My Roku box is obviously on its last legs so I’m in the market for a new streaming device. I currently view Netflix, Amazon & Hulu+ with it. Do any of the devices out there have the automatic next episode start capability that I have in my Xbox or maybe that’s the Playstation? I love this feature and my current Roku doesn’t do this. It’s a Roku2 if anyone is interested. I think my only deal breaker is it must have access to Amazon as I’ve found being able to take my video library to a lady friend’s house is sweet.
Before anyone asks, I’m using 'my 'collectively, the games mentioned above belong to my kids one of whom will be getting his own place next month and the other who is saving for a flat-screen of his own and will most likely take his game to his room. I’m a Wii man myself.
I moved to the Roku Streaming Stick about two months ago. I have two older Roku boxes and a Chromecast and I like this stick the best.
It does have Amazon, but those don’t autoplay next episode. Netflix does though. Hulu+ had it even on the older Roku boxes, so I’m assuming it has it on the stick (I don’t subscribe anymore, but it is available).
I don’t need one, since I currently have both an Apple TV (for iTunes and everything else but Amazon) and a streaming-enabled Blu-ray player (for Amazon and everything else but iTunes), but it seems comparable to Roku/Apple TV/etc.
Dude, have you ever had the auto-play feature? It’s not that tapping a button becomes too much effort, it’s just super handy.
We bought the in-laws a Roku recently, because as I understood it the Chromecast required a computer connection to work (and it was unclear how their new condo would work with wireless connectivity, and I knew that if all else failed I could connect the Roku to coaxial with an adapter).
I have a Chromecast, but don’t use it anymore; I moved to a Roku Stick, which is very similar in terms of design, but not functionality.
With the Chromecast, you need to start the program on either a computer or tablet and then “cast” it over to the Chromecast. It worked fine for Netflix and HBO Go, which both have plug-ins that you can use to cast over from a tablet. There are a few other apps that have the ability too, but not many. You can cast anything from a Chrome browser over though, but that’s kind of a hit or miss. I was never able to cast anything from my computer without some issues (mostly sound syncing problems). I ended up going back to just plugging in my computer to the tv.
The Roku Stick has channels, just like the Roku boxes, so there isn’t any need to cast from the a computer of tv.
The Chromecast is an outstanding product, mine has worked great. You’ll need a computer, tablet, or phone to set it up on the network, but once on the network, you can stream using most any device which can wirelessly connect.
You’ll need an HDMI and USB port on your TV (the USB powers the device, and it comes with an adapter for the standard wall socket, IIRC).
I know that’s already been mentioned, I just chimed in to say that I hate that feature. There have been several times when I’ve fallen asleep, or paused a show, turned off the TV and then accidentally hit the Play button, or something else happened, and then hours later I discover that it’s played several episodes, and then I have to go back and figure out where in the series I left off. I like the general idea, but it should force you to hit one button to start the next episode, not play it automatically.
The Amazon Fire seems really interesting (I have an older Roku - the highest level one before they did the Roku 1, Roku 2, Roku 3 thing), but then I subscribe to some other streaming thing that Amazon Fire doesn’t have. First it was MLB.tv, and now Amazon Fire has MLB.tv, but then I went and subscribed to MLS Live, which Amazon Fire doesn’t have yet. Oh well…
So, consider that Roku has the most channels, by far. I also have a Chromecast, and I really like it as well, but for some things (WatchESPN for one), the Ethernet connection on the Roku is far more stable than the Wifi of a Chromecast.