Category: Streaming Media

In an unexpected move, Google Play has now come to all current generation Roku devices.

While there have been numerous methods of getting Google Play content to your television, most of them have involved Google Devices, or other streaming solutions running some form of Android. All of that changed today however with the launch of Google Play channel for Roku devices. As the announcement states, this channel will work on all “current generation” Roku devices, which include:

Current generation players are those introduced after June 2011 and include Roku 3 (4200X), Roku 2 (2720X), Roku 1 (2710X), Roku Streaming Stick, both HDMI (3500X) and Roku Ready (3400X, 3420X) versions, Roku LT (2400X, 2450X, 2700X), Roku 2 HD (3000X), Roku 2 XD (3050X), Roku 2 XS (3100X) and the Roku HD (2500X).

This is a big move for Google, one that consumers are sure to welcome. It somewhat frees up your content and makes the Google Play Store even more alluring as the choice for where you make your digital purchases. Clearly this is something Apple will never do with iTunes purchases, so it is a definite extra feather in the cap of the Google marketplace.

For those that think this may be a watered down version of Google Play, of interest is the fact that Google Play Info Cards do work in the Roku channel. It doesn’t look as though it is quite as full-featured as on other devices, but at least the groundwork is there and can be expanded upon down the road.

For anyone signing up with Google Play for the first time, you will receive an HD copy ofX-Men as a thank you gift, but we imagine there won’t be too many new people signing up for accounts.

If you haven’t picked up a Roku yet, it seems you definitely have one more incentive to do so now.

Spotify, the popular music streaming service that launched back in 2008, is now officially available for music listeners in Canada. It certainly took a while for Spotify to launch in that market, at least considering that there are 57 other markets with access, but it’s better late than never, right?

The brand new NFL Now application, which originally launched on iOS, Windows Phone and Android and for the Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Xbox, is now officially available for the Apple TV.

Netflix catalogs and analyzes every movie and episode of TV you watch, but what if you want to keep some of your guilty pleasure viewing a secret? The company has a solution with its new “Privacy Mode,” which it’s currently testing with a small subset of customers.

It’s the end of the month, and that means a new crop of movies will be available for streaming starting May 1, while an equally long list of films will be cut from the service. This month Netflix is adding both Kill Bill films, five old Godzilla flicks, and plenty of other classics to make up for the movies we’re losing on May 1.

Starting New Year’s Day, Netflix’s library of content will be almost 100 films lighter, with some notable titles, including Top Gun, among the casualties. What’s a Netflix user to do? Fortunately, the streaming service will be adding some movies in the hopes people won’t notice the absence of such films as 50 First Dates.

One of the more beloved premium cable shows, Dexter, is making a triumphant return to Netflix—and all eight seasons will be included. As part of a new deal between CBS and Netflix, the serial-killer drama, which chronicled the life of Dexter Morgan as he dealt out vigilante justice, will be available for instant-streaming starting Thursday, Oct. 31. Unfortunately, seasons 5-8 won’t be added to Netflix’s instant catalog until Jan. 1, so you won’t be able to binge watch the entire thing until next year.

Ever wonder how Netflix decides what shows to buy? Well, among a myriad of factors, the company apparently looks at what’s popular on torrenting sites and goes from there. In an interview with Tweakers, Netflix VP of Content Acquisition flatout said the company looks at what does well on piracy sites when considering what shows to buy. It allegedly lead to Netflix buying Prison Break, which was frequently torrented overseas.