Roku Inc., a leading innovator in digital media technology and maker of the popular Netflix Player by Roku, today announced it has released support for streaming high definition (HD) content. Through the use of advanced compression technology, Roku can deliver instant streaming of HD content over average consumer broadband connections - bringing HD to the mass market at an affordable price of just...
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Roku Digital Video Player Now Streaming HD Content From Netflix
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Shane
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emondragon
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WOW! HD quality of Netflix Player
WOW, what a difference. One of the two Roku Netflix players I own has now been upgraded to firmware 1.5. I purchased the first player about two weeks after it was available the second months later. The first player received its update, and this might be how the players are upgraded by serial number or purchase date. First, you will need to access your account at Netflix and identify some of the HD content available. You can do this by clicking on Watch Instantly tab, at Netflix, and selecting the genre selection. One of the many types of content is the HD content. There you can select one of the several HD movies and TV series (move them to first on your list for easy access).
You will notice your player had been upgraded by the initial launch screen that pops up. You are provided three buttons; the center Netflix button will be how you enter Netflix. The remaining two buttons are for settings and the What's New button (you'll want to click the What's New button first). You will be informed early in 2009 there will be several channels added in addition to the Netflix channel. What channels will be added is up for speculation but also exciting (curiously, your Netflix account can be deactivated leaving the other channels still available on the Roku player). You'll notice at the bottom of the NEW information screen is a place to setup the player to your HD TV screen. After selecting your TV type you can now enter Netflix.
To test the player I selected NCIS: Season 6, The Host, The Thing, and Star Trek: Season One (strange but The Host, The Thing, and Star Trek aren't labeled as HD at Netflix but when played they came up as a HD selection). The picture quality of all I viewed were quite clear at 720p. It was great to watch the old Star Trek episodes in HD. You'll notice more detail like what the uniforms are made of and the occassional sewing mistake and faces of the actors are very detailed. The Host movie was the clearest of what I viewed, which indicates it is also dependent on the original source for picture quality. The picture quality of all I viewed, so far, is well worth the initial investment.
More to come.
Well, here's the more to come addition: I upgraded my second Roku Netflix player by selecting Player Info under settings and made the player look for an upgrade and now the second player has been upgraded to firmware 1.5. Below is a link for other HD content (movies and TV series) at Netflix that may not be included in the HD content under genre. Most of the listings are for the Netflix streaming on the Xbox 360. Some of the listed HD selections did not load up as HD though they were labeled as such. It may be some are reserved for the Xbox but many others did load as HD.
http://www.isitinhd.com/
Next, I will be putting the player through its operational paces and reporting back.
You will notice your player had been upgraded by the initial launch screen that pops up. You are provided three buttons; the center Netflix button will be how you enter Netflix. The remaining two buttons are for settings and the What's New button (you'll want to click the What's New button first). You will be informed early in 2009 there will be several channels added in addition to the Netflix channel. What channels will be added is up for speculation but also exciting (curiously, your Netflix account can be deactivated leaving the other channels still available on the Roku player). You'll notice at the bottom of the NEW information screen is a place to setup the player to your HD TV screen. After selecting your TV type you can now enter Netflix.
To test the player I selected NCIS: Season 6, The Host, The Thing, and Star Trek: Season One (strange but The Host, The Thing, and Star Trek aren't labeled as HD at Netflix but when played they came up as a HD selection). The picture quality of all I viewed were quite clear at 720p. It was great to watch the old Star Trek episodes in HD. You'll notice more detail like what the uniforms are made of and the occassional sewing mistake and faces of the actors are very detailed. The Host movie was the clearest of what I viewed, which indicates it is also dependent on the original source for picture quality. The picture quality of all I viewed, so far, is well worth the initial investment.
More to come.
Well, here's the more to come addition: I upgraded my second Roku Netflix player by selecting Player Info under settings and made the player look for an upgrade and now the second player has been upgraded to firmware 1.5. Below is a link for other HD content (movies and TV series) at Netflix that may not be included in the HD content under genre. Most of the listings are for the Netflix streaming on the Xbox 360. Some of the listed HD selections did not load up as HD though they were labeled as such. It may be some are reserved for the Xbox but many others did load as HD.
http://www.isitinhd.com/
Next, I will be putting the player through its operational paces and reporting back.
Last edited by emondragon on Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:41 am, edited 2 times in total.
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fnshuler
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Roku Digital Video Player Now Streaming HD Content From Netflix
My Roku just uprgaded itself 2 days ago. the picture quality is very good.