PlayOn 'server' on your PC, the selected programming runs through PlayOn then to the Roku, then TV. I keep my task manager 'Performance' screen open to watch the CPU performance... just for geeky interests. There are times I've had the PlayOn streaming a movie but my PC is AT THE SAME TIME playing a YouTube video and/or surfing other websites. So, the PC is NOT 'dedicated' to the PlayOn function. But you will need the data pipe - about 3 meg or more - and a qualified PC - check your PC at PassMark. My CPU - AMD II x2 250u 1.6 GHz - score is 1709 out of the top score of 12000.
So, I'm just saying, try the PlayOn free trial. If you don't want it all you have to do is nothing. It will cease working at trial's end.
And BTW, I have no staked interest in PlayOn. I do have an interest in the efforts of fellow free citizens.
Location: God's Gift to Mankind for flying anything
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To satisfy my curiosity, I went to the Playon website and checked the channel availability. What Channels Can I Watch With PlayOn? | PlayOn
Very few on the free version, lots on the paid for version.
What I noticed is that my *smart DVD player* has most of those channels already on it.
So rather than investing in another ROKU box (for the bedroom), we invested in a *new* DVD player (we really needed a new one anyway), and have all we need in order to watch whatever show we like to watch.
I can actually watch Netflix on the ROKU in the family room, in the bedroom via the DVD player, and in my *office* on my laptop, all at the same time ... (different movies !)
To satisfy my curiosity, I went to the Playon website and checked the channel availability. What Channels Can I Watch With PlayOn? | PlayOn
Very few on the free version, lots on the paid for version.
Spoiler
What I noticed is that my *smart DVD player* has most of those channels already on it.
So rather than investing in another ROKU box (for the bedroom), we invested in a *new* DVD player (we really needed a new one anyway), and have all we need in order to watch whatever show we like to watch.
I can actually watch Netflix on the ROKU in the family room, in the bedroom via the DVD player, and in my *office* on my laptop, all at the same time ... (different movies !)
irman, visit the PlayOn Scripts website to check out the scripts you can add to your PlayOn service. As I mentioned above, some have a one time fee, most are free. Almost all are written by PlayOn users who have chosen to master their own scripts and have shared their efforts. Including some Euro programming.
The PlayOn Channel store website has the same link to the PlayOn Scripts
A user can just download the script to their PC, then cut/copy that script to the MediaMall (PlayOn) directory for scripts. Reboot the PlayOn and enjoy.
we also just purchased our first Roku and can't wait to use it!
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