The much-touted Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI version) is finally shipping from Amazon, Best Buy, Roku, and several other online retailers, and it will hit store shelves in April.
The new Roku Streaming Stick comes with an attractive price tag of $50 and it will likely go head to head with Google's Chromecast. Roku's new streaming dongle plugs directly into the HDMI port on a TV, allowing users to access content from more than 1,200 online channels using a wireless remote.
The new gadget is not Roku's first streaming stick. The company first launched a streaming dongle back in 2012, but it sported a heftier $100 price tag. The 2012 model also came with MHL, which the new model lacks. Instead, the new Roku Streaming Stick features a microUSB port for power.
Users can now plug the Roku Streaming Stick into the HDMI port on their TVs, plug in the power cable, and enjoy going online even if they don't own a Smart TV - the dongle will do the trick.
Roku's Streaming Stick supports 720p and 1080p display resolutions, Wi-Fi 802.11n, as well as 7.1 and 5.1 channel audio. In terms of dimensions, the dongle measures roughly 3.1 x 1.1 x 0.5 inches and weighs in at just over 6 ounces.
Google Chromecast fans may argue that the new Roku Streaming Stick is $15 more expensive, but Roku's gadget can well justify that extra money. Instead of requiring users to turn their smartphone, tablet, or PC into a remote, the Roku Streaming Stick comes with its own remote control. The gadget also supports mostly all major online video services, including some channels that are yet to become available for Google Chromecast, such as Amazon Instant Video.
The Chromecast, meanwhile, has its own advantages. Not only is it cheaper, but increasingly more app developers are constantly coming up with new ways to enjoy the dongle. The device is becoming more and more versatile with each passing day, and some may prefer Google's gadget over the new Roku Streaming Stick. At the end of the day, however, it seems a matter of personal choice, as both devices play their roles pretty well.
If you're interested in the Roku Streaming Stick, you can now get it from Amazon here, Best Buy at this link, and from Roku's website. Check out the video below to learn more about the gadget.
