How do you consolidate the Roku 3 into a tiny stick the size of a thumb drive? You don't-Roku's Streaming Stick isn't that good. Content & Performance More content than you can shake a stick at This is off-putting, to say the least, since so much of the Streaming Stick's content is completely free. Yes, Roku requires that you enter your credit card number before you can create an account. It's a pretty straight-forward affair: Enter your email, create a password, and give your credit card number. When you're finished hooking up your Roku Stick, you need to make an account in order to view any content. You have to enter your credit card info in order to enjoy content-off-putting, to say the least. This last feature is a neat trick, but many of Roku's apps and channels can do the same thing. The app can transform into different interfaces, standing in as the virtual remote, a channel selector, the Channel Store, or a content hub for streaming music and photos straight to your TV. If you choose to control the Streaming Stick with Roku's app, you'll have access to a virtual remote, and any content provider is a tap away. Pushing a button launches that app instantly-bad news (or is that good news?) for weekend binge watchers. The bottom half of the remote houses buttons for Netflix, Blockbuster, M-GO, and Amazon.
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While it's not nearly as good as a traditional keyboard, it's light years beyond the typically awful experience of using a standard TV remote. The pad, which looks like it was stolen from a retro video game controller, makes text input a walk in the park. The top half of the remote puts a Home button, a Back button, and a directional pad within easy reach of the thumb. The remote is a joy to use: It's small, yet fits comfortably in your hand. Once it's on, you can navigate the interface using either the included remote, or the dedicated app for Android/iPhone. Roku does include a reset button as a safeguard against freeze ups, but fortunately I've never had to use it. The Roku stick may need a power cable to function, but there's no power button to be found-the stick just turns on when your TV does. There's no power button to be found-the stick just turns on when your TV does. So while it'll never look as sleek as it does in promo shots, this little guy will always be more innocuous than a box like the Roku 3 or Apple TV. Users need to energize the Roku Stick via an outlet or a USB port, but don't worry-getting it hooked up is still a breeze. I hate to burst your bubble, but like any device (including the Chromecast), this stick needs power. You've probably seen promotional pictures of the Roku Streaming Stick plugged into just an HDMI port, looking all sleek.
Measuring less than 3 inches, this thumb-drive sized device is easily the most discrete way to get streaming content since Google's Chromecast. What's tiny, purple, and has a wealth of content? Prince. If you can live with these shortcomings, though, Roku's new streaming stick might be the perfect solution for you.
You don't get the Roku 3's nifty motion-based remote and headphone jack, either. To start, the Streaming Stick isn't as snappy-it takes a second to load an app or browse a menu. Roku's $50 streaming stick offers all the same content as the Roku 3. It includes every content streaming service you'd ever want: Amazon, HBO GO, Hulu, Netflix, and literally hundreds more. We tested last year's Roku 3 box and mostly loved it. The Roku Streaming Stick (MSRP $49.99) is the latest option in the company's long lineage of streaming platforms-and the track record is good. You could buy a video game console, or this popular stick from Google, or this little box from Apple. Got a "dumb" TV? Want to teach it a thing or two? It's 2014, folks-streaming content is the name of the game and there are plenty of ways to do it.
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