Back to one of my favourite topics – bringing Internet media into the living room. Previously I’ve discussed the ability to play online services like Netflix on your TV with devices like Xbox and Boxee Box (and to some degree Apple TV). Starting later this month there will be another popular device called Roku. Roku has been available in the USA for years and has been hugely popular. Before Boxee Box came up here, this was the device I coveted. In the USA there are over 400 “channels” to watch internet programming on, the most popular being Netflix, Disney, HBO, and Hulu. In Canada we’ll be basically left with just Netflix, MLB, and NHL (you will still need to subscribe to these services) and a few other minor players, but they are promising “over 100” channels. There will be two models released here, both with a 1080p resolution. The XD will be priced at $90 and the XS will come in at $110 (available through London Drugs, Amazon.ca, and WalMart). The more expensive version has an ethernet port as well as remote control (which also works like a Wii remote) and Angry Birds.
I don’t have one yet, but it looks like to me it really lacks compared to the Xbox or Boxee Box due to what can be done with it (you can’t easily access files on your own network being the biggest problem), but if you just want to be able to play Netflix on your TV this would be one of the least expensive ways to achieve that. If you are a big user of iTunes then you may want to look at the AppleTV to access your movies and rentals. It will be interesting to see what the other “over 100” channels will be.

Update, April 17th: now available for preorder (April 30th release date) on the Amazon.ca website