International mainstream streaming media player: Roku 3 is the best option appraisal

According February 8 Sohu digital news, if you plan to buy a streaming media player, then you can choose any one of the three products in the following: Chromecast, Roku and Apple TV. They are not the only commercially available streaming media player, but it is the most popular - mainly because of the price that several devices are under $ 100, along with a very high value for money. 



If I can only recommend a streaming media box , then I would choose Roku 3. For the following reasons: 

Roku 3 



Pros: still the best box

• More than 1000 applications: In terms of content , Roku is the undisputed champion. It covers almost the channel library (USA ) all mainstream video and music services, including Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, Pandora, Spotify, Rdio and YouTube, etc. , and is often at the first to join the new channel. In addition, Roku upgrades have been highly praised .
  
• Remote control with headphone jack: plug in the headphones Roku 3 remote control, speakers on TV will automatically mute , and you can watch broadcast content without disturbing others. This turns out to be a killer feature, especially for those who like to watch TV late at night users.
  
• Super-fast: Roku 3 has the fastest chip of the series, which is also revealed to be exhaustive in daily, it is also more sensitive than any one of streaming media box I used.
  
• Cross-platform search: Roku also has a cross-platform search features, you can use it at the same time to search among multiple video services to view the content they need. When you find movies you rented, which can be watching on Netflix, you would certainly feel frustrated, and Roku's search function can avoid it.

Shortcoming

• Relatively expensive: Although $100 is not a lot, but you can buy almost three Chromecast. If you do not need all the features provided by Roku 3, it may not be worth paying this extra price.
  
• No real AirPlay / Google Cast alternative functions: Apple TV and Chromecast allow users to use the phone or tablet on the native application to transfer content to box. In this application, the smartphone's interface will obviously bring more easily manipulated. As for the Apple TV , AirPlay allows you to use those services which are not specifically to the application , such as Spotify. Roku is beginning to offer similar functionality - currently supports YouTube and Netflix, and you can push the pictures stored on the phone, music and video - but the extent of adoption of this feature is not so extensive as the other two opponents.
  
• Multimedia file playback requires Plex: It has not been the best at playing multimedia files on Roku 3, through the USB interface supported file formats is limited - but it does support the Plex Media Server, which can be intended to make Ruku many flaws. However, you still need a networked PC running above Plex software. So if you want to connect to a file full of U-disk , Roku is not the best choice.

Chromecast 



Pros: cheap, simple, small 

When the advent of last year, the price of only $ 35, Chromecast sparked widespread concern outside world. And after sale services, it supports are further grow and improve . 

• Price is absolute advantage: price $ 35 is clearly a big advantage for Chromecast. Even if it is used only a few times, you will still feel it is value for money, while Google has also been upgraded to provide the law.
  
• Super compact: Roku 3 and Apple TV can be called a compact, but Chromecast has reached another level at small degree. It means the same design U-disk can be completely hidden behind the TV, although it still needs to be connected to the TV's USB port to get power. While it may not seem a perfect travel companion initially , but if you live in travel offers WiFi, then Chromecast can still come in handy.
  
• Covers the main applications: If you do not need multi- streaming - Many people are basically only use Netflix and YouTube - so Chromecast can take care of your needs.

Cons: limited applications , no real TV interface 

• Applications can also choose a little better: Chromecast adds more applications at the laudable efforts, but the vacancies is still very significant, including Amazon Instant, Spotify and Rdio , including many services have not yet added support. Google recently released a SDK Google Cast agreement, so more applications support should be added slowly. But if it want to catch up with Roku, it may have to take some time.
  
• No cross-platform search: Google's cross-platform search capabilities did not appear on Chromecast, this is a bit surprising, especially considering the Google TV already provides this functionality (PrimeTime). While some third-party applications have similar features, but the effect is not very good, and the integration of search compared Roku.
  
• o screen interface or a standard remote control: Unlike Roku 3 or Apple TV, Chromecast does not have a real TV screen, the screen is only a static state. Everything is done via a smart phone or tablet PC to control, which means that every time you want to pause or rewind, you need to unlock your mobile device to operate. Roku 3 and Apple TV provides applications for mobile devices to achieve the degree of control, but Chromecast has the only way to manipulate . For the living room of this environment, I personally prefer physical keys rather than virtual buttons, but it had to be based on individual preferences.
  
• Screen mapping work is not very good: the screen mapping is currently in beta testing interface, which can really see that. Although the label from Chrome features will be mapped to any content on the TV sounds good, but it's not a very good work, especially comparing Apple TV and recent Mac laptops that have similar functionality.

Apple TV 



Pros: excellent companion iOS 

Apple TV is the oldest among the three devices , but you should not reason to ignore it - especially if you've been in the ecosystem in which Apple has invested. 

• Among the outstanding performance of Apple's ecosystem: If you have entered the Apple ecosystem, the Apple TV lets you get to all of the content on your TV, for example, you buy on the iTunes TV shows, movies or music. If you also use iTunes Match, it can all enjoy music stored in the cloud. Support for iTunes Radio also recently been added, so that you can experience in the living room to free radio.
  
• AirPlay is still great: If you already have other iOS devices, then almost any application in which music, pictures and videos pushed to the Apple TV is very simple. This feature also allows you access to a large number of Apple TV, which does not provide native support for applications. For example, Apple TV does not Pandora application, but you can easily be on the phone or tablet Pandora streaming content through Apple TV to play them. If you have recently come out of a Mac, then work should screen mapping function is also very good.
  
• Application Support catching up: Apple TV keeps up with the rhythm of the past, which have been less in the application of the above, but the recent performance was much better, such as HBO Go and Watch ESPN and so many high-quality services have been added in the previous year.

Disadvantages: Get the lead out 

• Less than the number of applications and functions Roku: Roku 3 has a greater number of applications, cross-platform search, and a headphone jack with a remote control. These features are not necessary, but it is very intimate and practical, especially considering the price of the same two devices.
  
• Very centered in iTunes: Apple TV seems to be the entire interface, which is designed to push you to the iTunes content among its entire, main screen is occupied by almost iTunes movies, TV shows, and music. If you are heavy users of the Apple ecosystem, which of course is not a problem , but if you prefer to buy them from other online stores and rental content words - such as Amazon or Vudu, these two services do not get on Apple TV support - This is not ideal it.
  
• Come the new version: There needs to be considered is that recently rumored Apple's upcoming next-generation Apple TV. Although these rumors have appeared before, but considering the age of this generation Apple TV has not small, even if you do not see the new model year, the issue within six months , but I would be surprised.

Good news: The three boxes are great 

For these "big three" streaming box, the good news is that they mature enough and cheap it. iOS users can get from Chromecast diehard among many features, you can enjoy a meal while Android Apple TV nicely. 

For now, Roku 3 is still the best choice for most buyers, but the pace of development in this area soon, Chromecast will continue to add more applications support, and rumors about the new Apple TV is also emerging.