Roku cuts price of media players in possible anticipation of new Apple TV

Maybe it's coincidence, but probably not. On the eve of a rumored announcement of an updated US $99.00 Apple TV, Roku has cut the price of its media players. The standard definition model has been slashed $20 to $59.99, and the high definition model has been trimmed by $30 to $99.99.

The Roku hardware supports 50 different channels, including Netflix and Vimeo, with no PC or Mac connection needed. Apple is expected to announce a revamped Apple TV, rumored to be called the iTV. It may be built on iOS 4, which would allow many of the iPad and iPhone apps to be run on it.

Of course no one knows for sure what Apple will announce tomorrow, but it's not uncommon to see price cuts from competitors just before Apple makes its plans public. If you're set on buying an iTV, you'll obviously want to wait until Wednesday's show, but if you've had your eye on a Roku, saving a few extra bucks is never a bad thing.

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Source: http://shop.roku.com/Roku-Digital-Video-Player-Options-W5.as…

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Maybe it's coincidence, but probably not. On the eve of a rumored announcement of an updated US $99.00 Apple TV, Roku has cut the price of...

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Grant Buell

I have a Roku box and I love it, but only use it for Netflix (most of the other channels are worthless) - however, if the new Apple TV really is $99 and can do Netflix, AND can still stream video from my local library (something Roku can't do), I might very well replace it.

August 31 2010 at 5:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Grant Buell's comment

PookieBadMuffin

It can stream local media.

Get the HD or HD-XR unit and you can add your own content as a private channel using RoksBox or My Media. Just turn on web sharing on a Mac (or set up a web server on a PC), add your content, tweak the Settings for RB/MM, and you're good to go. It's (RoksBox) handled all my Mac-oriented files, as well as those encoded by my Elgato.

The HD-XR will play from the USB port, as well.

And hell, if you don't want to do that, grab the new Plex with Media Manager. It's super-sweet and uses the remote that comes with the Mac.

August 31 2010 at 5:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

codagtr

Actually, Roku is cutting those prices because they are about to release a 1080p capable unit.

http://www.macworld.com/article/153770/2010/08/new_price_cuts_for_roku_players.html

August 31 2010 at 4:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to codagtr's comment

sinless

Did I miss something? The way I read it the article said that the current high end Roku will get a software update to support 1080p.

August 31 2010 at 5:13 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Lordthree

The who dropped their price on the what?

August 31 2010 at 4:35 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

SaintStryfe

This is very nice. I'm waiting for tomorrow of course, but if Apple's offering isn't a wow, I'm going with the Roku.

I have been using a Xbox 360 but with it's sudden price increase, I can't think of a good reason to keep it. All I used it for was Netflix. I love it on my PS3 but I hate wasting the system on it. Wii is SD. This is best-case for my entertainment.

August 31 2010 at 4:17 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

markm49uk

Do you guys ever manage to actually release info before the other tech sites - you are always 1-2 days behind with any news. Where are the in depth articles, the investigative reporting or even the tutorials on popular products?

This site is going downhill quick.

August 31 2010 at 4:12 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to markm49uk's comment

Michael

I couldn't agree with you more. I'm about to take this site out of my browsing schedule. They are days behind and everything on here is usually somewhere else first. Nothing original, no in depth articles, just rehashed from the rest of the web days later.

August 31 2010 at 4:58 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jeffrey.milton

Agreed. Tuaw is quickly becoming irrelevant.

August 31 2010 at 9:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply