Streaming multimedia player price war escalates
Last updated Oct 19, 2011 — 826 views
Following Logitech slashing its Google TV box’s price to $99 and D-Link’s reduction of the Boxee Box’s price to $169, Roku has now introduced a low-end streaming multimedia player priced at just $50.
Roku says the new, low-end, $50 Roku LT device “looks very similar to the Roku 2 family, streams all 320 channels, and carries the familiar award-winning Roku interface.”
Roku’s new $50 streaming multimedia player
(click image to enlarge)
Like the recently released Roku 2 HD, “the LT offers high-definition at 720p via HDMI, it also features built-in wireless (b/g/n) and sports an A/V output for standard definition, so it will run on the new and the not-so-new TVs,” says Roku founder and CEO Anthony Wood.
Here’s a feature-comparison table showing the key differences among the various current Roku multimedia streaming player models:
Feature comparison: Roku LT and Roku 2 HD/SD/XS models
| Roku model: | LT | 2 HD | 2 XD | 2 XS |
| 720p video support | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| 1080p video support | no | no | yes | yes |
| Wired Ethernet port | no | no | no | yes |
| microSD media slot | no | yes | yes | yes |
| USB media slot | no | no | no | yes |
| Enhanced remote included (provides motion control for games) | no | no | no | yes |
Based on its periodic cost reductions, Roku seems intent on getting one or more of its streaming multimedia players into everyone’s home.
“We think the LT is the perfect streaming player for the first, second, or third TV in the house, and at half the price of the competition, it’s going to be tough to turn down!,” Wood suggests.
Roku’s multimedia streaming players are available from various online and brick-and-mortor retailers, with suggested retail prices from $50 through $100. Further info is on Roku’s website.
If Navi-x could be ported over for Roku, then I would heavily consider it. But until it does BoxeeBox is still my target to aquire.