I give the new Roku XDS a C. Great for video, but terrible for audio.

I picked up a new Roku XDS for $100 at Amazon. I had pretty high expectations after reading some reviews and checking out the product page. I planned to use it to listen to my MP3 collection and Pandora, as well as to stream video from Netflix and Hulu Plus. That’s all I wanted from it. Sounds simple. I figured I’d be able to get rid of my prior generation Apple TV that is only being used to store and play my music. I was wrong.

Video

The Roku really shines with streaming video. When comparing its Netflix interface to that of my Internet-connected Samsung Blu-ray player, the Roku is great. Not only can I access my instant (streaming) queue, but I can also search for movies – something I can’t do with my Blu-ray player. Also, Netflix loads faster, the videos play at a higher resolution, and the UI just seems speedier. Netflix is great on the Roku.

Hulu Plus is also pretty good, but not perfect. There is some overscanning going on, but it’s not enough to worry about. Also, I have to pay extra for it ($7.99/month) which sucks considering I still have to watch commercials. But it’s still better than plugging my computer into my TV.

I recently downgraded my DirecTV package. The combination of Netflix and Hulu Plus are good enough to allow me to stick with the downgrade.

If I had one wish, it’s that Roku would work something out with ESPN so that I can watch ESPN 3 on my TV. I’d pay extra for that. I get it free on my PC as a Comcast subscriber. Currently ESPN only makes it available via deals they cut with ISPs. I can’t buy it as an individual. I hope this changes.

Overall, the Roku gets an A- for video.

Audio

The Roku seriously disappoints here. First of all it doesn’t have a built-in application to play MP3s connected to it via USB or over my home network. The only way to hear my own music is to first upload it MP3Tunes.com. This comes with an annual fee and it takes forever to complete the upload – multiple days for around 50GB of music. But I was willing to give this a shot since this would solve my offsite backup needs for my music.

The UI for MP3Tunes on Roku is terrible – it’s sluggish, under-featured – i.e. doesn’t support browsing/shuffling by genre – and it’s buggy. What’s worse, the service doesn’t  handle playlists well, especially big ones. This is a known bug confirmed by their tech support. The Web-based UI for MP3Tunes is better, but only slightly. It’s still buggy and slow. I hate it and wish I hadn’t wasted my time and money on it.

Pandora works decently well on the Roku, but not appreciably better than on my Blu-ray player.

Overall, the Roku gets and F for audio.

Recommendation

If you don’t care about audio, then by all means get the Roku. You’ll love it. If you want to listen to your own music, this isn’t the device for you. You will be very disappointed. Get an Apple TV instead.

Regarding which model to get, the XDS is great because it has more connections and it has a replay button that is missing on the entry-level model. Spend the extra money for the XDS.

DirecTV = Terrible Customer Service

DirecTV has an exclusive on NFL Sunday Ticket in the US. They use this very effectively to grab subscribers from cable and to lock them in for 2 years. I’m one such person.

NFL Sunday Ticket is great, when it works. It’s expensive, but it’s the only way I can watch Cowboys games in San Francisco, plus I love the Red Zone channel. Today I missed both because of an incorrect satellite configuration (a configuration that was done by DirecTV).

I called DirecTV to resolve the issue and request a pro-rated refund for the week since I didn’t get to see what I wanted to see. They wouldn’t issue a refund. The person on the phone was nice and seemed to understand, but said she couldn’t do anything. It’s great to be a monopoly.

It’s clear that DirecTV has adopted the mindset that customers will do anything to keep getting NFL Sunday Ticket and that they’re locked in to the service, so why bother doing anything to keep them happy. They’re probably right, but this is exactly why monopolies and exclusives are bad for customers. Another great example is AT&T and the iPhone.

When I asked about my contract and service level, I learned I have 11 months left. I found out I could downgrade and save $33/mth (of course, I’d lose some channels). When I offered them the choice of issuing me a refund for 1  week of service for NFL Sunday Ticket vs me downgrading by $33/mth going forward, they still wouldn’t issue the refund. I immediately downgraded my service. They just lost $33/mth * the 11 remaining months on my contract or $363 in revenue to save issuing a one-time refund that couldn’t have been more than $15-$20. Plus they’re going to lose me as a subscriber at the end of that 11 month period, so they’re going to be losing even more future revenue and a little piece of all important market share. Unbelievable!

A typical day for me begins with the following before getting out of bed:

1) Turning off my alarm (iPhone 3GS).

2) Starting the download for the WSJ This Morning podcast (iPhone 3GS).

3) Checking the temperature (iPhone 3GS).

Once I get out of bed:

1) I get dressed to take my dog for a walk while listening to the WSJ podcast on my iPhone that has finished downloading.

2) I feed myself and my dog while continuing to listen to the WSJ podcast.

3) I connect my iPhone to some powered speakers and finish the WSJ podcast as I shower and get dressed for work.

As I leave the house to go to work:

1) I listen to music on my iPhone as I walk to bus stop.

2) While waiting for the bus I check my personal and work e-mail.

3) After checking e-mail, I play games and listen to music on my iPhone until I reach work.

It’s amazing how fast time seems to pass when you have so many productivity and entertainment options available.

Depending on what I’m doing that day at work, I might listen to music, Pandora, or local sports talk from Dallas (the ESPN Radio iPhone app is great) as I work.

At work I’m always connected to the Internet. Most of my collegues are located remotely or at another office. Work is done primarily via e-mail and chat. I’m on the phone no more than once or twice a day. I used the phone far more when I was doing Business Development.

My primary applications include Outlook, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Excel on a 10″ Dell laptop running Windows XP docked with dual 20 inch LCD monitors. I use Word and PowerPoint far less in product management than I did in Business Development.

I also keep Meebo’s web-based chat application open all day on a small USB monitor to access AIM, Live Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger. I keep up with industry news using Google Reader and Techmeme.

Prior to heading home from the office, I start the downloads for a few ESPN podcasts which keep me company until I get home and walk the dog.

After I walk my dog and feed the two of us, I catch up on TV shows waiting for me on my DirecTV DVR or stream some music using my Apple TV.

I’ll typically surf the web and read the days news and tech blogs on my laptop as I watch TV or listen to music. I have a 17″ Dell laptop running Windows 7. I primarily use Google Chrome to browse the web at home.

I actually have print subscription to Business Week (it was free).

When I crawl into bed at night I set my alarm, plug in the charger, and turn on some relaxing tunes on my iPhone 3GS.

As you can see, the iPhone has been deeply integrated into my daily activities. I have a hard time seeing how I’d get by without it.

]]> http://randyweber.com/blog/2010/03/13/technology-and-me-a-day-in-the-life-of/feed/ 0 http://randyweber.com/blog/2010/03/07/top-tech-changes-for-me-over-the-last-decade/ http://randyweber.com/blog/2010/03/07/top-tech-changes-for-me-over-the-last-decade/#comments Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:30:47 +0000 Randy Weber http://randyweber.com/blog/?p=500 This is the second post of three about technology changes over the last decade. Yesterday I covered what I was using in 2001 and what I’m using in 2010. Today I’m covering what I consider to be the biggest changes for me over the last decade.

The four biggest technological changes of the decade for me were:

1) Time-Shifting TV (TiVo and later generic DVRs)

2) Combo of Broadband, Wi-Fi, and Laptops

3) Mobile Voice, Internet, and Apps (iPhone)

4) NFL Sunday Ticket

The Internet was old news for me coming into 2001 having been online since 1993. I was primarily using a company-provided laptop with dial-up access to get online. I made calls using a landline and a Nokia cellphone. I was watching TV with basic cable and a DVD player.

The most significant change came a few years into the decade when I added digital cable and a TiVo. Watching TV has not been the same since. Other than sporting events, I no longer watch live TV. I also used the TiVo to connect to my server so I could navigate and listen to my MP3 collection using my entertainment system. It worked amazingly well for this purpose. In fact, it was better than the current version of Apple TV. Unfortunately TiVo dropped the ball by not partnering with the cable providers and not launching an HD version soon enough. I ended up using the HD DVRs that were provided by Comcast when I bought my first HDTV - a 34″ widescreen, CRT from Toshiba. I’m now using a DirecTV dual tuner HD DVR with a 65″ plasma HDTV from Panasonic.

Moving from CDs to MP3s wasn’t significan’t until I got my first iPhone. I had an early generation iPod but I didn’t take it with me everywhere. More on that later.

Netflix came along pretty early in the decade, but I’m not ready to say it changed the world very much for me. I dropped it after about a year. I later took up Blockbuster’s offer during a period of unemployment when they were giving 2 free in-store rentals, free swaps in-store, plus 3 movies out at a time. With this setup I was able to have as many as 8 DVDs at a time if I was willing to drive a mile to return my movies in store. It was worth it. Blockbuster clearly was not making any money on me. They’ve since repriced this option from about $16 to $35 a month and quit sending you new DVDs at the same time that you exchange one in store. Since moving from Dallas to Alameda, I’ve given Netflix another try. I’m unimpressed with their streaming content so I probably won’t remain a member past the start of football season in Fall 2010.

The second most significant change came in the form of DSL from SBC with a wireless router and a new laptop. No more dial-up. This was a MAJOR change for me. It was fast and portable. I could be online in any room in my house or even outside on the patio. My Internet usage skyrocketed with this change. Once you’ve had wireless broadband with a laptop, there is no going back.

Over time, I used my landline less and less. When I moved from Arlington to Dallas in 2007, I had a landline that I seldom used. The ringer wasn’t turned on and I didn’t give the number to anyone. I stuck mostly with my Nokia semi-smart phone running an early version of the Symbian mobile OS. Now that I’m in California, I’m without a landline.

In late 2007 I added my third most signifcant change in the form of an iPhone. I was devastated when my Nokia died. It was my 3rd Nokia and I loved it. I tried the latest Nokia smart phone, but I hated it so I gave the iPhone a shot. The iPhone was GREAT with a nice web browser and decent web-based apps (this was pre App Store). I soon forgot all about my Nokia. I’ve since upgraded to an iPhone 3GS. I love having music, Internet, games, and e-mail (personal and work) all in one small device. Having all my music as MP3s is great now that I have my iPhone with me at all times.

My fourth most significant change came in the form of DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket (I know, I was a late adopter). I spent my first year in California not being able to watch Dallas Cowboys games and frequently being limited to just 2 afternoon games dedpending upon the Raiders’ and 49ers’ schedules. I did not want to watch the local teams. I dropped cable for DirecTV prior to football season in 2009. It is GREAT! Of course if your local market team is your favorite team, then there’s really not much reason to get the Sunday Ticket or DirecTV. DirecTV is over-priced.

Technology I used in 2001:

- Nokia cellphone for mobile and long-distance calls

- landline for local calls and Internet access

- dial-up Internet access

- company provided laptop with Windows NT 4 for work and for getting online at home

- basic cable

- standard definition 20″ TV

- cheap battery-powered alarm clock

Technology I’m using in 2010:

- iPhone 3GS for all calls, MP3 player, Pandora, yellow pages, maps, mobile web access, gaming, e-mail (personal and work), controlling my Apple TV, alarm clock, calendar, and contacts.

- NOTE: no landline

- cable Internet access with wireless router

- Apple TV

- Mac mini

- 17″ HP laptop with Windows 7 (personal)

- 10″ Dell laptop with Windows XP (work)

- Samsung Internet-connected Blu-Ray player

- 65″ Panasonic Plasma HDTV

- DirecTV with dual tuner HD DVR, NFL Sunday Ticket, and ESPN Game Plan (no premium channels)

- Hulu for catching up on shows that I may have missed

- Netflix for DVDs and streaming video (but I’m unimpressed with their streaming content, so I’ll probably cancel when football season resumes in Fall 2010)

- PS2 used primarily for Karaoke games

- Harmony remote that controls my Sony receiver, Samsung Blu-Ray player, DirecTV DVR, Apple TV, and Panasonic HDTV

I have 2 games recording and I’m watching the RedZone real-time highlight channel on my iPhone. RedZone is great!

Maybe I’ll stop complaining about how much this costs.