Long gone are the days when we relied on a few TV channels for our home entertainment. With the introduction of modern technologies, entertainment has undergone massive changes with users benefiting from high quality and great entertainment from platforms such as Roku channels. Roku’s new HDMI stick has revolutionized streaming needs for many users offering more than 1000 channels. If you love variety and are looking for a whole new entertainment experience, then the Roku streaming stick is the change you are looking for.
What is a Roku streaming stick?
This is a common question that many people ask. The Roku streaming stick is an HDMI stick that you plug in to the back of your TV and instantly begin to stream various TV shows, music and movies from famous subscription services such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Spotify, Hulu Plus and many more. It’s worth mentioning that the Roku streaming stick price is approximately $50. This is incredibly cheap considering the previous stick was only compatible with TVs that had an MHL port and was double the price. The advantage with the HDMI version is that it can comfortably work on any TV.
The Roku streaming stick faces stiff competition from other streaming channels such as Apple TV, Google’s Chromecast and other Roku players which are pretty good. However, when you read the Roku streaming stick reviews, you’ll realize that it has gained such incredible popularity because of the customer friendly price and a wide selection of over 1000 channels. No doubt, Roku streaming sticks outsmart a lot of their competitors.
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Design
A Roku streaming stick is small (the size of a USB stick). It also resembles a USB stick and fits into an HDMI port at the back of the TV. It’s usually comes with a USB charger to power it because TV HDMI ports are not powered. In the package, you will find a simple remote that has buttons for back, play, home etc. The Roku streaming stick also has buttons for Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Blockbuster as well as other subscription services.
Set-Up
Contrary to what some people think, a Roku streaming stick set-up is simple and straightforward. First and foremost, the remote needs to be loaded with two AA size batteries for it to work. The Roku streaming stick should then be put into the HDMI port at the back of the TV. If you have a wall-mounted TV, you don’t need to worry because the Roku streaming stick is small in size and fits perfectly well. The only disadvantage is that you will have to plug it directly to a power source; this means a wire has to hang.
Once the above steps have been completed, proceed to the menu where you will be prompted to key-in your Wi-Fi password. You then need to either sign up for a new Roku account or enter your login details if you already have an account. The task of Roku streaming stick setup is easily achieved if you have a laptop so that you avoid using your remote to tap usernames and passwords. Next, proceed to the activation pages (Netflix, Spotify, HBO Go) and type the onscreen code to complete the login process.
Once you have completed the process, it’s time for you to begin experiencing the fun of navigating through Roku channels, TV shows, news and plenty of other entertainment platforms as well as settings. Simply press the arrow that points to the right in order to make a selection. To go back, use the back button.
You have two options for Roku streaming stick navigation; you can either use the remote or use a mobile app from Roku that works on both Android and iOS. The app is ideal if you want to use a keyboard; however, a lot of people find using the remote easier and faster. Actually, many people use the app when they have misplaced the remote or need to view smartphone content on big screen.
The good news is that you can also pick content from a device of your choice and transfer it to your Roku streaming stick. There is a section known as Play on Roku within the app where you can comfortably enjoy your locally stored music, beam photos and watch videos from your television set. One of the biggest advantages of Roku streaming stick is that you can quickly and easily move around different channels so long as you have a good bandwidth.
What are the benefits?
Roku streaming stick from Amazon sales as well as other platforms have recorded high sales because of the flexibility this technology offers. For instance, if you type in a name of your favorite actor, you will instantly see details about the actor including shows and movies they have been in. As you select shows on channels you have subscribed to, your card is automatically charged offering you a stress free way of enjoying your TV experience.
Chromecast is also reasonably priced and has good options similar to what you will find on Roku channels. However, the Roku streaming stick has a remote which offers better convenience and allows more functionality.
Benefits of the Roku streaming stick
If you’re looking for cost effective yet entertaining streaming devices, a Roku streaming stick offers ease of use, speed and allows you the freedom to select what you want to watch. Apple TV for instance has great entertainment platforms but it’s costly.
There are other Rokus that offer exemplary products. For instance when you compare roku streaming stick vs Roku 3, the latter is more advanced but has a price tag of $100, plays Angry Birds and comes with a headphone jack for private listening. A lot of users who choose the Roku streaming stick argue that it’s impractical to use headphones to watch a movie on the big screen in your living room.
The good news is that a Roku streaming stick is widely available. There are plenty of choices on Amazon or Walmart offers Roku streaming sticks as well for the user who want to experience a unique entertainment dispensation.