CNN
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(CNN)
-- Sticks are the new boxes, at least when it comes to getting the
Internet on your television. On Tuesday, Roku released its latest tool
for streaming 1080p content directly to a TV.
Roku unveils $50 Streaming Stick
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Roku's new Streaming Stick plugs into the HDMI port on the back of your TV and comes with a remote control.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Roku's new Streaming Stick is a small device that plugs into a TV
- The $50 device is a direct competitor to Google's $35 Chromecast stick
- The device can be ordered now and will ship in April
On Tuesday, Roku released
its latest tool for streaming 1080p content directly to a TV. Like the
$100 Roku 3 set-top box, the new $50 Roku Streaming Stick
has a large selection of apps for streaming content, including all the
major online services such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Instant.
The new Roku stick is about the size of a pack of gum and will be available in April.
As game consoles, cable
boxes and other bulky accessories pile up in living rooms, the smaller,
more discreet stick approach is becoming an appealing choice for
consumers who want to watch Internet content on their TV screens without
adding to the clutter.
This is not Roku's first
foray into the stick form factor. But unlike its 2-year-old $90 version,
the Streaming Stick will pop into any HDMI port, making it compatible
with many more televisions.
The Roku Streaming Stick will compete directly against Google's well-received Chromecast,
released last year. The Google dongle costs only $35 and also plugs
into any TV HDMI port. To watch Internet content on the Chromecast, you
hit a button on compatible apps from an Android or iOS smartphone or
tablet.
Both sticks require a separate power source, either through a USB port on the back of the TV or by plugging into a wall.
The Roku Streaming Stick
will cost a few bucks more than the Chromecast but includes a dedicated
remote control, like other Roku products. For people who prefer
navigating with soft buttons to swiping a smartphone screen, this can be
a big plus.
Roku's biggest advantage
is content. Because the service has been around for a while, it has many
more streaming options than the Chromecast. There are currently about
1,200 available apps for Roku.
Google recently opened
up its Chromecast device to outside developers, so it's possible a wave
of new content is on its way. For now, its big names are Netflix, HBO
Go, Hulu, YouTube and Google Play, plus a handful of smaller apps.
A third major competitor
in the streaming-to-TV space is Apple TV. Apple's offering is still an
old-fashioned box, but it could just be a matter of time before the
company jumps on the stick-shaped bandwagon. It has more content options
than a Chromecast but still lags behind the Roku. Of course, an Apple
device would appeal to people already deep into the Apple ecosystem.
Cable companies have
been slow to update their set-top boxes, and smart TVs haven't caught on
in the same way that easy-to-use Apple TV, Chromecast and Roku have.
Roku is also working directly with television manufacturers to integrate its technology into their TVs.
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Roku unveils $50 Streaming Stick
I've bought about three of these Roku 3's in the last year. One for my bedroom 40 inch flatscreen. One for a friend and one for my daughter. It's pretty amazing you can now do the same thing with a high speed wifi and a $50 stick into your HDMI in your living room TV flatscreen. This might change a lot of people's lives a lot. But likely it isn't going to help the cable businesses.
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