Provider style convenience

[twg]

My wife and I have started looking at replacing our DTV subscription with a streaming player like Roku or Apple TV. However, my family REALLY likes the convenience of turning on the box, pressing the "list" button and choosing one of their shows on the recorded list. From the demos and screenshots we've seen, it looks like there is a lot more clicking and remembering with a streaming device. "Hmmm, was that show I wanted to watch on Amazon or Netflix or this app or that app?" "Where is that new show I heard about streaming? I guess I'll have to search through every channel on the device to find out which service handles it." "Can I not just go to a list of everything I like or watch and choose from there?" These are all questions posed to me last night when I was talking about it with the family (wife, 10, 7 and 2. OK, the 2 year old doesn't really care...). I bought an Apple TV the other night and haven't found a place I can see a list of my favorites or subscriptions that doesn't care which app it is in.

Thanks for helping me out here.

 

[linds15]

doesnt exist. if its on netflix you go there, hulu to the hulu app, etc.

 

[twg]

doesnt exist. if its on netflix you go there, hulu to the hulu app, etc.

Ugh. That doesn't help my sales pitch at all...

 

[warvanov]

My understanding is that the Roku may actually have the functionality that you're looking for, but I haven't used one so I cannot confirm or deny.

 

[cynics]

AppleTV cannot do this. I'd suggest finding a Roku forum and seeing if it does.

Regardless if it does or not I wouldn't rule AppleTV out entirely. I still prefer it but mostly due to AirPlay.

 

[waw74]

roku has search in the top level. it will search the major channels

netflix
amazon
vudu
mgo
redbox instant
hbo go
(might be more, but on a couple searches i did that's what showed up)

it also shows the price to rent or buy

there is no way on roku to access anything from the iTunes store though (rented or purchased)