Be careful not to mix up your USB flash drive and your Wi-Fi enabled, Internet TV streaming device.
That could become a concern now that Roku has introduced a plug-in Streaming Stick that performs the same function as a set-top box, allowing compatible TV’s to play Internet content. To be released in the second half of this year, it’s about the size of a portable “thumb” drive.
The road to merging TV and the Web has been a slow one, but it’s just a matter of time before all sets become smart. The Smart Stick makes the process simpler by plugging into mobile high-definition link (MHL) enabled HDMI ports on TVs, with no additional power supply, to be controlled with the TV’s remote.
Cheap To Upgrade
In a company blog post announcing the product, Anthony Wood, CEO and founder of Roku, said the device is intended to eliminate the need for expensive hardware upgrades to accommodate more and more streaming content. Since the Streaming Stick will only cost between $ 50 and $ 100 (to be announced) it’s easier to replace it than an expensive TV.
“It essentially includes everything in a Roku player — built-in Wi-Fi, processor, memory and software — and will deliver all the channels found on the Roku platform today,” Wood said. “It will also benefit from regular free software updates and channel enhancements.”
Content on Roku devices is provided by partners and accessed through the Roku Channel Store.
The diminutive form factor is “certainly intriguing,” said digital home analyst Michael Inouye of ABI Research. But he said the convenience of plugging it in will vary by TV model, especially considering that mounting and bracket systems may get in the way.
“The use of MHL is also newsworthy but might also limit the device’s market potential, at least initially,” Inouye added. A new standard that is…
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