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Comment by rhino369 | Hacker News Reader

I find a roku is much more convient than casting. Roku has Amazon, google play, and Netflix. The only thing it's really missing is Apple stuff.

The roku stick 2016 version is pretty cheap. Though if you want Ethernet you have to get a roku 3. If you want 4K you have to buy a roku 4.

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I switched to an Nvidia Shield (Android TV) almost a year ago, and it's by far the best media play device I've had. You can navigate with a remote (and it works great with my Harmony hub remote, which gives me one remote that can control the TV and audio). I primarily use Netflix, Plex, YouTube and Google Play Music. Very conveniently, it's also a Google Cast device.. so without switching inputs or doing anything, you can just instantly cast your phone/tablet.

Over the past 13-ish years, I've gone through a Roku, Chromecast, small form factor Windows 7 and 10 PCs, Pivos Xios, some random android box, and going back farther SageTV (amazing at its time), and a MythTV system.

Roku currently has Amazon, Google Play, and Netflix. I would definitely not pay for a new device on the promise that providers will continue to support it.

If only their interface weren't so painful. I love what my Roku does for my media on my TV with connecting everything, but man is it clunky to navigate.

Do you use the remote or the app. I find the remote painful for all but basic navigation, but the app makes up for it. I just wish the android app was not so obviously an iPhone app and the app let you use the headphone feature.

The headphone feature of the remote is great but it kills your batteries if you forget to unplug your headphones.

Am I missing something? My Android and iPad apps are both just giant representations of the crappy remote that looks like this[1].

I have an older Roku for what it is worth.

[1]http://www.technologytell.com/gadgets/files/2012/09/roku-mob...

I think the new stick actually lets you use the headphones connected to the andriod or ios app. I don't know why Roku 3 and 4 don't support it.

I use the remote. I like having a simple remote rather than pulling up an app on my phone. I use a harmony universal remote too. But I like the point anywhere rf remote that it comes with.

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