Cool Gadgets and Things ...

What is this ?

It looks amazing from the air. See :


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Apparently it seems to be Marsh

Labels: Moon Landscape near SFO

I got it yesterday and hocked it up. It looks like lighter version of ATV ( Apple TV, that I also have). Unlike ATV Roku is solid state and very light ( and you can see what is inside - it has ventilation holes that are big), it does not look very cool, but not too ugly as well; just a box of random ( artistically wrong) proportions and random finish: no design, just utilitarian box done by some engineer, but it is fine, it is small and very light. Black. Remote is also "copy" of ATV, but with "non Apple twist". Actually, it seems to be nice in hand ( more 3D). It also have just a few buttons : few more than Apple, but placed in a way you do not need light in the room or RTFM. :-) Nice remote. Daddy likes and it has a nice finish and solid look ( just like device, but remote have more design)

So, hooking up was easy : enter pws for WiFi than uint upgraded itself , than I had to re-enter psw ;). Than I put code unit show on screen to Netflix online and filled my queue with 250 junk movies : selected some form what they have.

I let wife pick some as well ( you pick it on PC or MAC :-))

Well... Honey used unit yesterday ( watched some flicks alone) and she got a positive comment : it passed her test :-) Because flicks there is "kind of free" unlike ATV she have no discomfort at all and it much nicer compare to drugging Laptop to projector room and UI and instant start :-) ( unit is never of). Navigation is simple, but one level ( no subfolders) just one line of pictures that POP in the middle ( like Apple "dock" in OS X, no like folder flow -no 3D, but that is fine ). But for 200-300 units it is still works good : scrolling is fast and visual - pictures and big text.

There is FF/FR with preview ( like DVD chapters) - nice touch! and there is HOME that bring you back. It also remember ( Netflix) where you stooped. So... You can continue where you stooped.

There is a few seconds wait for buffering and you get progress. So it works. I use WiFI and may be for faster wired connector it will work even better. Quality of movie itself is very nice over WiFi: like VHS\DVD more or less ( on my 120'' projector screen anyway ) I think colors are kind of compressed a bit as well image, but it does not look bad. It is not HD, but totally OK. Sound is Stereo but just fine.

Some flicks come with close captions. I wish I could have this for all, like on DVD ( when kids go to sleep it is very handy)

All in all : nice and only thing desire is more good movies for online view :-)

Bottom line : if you use Netfix online I would say : Get it! It will make your life easier if you have TV room.

Labels: ROKU Netflix review