Physical & Digital EST: The Future of Home Video Discussion Thread

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

I can’t believe Roku is the most popular streaming platform. I don’t know anyone personally, who uses it.

Originally Posted by WestMan

Everybody in my family has one. It's the best box because it has the most apps. Apple, Amazon, and Google play games with how their apps or services are available on other platforms. Roku has been neutral for years and has benefited because of it.

I guess I fall into Other, no Box for me Direct Connect to Sony UHD TV and I can connect to any Provider I want. With Amazon, MA, Sony Ultra, and Vudu my Collection of Movies and the content available I have no complains. I look for the best price for my Digital Movies, and the HD or UHD is fantastic with my Fiber Connection! I told you guys this day would come, and I think it's here!

[WestMan]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I guess I fall into Other, no Box for me Direct Connect to Sony UHD TV and I can connect to any Provider I want. With Amazon, MA, Sony Ultra, and Vudu my Collection of Movies and the content available I have no complains. I look for the best price for my Digital Movies, and the HD or UHD is fantastic with my Fiber Connection! I told you guys this day would come, and I think it's here!

I have a Sony UHD and my entire digital collection through Vudu. However, apps such as PS Vue are mucher slower on the TV compared to a Roku or Amazon Fire.

[Fiffy]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

I can’t believe Roku is the most popular streaming platform. I don’t know anyone personally, who uses it.

Just compare the prices. Roku sticks start at $30, the cheapest ATV costs five times as much ...

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I guess I fall into Other, no Box for me Direct Connect to Sony UHD TV and I can connect to any Provider I want. With Amazon, MA, Sony Ultra, and Vudu my Collection of Movies and the content available I have no complains. I look for the best price for my Digital Movies, and the HD or UHD is fantastic with my Fiber Connection! I told you guys this day would come, and I think it's here!

Originally Posted by WestMan

I have a Sony UHD and my entire digital collection through Vudu. However, apps such as PS Vue are mucher slower on the TV compared to a Roku or Amazon Fire.

How are you connected, because I find my Hard Wired connection Rock Solid. All the apps are fantastic with no problems, Movies are remarkable with all of them coming up fast and furious.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

I can’t believe Roku is the most popular streaming platform. I don’t know anyone personally, who uses it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Roku>>>>>>*

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

What are you basing this on?

Looks like you missed this. So I'm just going to leave this right here for you to answer alchav21

[alchav21]

Originally Posted by alchav21

I was backing up Blu-rays and DVD's Centuries ago, but I think most Apple people are not that technical and just started doing this because they are not confident in Digital HD. UV has so many Providers that your Collection is backed up on many Servers, while Apple basically only has one. I think the Apple Ecosystem is very fragile, and is on the verge of crumbling all apart!

Originally Posted by master gandhi

What are you basing this on?

Originally Posted by The_Donster

Looks like you missed this. So I'm just going to leave this right here for you to answer alchav21

So what is there to answer, Apple has so many problems their customers just keep getting deeper and deeper into trouble. Everyday they are in the news, from Power to New Phones you can't escape the end of their Ecosystem. I have never followed their Clone Philosophy, and now my Movie Collection is free and has no end to it's usefulness! The Evil Empire will not Prevail......May The Force Be With You!

[whipnet]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

I can’t believe Roku is the most popular streaming platform. I don’t know anyone personally, who uses it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a 5 Roku household.

*

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by TROLLY

I can’t believe Roku is the most popular streaming platform. I don’t know anyone personally, who uses it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a Roku Ultra 4K device, my Daughter has a Roku Ultra 4K device and I have 2 TCL Roku Ultra 4K TV's (1 currently, buying another in about a month )

you don't know me personally, but, now you do know of me!

oh and I do own a shitload of UHD movies, so, I love and use both for different reasons and at different times!

[The_Donster]

Originally Posted by alchav21

So what is there to answer, Apple has so many problems their customers just keep getting deeper and deeper into trouble. Everyday they are in the news, and Power to New Phones you can't escape the end of their Ecosystem. I have never followed their Clone Philosophy, and now my Movie Collection is free and has no end to it's usefulness! The Evil Empire will not Prevail......May The Force Be With You!

So basically you've gotten nothing

Originally Posted by whipnet

I have a 5 Roku household.

*

Serious question whipnet, what is different with Roku compared to a BD player, gaming console or Smart TV? My family and I have only used these methods to stream and I'm wondering what the benefit is to them? I've got a friend telling me to go Kodi, but I'm kind of eh

[whipnet]

Originally Posted by The_Donster

So basically you've gotten nothing



Serious question whipnet, what is different with Roku compared to a BD player, gaming console or Smart TV? My family and I have only used these methods to stream and I'm wondering what the benefit is to them? I've got a friend telling me to go Kodi, but I'm kind of eh

If you're talking about comparing the apps that come on these devices, Roku's are superior by far. As far as BD players and game consoles, the apps are on those are like light versions.

Roku is much faster and I can control it with my laptop, smart phone or 'point anywhere' remote. I can also plug headphones into the remote if others are in the room. I can also take my sticks with me so I can have my collection and services anywhere I go that has a TV and wi-fi. Very portable.

*

[WestMan]

I've used a Roku, XBOX One, and Fire TV, and Sony UHD TV all in the last year with streaming....

FireTV worked great for the apps it had. It h However, the list of big apps was incomplete which means it could never be a one box solution for most consumers.

Sony UHD TV. I've never been impressed with streaming on television devices. The user interface is cluttered. Some of the apps worked very slow with noticeable delays.

XBOX One is a very powerful machine so of course the apps worked very well. My biggest problem is that I use PS Vue and XBOX does not have that app. I didn't like having to change devices when I was trying to stream different content. If I used Hulu TV or Sling TV, I would probably still be using the XBOX One.

Roku is not the most fancy box but it does everything very well. It's app selection is the best of any device. The user interface is so simple with no clutter which is refreshing compared to the other devices mentioned. When new apps are released, the Roku is usually within the first 2 or 3 devices to get the app. It is easy to see why it is the most popular box out there.

I have never used the AppleTV. If you only play in the Apple Universe, I have heard it is great. However, I refuse to put any of my content in the Apple Universe because it is so restrictive.

[squatting hen]

Yep. 6 Roku's in our house. 3 of the 4 people with me at work have at least one. Roku's are extremely user friendly and available just about everywhere. I have tired other streamers (TV, BluRay Player, 360, PS3, PS4, ChromeCast, Fire TV, Apple TV....Boxee) and for us, Roku is easily the best.

Back to the survey....I don't think those 5 options were any good for the question. Everyone will always want more content.

[master gandhi]

I’ve used my Samsung smart TV apps, PS3, XBox One S, Amazon Fire stick, Roku 4, Apple TV 4 and Apple TV 4K.

They all have their advantages, but I enjoy the Apple TV the most overall. The interface is the cleanest/smoothest. It finally has all the apps I use, now that they added Amazon Prime Video. Sure, it costs more than a Roku, but it’s worth it IMO.

Plus, if you like special features as much as I do, iTunes is hands down the best place to access extras. They sometimes have more extras than even the Blu-rays. Not even VUDU puts that much effort into special features. Amazon practically ignores extras.

Amazon also hardly has any movies in 4K. VUDU has a good amount, but iTunes has a lot more in 4K than VUDU. VUDU has Disney in 4K, but that’s about it in their favor. It’s also too bad VUDU could never work it out with the studios to upgrade HDX copies to UHD for free, but I guess that was too complicated. VUDU instead got to bring 4K out well before iTunes, but iTunes did it better.

I guess Apple seems restrictive to those who don’t use iPhones. Good thing I will continue using the iPhone for the foreseeable future, so I don’t have to miss out on what the Apple TV/iTunes has to offer.

[bubba111]

We have a Roku Premiere+, Apple TV (4th Gen), and Chromecast hooked up to our TV. I've set everything up so that, where possible, apps are both on the Roku and the Apple. Based on sheer usability, everyone in our family has shown a clear preference for the Roku and its user interface and remote. I personally find the Apple remote (4th Gen) to be much more error prone than the Roku remote and a generally unpleasant experience.

I use both VUDU and iTunes, but watch in Vudu given the choice. We don't really care about 4K or anything more than stereo sound. Nor do we typically watch extras (maybe a handful of times a year), so perhaps our viewing habits also influence our preferences.

We also have a Fire Stick that we take on vacations, which we find to be invaluable for the kids.

[flyry]

Originally Posted by master gandhi

I’ve used my Samsung smart TV apps, PS3, XBox One S, Amazon Fire stick, Roku 4, Apple TV 4 and Apple TV 4K.

They all have their advantages, but I enjoy the Apple TV the most overall. The interface is the cleanest/smoothest. It finally has all the apps I use, now that they added Amazon Prime Video. Sure, it costs more than a Roku, but it’s worth it IMO.

Plus, if you like special features as much as I do, iTunes is hands down the best place to access extras. They sometimes have more extras than even the Blu-rays. Not even VUDU puts that much effort into special features. Amazon practically ignores extras

Amazon also hardly has any movies in 4K. VUDU has a good amount, but iTunes has a lot more in 4K than VUDU. VUDU has Disney in 4K, but that’s about it in their favor. It’s also too bad VUDU could never work it out with the studios to upgrade HDX copies to UHD for free, but I guess that was too complicated. VUDU instead got to bring 4K out well before iTunes, but iTunes did it better.
.

These comments are so 2014. VUDU has gotten a LOT better with features. And if the movie for some reason doesn't have much (Baby Driver) I can see them on the Movies Anywhere App.

[gafool]

I have to say im going all digital, I've even looked and added digital codes to my vudu, and movies anywhere account, and on my iTunes most of them have been upgraded to 4k, I've got a noisy 4k player and I've had it! i see no difference or hear none from digital so I've gone digital! lol

[master gandhi]

Originally Posted by flyry

These comments are so 2014. VUDU has gotten a LOT better with features. And if the movie for some reason doesn't have much (Baby Driver) I can see them on the Movies Anywhere App.

When movies on VUDU include extras, they’re usually not bad. But there’s still plenty of movies on VUDU that are barebones (or only have one featurette), while iTunes has multiple extras. VUDU isn’t bad, but iTunes is where the most special features can be found. Movies Anywhere isn’t bad either.

[veritas]

Originally Posted by flyry

These comments are so 2014. VUDU has gotten a LOT better with features. And if the movie for some reason doesn't have much (Baby Driver) I can see them on the Movies Anywhere App.

The movies anywhere app has a good supply of extras but vudus still pretty horrible when it comes to extras. When I pick something at random to watch from itunes i'm surprised if it doesn't have extras while if I pick something at random from vudu I would be surprised if it does have extras. Even when it does have extras I normally find it doesn't have as many extras as Itunes.

[Emma Stone Fan]

Extras, more choice of titles and price is what's keeping me with physical media at the moment. However, there are some DVD only titles that are HD on iTunes, which is cool. Some of those DVDs are manufactured on demand and more expensive than their digital counterparts, so I'm always contemplating just getting the digital versions of those but have so far held off.