From the beginning, we knew the Roku Netflix Player ($100) was technically capable of displaying high def resolutions. The only real question I’ve had - Is the buffer big enough? Turns out, that by streaming “HD at substantially lower bit-rates,” it is. According to Roku:
- Roku will be delivering Netflix in HD by the end of the year
- The UI will be updated to run in 720p and more covers will be visible on the screen at a time
- And the release will include another major new feature that you’ll have to wait a bit longer to learn about
I’m hopeful the secret addition is Hulu streaming. Roku’s indicated they’re opening the doors to other providers, and we could really use a simple method of getting Hulu content (as rumored) onto the television. Of course, YouTube has also been suggested… although UGC isn’t nearly as compelling. Regardless, we’ll most likely see a slightly revamped interface, more than just those 720p visuals, to offer additional Netflix interaction and support new or potential partners.
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