Roku Netflix Box

[djb]

Just received my ROKU Netflix streamer yesterday and for what it's intended for, it’s a brilliant piece of kit. For anyone who currently has a Netflix account (at least 9.99 a month) you can stream any and all of the free content that Netflix offers. (10,000 titles and growing).

It works with any TV and only has to be connected to the internet via LAN or it’s built in wireless (which works great). It also supports HD for when Netflix decides to implement it. It has HDMI and component outputs as well as composite.

Within 5 minutes of taking it out of the box, I was watching an episode of Bullshit season 6 on my living room widescreen (followed by an episode of Lancelot Link-Secret Chimp that I haven’t seen in 35 years).

It cost $99.00 for the box and then it’s free to stream the Netflix “Instant” library, totally unlimited, no monthly fees or other costs. It’s tiny, measuring 5 x 5 x 2, works with any TV, supports wide screen. It found my wireless network within seconds (and every other one in my neighborhood)

After choosing a program using the on-screen display, it took about 10 seconds to begin playing. The current quality is 480P so it’s a not a replacement for watching movies and TV shows in HD (yet) but for watching old TV shows, documentaries and classic movies, it’s very good.. It definitely increases the overall value of using Netflix.

Anyone else get one of these?

http://i32.tinypic.com/1zz0r9u.jpg

[Dr. P]

I might. I've been slack about watching movies lately, though.

[Pull Out Method]

I didn't even know they were available! That might get me to switch back from blockbuster.

[TheWagesofSin]

I'm gonna get that, definitely. Though...isn't there a way I can just hook laptop-to-TV and get the same thing, basically? I wonder.

[djb]

I'm gonna get that, definitely. Though...isn't there a way I can just hook laptop-to-TV and get the same thing, basically? I wonder.

Sure, if you currently stream Netflix on-line and have a Video output on your laptop that's compatible with your TV. I really like the Roku's interface and remote control though.

[Belasco]

I'm gonna get that, definitely. Though...isn't there a way I can just hook laptop-to-TV and get the same thing, basically? I wonder.

Not with a Mac, man. It fucin' sucks! Netflix is in bed with MS Digital Rights Management. For over a year Netflix has been saying that Mac compatibility is "coming". I'm sure they mean bukkake since it's taken this long.

[Spooner]

DJ,

I laughed when I saw this thread! We JUST pulled the trigger on this bitch (and the price is beautiful). My big worry was getting a first-hand accounting of the video and sound quality. So, lemme know if they're close to DVD-quality for real.

I was really fired up since both my dolly and I are doing TONS of streaming on Netflix. She watches Weeds (which I think is horrible), and I've been buried in Rockford Files and Leave It To Beaver reruns. This thing is gonna be awesome on those nights when nothing good has been Tivo'ed and I don't feel like driving to Ballbuster.

:tip:

[Jdiggity Dee]

Spooner et al, how would I do the wiring cuz I've got a tivo going into the tv with the red, yellow, white cables and do I put the roku in between?

I've got wireless and a fast enough connection (their website said 1.5 mbs or faster) so that's my only concern. I've been watching old tv too, Kojak is better than I remembered it.

[djb]

DJ,

I laughed when I saw this thread! We JUST pulled the trigger on this bitch (and the price is beautiful). My big worry was getting a first-hand accounting of the video and sound quality. So, lemme know if they're close to DVD-quality for real.

I was really fired up since both my dolly and I are doing TONS of streaming on Netflix. She watches Weeds (which I think is horrible), and I've been buried in Rockford Files and Leave It To Beaver reruns. This thing is gonna be awesome on those nights when nothing good has been Tivo'ed and I don't feel like driving to Ballbuster.

:tip:

It's pretty close to DVD. I just watched Tom Dowd's Language Of Music in widescreen and it looked fine. The family and I watched a few Leave It To Beaver season 1 episodes last night and it looked better than watching them on Nick at Night but they're full length without losing parts to syndication commercials. Again it's not a replacement for High Def. So far, my expectations have been exceeded.

[Verno]

Spooner et al, how would I do the wiring cuz I've got a tivo going into the tv with the red, yellow, white cables and do I put the roku in between?

I've got wireless and a fast enough connection (their website said 1.5 mbs or faster) so that's my only concern. I've been watching old tv too, Kojak is better than I remembered it.

THIS (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8425661&st=rca+y-cable&lp=4&type=product&cp=1&id=1181832624724) x 3. At least that's the easiest way (and I think you can get them waaaaaaay cheaper elsewhere.)

[The Sav]

Two female to one male... Fuck yeah! If only life imitated electronics.

[Spooner]

Did you end up diggin' that Tom Dowd documentary, DJ? I loved hearing his input on Layla and Sunshine of Your Love, blowing a big credible hole in Ginger Baker's "version" of how "he" came up with that riff. Yeah. Right. Sure. :roll:

[Spooner]

Anyone here with a Roku box (and by the end of the year, I hope to hear it's EVERYONE), they had a bad software update, and it took our service down for two days. I found a good number and found the fix.

IF your shit won't connect to Netflix, you need to hold in the small Reset button on the back of the box for 15 seconds. After it resets, it'll give you a new six-digit code (write this down). Go to you system and log into www.netflix.com/activate ...then enter that code in all caps. Then you're golden.

:tip:

GOD, I love this fucking box!!!!!!!!!!! (I had to find very creative ways to justify watching "Tart" to my dolly so I could behold me some Dominique Swain. Christ, she's sexuality personified like few others!

[Belasco]

I'm going in on this very soon. The rumor was floated today on gizmodo and a few other sources that the Roku will soon be able to connect with Hulu and possibly YouTube.

[Dr. P]

I'm thinking about it, but I spend very little time watching movies, and NONE watching TV these days. I'm considering cutting my Netflix account down to one flick and canceling satellite altogether.

[Verno]

I wish Roku would support MLB.tv to support my baseball addiction. Of course, if it did support the games, MLB would charge $800,000 for the MLB.tv service.

[Spooner]

^Truer words never spoken.

Lemme paint ya a picture, Russ. It's no different than when you used to go into Tower Records with $200 to drop on tunes, and once you walked in, you completely forgot EVERY SINGLE FUCKING RECORD you were gonna buy!!

Well, imagine this with flicks. You've had a shit day, you're not ready for hitting the sack (or going to bed), so you fire up this Roku box and, Whoa! Look at this! 200 movies that I've slammed into this queue (all with images, synopses, "ratings," cast, director, year, etc., in ALL different genres, ALL ready for you to click through with a stogie workin' and your feet on the coffee table.

Oh, I'm in suddenly in the mood for the Jamie Kennedy standup routine, or I'm in the mood for a goddamn Clint Eastwood/Dirty Harry offering. Ka-click! You're watching it. Oh, maybe the entire Penn & Teller Bullshit series at your disposal? Old comedies from your teenage years? Horror flicks you'd never come near in a video store--BLAM! Right there.

Dude, it's golden. I can't live w/out it now that I've got it. And the best part is that the wifi is built into the box. No accessories necessary.

[PeggyLove]

I feel lost in this thread. It's because I'm a girl - isn't it!? :desert:

[Belasco]

I just ordered mine.

Spoon, it can handle secure (WPA password protected) wireless networks, right?

[Cliff Pettigrew]

Just added Young Frankenstein, Arthur, Casino Royale (1967 Peter Sellers) and Pee Wee's Big Adventure. The latter being crap I wouldn't pay for, but I think my kids will get a kick out of it.

Oh, and Leave it to Beaver Season 1, he was a cute little fucker that first season.

[Cliff Pettigrew]

I just ordered mine.

Spoon, it can handle secure (WPA password protected) wireless networks, right?

I know you didn't ask me specifically but yes, you enter the pass phrase or code on a virtual keyboard using the remote control during set-up. I have wireless G with a 3MB connection and have zero problems.

[Spooner]

^^Petti's correct, Diddy (and Leave It to Beaver is probably my all-time favorite show next to the Rascals, but I draw the line in that episode where Beaver caught jerkin' off by Larry Mondello).

I'm adding Pee Wee right now on accounna I think that's one of the best cult characters of all-time (and Big Top Pee Wee has me rollin' no matter what, especially when he's trying to juggle and the balls keep hitting him on the melon fast, and he yells each time in quick succession). Good call, Clifford!!

[Jdiggity Dee]

I'll get a roku sometime soon.

Thanks for the heads up on the beav.

Right now I'm working through Kojak on Netflix on Demand, overall it has aged well and where certain story lines have since been imitated it was Kojak who did them best. What hasn't aged well is the police procedure elements: I'm pretty sure modern police don't barehanded toss around like a hot potato evidence or swing garrotes over their necks to take to evidence for scientific analysis.

[djb]

I just ordered mine.

Spoon, it can handle secure (WPA password protected) wireless networks, right?

Hey Lasco, check this forum out (http://forums.rokulabs.com/viewforum.php?f=28&sid=95cb3984e299c9134940715b361f16cd) for lots of ROKU info.

[Spooner]

DJ's forum rules, but I've also found this forum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTQOpibv_OA) to be good for lots of audio enhancements (I've used a few myself).

JD, how can you possibly opt for Kojak over Jim Rockford? I'm unusually puzzled by this.

Also, everyone pretends they hate the Eagles, but they all lie (and you freakin' know it), but I'm venturing into an this "Eagles: California Nights: Interviews." Bad-quality video of good, old-school Eagles interviews. Not that ANY of us wants to hear Glenn Fry speak (I'll give ya that), but I'm dying to get to Joe Walsh, and to hear why the fuck they wouldn't pay Don Felder. I ain't vouchin' for it, mind ya--just sayin' it's there.

:tip:

[Belasco]

I don't hate the Eagles, I'm just especially sick of "Hotel California" and a few of their other huge hits. If I don't hear them for another 5-10 years, I'll be ok with it again and can dive back in.

[Dr. P]

I'll take Rockford Files over Kojak ANY day, but one of the things I found most charming about Jeff Lebowski was hating the Eagles. I never liked 'em. Or Steve Miller. From age 12, I hated and heard 'em at every party until I reached 30. I'll die happier if I never hear a note of either. No lie.

[Jdiggity Dee]

yous are going to run out of Rockford and then there will be kojak for you. er me too reverse-wise.

Rockford was great, kojak just hit a nostalgic note with me so I started there.

[Spooner]

Oh, believe me: If I hear the SONG "Hotel California" again (along with any Chili Peppers tune), I'm gonna jump off the fucking 520 bridge. But, if you watch them on their Australian reunion show DVD, I've never heard that fucking band sound better--each and every song was spot-on perfect and tight as I've ever heard. Walsh's voice is better now than it *ever* was, which blows my mind (and his live "Life's Been Good" far and away stole the entire show).

Well, anyway, Roku's been fucking up the last two days. Mine went down again, and I called tech, and the guy was blunt: he said, "Look, this thing's selling like crazy, and our IT guys have had to make massive back-end modifications, so it's not your box or your internet connection, it's our back end with the Roku. It could take an hour, it could take a day... I really don't know."

Well, 'least he was honest. So, I'm sure you cats are experiencing that, too? I'm gonna reset that bitch one last time and then it's a good thing I'm gonna be outta here for some of the weekend. That shit better be workin' when I get back. Tell ya what.

[djb]

Oh, believe me: If I hear the SONG "Hotel California" again (along with any Chili Peppers tune), I'm gonna jump off the fucking 520 bridge. But, if you watch them on their Australian reunion show DVD, I've never heard that fucking band sound better--each and every song was spot-on perfect and tight as I've ever heard. Walsh's voice is better now than it *ever* was, which blows my mind (and his live "Life's Been Good" far and away stole the entire show).

Well, anyway, Roku's been fucking up the last two days. Mine went down again, and I called tech, and the guy was blunt: he said, "Look, this thing's selling like crazy, and our IT guys have had to make massive back-end modifications, so it's not your box or your internet connection, it's our back end with the Roku. It could take an hour, it could take a day... I really don't know."

Well, 'least he was honest. So, I'm sure you cats are experiencing that, too? I'm gonna reset that bitch one last time and then it's a good thing I'm gonna be outta here for some of the weekend. That shit better be workin' when I get back. Tell ya what.

That's strange. Mine's beeen working fine. No problems since I've had it. Who's your ISP?

[Spooner]

Comcast, but it had nothing to do with the service provider. In fact, about 20 minutes after I posted, we tried again to reactivate, and it finally went back up.

What I was told was that they put out a "software upgrade" (some boxes had it in when shipped, some didn't). You may've gotten one that had a clean setup--mine was clearly one that took that "bad upgrade" and lost it's ability to communicate with their back end servers (Roku only).

It's up now, and I suspect they've got a handle on it since the guy told me they had an astronomical amount of calls on the issue. Not everyone was hit.

[Jdiggity Dee]

I got my roku today and set it up in under 5 minutes, I spent more time looking for an empty plug to power it than the actual install.

Picture quality is DVD quality. I'd even hazard that the picture looks better on my older TV than on the LCD monitor built into my Imac. The remote and menu's are really intuitive and the forward/backward buttons pull up a nice line of little scenes that you can pick between. Excellent.

[Belasco]

Mine's still in Sacramento. Damn it, FedEx, get a move on!

[Spooner]

JD's got a picture-quality advantage on all of his as his TV has no glare whatsoever.

Well, he brings up a great point about the remote: The best, smallest, simplest-yet-effective remote ever made (oh, and light as a cigarette lighter, too). Tabasco, you're gonna just shit at how slick and easy the interface is, daddy. One word of advice: During your first sit-down at your computer to load in all "Add to Instant" queue entries, take a LONG time and throw in at LEAST 50 items. You'll really want to fill that fucker up good, especially if your main viewing arena is far from your office (or up/down a flight of stairs). :tip:

Despite my two little hiccups in the service, this still is the best invention since the MP3 and also an awesome way for Netflix to get Ballbuster in a rear-naked choke after they tried to rip off their model AND one-up them. T'ain't gonna work. Nope, sir.

[Belasco]

Holy shit, we've watched this damn thing all day. I love it - when more content comes available via Hulu/ABC/Miro it'll be worth it's weight in gold.

Fantastic device!

[Spooner]

If they tie into Hulu, there BETTER be no commercials (all's I'm sayin'). Let's hear a few of your more notable flickers, Tabasco... :tip:

[Belasco]

There will be commercials with Hulu - it's part of their business model. Same with ABC. No freebies. If there's a subscription model then the commercials won't be there.

We've watched almost all of Penn and Teller's Bullshit (Season 5). We're watching season 3 of the US "The Office" now. I watched a History Channel documentary on "The Dark Ages" (which I enjoyed) and a classic episode of Alfred Hitchcock presents. Then I watched about half of a video of "Cheezy Horror Trailers" and laughed my ass off.

Later on, I'll probably watch some Richard Pryor stand-up, I might try out NBC's "Heroes", and maybe finally see "Eraserhead".

[Spooner]

<shuddering... convulsing slightly... stammering...> Y- you've nn-nnever seen Eraserhead?!

As Buscemi in Fargo after the cop gets shot in the puss: "Ohhhhh, dadddyyyyyyy.... OHHHHHH, daddyyyyyyyy." :-)

Dude, make sure of two things before you indulge on this masterpiece: (1) you watch it at night, but not when you're dawg tired, and (2) watch it with ALL the lights off in your viewing room. These are essential. Maximize your audio on your receiver before embarking as well. You lucky whore.

Short list of movies I wish I've never seen soes I could see 'em again for the first time:


Fincher's "The Game"
Every single David Lynch movie
Lawrence of Arabia
Every Kubrick flick
Zodiac
The Searchers
Mystic River
Big Wednesday

...just a few what spring to mind (there are many more).

**Belasco, Lynch is revealing a new work (he won't release the title till the night of the event) here in Seattle. Impossible tickets. We're in the lottery and waiting to hear back. Lynch will be there, as well as some Twin Peaks cast members. If the planets align, I'll get the call and be there.

[Booze]

On seeing films for the first time (& try to cast your Rodriguez issues aside for a second here, Bill), my Dad managed to see From Dusk Til Dawn without hearing a word about it beforehand, &, crucially, without seeing that fucking trailer they ran for it.

Imagine that. He's watching a fairly run of the mill crims on the run road movie, thinking that Clooney is doing a pretty good job playing against type, & Tarantino is a really shitty actor, then BLAMMO! Salma Hayek turns into a fucking monster & the film turns into a vampire flick. Wish I'd seen it like that.

[Spooner]

I've managed to avoid MOST trailers & especially commercials these days, so I'm going into a lot of flicks just based on my usual small group of fairly trusted critics' general remarks, so it's been a whole new experience that way.

Imagine watching "Touching the Void" without knowing a single fucking thing about THAT?! Oh, same thing went for Sin City. I didn't even know it was a freakin' comic book, and Mickey Rourke---that was the one time a face/voice got right be until the ending credits. I had NO clue who the fuck he was. What a great flick that wound up being.

(Again, I've no problem with Rodriguez doing his own shit--it's when he tries to cross-pollinate with Tarantino that I have problems with him.) :tip:

[Dr. P]

On seeing films for the first time (& try to cast your Rodriguez issues aside for a second here, Bill), my Dad managed to see From Dusk Til Dawn without hearing a word about it beforehand, &, crucially, without seeing that fucking trailer they ran for it.


I saw it the same way. I was all about the first part of that movie. And I HATED the 2nd half of it. Hated. Worse than Big Momma's House or anything I've seen on basic cable due to marijuana.

[Belasco]

I saw it the same way. I was all about the first part of that movie. And I HATED the 2nd half of it. Hated. Worse than Big Momma's House or anything I've seen on basic cable due to marijuana.

You're kidding, right? "From Dusk Til Dawn" was a classic grindhouse-style film. I love that flick. I probably love it as much as you love "Red Dawn" (but in a different way).

Somebody step up and let me know that I'm not the only person that digs psychotronic film around here.

Incidentally, thanks to the Roku box, I think my new favorite show is "Dogfights" from either the Military or History channel. The first thing I can remember ever wanting to be when I grew up was a fighter pilot. I read books, learned tactics, even looked into taking flying lessons - this documentary show has all that. :up:

[Heap]

Yeah, Dogfights is a great show! I think I've seen all of them so far. I generally don't like CGI representations of events, but it seems like CGI for entertainment was MADE for this show. It's definitely one of the top shows, if not THE top show on History/Military channels within the last several years.

[Spooner]

Belasco.... Ahhhh... yes, Grasshopper... you have discovered the multitude of greatness in the Pandora's box what is Roku. I've got almost 100 shits in my queue as it is, and late last night continued watching this fascinating series on goddamn CHIMPS. I don't care WHO y'are around here--if you can't find yourself ensconced in watching three generations of chimps and 'boons hang out and kick ass together, yer full of shit. It's awesome.

ALL the Military Channel shit is the bomb, ESPECIALLY Dogfights! With the 3D reenactments of the events, along with the first-person narratives, you really do feel like YOU saw those Migs or Zeroes comin' atchya. Beautiful stuff. :tip:

[Belasco]

Well, this just figures.

Microsoft has worked out a deal with Netflix to stream instant content to the 360. It starts this fall.

I'll be moving my Roku to the bedroom.

http://gizmodo.com/5025001/netflix-streaming-on-xbox-360

[Spooner]

Those cunts. Can Microsoft keep their greeeeezy hands out of ANYTHING?!! I wonder if I can return my Roku and shove it up their asses on principle. I *hate* watching TV in my bedroom. FUCKERS!

Then again, I ain't big on having to put all that unnecessary heat and mileage on an already volatile and smoldering box that tends towards red light rings to let you know it's powered on. WTF?

[TheWagesofSin]

Well, this just figures.

Microsoft has worked out a deal with Netflix to stream instant content to the 360. It starts this fall.

I'll be moving my Roku to the bedroom.

http://gizmodo.com/5025001/netflix-streaming-on-xbox-360

Wow...so I'll bet netflix is gonna be true to their word that their "instant" content will soon be available for my Apple computer, riiiiiight?

I won't be holding my breath. :roll:

[Spooner]

Wedge, all you need is VMWare or Parallels and you're streaming Netflix to your Mac tomorrow. Piece of cake. That's what I did (I still like watching shit whilst I'm working in ye olde home office downstairs).

[TheWagesofSin]

No shit? I don't know if my Powerbook has enough hard drive space or whatever (don't you gotta partition you hard disk, and go through a buncha shit to install another OS? No?) but I will definitely do that if it's feasible, 'cause I love me netflix. :tip:

[Jdiggity Dee]

Wagons, you'll also need to buy a full version of xp or vista to be able to use bootcamp on a mac with either parallels or vmware. Also the mac needs to be running a fairly new version of OSX and have an Intel chip rather than the older PowerPc dealies. Overall Roku works out cheaper at 99 plus 15 or so s/h, but you need a tv in you house.

[Heap]

Yeah, it isn't terribly difficult to install Windows on your Mac, Wedge. You just have to own a copy and have the Intel chip, like JD said. There is a guide to installing it somewhere on the Mac website (if you google Mac Boot Camp Installation Guide you should find it). It will give you all the instructions for partitioning the hard drive. Just make sure you give enough space to the Windows side if you plan on downloading a lot of shit to the Windows side. Boot Camp allows you to choose to boot in Mac or Windows. Parallels lets you open up your windows desktop in Mac (right?).

[Jdiggity Dee]

Right

[Spooner]

Wedge, just get a copy of Parallels off EZN or torrents (or get VMWare Fusion), and SOMEONE you know has an XP disk layin' around. You choose your partition size. You can even get away with like 10GB. Ask a nerd at your work. It's not that rough. I know a few here who use it and it's almost essential for multimedia crossover shit. You'll be able to swing it, dude.

[TheWagesofSin]

I appreciate y'alls help, but unfortunately my Powerbook is one of the later-model ones with the PowerPC chip. So I'm shit outta luck. :down:

[Jdiggity Dee]

^^^Wedge, do you have a tv in yous house? IF yes then get a Roku and you'll be set. Dig? It doesn't care if you can see netflix on your machine. Call roku info if you've got questions about yous setup.

[Spooner]

Hey, is it just me, or is Netflix/Roku's selection starting to ... I dunno ... stink up the joint lately? With the money they're making hand over fucking fist, you'd think they'd have hired legions of even Hajis to start compressing tons of new flicks each week (ummm... GOOD ONES) and churning them out as fast as possible?

Granted, there are a few classics in there, but I scan regularly, and I'm starting to find myself a bit dejected lately with the anemic output (and quality). Anyone know if there are secondary rights issues being hashed out for this shit? I mean, if they can put out major companies' movies (like Warner Brothers flicks ... say, Clockwork Orange) wouldn't you think ALL Kubrick flicks would be flyin' outta the cage?

They're seeming long on Lou Diamond Phillips straight-to-video shit and really short on five-star flicks. Is it just me here?

[Spooner]

<Oooof! BUMP!>

Hey, is it just me, or is Netflix REALLY goddamn slacking on churning out new Instant View material? I patiently wait and scope out what's been added, and I'm endlessly disappointed lately. If you take ANY genre, then go to "See All," then "View Sortable List," then sort by rating, you''ll REALLY see how slim the pickin's are. In "Action/Adventure," Young Guns II is like the third or fourth highest-rated flick in that genre. Holy Christ!!

I'm lovin' the TV stuff and *some* documentaries, but the Drama, Thrillers, Horror, etc., are causing a stench to waft off the web page!!! Anyone know if it's a licensing issue or WTF?! Ugh!

[Belasco]

I think the hold-up is getting it working with Xbox360. I'll bet content acquisitions are limited while that is being tested/rolled-out. Once the 360 communication is finished you'll see more content providers wanting to put their stuff on the platform. Later this fall is the planned release date.

[Dr. P]

I have 164 movies in my queue. 14 are streamable.

[Cliff Pettigrew]

Netflix added Starz movie chanel to their lineup of watch instantly selections. Hundreds of better titles and it looks like an option on the
PC to watch Starz live feed. :up:

[Dr. P]

really

[Cliff Pettigrew]

really

Yep, really.

Go to the watch instantly tab on Netflix and go to the genres pull-down and you will find Starz Play.

[Dr. P]

http://i36.tinypic.com/xljo1y.gif

[Jdiggity Dee]

It works on a pc. Don't know how to manage to do it on the roku queue.
Also is there a listing of what is playing on Starz within netflix?

[Dr. P]

http://www.sweetfeatheryjesus.com/forum/showthread.php?p=286262&highlight=starz#post286262

[Jdiggity Dee]

Thanks Dr. P, I found that too, I was looking for putting the Starz movie chanel feed on my roku in addition to individual movies, so I'd have another tv channel feed from starz on the roku.

[Belasco]

No, it's a partnership between Netflix and Starz. Starz opened its library to Netflix so you just add the content to your "Watch Instantly" queue as you normally would and it shows up on the Roku.

I would love to have a separate "Watch Instantly" queue on the Roku from my chick, but that doesn't seem to be supported.

[Jdiggity Dee]

Belasco,
under Watch Instantly>Genres >Starz Play > (on the right of the screen click "live starz channel")
http://i33.tinypic.com/saytmg.jpg

then you get a streaming version of what is playing live on starz, cept I can't find a listing of what I'm watching right there. I'd love to add another channel to the tv for free. But this seems to only be available on a PC, or Mac with Bootcamp. Try it.

[Belasco]

The Mac is the problem. I want a separate queue on the Roku. I'm not doing BootCamp because all of my XP discs are pre-ServicePack 2. My literature says that a Service Pack 2 install disk is required to install Windows and use BootCamp. It's not worth it to me to buy another XP disk.

[Cliff Pettigrew]

http://www.sweetfeatheryjesus.com/forum/showthread.php?p=286262&highlight=starz#post286262

Ahhhhhhhh, I've done gone and Sav'd myself. :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Well since the Grape video has been removed, I thought we could enjoy the next video from the random people falling thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isYF5E0WxGU

[Spooner]

The Mac is the problem. I want a separate queue on the Roku. I'm not doing BootCamp because all of my XP discs are pre-ServicePack 2. My literature says that a Service Pack 2 install disk is required to install Windows and use BootCamp. It's not worth it to me to buy another XP disk.

Tabasco... I had the FIRST XP Pro disk issued when I ran VMWare Fusion, and yeah, I just had to chew foil and let it do about 13 weeks of security patches, SP updates, and whatnot, but hey, then you can watch The Fish What Saved Pittsburgh from your DESK!!!

:tip:

[Belasco]

Really?! I didn't even think it would all an install without an SP2 XP disk. Good to know!

:tip:

[Jdiggity Dee]

Spoon, to do it the way you did, did you follow the Apple approved way of setting up bootcamp which is using their utility to install windows, or did you install vmware and then use that to install windows?

[Spooner]

VMWare ... and I hope the sarcasm was duly noted on the movie of choice.

Yeah, Diddy--the only part I was serious about is that it WILL accept the old, original XP Pro disk--I just said Fuck it, turned off my firewall, and let those goddamn 8,000 updates flow while I went out and shot soccer moms with a BB gun from behind a bush.

[Dr. P]

The Mac is the problem.
http://i37.tinypic.com/24obms3.jpg

Tabasco... I had the FIRST XP Pro disk issued when I ran VMWare Fusion, and yeah, I just had to chew foil and let it do about 13 weeks of security patches, SP updates, and whatnot, but hey, then you can watch The Fish What Saved Pittsburgh from your DESK!!!

:tip:

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
=D&gt; =D&gt; =D&gt; =D&gt; =D&gt; =D&gt;

[Belasco]

Don't test me, Fishman.

The Mac is the problem for Netflix.

[Dr. P]

lmao, I had to quote that shit.

[Spooner]

Fishman... It's only a matter of time before Diddy puts a "c" in there, and you become "Fischman," Russ. I smell it comin'.

It's getttin' ta be a dangerous place around here. A DANGEROUS place. lmao

[Belasco]

I've just watched a mind-blower.

Available for streaming now over Netflix is a documentary called "Snuff" by director Paul von Stoetzel. It looks into the legend of the "snuff film" and all it's various fake incarnations that seek to capitalize on it's taboo status. This is a tough film to watch. You'll see snippets of hard gore films like "Cannibal Holocaust" and some of the 'real' stuff in the Faces of Death films involving animals. That was REALLY tough. Anyway, it also looks into death on film that is not purely for profit. Some of it is footage obtained by the FBI from captured psychopaths and footage from war zones, including modern day Iraq.

As difficult as it was to sit through, it was as compelling as anything I've ever seen. The parts with Mark Rosen (who worked on the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre film before working for an adult entertainment company) are riveting. He tells two stories in this doc that will chill you to the bone.

Very difficult (but very affecting) search for the truth of the existence of the legitimate "purely for profit" snuff film.

[Spooner]

It's in me queue, but it's not something I can let my dolly know I wanted to see (she'll hair out). I can't stand how Netflix doesn't have an "empty viewed cache" option, those cunts!! Shit, just to justify my Dominique Swain movie(s)... it's a lot of unnecessary work.

I'll watch that gory shit one day soon.

Oh, sawr Appaloosa tonight. Fucking righteous (Viggo & Harris ... and then the HUGE bonus: JEREMY IRONS!!). The score was clearly where they cut back the budget to get the stars, but Harris did a good job directing it--even used Magic Bullet to add some scruff to the print. Viggo was awesome. Story coulda used a *tad* more action, but the WRITING? The DIALOGUE?! Jesus, you woulda thought Cormack McCarthey wrote it---or Ethan Coen at times! All the classic lines HAD to come from the novel, 'cause Harris took a writing credit.

I'll post a real review in a proper thread tomorrow. Can't see straight, and I need a tuna melt sangwich before bed. Might die first.

:tip:

[TheWagesofSin]

Hey, does anyone here use greencine.com? They're like netflix, but with more of an emphasis on "independent films, cult classics, international releases, documentaries and other esoteric fare, including rare titles available at no other service."

For instance, they've got a SHITLOAD of Criterion Collection discs available. The price is higher than netflix, sure, but it could be worth it considering the selection. I dunno if they're as fast and efficient as netflix, though; anyone here have any idear?

http://www.greencine.com/genre?action=viewGenre&genreID=383&page=1&inc=20&sort=title

[Jdiggity Dee]

No, but they also rent out hardcore porn like netflix does the tame stuff. You need to turn-on adult settings in the search field to get those listings.

Check out their primers on topics too.

[Spooner]

I sawr "Gay Film" as a category... Fess up, ya silly goose. Save yer jingle, Wedge; I'll pass out the hat and we'll send you a Criterion copy of Hedwedge.

Seriously? I browsed it out really thoroughly. They need a LOT more titles before I jump in, but what the studios are doing (why Criterion is having its balls busted in the market) is PUTTING all the extra features on THEIR shit, and GIVING you four and five commentaries per disc. This is the only reason Criterion had the edge. Same fucking prints.

Hmmmmmmm.... it'll all come down to selection and volume. Good link, though, nigger.

[TheWagesofSin]

No, but they also rent out hardcore porn like netflix does the tame stuff. You need to turn-on adult settings in the search field to get those listings.

http://i38.tinypic.com/2lqgs3.jpg

[Spooner]

Ohhhhhhhhhhh, mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. Where the fuck has THAT goddamn thing been all these years?!!!

We needed that back when Vako & Western Bacon were posting. Oh, the lost possibilities!!! At least it's here NOW. :tip:

[Booze]

http://i38.tinypic.com/2lqgs3.jpg

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Jdiggity Dee]

http://i38.tinypic.com/2lqgs3.jpg
Very Good Mr. Wages
http://i36.tinypic.com/29w95as.jpg

[TheWagesofSin]

see post #84

[moneymaker]

I just got the Roku box this past week and my only regret is that I did not buy one earlier. It is fantasti and the fact that it is wifi compatible was an added bonus. I travel frequently for work and have used the instant viewing on my laptop. I love that it tracks what episodes you have viewed and will allow you to pick up on any selection where you left off, so I can start a movie at a hotel and finish up later at home for example.

Note to other Roku owners: I was a little disappointed to see several of my instant queue selections have an expiration date that would not allow me to watch them all. I think they were all PBS selections. Anywho, they were set to expire on 4/1 but they all extended to a new expiration date of 5/1.

[Spooner]

I don't think Sling Blade has an expiration date, so you're safe.

I'm giving my Roku to my folks. The Netflix/Xbox interface and display are way superior, so there's no goin' back. But, yeah, for a C-note, it's not a bad way to go--beats watching that shit in a window on your computer.

[moneymaker]

That and Full Metal Jacket and Falling Down both in my queue in perpetuity.

I gave my mom a year of Netflix last year for Mother's Day. She's getting the Roku this year.

[melon]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10306748-1.html?tag=smallCarouselArea.3

Roku to add streaming of MLB games.

[djb]

I'm giving my Roku to my folks. The Netflix/Xbox interface and display are way superior, so there's no goin' back.

I like the Xbox Netflix interface too but here are some good reasons not to get rid of your Roku.

The Roku's interface is changing and will continue to improve. I've heard that search is coming for Netflix and Amazon on the Roku. The interface for the Xbox360 will improve too but it's big, hot and consumes 32X as much power to operate.

You can easily take the Roku to anywhere you have a TV. It runs on a basic power supply that costs less than 12 bucks so it's easy to move it around.

The heat output is a fraction of what an Xbox 360 puts out.

Xbox Power consumption: Over 160 watts
Roku Power Consumption: 5 Watts (3 watts at idle)

No RROD. If your XBox dies, you are going to wish you had the Roku as a backup.

Plus, I recently compared the two side by side and the quality for HD streamed wirelessly on the Roku looked a bit better than an Xbox360 that was hardwired.

[Spooner]

Nice. I'm gonna start doing bandwidth/quality comparisons right now. XBL had another DISASTROUS update today, and even before that, HD feeds would sometimes crap out and go down in resolution. Fuck that.

The biggest selling point of XBL's Netflix interface was the scanning through your queue with the XB controller. But, if Roku has better bandwidth (more allocated, more dedicated), I'll keep using it. One downside is that I'm pretty sure mine just has component cables and not HDMI -- not that 720p should be affected.

[djb]

The Roku has HDMI that supports 720P. I use both of mine wireless and get consistent HD performance. Both Xbox & Roku hardware are capable of excellent performance. Usually if you have bandwidth issues with streaming Netflix devices, it's due to the ISP or the quality of the wireless connection, not the Netflix servers.

[Spooner]

XBL does have bandwidth issues of its own; you're not just getting Netflix streaming, you're also saddled with loads of calls to different services to monitor friend lists, etc. If I try it anew with my Roku, it'll be a pure, dedicated stream (I pumped up my bandwidth to their max, so I know it's XBL). They're famous for blowing ass, especially after sweet "updates."

[moneymaker]

Got the second Roku box today and went to set up the sub-profile. Well, you can set that up but you don't get a second instant queue. I don't think I would have bought it had I known that.

Now, I will have to wade through moutains of Lifetime movies and kid cartoons to find Slingblade and Full Metal Jacket in the one shared instant queue. What a bunch of shit.

[djb]

Got the second Roku box today and went to set up the sub-profile. Well, you can set that up but you don't get a second instant queue. I don't think I would have bought it had I known that.

Now, I will have to wade through moutains of Lifetime movies and kid cartoons to find Slingblade and Full Metal Jacket in the one shared instant queue. What a bunch of shit.

I'm told that will be coming in an update. There is an easy work around though. Move your kid's stuff to the top of the list and yours at the end. When you start browsing you just go back one click and you are at the end of the list.

[moneymaker]

I hope you're right, but from what I understand we will be stuck with the universal queue, but members of Congress will be exempt with a special select plan.

[Spooner]

Okay, here's my verdict after testing:

The Roku box (with HDMI) and *wired* to the network is unbeatable for unadulterated stream delivery. The XBox has a WAYYYYYY better queue interface (thousand times better), but it just can't get out of its own way. We had a LOT of flicks scale down from HD after like 20 minutes of streaming. Fuck that.

With the Roku box, there hasn't been ONE hiccup and I only wish it had some optical audio. Still, I'm stickin' with it. WHERE'S MY FRIGGIN' BASEBALL ON THAT SHIT?

... Okay.


:tip:

[djb]

....from what I understand we will be stuck with the universal queue.
Just explain to the kids that you have to watch gay porn... for research.

[djb]

With the Roku box, there hasn't been ONE hiccup and I only wish it had some optical audio. Still, I'm stickin' with it. WHERE'S MY FRIGGIN' BASEBALL ON THAT SHIT?

... Okay.:tip:

MLB showed up on mine tonight.

It's got Digital Audio out via the Optical (Toslink) It's got Digital Audio over HDMI .

you should look at the back of it :poke:

http://www.gadgetgrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/roku-back.jpg

I hear you on the interface but they keep making it better. The Amazon stuff is addictive. I've spent a small fortune this summer watching HD TV and Movies via Amazon.

[Spooner]

Mine's a first-gen; it's got a huge white RCA plug that says AUDIO OUT.

Yeah, to get a better look at the back of that bitch, I'll need to be suspended by the ceiling on wires like in Mission Impossible and lowered behind my TV & cabinet. I'll send my friend's kid back there to hook that shit up.


Dude, where does MLB show up? Mine was showing only me queue, Settings, and "What's New" which only had "Adjust your TV type" there.

[djb]

Mine's a first-gen; it's got a huge white RCA plug that says AUDIO OUT.

Yeah, to get a better look at the back of that bitch, I'll need to be suspended by the ceiling on wires like in Mission Impossible and lowered behind my TV & cabinet. I'll send my friend's kid back there to hook that shit up.


Dude, where does MLB show up? Mine was showing only me queue, Settings, and "What's New" which only had "Adjust your TV type" there.

They're all the same gen up until now so it should look the same as the pic.
The Roku firmware should be version 2.3 build 59

Here's what mine looks like.
System - Netflix - Amazon - MLB
http://www.midaswelby.com/iphone3GS090815-roku-menu-tn.jpg


Amazon has search now
http://www.midaswelby.com/iphone3GS090815-Amazon-menu-tn.jpg

http://www.midaswelby.com/iphone3GS090815-Office-menu-tn.jpg

[Spooner]

Didn't really know where to put this, but if you choads are innarested, Jeremy Clarkson's sweet series, Inventions That Changed the World, is up on Warezfox. OH yeah. :tip: Oh, so is that killer Discovery show "I Shouldn't Be Alive."

[Dr. P]

ANY chance they have the "Adam Carolla Project?" That shit was a staple, and I've even contacted the network to see if I can BUY it, and those jews wont answer me. I saw a couple aired at the time, and it's better than anything TLC ever thought about. Great show, cast, content, and not on the torrents unless I'm cool with waiting three months for the DL to finish.

[djb]

More functionality (Roku Channels) was added today,

Pandora, TWIT.TV, Revision 3, Facebook Pics, Flickr, and the ability to view your own videos via a new service called "motionbox".

check it out HERE (http://tinyurl.com/Roku-Channels)

[Jdiggity Dee]

Netflix on Demand has the first three seasons of the the skit comedy troupe show "the whitest kids u know" off the IFC channel.

mostly skits but some music numbers too.


YouTube- The Whitest Kids U' Know - Dinosaur Rap (HQ) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1SKf9YU4QQ&feature=player_embedded#)

[Spooner]

DJ, have you (or anyone) signed up for and used Motionbox yet? I'm really nervous to fuck with it until I get a trusted review from one of the tech pimps here on the site.

Also, I don't wanna make a new thread over this, but have any of you recently bought an HD video camera of any kind? I'm gonna need one soon, but I don't need ANY bells or whistles (Blue Horseshoe LOVES Post Production). Those Flips are sweet for the price, but NO ZOOM? FUH - DAH. 2x DIGITAL ZOOM?!! You KIDDIN' ME?!

Just somethin' with reasonable non-digital zoom factors at a deece price and I'm golden.

:tip:

[Pull Out Method]

I picked up a kodak Zi6 a while back, it has only 2x zoom and no stabilizer... but playback on my 47' lcd is outstanding. That little fucker really does do a great HD vid.




My sis is getting an HD camcorder with 70x optical zoom for xmas, but I can't find it on Sams Club's site.

[Pull Out Method]

Does anybody have a blu ray player that can stream online video? I've been thinking about a roku, but that sounds way more appealing to me if I can watch blu ray too.

[Spooner]

Look, POM ... I'm on my FOURTH streaming software for both my 360 and my PS3. Playback, which is supposed to be one of the better ones for the PS3 ... well, it'll show yer folders, subfolders, and ALL that shit ... but 99 out of 100 times, you'll click on your folder and it'll say, "No tracks found" ... when there are aplenny o tracks.


I'm waiting for a Roku media streaming review since the add-on. Then I'm all over that shit. I love my Roku box once I figured out that it uses 10x the bandwidth the Xbox is able to use.

[melon]

Does anybody have a blu ray player that can stream online video? I've been thinking about a roku, but that sounds way more appealing to me if I can watch blu ray too.

The Samsung BD-p1600 Blu-Ray player has netflix, blockbuster and youtube capabilities. CNET has it as a recommended player in it's price range ($150). The Xbox 360, and now PS3 (with a disc) can now stream Netflix. You have to be an XBox live gold member (49.99 yr) to have access though.

[melon]

Look, POM ... I'm on my FOURTH streaming software for both my 360 and my PS3. Playback, which is supposed to be one of the better ones for the PS3 ... well, it'll show yer folders, subfolders, and ALL that shit ... but 99 out of 100 times, you'll click on your folder and it'll say, "No tracks found" ... when there are aplenny o tracks.


I'm waiting for a Roku media streaming review since the add-on. Then I'm all over that shit. I love my Roku box once I figured out that it uses 10x the bandwidth the Xbox is able to use.

The problem may be with your software on your Mac. do another scan of your media files and that may help. I had a problem where it would not find all my music tracks and this worked. It finds all my videos good.

[Spooner]

It's not finding all my Top Gear episodes or five-star movies, but somehow it IS showing all the goddamn snuff flicks what got cached thanks ta Beans. Go figure.

[Belasco]

I have to shut down and restart Rivet occasionally. After that I'm streaming to the 360 pretty good.

[Spooner]

Alright ... I'm out of options. I'll download/score Rivet and roll that bitch. Nothing's worse than trying to cue up like 200,000 songs and then seeing "no tracks found" ...

Rivet it is. :tip:

[Pull Out Method]

Look, POM ... I'm on my FOURTH streaming software for both my 360 and my PS3. Playback, which is supposed to be one of the better ones for the PS3 ... well, it'll show yer folders, subfolders, and ALL that shit ... but 99 out of 100 times, you'll click on your folder and it'll say, "No tracks found" ... when there are aplenny o tracks.


I'm waiting for a Roku media streaming review since the add-on. Then I'm all over that shit. I love my Roku box once I figured out that it uses 10x the bandwidth the Xbox is able to use.

That is good info, let me know how it works after you add the rivets.


The Samsung BD-p1600 Blu-Ray player has netflix, blockbuster and youtube capabilities. CNET has it as a recommended player in it's price range ($150). The Xbox 360, and now PS3 (with a disc) can now stream Netflix. You have to be an XBox live gold member (49.99 yr) to have access though.

I really want to justify a ps3 out of this, but I don't think I can. The 150 price point is what is pushing me right now. Winters are harsh here and we watch a lot of movies... I have to jump before spring.

[Spooner]

You know what it's like with a new infantile roommie, POM, so I don't know if I've gotten your whole story here -- you *do* have a Blu-Ray player of some sort, right? If so, fuck the PS3 in every way (far as games go ... well, 'cept MLB '09, 10, 11, 12, etc., but you can't play those online anyway).

If you AIN'T got a Blu-Ray, the PS3 is the best of the 3 goddamn BR's I've bought (and returned two of 'em). Uncompressed digital audio, fast loading time by comparison, just a kick-ass player.

I'll let you know when I put all the rivets in how it goes, BTW. lolofSin

[Pull Out Method]

I actually don't own any blu ray players. I've only had an HD tv for about a year, so it was never really an issue.

I bet that software will be riveting. <--That was just fucking terrible. I'll stop now.

[Spooner]

Then get the PS3, and tell your wife it also removes the stench of baby shit ... AND loads your Blu-Rays fast.

[Spooner]

Rivet wins. Fatality!


TOASTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!



It's fast, it's furious, ... it's funny ... not unlike Booze's "Team Lenny Henry Racing" '82 K Car in Forza 3.


Good call, Tabasco ... once again. :up:

[Pull Out Method]

I think things are probably a bit more like this in the Spooner household now...

http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq184/BackLash64/babality.gif

Babality!

[moneymaker]

Bullshit. He talks a good game, but I bet he saved that kid's first shit and is having it bronzed as I type.

[The Sav]

Did that little nose picker do a triple gainer into the 'crete? Jesus, I bet her soccer mom bitch of a mom actually thinks it's not her fault for not watching her brat kid.

ps. I fell on my daughter. j/k lol

[melon]

I think things are probably a bit more like this in the Spooner household now...

http://i446.photobucket.com/albums/qq184/BackLash64/babality.gif

Babality!

lmao lmao

[moneymaker]

I am loving the Sons of Anarchy series. Watched all of season 1 through my regular Netflix subscription. Season 2 has no release date, so I ponied up 20 fish to "buy" the season (while I wait for my Breaking Bad DVD) through Amazon on the Roku. I cannot tell any difference in picture quality v. DVD.

Roku, Amazon, Internutz, SLD, ICob...we live in an amazing time.

[moneymaker]

Roku is launching a new Netflix channel next month that will allow you to search and select video from the tv. You currently have to make selections to your instant queue online. This will be great improvement.

[Spooner]

Yeah, they been needin' that like we needed soda & beer cans without pull-off tops what would slice your feet at parks & beaches. This is LONG overdue, and the fact it didn't exist way sooner still ... well, it kinda irritates me.

I've been flaking off my Roku on accounna the interfaces with the PS3 are so much sweeter (I can't stand that little retarded Roku remote -- Mattel Electronic Football had more functionality). The MLB interface on the PS3 is 1,000 times sweeter than the Roku one, too.

Now all they need is to make an iCob app that allows you to stream Netflix to your phone on your own wifi. Yeah, get that out while they're at it. Nonetheless, watching Netflix make my life's dream of seeing Blockbuster be systematically destroyed has been a joy to behold over the last few years. The final death knell was Ballbuster going back to their class-action lawsuit days of charging late fees, now at $1 a day. Nice way to get the customers back on your side, Ballbuster. What's next, Dave Oliva gonna start calling your house for using the night drop box?

[moneymaker]

Spooner, I can watch my roku and directv and dvr on the icob through my slingbox. 3G or wifi. Pretty fucken schweet.

[Spooner]

Wha?

What's all this about ... Slingbox? I know some people call it a kaiser blade, but what the fuck IS it (I'm WAY behind on my intertube techmology).

[moneymaker]

Slingbox hooks your video/audio devices to the interwebs and allows you to watch from any internet connected computer. I have my directv dvr and roku hooked up so I can watch my recordings while on the road. Since I travel quite a bit it has been great for hotel rooms and dvr withdrawl. The icob application is extra but was great a couple weeks ago when I was stuck at O'Hare for 3 hours.

I had been wanting one for a long time, but when it finally became available on 3g that was it.


http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r99/Drunkybear/df8f83b0.jpg