If we were to go back a few years the choice of streaming devices for your living room was limited, but this has changed dramatically. There are several reasons for this, two of which are because technology has changed and also the fact that Internet speeds have increased, making it a more viable service.

There is now a huge choice on the market, with the Roku 3 being one of the newest on the block. However, we will soon know if the streaming device is worth the price of just below $100 because you can purchase it from the company’s online store today. It’s a tough market for the Roku 3 because the Apple TV is its biggest threat, but with an interface that has seen an overhaul and improved hardware the small little box has the tools to take on its rival.

The new price point of below $100 for the latest Roku is its biggest selling feature, because of how much content can be streamed from such a small device. Okay, so we know that this is the same as the Apple TV, although with more than 700 channels available the former has far more content on offer than the latter.

Looking at the Roku 3 it does not look that different to other models, such as the Roku 2 XS and the similarly sized LT. However, it’s worth noting that the new model will be a little heavier because the company wanted a more quality feel, which is obviously to persuade people to buy this device rather than the Apple TV.

The new Roku experience can be seen below, and while it is only available on the Roku 3 for now, it is certainly worth paying the extra $50 over other models in the range becasue of the added benefits..

The two Roku set tops box on offer have now begun shipping, and the company has announced the service will now also offer the BBC iPlayer to UK residents. The neat little boxes will now offer UK consumers a good choice of content with the addition of the BBC iPlayer, and according to an article over at TechRadar is alongside the likes of Netflix, Crackle and a number of other web based content to owners TVs.

As we reported before there are two different set top boxes on offer from the company, which includes the entry level Roku LT that costs only £49.99. This still allows for 720p video content, while for £99.99 you can get the Roku 2 XS. This supports 1080p Full HD and also adds some casual games such as Angry Birds. You also get a motion controlled gaming remote that connects to the main unit via Bluetooth.

The more expensive unit also has a microSD slot for storing extra games, while a USB port will allow users to play music, videos, and view images via a USB drive. General Manager and VP for Roku Europe, Clive Hudson, said the company recognizes the importance of region specific content, and “are excited to announce the addition of BBC iPlayer to our platform”.

He went on to say that the BBC iPlayer is the first of many different partnerships for the company in Europe, and they will be “making additional announcements in the coming weeks”. Users of Roku in the US have access to content providers such as Amazon Instant Video, so users in the UK may get treated to providers such as Lovefilm in the not too distant future.

Have you ordered one of the new boxes from Roku?

Only yesterday we reported to you about the Netflix streaming service that had crossed the pond and launched in the UK. Now Roku has followed it over to the country with the launch of two set top boxes. According to an article over on SlashGear consumers will have the choice between the Roku LT and Roku 2 XS boxes.

Both of the devices support HDMI and RCA connections for your TV, alongside Wi-Fi to connect to your network. The Roku 2 XS also has a wired Ethernet input as well. The basic level Roku LT offers support up to 720p, with the more expensive Roku 2 XS supports 1080p Full HD.

The higher specified of the boxes adds some casual games that include Angry Birds along with a motion controlled game remote, which uses Bluetooth to connect to the main box. It also has a microSD slot for storing extra games, and a USB port to play music, videos, and view photos via a USB drive.

It offers access to Netflix, Facebook, Flickr, and Crackle among other services. Available to pre-order now the Roku LT is priced at £49.99, and the Roku 2 XS is available at £99.99. Both devices will begin shipping towards the end of the month.

Will you be getting a Roku box?

If the space underneath your TV is starting to get cluttered Roku has announced a small “Streaming Stick”, which according to PCMag simply plugs into the HDMI port of your TV. This will then gain you access to a variety of streaming services such as Netflix.

The new device is similar in size to your standard USB flash drive, but cleverly also includes built-in Wi-Fi, processor, software, and memory. It will work with any HDMI port that has MHL support, which stands for Mobile High Definition. This is the new industry standard that uses an HDMI connector to provide streaming services.

Once plugged in users can use the TV remote to navigate the Roku UI that has access to over 400 channels. The company also promised to provide free software updates on a regular basis. Coming in the fall pricing has yet to be revealed, but the company’s most recent release, the Roku LT costs $50.

It will also come bundled with certain TV sets, with the first being Best Buy’s Insignia brand, which will be available sometime this year. Roku debuted as a way to stream Netflix to a TV, and has since included games consoles and Blu-ray players among other products.

Do you like the look of the new product from Roku?

Roku has already been a success in the US and has a range of different options available starting from $59.99 or £37 up to $99.99. Cnet are reporting that the company said consumers in Canada and the UK will get the service from early next year. Roku are also going to expand its platform so it will support channels that are specific for each region.

CEO of Roku Anthony Wood said that the company has done well this year in the US, and added “now we’re looking forward to kicking off 2012 by expanding to Europe and Canada to give consumers the best in streaming entertainment–a natural evolution for Roku.”

The company said earlier this year that over one billion content streams have been sent to TVs via its set top boxes. Roku offers over 350 channels of video, music, and games through its Channel Store. This allows consumers to add channels to create a personal menu and watch content associated with them.

You can bet the likes of the BBC iPlayer and Lovefilm will want to join the Roku party that in the US has Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Angry Birds among its content available. Will you consider purchasing the Roku set top box when it launches in your region?

All three of the new models will come in at less than $100, just like the previous lines. Each of the new versions will also be smaller than the older models, and according to Tim Gideon of PCMag they will be equipped for casual gaming with newly designed remote controls.

For fans of Angry Birds the top of the line model the Roku 2 XS comes with the game preloaded, and a gaming remote with motion control similar to a Nintendo Wii controller. At first the only game available for the new devices will be Angry Birds, but more titles are in the pipeline including other Angry Bird titles. The other two models don’t come with the gaming remote and it will need to be purchased separately, but are equipped for gaming.

All the boxes come preloaded with channels or apps for the content, which now include besides Angry Birds; Facebook, Major League Soccer, FoxNews.com, and AOL HD. These are added to the channel selection of almost 300 titles that includes the likes of Netflix and Hulu Plus. Users also have access to Flickr, UFC, NBA Game Time, NHL GameCenter Live, and Vimeo among others.

The Roku 2 XS and XD have higher video resolution and are capable of 1080p playback, but the Roku 2 HD is only capable of 720p. The top of the range XS model also comes with an Ethernet port and USB connectivity for using media stored on USB drives. All three of the units have Bluetooth which the gaming remote uses and a MicroSD input.

The units are priced as follows; the Roku 2 HD entry model retails at $59.99, the Roku 2 XD retails at $79.99, and the top of the range Roku 2 XS is $99.99. If you decide to get one of the lower end models and then decide to play games, the gaming remote package will cost you $29.99. This does include a 2GB MicroSD card but you may be better off just buying the Roku XS to begin with.

The new models are expected to hit major retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy by the end of the month. Do you use a Roku set top box?

Last year Engadget had a look at Apple TV alternatives comparing prices and features of the devices. Price wise the Apple TV was the cheapest along with the Roku box at $99, and was also the smallest device. The Roku had more choice when it came to content, it also had MLB.tv, NBA GameTime, Pandora, and Amazon over what can be found on the Apple.

Now there is news that the Roku HD-XR and XDS boxes will be able to play back files from a connected USB drive. Cnet are reporting that this is now possible thanks to a new firmware update. MP4, MOV, and MKV formats are now all supported by the device.

Apple TV doesn’t even have an USB port on its new device, and needs hacking for it to playback files via USB on the old Apple TV. With this in mind would it be a factor in deciding which device you choose? Check out the video below comparing the two devices.

If you want to be pro-active and update it now then you can, all you need to do is go to the Settings, then Player Info and hit the Check For Updates. Tim Stevens over at Engadget.com said basically, if you aren’t that desperate to update it then don’t worry, just leave your box on over night and it will just go ahead and apply the update on its own.

Upgrading from 720p to full 1080p isn’t the only change that is hitting your box, let’s have a look at the others. Following the update you will be able to change the option menu action name from change order to change position when re-arranging channels, the bug has been fixed where if you tried to load an image that was too large the application would crash. The Hulu application now optimizes to give you improved playback for the type of networks that has a higher latency. They have also fixed the audio playback issue that was present when watching the UFC streams.

There are a few other changes, if you want to learn more about them then head on over to the Roku Forums by clicking here. If you don’t know what Roku is then why not head over to their official site where they have a demonstration video on their homepage by clicking here.

Have you got the update yet? Once you have got it let us know if the bug fixes are all complete or not. Also let us know of any addition issues that you have found since updating in the comments below.

BGR has picked up on this deal, and they are calling the Roku XD Player a great alternative to Google TV. For a quick summary, the Roku XD Player will allow you to watch 1080p content from the likes of Netflix, Amazon On-Demand, Hulu Plus and Pandora.

It will also allow you to stream your entire iTunes music collection on your TV and watch live MLB and UFC content straight from the Roku box. If you are interested in the Roku XD Player, it will be available with a 20% discount for the next few days, meaning that it will be priced at just $64.

You can find out more information, including reviews for the Roku XD over at the official website here.

Do you own a Roku box? If so, would you recommend it for other shoppers or not?

The update has only just started to be rolled out so you may have not received it yet, but you can always go to the settings screen to check and then download the update now. One of the biggest changes is the new ability to re-order channels. Unwatched options can moved to the side, and ones you want to watch can be bunched in a nice row. An option to layout the Channel Store in a grid style layout is also available.

Other changes include a seasonal home screen banner, time settings option, home screen clock, and new icons for the Channel Store and Settings. The Hulu Plus has not arrived yet but is surely only a matter of time. The re-ordering of the home screen layout now requires the Instant Replay Roku Remote which costs $15.

Source: TFTS.