Apple TV competitor Roku has announced a refresh of its line of set-top entertainment boxes, with the new Roku LT, Roku 1, and Roku 2 models joining the flagship Roku 3 that was announced in March, along with a new service allowing for the purchase and rental of movies and TV shows.
Specifically, the entry-level Roku LT retails at $49.99 and allows streaming to virtually any TV with support for 720p HD video quality, with the higher-end Roku 1 offering support for up to 1080p video quality and retailing at $59.99. Additionally, the Roku 2 offers the same 1080p video streaming as the Roku 1, but also borrows the Roku 3's premium remote with built-in headphone jack and dual-band wireless capabilities and now retails for $79.99. The Roku 3 remains the same at $99.99, and features various channels for streaming content and motion gestures with its remote.
Roku is also introducing the M-GO movie and TV store, integrated directly on the device's home screen menu in the U.S. for easy and instant access to a wide variety of movies and TV shows including The Hangover 3 and Breaking Bad. The service also allows for direct billing with a Roku account for buying and renting content.We're excited to announce that streaming is about to get even better with our all-new family of Roku players. First, like all things Roku, we try to simplify everything about streaming, right down to our product names. The new family features the new Roku 1 and Roku 2 to go alongside the Roku 3 that we launched earlier this year. We have also updated our entry level product, the Roku LT, giving all current Roku players a fun, friendly design.
Second, just in time for fall TV viewing, we've added some great new features to give customers more enjoyment and value. For example, we've added a headphone jack for private listening and dual-band wireless to the Roku 2, and support for 1080p HD video to the Roku 1.
The move by Roku comes as Apple may be planning to release an updated Apple TV box next month, and comes after the Apple TV 6.0 Software Update last week that featured iTunes Radio and AirPlay from iCloud functionality.
Article Link: Roku Refreshes Set-Top Box Line with New Roku LT, Roku 1, and Roku 2