Apple TV versus Roku –
This month we discussed some video streaming devices that connect to your TV: the Apple TV and the Roku. Many people have smart TVs that connect to their home network, via either Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable. Typically this provides access to Netflix, YouTube, and some other services that stream video from the Internet. The selection is usually rather limited.
Video streaming boxes that connect to your home network and TV are much more versatile, providing access to a growing list of services that is updated periodically. Apple from time to time updated the services on the 3rd generation Apple TV, but this past fall came out with a new 4th generation Apple TV box that has an App Store. In addition to video services, the App Store can now offer other types of apps, particularly games. Games like you might see on an iPhone or iPad are now possible on the new Apple TV in part because of the new Siri remote that comes with it. In addition to a microphone, it has a touch screen area at the top of the remote, and an accelerometer that detects the orientation of the remote. Both Apple TVs support AirPlay for playing content from an iPhone, iPad, or recent Mac.
Roku has a Roku 2, Roku 3, and now even a Roku 4 model. The Roku 2 is around the same $69 price as the 3rd generation Apple TV. It has a conventional remote but access to the Roku Channel Store with as many as 2000 channels. So the content available is much greater. Compared to the Apple TV it would only be missing content (movies, TV shows, and music) from the iTunes Store. If you are an Amazon customer, it has Amazon Instant Video and Amazon Music, which are missing from the Apple TV 3rd generation box. I have read reports that the Amazon services may be coming to the 4th generation Apple TV box.
The Roku 3 has a more advanced remote with voice input and a headphone jack for private listening. I have a minor issue with the Roku 3 remote that caused me to buy the Roku 2 instead. The OK or select button that on most remotes is centered inside of the up/down/left/right directional pad, is positioned below the D-pad on the Roku 3 remote. I don’t like having to reach to hit the OK button.
The latest Roku 4 adds support for the latest (and high priced) 4K TVs, which have a higher resolution (double in both width and height) than the full HD 1080p resolution that most TVs have. There is very little 4K content on services like Netflix or YouTube, so Apple hasn’t found it necessary to come out with an Apple TV with 4K support at this time.
Roku has a nice chart comparing its models to the competition, which includes the two Apple TV models.