Beginning in December 2005 with my history of apes in film essay “Gorilla of Your Dreams” (the substantially update and revised version appears in The Apes of Wrath), I regularly contributed to Moving Pictures Magazine. First in the print incarnation and then for primarily the website. I contributed reviews and essays for the last three years of the publications existence. Following the June 2011 demise of both the print and website editions, all of the digital work for MPM disappeared into the ether. In the coming months (years?), I plan on reposting many of my reviews and articles.
Over five years ago, I reviewed the first iteration of the Roku, which at the time only offered Netflix. Now in version 3.0, today’s device offers over 1,000 channels.
Amazingly, my original Roku, though beginning to get cranky and show its age, is still going strong!
Roku’s Netflix Player: Internet TV Comes of Age
By Rick Klaw
August 25, 2008
When in the mid-1990s when the Internet finally infiltrated home computers, prognosticators promised a near-future featuring all sorts of new and amazing uses for the pc. Over a decade later, one of the most intriguing, potentially economic and social changing predictions– the computer as a delivery device for television entertainment– has finally become a reality.
The 2006 introduction of Apple TV ushered in a new era of Internet user-controlled streaming video available via the television. The expensive device (starting at $229) offers some 2600 videos through the iTunes Store ($3.99 for new releases/ $2.99 for older titles), user-generated content using the “Export to Apple TV” option, and YouTube. The player fails to work on older televisions and runs inordinately hot, reaching 44° C (111° F). Additionally, it has no off switch– unplugging the only way to power down.
Soon after the appearance of the Apple TV, Netflix, the largest online DVD rental service, allowed unlimited, instant DVD viewing to most of their eight million subscribers. For a flat monthly rate, users can choose from over 12,000 selections viewable online as many times as desired and for an unlimited period of time. Apple allows viewing for just 30 days after purchase and once started, you must finish within 24 hours.
Roku released the first Netflix Player on May 20, 2008. Though currently only available through Roku, the affordable ($99) device sold out of its original production run within two weeks. (“Roku’s Netflix Player sells out”, C|Net, June 3, 2008 accessed August 24, 2008.) The player received overwhelmingly positive reviews in The New York Times, Wired.com, Time, PC Magazine, and elsewhere
The small, innocuous-looking device (roughly paperback book-size) takes less then ten minutes to set up. Clear and concise instructions assume little or no technical expertise. The player connects to almost any television either directly or through an RF modulator, which is readily available at most electronics retailers. The videos can be accessed by a direct ethernet or wi-fi connection. Depending on your internet access speed, the video will play at VHS (tested at 384/kbps) or DVD (8.0 Mbps) quality. Unlike the Apple TV, the device generates almost no heat. Oddly, like the latter, the Roku player has no power switch.
Though numerous, many of the Netflix selections resemble the dredges found in Wal-Mart dollar bins: long-forgotten TV shows, inferior 1980s John Hughes’ knockoffs, third tier chop sockey, and made-for-cable documentaries. Among the detritus, several gems emerge including Oscar-winners, recent feature films, classic comedies, quality kids fare, and popular television shows, both US and British. These videos contain none of the DVD extras or commentaries and surprisingly, lacks closed-captioning. The interface allows for rewind/fast forward, scene selection, and remembers where the viewer stopped watching, even days or weeks later.
The simple TV interface relies on computer access to Netflix for viewing choices. There is no access to your account from the TV nor an easy way to change to other Netflix user accounts. The small remote control contains everything necessary (except for a power button) to manage the box.
Since Roku wisely used open source firmware, the equipment is easily upgraded. Presumably, some of these shortcomings will be addressed in future iterations.
While not perfect, the $99 Roku Netflix Movie Player grants a tantalizing glimpse of television’s future: viewer-controlled content. Buoyed by the persistent Internet rumors of Roku including Hulu.com and YouTube connections by the end of the year, this affordable option presents one of the most exciting advancements in home entertainment since the advent of the DVD.
Original Netflix interface