I wouldn't pay extra for a smart tv. They usually don't have all the services.
You can get cheap boxes like this one to add to a dumb tv.
All comments (36)
nanyasalom
11 Jan 17#1
do you need this with smart tvs? i am planning to get a smart tv so just checking.
thanks
Uridium to nanyasalom
11 Jan 171#2
Depends what smart TV you buy, not all brands have all streaming services.
mrcyco to nanyasalom
11 Jan 17#5
Yes its a "dumb" TV (no internet connection). Otherwise you wouldn't be able to use and internet services.
P.s Its £219 at Hughes or Hughes via Tesco direct.
mrcyco to nanyasalom
11 Jan 172#6
Yes its a "dumb" TV (no internet connection). Otherwise you wouldn't be able to use and internet services.
P.s Its £219 at Hughes or Hughes via Tesco direct.
bigbak to nanyasalom
11 Jan 173#10
I wouldn't pay extra for a smart tv. They usually don't have all the services.
You can get cheap boxes like this one to add to a dumb tv.
humza7
11 Jan 17#3
What's the difference between the channels on here and the channels on Kodi? I mean does it work like kodi except more channels?
mrcyco to humza7
11 Jan 172#8
Its more "baked in" than Kodi. think of it like iPhone vs Android. its a self-contained piece of hardware simple to us and has its own in-house app service. It has a complimentary phone app that is very useful if you can find the remote and has a single search option, that covers all services (Netflix, Sky, Amazon, etc) at the same time. you can't side load apps (legal or dubious) easily.
If your looking for something you can fully customise to your needs ( and want to put in some effort) GO KODI
If you want something simple and no fuss, straight out of the box, GO ROKU
Please be aware that Roku will ask you for a bank card to activate it. this can be bypassed via a PC, and is not needed to set up the Roku.
kencol to humza7
11 Jan 17#9
Kodi has a lot of pirated content (via addons), Roku only have channels available via the Roku store, they are not android. Anyone expecting premium content for free on a Roku will be disappointed, 1400 channels sounds a lot, but in reality, many are not worth installing.
Roku doesn't have kodi, but has Amazon Video, Now TV and Netflix (if you have a subscription to one of those). It also has catchup TV, like BBC iplayer and ITV, etc.
For kodi, try an Amazon Fire TV stick and see tinternet flow how to install kodi, Fire stick also has catch up TV, Netflix Amazon Video, but NOT Now TV.
I have both and prefer firestick.
LGs are the only TVs which currently have Now TV, but other smart TV brands such as Philips and Sony make TVs with android, so kodi can be installed. Most smart TVs have catchup, Amazon and Netflix.
CrazyBob
11 Jan 171#11
I paid them £39.99 for this on 25/12/2016 :disappointed:
CrazyBob
11 Jan 171#12
I would add that the LED is insanely bright
TygerrTygerr to CrazyBob
11 Jan 172#14
Oh, every idiot designer/manager/whoeverisresponsibleIhaveaparticularsetofskills who does this. My bedroom looks like Coney Island. It's so amateurish.
Uridium
11 Jan 17#13
Correct no KODI on this...not a bad thing in my eyes...
If you after freemium pirate streams form a Roku then you can easily install Plex and access a private plex server for streamed IPTV..(so a bit like KODI only less buggy)
the Roku 2 by the way is the same device as the current basic NowTV box without the TvTuner, the software is locked down on the NowTV version with no access to the Netflix app or the current Plex app. you can sideload the plex classic app on the NowTV box but it's pretty por compared to the new Plex app.
Personally I think it's worth spending the extra on the Roku2 at this price.
adyDeals
11 Jan 17#15
Thanks OP, I'd been waiting for the Roku 2 or 3 to hit a decent price. Main appeal over other media players is cross-channel search
scott_w_1981
11 Jan 17#16
Does this just plug into hdmi port and your ready to go?
Uridium
11 Jan 17#17
A Small piece of Black insulation tape is perfect to hide bright LED's and is virtually invisible on Black devices so doesn't look shabby either.
Uridium
11 Jan 17#18
Yes, but you'll need to connect it to Internet to download channels
Other than that you will also have to create an account at Roku.com
Agharta
11 Jan 17#19
Bought the Roku 3 for my parents when it was under £50 on Amazon and am impressed.
How much difference is there between the 2 and 3 as might grab one for myself?
I'm using an original Chromecast for streaming, works OK mostly although I've found some programmes like Big Bang Theory cannot be streamed to a Chromecast. Are there any such limitations with Roku? Worth upgrading?
ses6jwg to nigelwill
11 Jan 17#26
we changed from the chromecast to the roku stick (not this but similar) and find this is easier and less faff as it contains all the apps we want. now tv etc
I can't comment on using "grey/ black market" content via the roku but it does have plex built in for streaming from a pc or laptop
I think it has a cast function but haven't used it
Arcana
11 Jan 17#22
How fast is this?
I find my Virgin box painfully slow for apps like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, so always end up using the Ps4.
Agharta
11 Jan 17#23
It appears to be as fast as the current Roku 3 which is snappy.
BoB2oo9
11 Jan 171#24
These are great with plex :wink:
BoB2oo9
11 Jan 17#25
Got the 3 in the bedroom, and now have a 2 for the living room
thanks!
nigelwill
11 Jan 17#27
Thanks, I did find Chromecast OK for occasional use, but now I'm dependent on it since I no longer get a Freeview signal. I'm thinking a single box with all the apps built in might be a better option. I find the lack of fine controls a faff e.g. rewind 30 seconds because you missed a bit of dialogue, even pausing has a bit of a lag with Chromecast.
SS41
11 Jan 17#28
Is there much difference between this and the roku streaming stick, other the option to connect hardwired to the router?
Thanks.
TygerrTygerr to SS41
11 Jan 17#29
And is the UI better? I found the Roku Stick slow as molasses and horribly dated.
Agharta to SS41
11 Jan 17#32
Different CPU which can and probably does make all the difference.
The chip in this is decent and the software also is snappy from my experience.
loopylloyd
11 Jan 17#30
Is Netflix better on this than a PS4 console?
tepid
11 Jan 17#31
Ordered this, thanks for posting.
ses6jwg
12 Jan 17#33
the roku stick is a bit laggy
the main advantage of the stick is that it's compact and runs off a usb port on the tv which is ideal for our bedroom tv as it's wall mounted with only 1 socket !
Lynxuk9
12 Jan 17#34
some of the comments roku = Plex set up your own server and streams ur files over or pay for a Plex sub for football etc and terabytes worth of films
nigelwill
13 Jan 17#35
Picked mine up today from locker. Got it setup, pretty straightforward, working nicely with iPlayer and Google Play Movies already. Got the Android app also, so that can be used as a remote including a proper keyboard.
TygerrTygerr
15 Jan 17#36
Deal of the Day again today. Must have a lot to clear out.
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Lightning fast performance
1,400+ streaming channels - free, subscription, rent, or buy
Search across the most channels
Simple remote with channel shortcut buttons
Great with mobile devices
Top comments
https://www.roku.com/en-gb/products/compare
You can get cheap boxes like this one to add to a dumb tv.
All comments (36)
thanks
Yes its a "dumb" TV (no internet connection). Otherwise you wouldn't be able to use and internet services.
P.s Its £219 at Hughes or Hughes via Tesco direct.
Yes its a "dumb" TV (no internet connection). Otherwise you wouldn't be able to use and internet services.
P.s Its £219 at Hughes or Hughes via Tesco direct.
You can get cheap boxes like this one to add to a dumb tv.
If your looking for something you can fully customise to your needs ( and want to put in some effort) GO KODI
If you want something simple and no fuss, straight out of the box, GO ROKU
Please be aware that Roku will ask you for a bank card to activate it. this can be bypassed via a PC, and is not needed to set up the Roku.
http://www.argos.co.uk/product/5386334
would you recommend getting the Roku?
thanks
For kodi, try an Amazon Fire TV stick and see tinternet flow how to install kodi, Fire stick also has catch up TV, Netflix Amazon Video, but NOT Now TV.
I have both and prefer firestick.
LGs are the only TVs which currently have Now TV, but other smart TV brands such as Philips and Sony make TVs with android, so kodi can be installed. Most smart TVs have catchup, Amazon and Netflix.
If you after freemium pirate streams form a Roku then you can easily install Plex and access a private plex server for streamed IPTV..(so a bit like KODI only less buggy)
the Roku 2 by the way is the same device as the current basic NowTV box without the TvTuner, the software is locked down on the NowTV version with no access to the Netflix app or the current Plex app. you can sideload the plex classic app on the NowTV box but it's pretty por compared to the new Plex app.
Personally I think it's worth spending the extra on the Roku2 at this price.
Other than that you will also have to create an account at Roku.com
How much difference is there between the 2 and 3 as might grab one for myself?
https://www.roku.com/en-gb/products/compare
I can't comment on using "grey/ black market" content via the roku but it does have plex built in for streaming from a pc or laptop
I think it has a cast function but haven't used it
I find my Virgin box painfully slow for apps like Netflix and BBC iPlayer, so always end up using the Ps4.
thanks!
Thanks.
The chip in this is decent and the software also is snappy from my experience.
the main advantage of the stick is that it's compact and runs off a usb port on the tv which is ideal for our bedroom tv as it's wall mounted with only 1 socket !