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Roku cuts player prices ahead of Apple iTV, adds 1080p

updated 05:00 pm EDT, Mon August 30, 2010

Roku makes preemptive strike vs Apple with price


Roku today hedged itself against Apple's media event by cutting prices for its Internet Player across the board. The prices drop $20 to $30, putting the Roku SD as low as $60 while the Roku HD costs $70 and the HD-XR is now just $100. The SD may be in clearance pricing since it's listed as "out of stock" through Roku itself.

Owners of the HD-XR will also get an upgrade that boosts the set-top box to 1080p. The patch should be free and will launch at an unspecified point later in the year.

The cuts arrive just as Apple is rumored to be launching its $99 iTV. The hub would not only be price-competitive with Roku's hardware but may support apps, letting it add most any feature that Roku might have lorded over Apple as an advantage. Current Internet Player owners can watch Netflix and Amazon VOD as well as play Pandora Internet radio.


By Electronista Staff

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TAGS :  

Amazon, industry, gadgets, digital imaging, Apple TV, Netflix, ITV, Roku, Pandora, Apple

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Previous Comments

  1. mac 13

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2008

    +1
    08/30, 05:47pm | report spam | reply

    Ugly Box

    Apple is going to kill Roku when it come to design & ease Apple is it!!!


  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -6
    08/30, 05:53pm | report spam | reply

    Re: Ugly box

    Yes, it's not about capability or functionality, it's how pretty does it look in your living room.


  1. testudo

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Aug 2001

    -4
    08/30, 05:57pm | report spam | reply

    features

    Owners of the HD-XR will also get an upgrade that boosts the set-top box to 1080p. The patch should be free and will launch at an unspecified point later in the year.

    Bah! Who needs 1080p. Apple will be doing 2160p on the new iTV! Just you wait!

    The cuts arrive just as Apple is rumored to be launching its $99 iTV. The hub would not only be price-competitive with Roku's hardware but may support apps, letting it add most any feature that Roku might have lorded over Apple as an advantage. Current Internet Player owners can watch Netflix and Amazon VOD as well as play Pandora Internet radio.

    This is so true. Well, except:
    - iTV is a rumor
    - Rumor has it that capability in running apps is still being heavily debated in Apple.
    - Nothing says that Apple will allow any movie-playing apps like Netflix or the like to play

    But besides that, yeah, Apple has crushed Roku already!


  1. OtisWild

    Junior Member

    Joined: Feb 2005

    -2
    08/30, 07:50pm | report spam | reply

    DLNA/uPNP streaming?

    If Roku can do that like WDTV or any number of digital streamer boxes, then it's OK. Otherwise it is worthless like iTV.

    If it can't play my multi-TB of torrented stuff, then it's a waste of time.


  1. iphonerulez

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2008

    0
    08/30, 07:52pm | report spam | reply

    Why the heck would Roku cut prices

    when this rumored device from Apple hasn't even been announced? It sure doesn't show much confidence from this company. Even though Roku is reducing the price it's not going to stop consumers from buying the Apple product. Loyal Apple customers will continue to buy Apple products. If the rumored iTV runs iOS apps, then it's game over for Roku. Steve Jobs is going to do his best to cut deals for inexpensive media content, so Roku is going to feel that pressure. Apple is just too big a company for Roku to go up against.


  1. bluejammm

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jul 2006

    +2
    08/30, 08:09pm | report spam | reply

    Testudo's right...again.

    I've had the ATV for a year now. It could be so good, yet it really sucks. It's SO slow and no Netflix or Pandora kills it for me. I'll take that fugly Roku over the iTV and I am normally Apple-biases. Not this time!


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