Review on 📺 Roku 3 Streaming Media Player (2014 model): Stream Your Favorite Content Effortlessly by Geoff Foster

Do you like advertising, product placement and companies that want to help you see more ads for your junk? Buy this and get lots of promotions using Roku's new strategy to generate revenue from your retail customers. Would you like to replace your hardware every two years or so? Get this one because it's more likely to fail than their previous versions. It looks like Roku's new strategy is to fully monetize its devices. Older models focused on usability, had a simple user interface, and were built to last. Each subsequent version has improved its ability to monetize rather than add real functionality, and I'm pretty sure some cost-cutting measures have been taken to keep hardware costs down as production volumes have increased. It's just a data point, but our oldest Roku (1st gen) still works well and fast, and has a simple and easy-to-use interface. Since then, every model has either had its hardware cut out or something added to increase usage of Roku partner services. The first remote control only had a few buttons. Roku 3 has buttons for games and lots of hard-coded buttons for launching services for its partners. Older Roku models had an ad-free interface; since Roku 2, you ALWAYS see big ads on screen. Add a channel for a free service? Get ready for an ad, because you'll see it to indicate everything when Roku says something about it. The old Rokus didn't require registration or an account. You MUST have an account with a linked credit card now or you will not be able to use the device. Old Rokus had simple interfaces that assumed you had some intelligence. Now the interface "helps" you - for example, if you start a TV show on Netflix in Episode X, after it ends, it will just play the next episode without any action on your part - just what kids need! An automatic alcohol watcher that keeps you on screen longer. I used to recommend Roku to anyone and everyone and insisted family members get it. Now if Roku crashes (and probably will) I recommend getting something else. Chrome flash drive, media computer, whatever. It's all sad - Roku was a great idea and well executed. Now they're just another money-hungry bunch of idiots who are primarily interested in the bottom line.