Roku Streaming USB Stick

Product Description

Plug in, and start streaming loads of entertainment to your TV with the Roku Streaming Stick. Enjoy 2,000+ channels with the most movies, TV episodes, music, news, sports, kids" shows and free programming of any streaming player all in up to 1080p*. Control your entertainment from your smartphone with the free Roku app, or use the included remote that everyone can share. Even cast videos from mobile apps, such as Netflix and YouTube, from your phone straight to your TV. And with features like one stop search**, channel shortcut buttons, and extended range wireless, you'll fall in love with the simplest, speediest streaming experience out there. The all new Roku Streaming Stick it's the stick that streams the most. *Availability of 1080p HD video limited by channel provider and speed of broadband connection.** One stop search is for movies and TV shows and does not work with all channels. Subscription may be required to access some channels.

Features

• 600+ channels with movies, TV shows, music, sports & more
• High definition streaming up to 1080p HD
• Works with virtually any TV
• Free app for iOS and android
• Built in wireless (WiFi b/g/n)

Top Reviews

Roku Strikes Back
by Cthulhu (5 out of 5 stars)
March 27, 2014

UPDATE:

A new version Roku Streaming Stick (3600R) can be ordered now. It's still a Roku Stick but faster, slimmer and with some new features such as 'private listening through a phone. Since the price difference is only ten dollars, I can think of no good reason to order this model as a 'new' purchase at this time.
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Almost Roku's Top Device
by Wilder K. Raven (4 out of 5 stars)
April 13, 2014

First, some background: I have had Roku devices since the company released their first one years ago. I've upgraded through every generation, as well as using other streaming devices from other companies. I know my way around cord-cutting, as I've been off cable and terrestrial television for about 5 years now.

Now, on to the review...

ROKU'S BEST EFFORT THUS FAR

Yes, I'll stand by this statement. Roku has taken all the best things about their devices and compacted it into a stick that takes up minimal space, has varying options for power sources, and works better than anything at this price point... But that doesn't mean it's perfect. Let's get into the meat of the situation and talk about why their best effort is still short in a few places, and why that shouldn't (or should) matter to you.

SO SHOULD I GET THIS OR THE ROKU 1?

The obvious starting conversation here is "should I get Roku Streaming Stick or the Roku 1, since they're both about the same price?" and the answer is a bit more complex than a simple yes or no.
▼ User Interface: The Roku Streaming Stick for HDMI has the same basic user interface as the Roku 1. It seems to be a tiny bit quicker in menus, but it's really not a noticeable difference as far as I'm concerned. The Netflix app is slightly different, but that comes down to personal preference as I can't say one or the other is better; both Netflix interfaces have their merits and their negatives. Most other apps are identical on all Roku devices.
▼ Remote Control: Here's where we hit the first stumbling block for the Roku Streaming Stick. While the Roku 1 supports an IR remote, the Streaming Stick only supports RF. What this means is that if you use a universal remote control, such as Logitech's Harmony series, you will NOT be able to control the Roku Streaming Stick with it. You will be stuck using the Roku Streaming Stick's included remote.

This would not be a problem for most people, but when you're used to an elegant and well-made remote, the Roku Streaming Stick's remote is a huge step down. It's fat, heavy, has odd button placement (why is the "OK" button UNDER the control cross on this, but in the middle on the Roku 1? I much preferred the button in the middle of the cross), has direct buttons for MGo, Netflix, Vudu, and Amazon (which is great if you use all of these, but wastes space if you don't), and of course it lacks controls for other devices like your TV, receiver, or soundbar.

The Roku 1, on the other hand, supports IR input, which means it works perfectly with Logitech's Harmony Remotes. If this is important to you, then you may want to avoid the Roku Streaming Stick. If you plan to use a universal remote in the future, you may want to stick with Roku 1, 2, or 3.

Granted, you can always use the Roku App for Android or iOS on your tablet or phone, but that's not exactly an improvement. The remote app still doesn't control volume or any TV/Audio functions, and additionally ends up draining battery from your phone or tablet. It's a tiny patch for a very big hole. It's also worth noting that the iOS version is for iPhone/iPod touch, and will be blown-up and a bit ugly on an iPad, since Roku hasn't bothered to make a universal version yet.

By the way, you know what's really annoying? When you're in the middle of a movie or show, and you accidentally hit one of the four instant-access buttons at the bottom of the remote (MGo, Amazon, Netflix, Vudu) -- You are instantly popped out of your video and taken to the other channel. I think they should consider an "are you sure?" prompt... Or sell a remote without these buttons!
▼ Heat: There is no doubt about the fact that the Roku Streaming Stick gets hot. The Roku 1 doesn't. This is to be expected when you're dealing with electronics packed into a tiny space, but it remains to be seen whether or not the hotter-running leads to shorter life. The jury's still out on this one.
▼ Power Options: The Roku Streaming Stick MAY work using power solely from your HDTV's HDMI port. This seems to me more common in 2013 model televisions and later, while older HDTVs don't output much power from the HDMI port at all. This means that the Roku Stick must be powered using the included USB cable. For most people, it's a simple matter of connecting to the USB port on your HDTV. For some people who bought cheaper TVs (Element, Sanyo, Emerson, RCA, etc.) there is often no USB port available, and as such these folks will be forced to run the USB cable to the AC brick, and plug into a standard wall outlet.

However, consider that the Roku 1 (and all other models) require using the wall outlet. Period. There is no option for USB power in other Roku models, and as such the Streaming Stick is simply more versatile when it comes to giving it power.
▼ Local Media Connectivity: There are no USB ports, or additional inputs on either the Roku 1 or the Roku Streaming Stick. If you want the USB port, you're stuck getting the Roku 3. Personally, I think it's not worth it because Roku handles local media so poorly. You're far better off getting a dedicated device for local media, such as the mid-range Micca players. Most devices, like the Roku or game consoles, that try to do many things at once tend to fail at the local media by limiting the size, format, container, or codecs of the media files you wish to play.

Essentially, local media is limited on the Roku 1 and Roku Streaming Stick to a network server, such as the EXCELLENT Plex Media Server and it's accompanying app for Roku. I think most people who keep their PC on all the time will be pleased with Plex as their local media source.
▼ Video Connectivity: The Roku Streaming Stick is obviously HDMI only. If your TV is old, you won't be able to use the Roku Streaming Stick very well or at all, and you really should go for the Roku 1 (or other Roku models), which all support AV connections.
▼ Audio Connectivity: The Roku Streaming Stick supports 5.1 audio via HDMI. For those of you with receivers, you would just plug the Roku Streaming Stick directing into your receiver, and then output via HDMI to your TV, monitor, or projector. Your receiver should be able to decode the 5.1 audio from your Roku Stick without a problem. Just make sure you go into Roku Settings and set the audio for Surround Sound instead of Stereo!

The Roku 1 also supports HDMI 5.1, as well as supporting standard RCA red/white stereo and Dolby audio. If your receiver is old and doesn't have HDMI input, then you have no choice: You will NOT be able to get audio from the Streaming Stick and must choose the Roku 1, 2, or 3.

The same applies to soundbars. The Roku Streaming Stick will not output optical (toslink), coaxial, or RCA red/white audio, so your only choices would be to have a soundbar that has HDMI input that passes video to your TV via HDMI outputs (less likely), or to output audio from your TV to your non-HDMI soundbar and keep it in stereo.
▼ Internet Connectivity: The Roku Streaming Stick supports dual-band wireless; the Roku 1 doesn't. If you don't know what any of this means, then you most likely don't need dual-band wireless right now and can get either device without worrying about it.
▼ YouTube: For some reason, Roku has decided that the Roku 1 won't have YouTube yet. They say they're working on it, but it's pretty obvious that withholding YouTube from their lowest-priced Roku box is a means to lean people toward the higher-priced models.

Meanwhile, as something of a surprise, the Roku Streaming Stick does support YouTube natively, and even supports "casting" from YouTube; A method by which you choose your videos on a portable device or PC, and then "send" it to the Roku. The Roku connects to YouTube directly instead of to your device, and plays your video.

It's a good thing they have this, because the built-in YouTube app interface is clunky, and the search is slow and messy. You almost NEED the casting feature for YouTube to be fully functional.

Another note: If you don't have a birth year listed on your Google+ account (oh, yes: You have one. They kinda forced you to) then you won't be able to view age-restricted YouTube videos on the Roku.

If you need YouTube, then the Roku 1 is out for the time being. Maybe in a few months to a year they'll put YouTube on it, but for now the lowest-cost YouTube-capable Roku is the Streaming Stick. If you don't care about YouTube, then the Roku 1 will be fine.

It should be noted that all other video apps are supported on Roku 1. YouTube is the only one missing, so don't worry about missing out on other Roku channels, including private channels. The Streaming Stick and Roku 1 both support every other channel.
▼ Remote Headphone Jack: Neither the Roku 1 or the Streaming Stick have it. When I had my Roku 3, I never used it, but you may have need of such a thing. if that's the case, you need to aim for the Roku 2 or Roku 3.
▼ Send Video/Photo/Music from Roku App: Both devices fully support this feature.
▼ Search: Both devices fully support Roku's system-wide search feature, which can be very handy for finding contend quickly and easily. This is one of Roku's best features, no matter which unit you own.
▼ Casting: As I said above, the Roku Streaming Stick's YouTube app supports "casting", which is the process of choosing content on a portable device such as a smart phone or tablet, and then instructing the Roku Stick to connect with YouTube directly (NOT with your device) and display the video. This feature is also supported by Netflix, so if you don't like searching on your TV screen for videos on Netflix, you can use your portable device, find the video, and then cast it to your Roku Streaming Stick.

Personally, I have yet to need this for Netflix, as the Roku's Netflix interface is quite nice. Your mileage may vary, though.

And of course, the Roku 1 doesn't do this at all. If you really want the casting feature for Netflix and YouTube, the Streaming Stick is your only choice.
▼ Price: Currently, they're priced the same. No winner here.
▼ Fit: Believe it or not, some people have complained that the Roku Streaming Stick doesn't fit in their TV's HDMI port because of placement, proximity to other ports, or space behind the TV if wall-mounted. The Streaming Stick isn't for everyone because of this, and you may find that the standard Roku 1 device is more versatile in terms of where you can connect it.

TIPS AND NOTES

I find that a lot of new Roku users are confused by some things, so I'll try to offer some advice here.
▼ You don't turn it off! The Roku devices are designed to remain on at all times. They don't use much power, and when they're on a menu (even within an app, such as the Netflix or Roku app), they don't use any of your Internet bandwidth. Even if you pause a video and leave for a week, you won't use up your bandwidth. PLEASE, if you want the Roku to work properly and easily, don't unplug it or connect it to a surge protector with a switch that you flip when you're done. DON'T TURN IT OFF unless you need to reset the device for some reason! It will NOT be a problem to leave it on. It's designed that way!
▼ As I noted above, if your HDMI port doesn't supply enough power to the Roku Stick, then search the back of your TV for a USB port and use that to power the Stick, using the included USB cable. That should be enough to do the job, and you won't need to connect to a wall outlet or surge protector.
▼ Harmony Users: We're pretty much boned here. We can't use our Harmony remote or hub to control the Roku Streaming Stick, and that means we're stuck using the Roku remote or the Roku App. Take heart, though: You can always have the Roku App and the Harmony App next to each other, and switch between them on your smartphone or tablet. It's not the best solution, but until Logitech decides to connect to the Roku using WiFi, we're out of luck. Only the Harmony keyboard supports RF.
▼ SPECIAL NOTE FOR HOTEL TRAVELERS: If you're picturing grabbing the Roku Streaming Stick and popping it into the hotel TV, then connecting to the hotel WiFi, you may want to reconsider. The Roku Stick does NOT have a web browser, and many hotels (and other free WiFi suppliers) require you to open a web page and accept their Terms & Conditions before being granted access to the Internet. You can't use your portable device or laptop to accept the Terms & Conditions and then stream on the Roku; The Terms & Conditions are usually required to be accepted ON THE DEVICE THAT IS ACCESSING the Internet, i.e. the Roku Streaming Stick.

What this means is that many hotels will simply NOT allow you to connect a Roku Streaming Stick and start watching videos. You may be able to use the "cast" feature to initiate videos from Netflix if you do it from your PC or portable device (I have not tested this yet), but Amazon, Vudu, Hulu, and all other channels except YouTube will be blocked.

My advice, if you are a traveler dreaming of a simple way to watch movies in the hotel without paying the hotel's PPV prices, is to pick up an HDMI cable and bring your laptop. You will have a far easier time connecting your laptop to the TV and using it as a monitor than you will trying to get a Roku Streaming Stick to access hotel WiFi in many places.
▼ I highly recommend getting a screensaver that has weather and time, and setting it to your local area. It's very handy to have the Roku serve as a clock/weather guide when in screen saver mode.
▼ Don't consider the Roku a gaming device by any means. Yes, there are games, but they're not highly-developed and control is frankly pretty awful. If you want a cheap gaming console, consider the Amazon Fire TV, the Ouya, or pick up a used Wii. The Roku is first and foremost a video streaming device, and the games are an afterthought, at best.
▼ Experienced Users, I said it before and I'll say it again: If you want to access local media on your own server, you MUST get PLEX for Roku. With PLEX Channels you can access CBS shows, NBC shows, South Park Studios, The Daily Show, CW shows, SPIKE TV shows, ABC shows, PBS shows, Comedy Central videos, and tons of other content. With the PLEX Media Server on your PC, you can stream your video library in HD with multi-channel surround a LOT better than most XBMC devices handle it, and this includes fan art, movie sheets, and other bells & whistles. PLEX is well worth the small Roku app price, and the PC PLEX Media Server is free.

New cord-cutters and Cable TV refugees: When you step into the world of streaming video and step away from cable and terrestrial TV entirely, you have to get used to some changes in the way you watch things. Here's my quick guide:
▼ Subscribe to Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu Plus. Combined, they're still way cheaper than any cable bill.
▼ Put Crackle on your channel list. Free movies and TV shows. No subscription required.
▼ Use Plex to watch local media.
▼ Search YouTube for "full show" or "full movie" to get some extra content.
▼ Do not expect to see live sports when you're a cord cutter, unless you subscribe to MLBTV or other sports-related subscription services. You can always buy a nice antenna and view anything that the local network affiliates can broadcast.
▼ If you like old movies, there are tons of Roku channels that have FREE movies. Don't pay for a channel until you've exhausted your search of the free ones!
▼ For the kids, you can set up a Netflix Kids account, and there are plenty of kid-friendly and cartoon-loaded Roku channels.
▼ Roku Private Channels are channels that are not "officially" supported by Roku, but can be added by finding a code and entering it at the Roku website in your account settings. They give you other channel options in a wide variety of content.
▼ With that in mind: DO NOT PAY FOR ROKU PRIVATE CHANNEL LISTS!!! You may see them advertised on various sites (this one included!) and they are a SCAM. You can get a list of private channels by doing an Internet search for "Roku Private Channels" -- These lists people are selling are just compilations of the search results you can get for free. Don't be scammed.
▼ If you're going to turn off the TV for the night, make sure to hit the "Home", "Pause" or "Back" button on your Roku remote. Turning off the TV does not stop the show from streaming, and if you're in a channel/app that does automatic advance to the next episode, it will keep playing while the TV is off. This will use up some bandwidth from your ISP, and worse, it will cause you to lose your place in the episode progression! Note that you can pause a show and come back a day later, and you will not have used any additional electricity or bandwidth. Pausing is fine, but it's still better to just exit the show.
▼ You may not there's no "stop" button on the remote. That's because Roku has always considered the "back" button ( ← ) to be the "stop" function. Back will always take you back to the previous menu, which stops the video in the spot you were at. When you go back to it, most channels will let you resume from that position.

FINAL VERDICT, AND RECOMMENDATION

Assuming the Roku Streaming Stick is durable and holds up to the additional heat it creates, I'm calling this a 4-star device. You give up a few things going to the Stick from the standard Roku boxes (most notably the IR receiver), but you gain a few features, too, and you have a more compact device that allows you to reclaim some space in your entertainment center.

However, it's not perfect. It lacks that IR receiver, which is a MAJOR loss to owners of universal remotes and audio receivers. It does get hot, which may shorten its life. The smaller size doesn't make the Roku any more useful for travel because it lacks a web browser to accept hotel Terms & Conditions, and you'll still be falling back on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone sometimes. It doesn't support AV (Composite) connections at all (not a loss as far as I'm concerned; If you're still on equipment that requires composite cables, it's time for a new TV before you consider a streaming device).

So I'm whipping out FOUR STARS for the Roku Streaming Stick for HDMI. This would have been a five-star review if the Streaming Stick supported IR remotes, but I understand the small size probably makes that unlikely. Still, it's a loss that cripples the device slightly and makes it fall just short of being the best Roku device so far. Currently, that status remains with the Roku 3, but considering price, the Roku Streaming Stick is a good buy for the money for most people.

For those who do have older equipment, heat concerns, universal remotes, or who just don't need YouTube, the Roku 1 remains an excellent value, too. You really can't go wrong with either one.
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Works great even with my older TV that doesn't have HDMI
by Yoram (5 out of 5 stars)
June 30, 2015

Works great even with my older TV that doesn't have HDMI. I was ready to return it because there was no sound (I have DVI with HDMI adopter so I guess it's wasn't a true HDMI connection) but I found a great sound extractor that takes in the Stick on one side and connects to the TV on the other through a DVI to HDMI.

As you can see from the pics I used:

DVI (female) to HDMI (male) adopter

HDMI cable (male to male)

Sound extractor
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We have had a perfect experience with a Roku box in the past
by Borogove (1 out of 5 stars)
July 6, 2015

We have had a perfect experience with a Roku box in the past. When we got another TV, we decided to try the Roku stick. The stick itself seems to work just fine, but we cannot get the remote to work. Below is the transcript on the live chat I had with Roku support (I've removed the names). The Roku tech person certainly seemed to try his/her hardest:

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Hi. Having trouble with my remote. I'm trying to program the roku, the remote cuts out, and now after pressing the button on the back the green light won't stop flashing. Needless to say, it's not working at the moment. I've unplugged the roku and plugged it back in,

I've reinserted the batteries, but the green light won't stop flashing

ROKU TECH

Before we proceed, may I have the following information?

Serial Number of the Roku player (found underneath the device):

Date and Place of Purchase of the Roku player:

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Xxxxxxxxxxxx. Purchased a few days ago from Amazon, just trying it out today for first time.

ROKU TECH

Thank you, Please remove the batteries from the remote control and set it aside.

Then, we also need to reboot the Roku player by removing the power cable at the back of the device, wait for about 2 minutes before plugging it back.

Once it's on the Roku Menu Screen, please reinsert the batteries to the remote.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

i just tried that

ROKU TECH

Try a new set of batteries.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Tried that too

ROKU TECH

Press and hold that reset button on the side of the stick for 30 seconds.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Okay. Did that and now have the bouncing roku

ROKU TECH

Then check if the remote is working.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

It is trying to pair...

ROKU TECH

How far is your Roku from your router?

PUZZLED CONSUMER

About 10 feet or so

ROKU TECH

I see, Still not working?

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Well, it won't recognize the password for the router, and now the remote won't work again. I'm stuck on the error message for the wifi password, but the remote won't let me click on the "Try again" button on the screen.

ROKU TECH

Please doublecheck the password of your network, Press again the reset button on the side of he stick for 30 seconds.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Reset accomplished, have the bouncing roku now

ROKU TECH

Then set it up again.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Remote is re-pairing with roku

ROKU TECH

Alright.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Okay, all reset and connected, but the remote won't let me press "continue" on the Get the latest software page. This is the 6th time I've tried to set this up, and I am ready to scream. Of all the times for the remote,to quit (again), I've finally gotten the wifi connected and I can't go any farther.

ROKU TECH

I see, Seems like there is interference, Before I advice you to move your Roku, Can you try another set of batteries?

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Will try. Will I have to re-pair?

Plus, I can't really move the roku, became it is a roku stick and it can only go into the back of the TV.

ROKU TECH

Yes. Do you have a different Tv where we can plug the player?

PUZZLED CONSUMER

No.

ROKU TECH

I see, Try another set of batteries please.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

new batteries in, nothing happens

ROKU TECH

press the reset button again for 30 seconds.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

OMG

ROKU TECH

I'm sorry but we need to do possible steps that might resolve this issue.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Ok, reset. Re-pair?

Trying to re-pair now

ROKU TECH

Alright. Then set it up again.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

Connected to Internet, stuck AGAIN on Get the latest software screen. Sob.

ROKU TECH

Is it stuck?

PUZZLED CONSUMER

What, the button? Nothing happens when I press the OK button. It's as though the TV isn't getting a signal from the remote.

i can't go any further than the Get the latest software page, which is the page that comes up after one successfully connects to wifi.

ROKU TECH

I see, Seems like the remote keeps on disconnecting from the player, Please return that Roku player to Amazon, It is still under their warranty. It should stay connected after reset.

PUZZLED CONSUMER

okay, but fair warning: my experience will be going up on Amazon reviews. Thanks for trying. Wish Roku could have done better. We have a Roku box that has performed beautifully on a previous TV, but this is pretty unacceptable.

ROKU TECH

I understand, Roku 3 and streaming stick both uses Wifi-Direct to communicate with the remote, Thing that can cause this issue is interference from your router or its the device it self. And we are really sorry for this inconvenience. Rest assured that we have this documented on your account.
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Don't buy the Roku Stick, stick with the Roku 3.
by Sergio (1 out of 5 stars)
February 8, 2016

I really wanted to enjoy this, since I enjoyed using the Roku 3 until it started acting sluggish after an update.

The first problem is that the remote control that came with it barely works. I struggled trying to get through the setup, and eventually had to resort to using the Roku app. Every so often I'll try the remote, and while its light comes on as if it is working, the Roku Stick doesn't respond to it at all. I'm stuck using the app when it works.

The Roku stick itself is sluggish. It is prone to freezing, requiring you to unplug it from power in order to restart it.

The final problem is that if you have more than one Roku device linked to your Roku account, they all are forced to have the same channels and apps across devices. If you have another device that can handle more channels and apps, that means the Roku stick will barely be able to deal with what you have on your account. Right now you can work around the issue by creating a separate account for the Roku stick, but they really should have designed their system better to accommodate different channel lineups based on the device.
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Good form factor. Terribly slow.
by Josh Mitchell (3 out of 5 stars)
April 25, 2014

The pluses: Tiny, plugs right into your TV, not too expensive, and gives you access to streaming services. Streaming quality has been solid.

The minuses:
* Compared with, e.g., an AppleTV, the Roku stick is very, VERY slow. Mine has required 45 seconds to a minute to boot up each time.
* HDMI is not self-powering, so--despite the tiny form factor--you will still need to plug the Roku into a wall outlet (or, if you're lucky, a USB port on your TV). This was kind of an unpleasant surprise, but not a deal-breaker. Might be a problem, though, if your TV is mounted on a wall without easy access to an unsaturated outlet.
* I've only used Amazon Prime's TV streaming so far; the info screens are almost comically uninformative. Want to know if the episode you're looking at is one you've already seen? Want to know which number episode it is? You'll have to back out to the prior menu for that.
* There are dedicated buttons on the remote for services I will never use. Blockbuster? Please.
* Comcast doesn't support HBOGo on Roku, which is really Comcast's fault as far as I can tell, but which is still really dumb.
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Terrible Roku item...
by D. Stephan (1 out of 5 stars)
October 13, 2015

I have had problems with this products ever since I got it, the remote drains the batteries within few days, I went through 12 sets of brand new batteries already, I called Roku 6 times so far, and every single time they walk me through a silly little routine of which I have memorized and done already to reset the remote...nothing works, they sent me 2 remotes and the same issue is happening...the Stick also reboots itself way too many times, so far I had 9 reboots and 2 of which were caused by pixelization of the screen...and the Roku customer service beats about the bush, it is so draining...I had the one Roku (first generation) and that lasted over 7 years with no problems...the Stick is one of their new products and it is terrible...
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Not sure I'm totally impressed with this device!
by Deal catcher (3 out of 5 stars)
September 17, 2015

I debated whether to give this a 3 or a 4 rating. I will give the Pros and Cons and you can decide.
Pros - Easy to hook up and start using.
-Easy setup.
-Fairly easy navigation.
-Lots of Apps and lots of Free Apps.
-I can watch my VUDU and Apple movies thru several of the Apps.
-Youtube app works better than my smart tv app.
-I can watch Community on Yahoo Screen app. Which is the whole reason I purchased this device.

Cons - Needs to be constantly hooked up to a power source since it does not turn off. Ever!
-Remote uses the battery very quickly. I change the batteries in the remote every 2 weeks.
-Device is useless without batteries in the remote. Make sure to have spares for when it just stops working. I have started taking my batteries out during the day when I'm at work and re-installing them when I come home.
-The remote pretty much sucks. It is hard to type to search items and input ID and passwords with just directional arrows.
- Some Network Apps only have free Previews of shows instead of whole episodes.
-Once I connected the Roku, my Smart TV apps don't work

This is my first Streaming device so I don't know how any others work, I would hope a little better than this one. My consensus is that you would possibly need several of these devices from several different brands to get all the functionality you wanted and that is just not feasible. An App on one device works different that it does on another device. That totally sucks!
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Roku defaulted my account to Canada. Lame technical support. Remote only partially functional. Not w
by volunteer editor (1 out of 5 stars)
January 15, 2016

Well, that was a total pain in my neck. I've been thinking about getting either a Roku or a Fire Stick for a while now, but because there were some free offers with the Roku and reviews say the Fire Stick is pretty much focused on Amazon, I ordered the Roku. I installed it as directed and created an account, which I will note in passing irritated me because Roku wouldn't let me create an account without giving them a credit card or PayPal. Invasive. Then after getting the account set up, I tried to install Hulu because it was one of the free offers currently available. It wasn't there. I don't mean it wouldn't install. I mean Hulu wasn't an option anywhere on the Roku menu. It didn't exist. Then I realized pressing the Amazon button on the bottom of the Roku remote produced no results. It would "dong," but nothing happened. Then the Options button on the remote, which worked at first, stopped working. I went to my Roku account on my computer and tried to add the Hulu channel, but got a message that it wouldn't install for my region. Then, while accessing my brand new Roku account online, which I had created in the U.S. and for which I entered my U.S. address, it kept defaulting me to Canada, then to French Canada. I cleared my cookies and restarted my computer, but the problem persisted.

I got on chat with Roku the next day and explained my problems, including that Hulu was nowhere on the Roku menu, even when I typed it in under "Search Channels." After several exchanges where I kept reiterating the complete absence of a Hulu icon, the guy sends me instructions telling me to find Hulu on the Roku menu and how to install it. Obviously he hadn't been paying attention to anything I was writing. I kept asking him if the Canada glitch could explain the lack of a Hulu channel anywhere on the menu, and on the 3rd query, he finally caught on. He then looked up my account and told me it was created in Canada, and that's why the Hulu and Amazon buttons weren't working. I told him no it wasn't created in Canada because I haven't been to Canada for over 25 years, and it's obviously a Roku error. He said, in a "all I can tell you is that from looking at the IP address, your account was created in Canada." I don't remember his exact wording, but it leaned toward accusatory. Yes, I nefariously went to Canada and back in one day in order to open my Roku account there. *Evil chortle* I asked to speak to a supervisor, but chat guy told me one wasn't available. He then told me to close my Roku account and create a new one. I closed the account, but when I went to open a new one, Roku had signed me into Canada again. At that juncture, I removed the #!#$%!Roku from my TV for return to Amazon.

Two things to add: first, I went online after all this, and it appears that many other people have experienced the problem with Roku thinking they are in Canada and therefore losing access to channels, and their comments show they are existing customers, so it's not my specific router/IP address which created the problem. It's obviously a Roku problem. The online solutions I found to Roku trying to give certain of us dual citizenship all have to do with changing the settings on a person's router, and I don't care enough about a Roku stick to try to do all that. Second, the chat guy never resolved that the Options button on my Roku remote wasn't working. I did what he said and took out the batteries, restarted the Roku stick, etc. Nothing.

It was a purely miserable experience.

I'm going to try the Amazon Fire Stick. Suck it, Roku!
↭ 🍁 ↭
Just My Honest Opinion; OK but not as good as the Roku 3
by jadeddj81 (3 out of 5 stars)
January 2, 2015

Though I cannot compare the streaming stick to older or lower cost Roku boxes (such as the 1, 2, LT, etc), having a Roku 3 I think that is really the best comparison I can give. I ordered the Roku 3500R for a new 32" Samsung TV I received as a Christmas gift that will be used in my bedroom. Before ordering I read many of the reviews that others had posted, mainly in favorable reviews. I thought "well since it will be for my bedroom TV I won't likely be using it as much as I do my Roku 3" which is in my living room on the HT system and bigger TV. In one review I read someone say there is no difference between this and the Roku 3; I don't know about that and I will explain why below.

First impressions -It is small. But this is convenient if you do not want too many extra cables, depending on what you already have set up. When it arrived I plugged it in to an open HDMI port and though my TV does have a USB port, I decided against plugging it into the TV because I did not want to have to wait for it to boot every time I turned on the TV, so I opted to use the included wall adapter and just plugged it into a Surge strip so that it has power to it all the time and will be ready to go. Set up does flow as nicely as the Roku 3 with, but getting connected was one of the problems I experienced, being the one exception. The stick does not want to utilize the 5GHZ spectrum with my wireless which would be my preference, so after multiple reconnection attempts and resetting the router I finally had to settle for the 2.4 GHZ N spectrum. Not a biggie, but still. My Roku 3 can use the 5GHZ band, so why can't the stick? ..Especially considering it is a newer device. Then even once it connected, it would get done downloading "updates" and then give me an error message that it could not connect? Huh? Then how on earth did it just download the updates? Not an issue with my internet. Router is relatively new and my Cable connection with Cox is well over 100 Mbps and all my other wi-fi devices were connected just fine, so I knew at this point it was the device. At this point, I unplugged the Roku and waited a few minutes and then plugged it back in. Voila, no more issues and the rest of set up went as expected (creating an account, etc).

I then noticed the speed of the 3500R. The remote seems to "go to sleep" and you have to press the select button a few times to get it to wake up. The Roku popped up a message telling me to pair the remote, though I already did, but after a few buttons were pressed it began to work again. Navigating around the device seems to be choppy compared to it's older brother, the Roku 3. The speed of the cursor and screen transitions (loading movie titles and thumbnails) does not seem to flow as smooth and almost appears to get stuck or hesitate (best way I can describe it). It's not so much that it's a huge huge deal, but it can be a little annoying when you know where you want to go or what you are looking for. From what I can tell the things I have mentioned may be fixable with a firmware update, but for now I cannot be sure. My overall impression is that, while it may be a value to some at $50, to me it just feels cheap and clunky.

I do want to note however, that once you find what you want to watch (i.e. Netflix) the video quality seems to be very high quality. There is no stuttering or pixeling and I have not experienced any freezing, at least not as of yet. A few times the audio has started before the video, but I think this again may be a firmware issue, as I have never experienced it with the Roku 3.

Conclusion; Depending on your needs and how often you think you will use it, the 3500R streaming stick may be fine for many and could be excellent if the bugs were completely worked out, but if you don't want to wait for longer app start up times, you want games, or a simply better UI experience with speed, you may want to get the Roku 3 which I overall would have to recommend over the streaming stick, just for the purpose of speed and response times. The streaming stick I think will suit me fine until the release of Roku 4 (then I will upgrade) since I am using it for light watching overall, but if you plan to get heavy use, I would spend the $30 more and get the Roku 3 for now.

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