Roku 3
The Roku 3 is our current top pick in the
Internet media box category. It's the best overall choice for online
streaming, with Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, Amazon Instant, Vudu, and
literally hundreds of others -- pretty much everything except iTunes and YouTube. Perfect for students who can't yet afford a pricey cable bill.
The good: The Roku 3's
excellent new interface and faster processor makes it feel quicker and
more responsive than any other streaming box. More than 750 channels are
supported, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus,
Pandora, MLB.TV, Amazon Cloud Player, and Vudu. It also has
cross-platform search that scours several major TV and movie services to
find content. And Roku's nifty new remote has a built-in headphone jack
that lets you listen without disturbing others.
The bad:
There's still no official YouTube channel. Some services have an
outdated interface on Roku compared to other streamers. The Apple TV
still works better within the Apple ecosystem. And the Roku 3 isn't a
great option if you're mostly looking to stream your personal digital
media collection.
The bottom line:
The Roku 3 is the best streaming-video box yet, with tons of content
sources, lightning-fast performance, and an innovative remote with
built-in headphone jack.
Apple TV
If the student in question is a full-on Apple
person -- iPhone, iPad, iTunes, Mac -- the Apple TV may be a better
choice than the Roku. And with the recent additions of Watch ESPN, HBO
Go, and Sky News, it's a better deal than ever.
The good: The Apple TV
lets you stream all of the movies and TV shows available in the iTunes
Store to your HDTV on a rental or purchase basis, with purchases stored
in the cloud. Netflix, Hulu Plus, MLB.TV, and a handful of other online
media services are available, plus music, videos, and photos can be
streamed from iOS devices using AirPlay. AirPlay Mirroring lets you
stream any Web video to the Apple TV, including free Hulu, if you have a
newer Mac running Mountain Lion. And Apple TV's user interface is one
of the best there is.
The bad:
The competing Roku 3 offers many more content sources (including Amazon
Instant), cross-platform search, and a remote with a headphone jack.
The Apple TV is also a much less useful box if you don't own other Apple
devices.
The bottom line:
The Apple TV is an indispensable living room companion for invested in
iTunes content and Apple hardware, but for everyone else it's a step
behind the Roku 3.
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