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Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

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Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#341

Post by alephnan »

mbesto wrote: post #317
pkulak wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't say this for everyone, but a tech consumer has to know that just over $100 does not cover the cost of the hardware. It's got to come from somewhere else. I'm usually not much of an Apple fan, but I just switched to the Apple TV and am really liking it. It certainly seems like charging 2x the price for the hardware removes a lot of the incentive to do all the scammy stuff Ruku is involved in; though I guess I…

> It certainly seems like charging 2x the price for the hardware removes a lot of the incentive to do all the scammy stuff Ruku is involved in; though I guess I can't know for sure, or know the future. Software services (i.e. updating iOS/Roku's OS) require on-going maintenance. Apple makes this by charging developers who in turn typically charge the consumers. Roku doesn't do this and hence why it can be hostile to…

> charging developers who in turn typically charge the consumers.

It’s like Visa, restaurants will charge all customers including cash paying ones more too. So the Visa card holder, isn’t incentivized not to use it.

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#342

Post by tomjen3 »

brk wrote: post #39

The competitive landscape for what is turning out to be the next evolution of in-home video content delivery is just making me realize that the content is not worth the hassle. I'm not going to replace a $100/mo CATV subscription with 10 (or even 5) $10/mo individual subscriptions, where I have to constantly remember which service provides a particular show. I'm not going to have multiple dongles and devices to watch…

I haven't brought one myself, but wouldn't an Apple Tv solve the consistent and complete user experience? Plus they are big enough that Google can't bully them like they can Roku.

Heck they probably have search across all the services you subscribe to so you don't have to remember which services have what stuff.

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#343

Post by southerntofu »

esrauch wrote: post #321
denkmoon wrote: post #319

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you not have the leanback launcher/LauncherX which has integrated ads? They put this on my Shield TV and Chromecast Ultra. I now own an Apple TV. https://www.google.com/amp/s/9to5google.com/2020/10/01/googl...

The normal phone-controlled Chromecast definitely doesn't have ads (but ads will play when watching YouTube unless you have premium obviously) I feel like that experience is optimal. I don't want any launcher experience on the tv, much less any ads.

> (but ads will play when watching YouTube unless you have premium obviously)

Why obviously? Can't you use an adblocker with Chromecast? Isn't it just a dumb IP video streaming device?

I've never used or seen a Chromecast, but if you can recommend a free-software/cheap alternative i'd be curious to try it.

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#344

Post by daemin »

supernovae wrote: post #151
inetknght wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> a tech consumer has to know that just over $100 does not cover the cost of the hardware. Nonsense. A raspberry pi costs far less and is, arguably, just as capable.

If it was just as capable, then people would buy Raspberry Pi's. The problem isn't hardware capability, it's the ecosystem on top of it. Pi doesn't have a robust tv platform and app market system that is built around a remote control. Sure, you can run plex on it but even plex has long abandoned its streaming app platform and decided to roll its own TV service instead... Part of me wishes that Plex would have stuck w…

It's actually getting quite difficult to buy Raspberry Pi's at the moment, they are out of stock in most places. So people are buying them, but I know that's not what you meant in the context of this conversation.

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#345

Post by gtirloni »

jjeaff wrote: post #330
mdoms wrote: post #318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Lately, the Chromecast has become substantially worse, with many more ads and of course a stupid update nobody asked for showing kind of a tablet UI when you're in "idle" mode with the phone connected to the TV (idk how you're supposed to operate it, but I don't care, ofc it's a clickbait showcase screen). Are you sure you're using a Chromecast? Not only has my Chromecast never once shown me an ad, but I have no id…

The new Chromecast is a dongle that comes with a remote and has a Google tv interface built on Android tv. You can still cast to it like the old Chromecast. You are likely using one the older, cast only devices which have been discontinued.

I have the new one with the remote and it doesn't show ads.

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#346

Post by lotsofpulp »

pchristensen wrote: post #200
gonehome wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep - you can search across all installed apps.

Content providers can choose what content to expose to the universal search. Most do, notably Netflix does not, so you can't find Netflix content using Siri.

That is one reason I canceled Netflix, and will not re subscribe until they opt in. Here’s the list of content providers that do integrate:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208083

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#347

Post by salamandersauce »

pkulak wrote: post #95
dtjb wrote: post #18

I get this situation is different since YouTube is looking for concessions on functionality, but I find it hard to defend Roku with their triple-dipping scheme. They charge for the device (I paid over $100 for my 4k HDR box), then they display massive ads covering 50% of the screen, then they want a cut of revenue from content providers as well. Roku burned through a lot of goodwill with their customers during the HB…

I can't say this for everyone, but a tech consumer has to know that just over $100 does not cover the cost of the hardware. It's got to come from somewhere else. I'm usually not much of an Apple fan, but I just switched to the Apple TV and am really liking it. It certainly seems like charging 2x the price for the hardware removes a lot of the incentive to do all the scammy stuff Ruku is involved in; though I guess I…

Apple used to sell Apple TV's for $99. It's absolutely possible to make money selling a basic 4K box with a remote for $100 or even $50 these days. You can buy random Chinese emulation consoles and streaming devices for that much where they can only be making money off the hardware.

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#348

Post by lotsofpulp »

pier25 wrote: post #141
pkulak wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't say this for everyone, but a tech consumer has to know that just over $100 does not cover the cost of the hardware. It's got to come from somewhere else. I'm usually not much of an Apple fan, but I just switched to the Apple TV and am really liking it. It certainly seems like charging 2x the price for the hardware removes a lot of the incentive to do all the scammy stuff Ruku is involved in; though I guess I…

I also bought an ATV recently and I'm very happy with it. I still use an Nvidia Shield for Plex though. The ATV is great for streaming platforms, but lacks HDMI audio passthrough which is essential for watching hi quality BluRay rips on a home theater.

I do not know if this is what you mean, but the new Apple TV 4K has HDMI ARC/eARC:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207117

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#349

Post by lotsofpulp »

yoyohello13 wrote: post #155
brk wrote: post #39

The competitive landscape for what is turning out to be the next evolution of in-home video content delivery is just making me realize that the content is not worth the hassle. I'm not going to replace a $100/mo CATV subscription with 10 (or even 5) $10/mo individual subscriptions, where I have to constantly remember which service provides a particular show. I'm not going to have multiple dongles and devices to watch…

Sounds like there is room for a service that aggregates all your streaming services into a single portal. They could even include services you don't want into a 'bundle' for 'free'. Then they could work with ISPs to bundle their content aggregation service with internet for one convenient price. Then they could make an appliance called a 'cable' box so home users can stream all these 'channels' to any device they wan…

> Sounds like there is room for a service that aggregates all your streaming services into a single portal.

Such as Apple App Store? You can search for the media you want to watch in the TV app, it shows up with how much it is, and you click to pay and then watch. I do not understand any aspect of why someone would want to go back to dealing with their not on demand monopoly cable tv provider and cable boxes.

Even if you did want that, seems easier to just sign up for YouTube tv or sling and watch via the app than deal with a cable/satellite tv company.

Re: Roku tells customers it is unable to strike a deal with YouTube

#350

Post by salamandersauce »

tomjen3 wrote: post #342
brk wrote: post #39

The competitive landscape for what is turning out to be the next evolution of in-home video content delivery is just making me realize that the content is not worth the hassle. I'm not going to replace a $100/mo CATV subscription with 10 (or even 5) $10/mo individual subscriptions, where I have to constantly remember which service provides a particular show. I'm not going to have multiple dongles and devices to watch…

I haven't brought one myself, but wouldn't an Apple Tv solve the consistent and complete user experience? Plus they are big enough that Google can't bully them like they can Roku. Heck they probably have search across all the services you subscribe to so you don't have to remember which services have what stuff.

They do have a universal search but some of the big players like Netflix don't support it which meant that when I had an Apple TV I never really used it. The interface isn't that consistent either because app developers can pretty much do what they want so Netflix, YouTube etc. have the same UI they have other platforms for the most part which is different from Apple's. Of course Apple does the same thing and the Apple TV app on my FireTV works quite a bit differently from other apps UIwise.
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