Review on Roku Express Definition Streaming Player by Drew Panah

Updated August 4, 2020 I'm not shy in saying I'm a Roku fan. An early adopter, was and still is convinced. Unfortunately, after July 31, 2020, Roku became less attractive when it refused to support major streaming channels HBO MAX and now Peacock, NBC's newest kid in town. I understand the legal implications. I'm an IT pro, so trust me when I say metadata brings solid monetary value. User behavior and all the data we share with these and many other companies every time we use a smart device is priceless. I switched to Roku to free myself from expensive and inflexible cable offers. II consumer. I don't want to limit my viewing options and now I have to go to another room to turn on my Samsung Smart TV and watch HBO Max because Roku no longer supports HBO. No Roku, sorry HBO isn't leaving Roku like you're announcing. Netflix has its own channel. Disney+, Hulu, Univision, History Channel and so on. It has its own channel, so why not HBO? This was not due to customer preferences, but to financial considerations. The customer was put in the background of Roku's value first, and because of that, Roku is getting smaller. Tip: Roku modified the game and created a new one. Mobile streaming apps are now doing the same. Roku can benefit from an open approach to supporting any mobile streaming app, just like mobile phones are doing today, to stay ahead of the game. Casting your phone to a screen is an alternative and could be the BEST choice when consumers have no choice but to keep the power of freedom in their handheld devices, as streaming devices like this want customers to restrict. my two cents There are a few minor changes to my review as I can no longer say Roku plays everything. I'll just add a few do's and don'ts if like me you're navigating the sheer number of options in the streaming space. What to do 1) Do your research! There are several different models of Roku depending on what YOU really need, want, or are willing to pay for. I bought the Roku Express because I was upgrading a 1st gen Roku device and the device is (or at least seems so) a thousand times faster, more powerful, and has updated APIs for apps like Netflix to manage your profiles . older versions didn't support this feature, they just showed your profile by default. 2) Use the included power adapter. Of course, you can connect it to your SmartTV's USB port for power, but if you've read about it, there are a lot of problems with the device not being powered. 3) Think about where you will place your device. This is NOT a TV box, it's a tiny (half the palm of your hand) device with double tape and sticks that makes your TV. It's non-invasive, it has a nice black finish so it doesn't ruin any aesthetics, but once you tape it up you have to leave it there or you could end up with tape that stops working and causes additional hassle - think think about it first. place, run and paste it. 4) Experiment with it - it has many configuration options, such as B. turning on the TV with one touch, casting the screen of a mobile phone, etc. If you only use the default options, you might miss out on some fun tricks! 5) Match this to a good router/wifi setup. The worst thing you can do is have a good TV, get a top-of-the-line 4K-capable Roku, and connect it to a poor WiFi connection or a provider that doesn't support your streaming needs. Remember! This is not connected by cable, this device transmits radio waves through the air, so the distance to your router, obstacles and your network speed (not only the download speed but also the actual speed of the WIFI band) can affect the result you make Do your homework and think about your entertainment system as a whole, not just the TV/streaming part. Don't1) Not everyone needs 4K streaming and NOT all providers support it! Many providers charge for UHD content and offer HD as a default option. In this case, the extra cost of a 4K TV and 4K streaming device is wasted. (Check out my last entry on the DO list again!) 2) Don't get your expectations unrealistic - Yes, Roku offers a lot of free content. Free means many channels are privately supported, which means the content may not be UHD. 3) The REAL fun of Roku comes when you activate channels based on your paid content (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, premium networks like HBO, NFL, etc.). So if you really want to take advantage of your Roku's features, you're going to have to pay for premium content at some point. Hope this helps - I'm an early adopter of Roku, I have major streaming services like Netflix, Prime and extended a la carte cable services like Sling, Spectrum Choice, DirectTV at the moment or one of my favorite providers and that will give access to all major broadcast networks, as well as some other channels. - EXCEPT HBO MAX and NBC's Peacock. A final thought that's interesting is that Roku has a channel for many of these big network stations, and I watch their content through the Roku channel and not the cable provider's app. I have found that there is more content out there and a better choice to order on demand. I hope you like my review!