Roku Finally Adds YouTube To Its Iconic Media Player

DeviceGuru writes "Roku's popular Linux-based media players have long been criticized for their glaring omission of YouTube video support. As of Dec. 17, that is no longer the case, provided you have the high-end Roku 3 player and live in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, or the U.K. Google's YouTube channel is available immediately for the Roku 3 in resolutions up to 1080p, and will be supported on additional models (though probably just Roku 2) next year, according the company. Previously, the only way to run YouTube over a Roku box was to use the third-party, subscription based PlayOn service, which requires a connected PC or Mac running the PlayOn app. The YouTube update also adds a Send to TV feature, letting you send videos to the Roku for display on the TV with a single click."

What I would prefer...

[rikkards]

is static IP configuration and ability to play more media types from USB than what it does. I use DNS Redirect to get access to US Netflix and Hulu and had to jump hurdles to get the Roku 3 to work. Also I was hoping for something I could take with me in luggage when I travel so I could watch stuff in a hotel room on business. Last time I brought 4 different files and none of them worked. That was my fault for not confirming but would be nice.

Re:What I would prefer...

[Aqualung812]

Have you considered using DHCP reservations?

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

is static IP configuration and ability to play more media types from USB than what it does.

I've been using a static IP on my Roku for the past three years. Try opening the 20 page manual, or even just hunting through the menu items (hint, it's in setup->network).

Considering your depth and breadth of knowledge of the Roku product line, I doubt reading the next sentences will offer insight. However, there is room for improvement, you could have discredited yourself faster by saying, "I just wish it could play Netflix".

Re:

[Anonymous Coward]

is static IP configuration and ability to play more media types from USB than what it does.

I've been using a static IP on my Roku for the past three years. Try opening the 20 page manual, or even just hunting through the menu items (hint, it's in setup->network).

Considering your depth and breadth of knowledge of the Roku product line, I doubt reading the next sentences will offer insight. However, there is room for improvement, you could have discredited yourself faster by saying, "I just wish it could play Netflix".

(Different AC in Europe)

I have a Roku 3, read the manual and various sites online, and there's no UI for setting static IP addresses or DNS info. There's no option in the Setup->Network section for doing such things. It's possible that this option only existed for earlier versions of the Roku.

In my case, I configured my router to assign a static IP address to the Roku and configured dnsmasq on the router to supply the IP addresses to the DNS nameservers of a DNS-redirection service similar to Unblock US

Re:

[rikkards]

Apologizing to the wrong person but apology accepted

Re:

[rikkards]

Hint: no its not IOW citiation please as in this isn't my first rodeo and the 20 page manual is crap.
Which page are you talking about (by the way I am not using wireless) and everything I have seen online states it doesn't support Static. In the Setup Network all you get to choose is if it is Wired or Wireless and nothing available menu wise other than the wireless stuff for setting SSID, etc.

What I did to work around was setup my bind DNS to provide a different DNS forwarder for anything for only netflix

Re:

[LordNimon]

Try the WD TV Live. I have one, and it's awesome. Plays MKV files ripped straight from a Blu-Ray.

As for Netflix, there appears to be some kind of DNS problem with some devices. I had to set my router to 8.8.8.8 to get my TV to work. Setting the DNS on the TV to 8.8.8.8 was not good enough. I suspect it's a conspiracy between Samsung and Google.

Re:

[gregthebunny]

Try the WD TV Live. I have one, and it's awesome. Plays MKV files ripped straight from a Blu-Ray.

I really like my WD TV Live. It plays a lot of formats and has a simple but usable interface. It definitely passed the "wife test" for ease-of-use. But it has one glaring omission: no Amazon Prime streaming (see: "Online Services [wdc.com]"). They just released a 2.0 firmware update with a bunch of new "supports [service]" notes, but Amazon is not one of them. Western Digital, I am disappoint.

Re:

[rikkards]

I originally looked at WDTV Live when I got tired of the whirring fan on my XBMC HTPC. I hated it as I found it was too many clicks to get to my video shares. At that point I went with a Pi based instead However since then they have added shortcuts. The reason I picked the Roku was we needed something that played netflix since XBMC on Linux won't do it. We also picked Roku as there were some channels on it that other settop boxes didnt have. I would probably have gotten the Live otherwise.

Re:

[badboy_tw2002]

Another vote for WDLive. I have a lot of DVD ISO rips and it plays them all beautifully.

Re:

[SCHecklerX]

Another vote for the wdtv live (I have a few plus models). It plays everything you throw at it, and can use network mounts or a streaming server. You can even use an alternate firmware to host a web server, torrent client, NFS mounts, etc. Not sure if it is still being maintained, and for my use, the stock firmware works great.

Re:

[krept]

I like mine too. The only actual complaint I have is that you can't navigate through music menus by Artist > Album > Songs. Only either Artist > Songs, or Album > Songs. The UI could be a little less sluggish but for what I paid I'm pleased.

Re:

[SCHecklerX]

I use a Roku (ha!) soundbridge for my music :-) But I only really use it to stream. For my own collection, I just use my phone or mp3 player directly.

Re:

[bws111]

Where is your music? Is it on a DLNA server? If so, all of the navigation comes from the server, not the client.

Re:

[krept]

2TB USB HDD connected directly to the WDTV.

Re:

[P-niiice]

Even better, try any of the more powerful Android-based set top boxes running XBMC for something even better. You can take them to straight Linux if you like for even better performance.

Re:

[MBGMorden]

XBMC works great for playing random files. I've actually used it in several versions (original Xbox, Apple TV, Raspberry Pi, and Ouya - running on Apple TV was the best - closely followed by Raspberry Pi).

I don't really mind a lot of these devices that want to connect you to services like Netflix, Hulu, etc, but just being able to point the thing to a USB drive or network share and play plain old downloaded files is a must for me.

Re:

[rikkards]

I mainly use XBMC (my DNS server is on one of them) which consists of a home brew and a Pi. Problem is no access to Netflix unless you are running windows. Not doing that.

Re:

[SCHecklerX]

Check out the wdtvlive plus. It plays pretty much any file format I've thrown at it, and can mount drive shares, or just use a media streaming server. Its internet stuff is ok, but that's not what I use it for.

Re:

[RDW]

Also I was hoping for something I could take with me in luggage when I travel so I could watch stuff in a hotel room on business.

Why not a laptop? Won't you have one anyway? (with portable apps on a USB stick if your company locks it down).

Re:

[GTRacer]

Seconded on the static IP option. Bought a Roku HD* for Black Friday, returned it a week later when I learned no static option exists. And we really did want to give it a go as a first step to cutting cable...

I think it was the HD. Green box, 40 bucks.

Re:

[Zenin]

Just put a static DHCP lease in your router config, problem solved?

Lots of options for YouTube on older Rokus

[Anonymous Coward]

Plex and Twonky Beam are both free and allow you to search / steam YouTube, Twonky even has the send-to-tv feature.

Re:

[Jason Levine]

There's also PlayTo [playto.tv] which can send photos/music/videos from an Android or iOS device (phone or tablet) to your Roku box. There's a free version to try it out and a paid version for $4.99.

Links

[Thanshin]

Roku 3 [roku.com]

also:
Chromecast [google.com]

AppleTV [apple.com]

Re:Links

[Virtex]

And for the do-it-yourselfer:

XBMC [xbmc.org]

Re:

[MetalliQaZ]

Grab that karma! ;-)

Re:

[symbolset]

The problem with this is eventually you become unable to tolerate commercials.

I do it with Plex.

[Anonymous Coward]

You can cue up Youtube videos on MyPlex

I think the first Roku had YouTube briefly

[Zeorge]

I distinctly remember YouTube when I got the first Roku box... Then after an update it disappeared. Glad to see it added on without using PlayOn.

Re:

[The Good Reverend]

There was (and still is) a private YouTube channel, but Roku stopped it from being added to boxes a few years ago. But if you already had that one, you could keep it (I still have it).

Re:

[andyring]

So if you like your YouTube you can keep your YouTube?

(Sorry, had to go there)

Re:

[bill_mcgonigle]

Unless you upgrade. This is actually one of the things that has prevented me from upgrading to a newer Roku box.

Somebody claimed that it was Google that dropped the ban hammer on Roku, it wasn't Roku's desire. Does the new app show ads (supposedly the bone of contention)?

Re:

[The Good Reverend]

You could actually upgrade, and as long as the old YouTube channel was tied to your account (and you linked your new Roku to your existing account), it would show up on your new box as well. It's on all three of mine.

Re:

[Jason Levine]

I have that channel. Maybe it's a glitch with the channel or just the fact that I'm using a standard-definition TV and some YouTube videos try to display in HD but I often get two videos side by side on the same screen.

For example, instead of seeing:

VIDEO

I'll see:

VIDEO VIDEO

Of course, since there's only so much screen room, these double videos wind up squished together and are pretty unwatchable. Here's hoping that this YouTube support goes back to past devices and doesn't just stop with their current

Re:

[The Good Reverend]

That's a known issue with the old YouTube and several other private channels. Company reps on the Roku message boards say they're looking into it.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:

[randomErr]

You are correct. Version 1 and the original Version 2 had it. But YouTube changed it's ad model. Roku and YouTube/Google couldn't agree on how the ad revenue would be shared.

If I remember correctly the reason that ad revenue issue even came up was because YouTube has switch to MP4 streaming and the Roku players couldn't handle it at the time. So Roku setup a conversion proxy and to pay for it Roku wanted a percentage of each ad.

Re:

[Jason Levine]

Roku can definitely handle MP4 videos now. I put my videos in MP4 format on a USB hard drive and have my Roku box play them back for me. Works beautifully.

You can also access YouTube on Roku via Plex

[mj01nir]

Goodness sakes, Plex is wonderful.

Slideshow

[genka]

Stupid Roku can't even play JPEG slideshow as a screensaver.

Re:

[Jason Levine]

There are channels that can do this. Here are two free ones I found. (NOTE: I've never used them so I can't vouch for how good they are.)

USB Screen Saver
https://www.roku.com/channels/#!details/2095/usb-screen-saver

Picasa Web Albums Screensaver
https://www.roku.com/channels/#!details/2112/picasa-web-albums-screensaver

Re:

[The Good Reverend]

No wireless/bluetooth keyboard, but the Roku phone/tablet app has a keyboard option on the remote.

Meh

[snarfies]

Call me back when Roku finally adds support for uPNP and/or DLNA.

Re:

[Yewbert]

Agreed. DLNA is what I want; a Roku equipped with that would be pretty much the last piece of media hardware I'd need to buy.

Re:

[dj245]

Agreed. DLNA is what I want; a Roku equipped with that would be pretty much the last piece of media hardware I'd need to buy.

I think an android stick with XBMC is probably what you want then. I used Plex extensively until very recently when the foreign subtitles broke. Apparently this is something that can be only fixed by paying them $4 a month for eternity.

Re:

[aesiamun]

Or $80 once...but let's not let reality get in the way.

Re:

[SCHecklerX]

This exists on the wdtvlive. Also, plays pretty much any format you throw at it.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Thank God, the ONE thing that was missing to make

[TWiTfan]

I love my Roku 3. AFAIC, there are only two problems with it, the fact that Netflix added that annoying "Post-Play" so-called feature to it's Roku interface recently (with no ability to disable it) and the lack of YouTube.

Now I can watch pron (try doing THAT with your AppleTV), all my favorite online shows, Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, Hulu, etc. all on one fast, simple box. And no monthly Xbox Live fees, annoying interfaces (except with Netflix), stuttering with HD content, or slow interface that I've seen on

Re:

[rikkards]

I HATE the search functionality on Hulu Plus but I didn't renew my supscription after the first three months expired. Now the only thing I use my Roku for is Netflix and PBS since we cut the cord.

Roku vs random Android media box

[bazorg]

OK, so I could buy a Roku device and hope that the functionality they added remains active;
or I can buy an Android-based media box and just get media apps from the different TV channels/netflix/whatever.

I still may get shafted but the general rule is that if it runs on Android, it should run on my box, right? For everything else on the LAN, XBMC runs on Android.

Other than avoiding dodgy power supplies from nameless manufacturers, I don't see why I should get a Roku instead of a nameless Android media box.

PlayON was NOT the only option for Roku users

[Danathar]

"Previously, the only way to run YouTube over a Roku box was to use the third-party, subscription based PlayOn service, which requires a connected PC or Mac running the PlayOn app. "

Incorrect.

Plex could run Youtube with a roku just fine and no subscription needed.

WTF?

[jmcvetta]

WTF - I've had an official-looking YouTube channel on my first-gen Roku for 3 years. Don't recall doing anything special to get it, either. Is this article total BS; or did newer version of the Roku have it removed??

Re:

[Jason Levine]

I have that channel too. That was a private channel that someone else programmed, not an official channel. Roku removed access to it for new users but those of us who already had the channel kept it on our boxes. This is about an official YouTube channel coming to Roku.

Re:

[Control-Z]

Yeah I have it too on my old Roku. I had forgot how it got on there, but apparently it was a private channel I added years ago and although the private channel is no longer available for some reason it still works, I use it all the time.

I'm more likely to upgrade now that they finally support YouTube again. Hope the interface is fast and simple.

Re:

[jmcvetta]

Roku removed access to it for new users but those of us who already had the channel kept it on our boxes.

I love Roku's hardware and simple UI; but I hate being inside their walled garden.

Re:

[neminem]

Wait, seriously?! I had an unofficial Youtube app for a while, and the one I had, when Roku disabled it, it stopped working. :(

I hate you.

Re:

[Jason Levine]

Don't hate me too much. The YouTube video channel will work perfectly for some videos and for others will show the video twice, side-by-side, squished onto the screen (sort of like those pictures where you cross your eyes and a 3D image pops out... only without the 3D image). So even though I have the channel, it's all but useless. When I want to watch YouTube via my Roku, I usually just use PlayTo.tv or another app to stream the video from a tablet or my phone to the Roku box.

Plex ap on Roku

[DeTech]

The Plex ap on roku has supported Youtube forever.

Re:

[neminem]

Yeah, except it's a huge pain, and always freaking breaks. Also, that is still technically a third-party service which requires an app (though not a PC or Mac app, and it was free. Though I thought PlayOn had a free version too?)

Anyway, this is great news.

Re:

[thedman]

Waiting for this as well.