Roku Streaming Media Players

The Roku® player is an excellent choice for streaming media. Whether you are using the service instead of a cable subscription or just looking for an easy way to stream subscription services such as Netflix®, Hulu®, or Amazon Prime, there are a few different players to meet your needs. Staples® carries several streaming devices from Roku and similar brands.

Choosing a Roku Player
The brand offers an array of products, including basic streaming players that connect to older model televisions, transforming the TVs into smart devices. Some of the advanced models come with AV cables, Ethernet ports, and microSD™ slots, as well as feature quad-core processors, allowing users to take full advantage of all the elements offered by Roku. Each model, however, connects with an HDMI® cable and has a minimum of 1040 HD quality video, along with Dolby Audio™ and DTS through the HDMI® connection. All products also offer access to thousands of free and subscription-based streaming channels.

A popular choice to bring streaming along while traveling is the Roku streaming stick. To use it, just plug it into any device with a USB connection such as a laptop or hotel HDTV. Some of the brand's streamers offer enhanced viewing with 4K Ultra HD video up to 60 frames per second using an HDCP 2.2 HDMI. The most advanced products feature enhanced remote controls and HDR streaming quality.

Features of Roku Media Players
All Roku players work with a free Roku mobile application. Individuals can use the application as a replacement for their remotes, including for voice search and private listening. Private listening is also available with advanced remotes. This allows users to connect headsets to remotes or mobile devices. The advanced devices also have gaming buttons and remote finders. Another feature is the screen mirroring for Android™ and Windows® devices available for most of the streaming player models. This lets people send videos from phones, tablets, or laptops and stream them to televisions connected to Roku players.

Are There Free Channels Available on Roku Players?
The Roku offers access to thousands of channels. Some need a subscription, and many offer free content or a mixture of free and paid content, such as Hulu. If you already have a cable subscription, you can access content on network channels, such as ESPN, the CW, and dozens of other television networks.

What Is the Roku Search Feature?
The search feature lets users seek out movies, television shows, and actors across all the channels available on their devices. The system also saves searches, so people don't need to repeat the information and they can retry them later. Users can remove this history without resetting the system.

What Internet Speed Do You Need to Run a Roku Player?
All models need a high-speed internet connection to stream without interruption. Specific channels may have different streaming speed requirements. Check the channel for the particular speeds. Models that have microSD slots can play any television shows, movies, or music on the cards without an internet connection.