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Official Roku HD/XD/XDS Owners Thread - Page 3

post #61 of 638
10/29/10 at 6:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

WOW! No great loss to me or anything, because I'm on record about PlayOn; but I can't believe they announce it "officially", and then pull both incarnations so quickly. Something sure ruffled someone's feathers.

CD

Well, when I say "official" channel I mean officially supported by PlayOn as opposed to the other private channel that was developed without PlayOn's involvement or consent. Roku never officially supported either channel, as they were both private channels (not public). Roku generally has a pretty hands-off approach to private channels until they get a complaint, then they are fairly quick to respond and pull anything that might have any legal implications to them. Can't blame them, really.
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post #62 of 638
10/29/10 at 2:39pm
Sneak peak of what's coming in the 2.8 firmware:

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2010-10/...i-updates-v2-8
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post #63 of 638
11/1/10 at 6:11pm
I loaded the private PlayON Channel yesterday:
With PlayON on Roku, you get free HULU and can watch any media (I guess anything VLC supports which is pretty much everything) in PlayON 'MyMedia' so no conversion need be done.

I tried to get better PlayON support with the Popcorn Hour but I'm pretty convinced the developers and Syabas view it more as a threat than a complementary product.

Note on Video playback: at least in my setup, converting to MP4 and playing in RoksBox seems to have better quality than playing HD mkvs in PlayON MyMedia. At least that's my initial impression...

Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

I also see PlayOn is coming to Roku (I don't know if it was available before as a "hack" or whatever, but it's "official" now). I tell you, I think the Roku is making a dent. Hulu+, PlayOn (not that I think PlayOn is that great...I personally hate it, but I know others like it); it seems to be partnering up nicely, while some of these others flounder around. I think it's because it's a nice, simple, solid box...at a great price ($59 for my HD)...and it's a piece of technology that is actually finding its way into people's homes.

In other words, these services feel like Roku can help them attract customers, instead of what appears to be the other way around; like PopBox wanting to get Netflix, because it'll help bring customers to Syabas. The Roku isn't the end-all, be-all for sure...but I can't remember the last time I got so much for $60.

CD
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post #64 of 638
11/1/10 at 6:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by haggisbingo View Post

With PlayON on Roku, you get free HULU and can watch any media (I guess anything VLC supports which is pretty much everything) in PlayON 'MyMedia' so no conversion need be done.

I tried to get better PlayON support with the Popcorn Hour but I'm pretty convinced the developers and Syabas view it more as a threat than a complementary product.

Note on Video playback: at least in my setup, converting to MP4 and playing in RoksBox seems to have better quality than playing HD mkvs in PlayON MyMedia. At least that's my initial impression...

So...what's the final verdict with PlayOn? I thought it got sh*t-canned by Roku?

CD
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post #65 of 638
11/1/10 at 6:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

So...what's the final verdict with PlayOn? I thought it got sh*t-canned by Roku?

CD

There's a link to the Private channel signup over at Playon Forums. It worked yesterday...
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post #66 of 638
11/1/10 at 7:10pm
Roku did remove PlayOn, but apparently the developer of the PlayOn supported channel made the source code package available for anyone to download. Since anyone can be a Roku developer, some people who have downloaded the source package have taken it upon themselves to upload their downloaded version as a private channel on Roku's channel store, which anyone else can install as long as they know the code. As Roku becomes aware of these additional private channel versions being uploaded, they remove them. As long as you get the channel installed before Roku pulls it, you'll be good to go, since they are not removing the channel from boxes that have it already installed...for now. It's a bit of a loop-hole in their channel store and private channel system.
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post #67 of 638
11/1/10 at 11:13pm
sorry to jump in like this guys but uhm,

i know the ROKU XDS is more of a streamer than anything but,

in general, does it read basic files?

like AVI / Divx / Xvid / MP3


thanks!!
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post #68 of 638
11/1/10 at 11:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eskro View Post

sorry to jump in like this guys but uhm,

i know the ROKU XDS is more of a streamer than anything but,

in general, does it read basic files?

like AVI / Divx / Xvid / MP3


thanks!!

With Roksbox (a 3rd party channel) I can play mp4 videos and stream mp3s and pictures. Videos need to be converted to mp4 or mov.

However, with PlayON 'MyMedia' (www.playon.tv) anything can be played on Roku like MKVs, avi, etc (anything VLC supports I believe).
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post #69 of 638
11/2/10 at 5:41pm
Just ordered an XDS. Been sitting on the sides for awhile, but as stated earlier in this thread, no box does it all and we don't seem to be getting there. Roku, however, has been very good about making deals, and for the cost, I can't sit around anymore. I mainly only use Vudu and Amazon right now, but plan on getting into Hulu and maybe +.

If Roku would add Vudu, Id be set really. I have a BD-85 but it has issues giving me HD speeds with Amazon, and its killin me, so I eagerly await the XDS.
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post #70 of 638
11/2/10 at 5:49pm
hold on,, if i get a ROKU XDS, and i install PLAYON on it,

i can then read any files like, avi, mkv, iso's, located on my PC???
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post #71 of 638
11/2/10 at 6:00pm
Thread Starter 
OK...I'm so taken with how the little Roku handles it's one and only job...Netflix...that I'm going to try and add my other modest, need at that location. I just need to be able to play SD .mpg; no multi-channel audio or anything.

Seriously...if PlayOn MyMedia is the best option, say so; but I really loathe that shite. What's "second" best; this Roksbox? Will it do what I need?

EDIT- so...it looks like you need a UPnP server, to push to Poksbox. This is the only application I'll need one for, so I'd like to keep it simple. Roksbox recommends Mongoose for simple, Apache if you want to get more "sophisticated". I know people who used Apache for PCH, but what practical advantages does it offer over Mongoose (or is there something even simpler...or low overhead)?

CD
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post #72 of 638
11/3/10 at 4:37pm
Regarding RoksBox,
I already had IIS installed so I just used that. I seriously doubt the others will have less overhead than IIS. Any web server will do. This is all HTTP so it will be very fast.

The downside is that I believe you'll have to use HandBrake to convert MPG to MP4. I know for a fact that MKV and AVI need to be converted. I don't remember testing MPG. My strategy is just to convert the classics and favorites for use on Roku/RoksBox in the family room. Everything else stays as is for use on the PCH A-100 in the basement HT room.

PlayON seems to be the only good alternative to playing ANY format. The other good thing about PlayON is it streams form just about any site. We watched "Ramona and Beezus" on VeeHD the other night from PlayON and it looked extremely good
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post #73 of 638
11/3/10 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by haggisbingo View Post

Regarding RoksBox,
I already had IIS installed so I just used that. I seriously doubt the others will have less overhead than IIS. Any web server will do. This is all HTTP so it will be very fast.

The downside is that I believe you'll have to use HandBrake to convert MPG to MP4. I know for a fact that MKV and AVI need to be converted. I don't remember testing MPG. My strategy is just to convert the classics and favorites for use on Roku/RoksBox in the family room. Everything else stays as is for use on the PCH A-100 in the basement HT room.

PlayON seems to be the only good alternative to playing ANY format. The other good thing about PlayON is it streams form just about any site. We watched "Ramona and Beezus" on VeeHD the other night from PlayON and it looked extremely good

Like Windows IIS; that works??

CD
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post #74 of 638
11/3/10 at 8:19pm
Here is a list of supported containers and codecs from the Roku SDK:

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post #75 of 638
11/4/10 at 6:39am
Thread Starter 
I thought anything that played mp4 played mpg; it's all mpeg, right? Well, we'll see; I'm going to try IIS and Roksbox tonight.

If it doesn't play my SD .mpg, it might have to be a pass for me; I'm not interested in converting all those TV-on-DVD files. I'd just let the Roku do its Netflix thing, and get another player for SD/HD.

CD
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post #76 of 638
11/4/10 at 3:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eskro View Post

hold on,, if i get a ROKU XDS, and i install PLAYON on it,

i can then read any files like, avi, mkv, iso's, located on my PC???

Very interested in this as well (I have a large collection of mkv files) although its really a moot point since PlayOn has been pulled as an available private channel. Right?
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post #77 of 638
11/4/10 at 3:52pm
More good news:
"The VLC Media player is going to be ported to the Roku HD1000, which enables the device to function as a full fledge video client. The VLC feature page can be found here. On this page the first version of the port will be available and also progress will be visible here, so don't be a stranger ;-)"

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html
http://www.jpsaman.org/jpsaman/node/3

which means ROku could play anything without need of conversion or PlayON, I believe.
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post #78 of 638
11/4/10 at 3:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by haggisbingo View Post

More good news:
"The VLC Media player is going to be ported to the Roku HD1000, which enables the device to function as a full fledge video client. The VLC feature page can be found here. On this page the first version of the port will be available and also progress will be visible here, so don't be a stranger ;-)"

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/features.html
http://www.jpsaman.org/jpsaman/node/3

which means ROku could play anything without need of conversion or PlayON, I believe.

Sorry that HD1000 is a totally different(?) animal apparently than the model we're discussing...
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post #79 of 638
11/4/10 at 5:39pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by haggisbingo View Post

Regarding RoksBox,
I already had IIS installed so I just used that. I seriously doubt the others will have less overhead than IIS. Any web server will do. This is all HTTP so it will be very fast.

The downside is that I believe you'll have to use HandBrake to convert MPG to MP4. I know for a fact that MKV and AVI need to be converted. I don't remember testing MPG. My strategy is just to convert the classics and favorites for use on Roku/RoksBox in the family room. Everything else stays as is for use on the PCH A-100 in the basement HT room.

PlayON seems to be the only good alternative to playing ANY format. The other good thing about PlayON is it streams form just about any site. We watched "Ramona and Beezus" on VeeHD the other night from PlayON and it looked extremely good

Do you think I could get some pointed help with Roksbox set-up? All their instructions are based on Mongoose or Apache servers...and I just installed IIS, like you suggested.

So...I've installed the private channel; how do I point it at my media files?

EDIT- OK, bear with me; I'm wandering through this for the first time. On a lark, I'm going to do what would be AWESOME, but I'm not sure the Roku and Roksbox will do. I'm point it at my unRAID server, by using http://xxxname in the media location, and I've used the name of one of SMB shares in the video location.

It didn't blow up, like I expected; it actually said it found the video.xml file ()...but when I go to try and find videos I get the following error

Invalid ampersand (&) character found in xml file
mary"> Dual & Quad Core De
change '&' to '&amp' and retry

Any thoughts?? TIA

CD
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post #80 of 638
11/4/10 at 7:04pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

I thought anything that played mp4 played mpg; it's all mpeg, right?
CD

Mpeg2 and MP4 are completely different codecs. Although most players that support MP4 should play Mpeg2 (Most things should play Mpeg2 regardless.)

-Suntan
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post #81 of 638
11/4/10 at 7:16pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suntan View Post

Mpeg2 and MP4 are completely different codecs. Although most players that support MP4 should play Mpeg2 (Most things should play Mpeg2 regardless.)

-Suntan

That's what I'm hoping.

CD
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post #82 of 638
11/4/10 at 7:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

Do you think I could get some pointed help with Roksbox set-up? All their instructions are based on Mongoose or Apache servers...and I just installed IIS, like you suggested.

So...I've installed the private channel; how do I point it at my media files?

EDIT- OK, bear with me; I'm wandering through this for the first time. On a lark, I'm going to do what would be AWESOME, but I'm not sure the Roku and Roksbox will do. I'm point it at my unRAID server, by using http://xxxname in the media location, and I've used the name of one of SMB shares in the video location.

It didn't blow up, like I expected; it actually said it found the video.xml file ()...but when I go to try and find videos I get the following error

Invalid ampersand (&) character found in xml file
mary"> Dual & Quad Core De
change '&' to '&amp' and retry

Any thoughts?? TIA

CD

OK...I suspect that I actually can stream Roksbox right from my unRAID box. I never bothered to, because I didn't have the need...but I know someone, who I believe installed Apache on their unRAID.

I imagine, if I do the same...that should allow me to push to the Roksbox channel, using Apache? Or do I even need to go that far?

EDIT- sorry, fast and furious now; maybe even lighttpd would work?

CD
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post #83 of 638
11/5/10 at 8:52am
Thread Starter 
Yikes; kinda quiet in here. Guess I'm on my own with this Roksbox stuff? I suppose I'll have to register for yet another forum? http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php...5bc555c3c0ee51

CD
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post #84 of 638
11/5/10 at 9:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDLehner View Post

Yikes; kinda quiet in here. Guess I'm on my own with this Roksbox stuff? I suppose I'll have to register for yet another forum? http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php...5bc555c3c0ee51

CD

Sorry, my intrest for roku's ability to play local media is zero (Sage extenders already at my TVs.)

Again, you're searching for that mythical box that does everything.

-Suntan
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post #85 of 638
11/5/10 at 10:07am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suntan View Post
Sorry, my intrest for roku's ability to play local media is zero (Sage extenders already at my TVs.)

Again, you're searching for that mythical box that does everything.

-Suntan
Actually, quite the opposite Suntan; I'm finding different solutions work at different locations. A Dune D1 will soon be on its way to handle "high"-demand duty in the HT. So the PopBox has joined the PS3 in the Family Room, and between the two I am cobbling together Netflix streaming, and local BD playback.

I bought the Roku with the full intention that it would do "one thing", and one thing only...and that was stream Netflix in the Bedroom. I'm on record as saying it has done that better, cheaper, and easier than any other device I've tried...and is, as such, the best $60 I ever spent in CE.

However, it appears the Roku is capable of so much more. Like lots of things in our hobby, if you scratch just below the surface, other possibilities open up. The Roku can't be an "all-in-one" for any kind of high-demand location; it's certainly got its limitations. But all I really need in the Bedroom is to stream Netflix (check) and playback local SD content.

I think Roksbox can handle this easily and nicely; I just need a push in the right direction...especially from someone who's set-up unRAID to push to Roku. I always like to try and get what I need from AVS...one-stop shop if you will; but I've just joined and posted at the Roku forums.

CD
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post #86 of 638
11/5/10 at 11:21am
Roku software version 2.8 b1150 now available.

http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=33597
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post #87 of 638
11/5/10 at 11:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by APorter View Post
Roku software version 2.8 b1150 now available.

http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=33597
Some people are reporting that the latest software build (2.8 b1150) has caused issues with streaming of local media files.

http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=33625
http://forums.roku.com/viewtopic.php?p=213699#p213699
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post #88 of 638
11/5/10 at 6:15pm
Thread Starter 
OK, well...I've got posts everywhere else...Roku, LT; I might as well put one up here...lol.

I've got lighttpd installed on my unRAID server; now I just need some Roku/Roksbox specific help, with set-up on both sides. That is, some lighttpd set-up help (to be used, in particular, with Roksbox) and some Roksbox set-up.

Anyone running this combo, that could lend a hand?

CD
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post #89 of 638
11/7/10 at 8:53am
I'm loving what I see on the Roku XD|S and it is a candidate for XMAS. What I see that's missing is the ability to browse the internet and find other content to stream. Is there a unit that has all the Roku features but also allows internet browsing?
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post #90 of 638
11/7/10 at 9:38am
Thread Starter 
OK...I'll just take a stab in the dark, and I won't hold my breathe or anything; but is anyone in here running Roksbox from an unRAID server?

I could use some help with set-up.

CD
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