AirCastLive app transforms Roku boxes into video and photo sharing services for Father's Day

Introducing AirCastLive from AirCastLive on Vimeo.

A new promo from Roku and AirCastLive are running through this Father's Day that will let you use your smartphone to send or exchange video messages with Dad using your Roku or other STB.

Roku is offering $10 off of a Roku 3 for Dad, while AirCastLive is making its app - normally $5 - available for free from June 9 through June 16.

AirCastLive is an app that turns your Roku (or Google TV) into something more than just a streaming media box - it's now a way to instantly send and share video or photos with friends and family. Families can easily share video they've taken with their smartphones and immediately send it to Dad (or themselves) to view on a larger "life size" screen - much more preferable for important events. 

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New Roku 3 update brings search to smartphone

For those Roku users who don’t have the company’s HDMI Streaming Stick, you now have a chance to do searches on your smartphone with the upcoming update for Roku 3 devices. The rollout is expected to wrap up by April 22. So if the update hasn’t come your way, just wait a bit. Those using other models will also be getting the update in the coming weeks. And for the time being, be a bit more patient and suffer through typing with the remote.

Source: Roku Blog

Amazon’s FireTV yet another set top box with compromises

By Simon Cohen

Amazon takes the proprietary route with its Fire TV set top box and gives consumers one more choice that won’t serve all of their needs.

I’ve always admired Amazon for their customer-centric view of the world. Their online shopping experience is second to none. Their customer service is superb. Their dedication to creating devices and services to meet the needs of their customers has always impressed me – especially given that the hardware space is so competitive (and littered with failures).

So I was really keen to find out what Amazon’s latest toy, the $99 Fire TV set-top box had to offer. Even though it isn't available to Canadians currently, the U.S. version is likely a very strong indicator of what we’ll get when it arrives.

Sadly, what we’ll get is a series of compromises.

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Polaroid introduces 4K UHD TV at CES

Polaroid is looking at the bigger picture (quite literally) with a new product they are launching at CES. Polaroid will be offering a 50-inch Ultra HD television worth about US$999.99. Empire Electronics licensed Polaroid’s brand to develop and market the new 4K TV. It will feature three HDMI ports and the imaging company claims it will have the “highest quality picture resolution at the best price.” Polaroid will also introduce a 50-inch Smart TV equipped with Roku Streaming Stick for half the price at $599.99.

Source: Polaroid