You can pull up a virtual QWERTY keyboard to speed up the text-entry process. The Remote page mimics most of the buttons on the remote (with the OK button more intuitively located in the middle of the navigation arrows, I might add!). The company also offers a free control app for iOS and Android devices that consists of four pages. You can purchase additional Roku 3 remotes for $24.99, but this remote is not compatible with older Roku players. Roku even includes a pair of in-ear headphones in the package. If you want to play games or watch a movie without disturbing anyone in the house, just plug a pair of headphones into the jack, and the player will automatically mute the HDMI output and direct audio to the headphones. The major addition to the Roku 3 remote is a headphone jack on the left side panel and volume controls on the right. Like the former XS remote, the Roku 3 remote has Wii-like motion sensing to play games like Angry Birds Space (which is included for free), and the remote comes with a detachable, adjustable wrist strap. The remote communicates via WiFi Direct, so you don't need line-of-sight with the player, and the two devices automatically pair with each other during initial setup. So many other remotes put the OK button in the center that I now expect it to be there by force of habit, I consistently found myself pressing a nonexistent button to initiate commands. My only gripe about the remote's button layout is that the OK button sits under the navigation arrows, instead of in the center of them. A and B buttons are also available for game play. The remote control's small form (5.5 inches long by one inch deep by about 1.5 inches wide) and curvy backside helped it to fit comfortably in my small hand, and it offers the core buttons you'll need: home, return, navigation arrows, OK, options, play/pause, reverse, forward, and an Instant Replay button that lets you replay the last seven seconds of video. The Roku 2 XD/HD/LT models have analog A/V output, but this one does not, so it's not the right choice for someone who owns a non-HDMI-equipped TV or AV receiver. The Roku 3 supports 1080p output via HDMI, which is the only video and audio connection option. On the back, you'll find the DC power port, Ethernet port, MicroSD card slot, and HDMI port. At first I thought this tag's purpose was to show me where the MicroSD card slot is located, but no, it's just a distinguishing brand tag that appears on all Roku players. On the right side is the USB port on the left is a little purple cloth tag that says Roku. On the front face are the Roku 3 logo, an IR sensor, and a power LED. The Roku 3 has a petite form factor, a 3.5-inch square that's just one inch tall, with a glossy black finish. So, with the introduction of the Roku 3, I decided it was time to discover for myself how Roku distinguishes itself from the pack. I've written about Roku players in the past, but never before actually spent so much hands-on time with one. Explore related reviews in our Application Reviews section.See more review in our HDTV Review section.Read more media server review from the writers of Home Theater Review.Roku also redesigned the user interface for the Roku 3 launch, a change that other Roku users will also get in the form of a software update. Where the Roku 3 differs from its predecessor is in its speed ( the company claims that it's five times faster than previous players) and its remote control, which adds a headphone jack for private audio listening. It's also the only one to offer dual-band Wirelesss-N WiFi, as opposed to the single-band WiFi in the lower-priced players. Like the XS, the new Roku 3 is the only player in the line to offer a USB port for media playback and an Ethernet port for a wired network connection. Other lower-priced Roku players (the XD, HD and LT) are still available. The company recently introduced a new player, the Roku 3 ($99.99), which replaces the top-shelf Roku 2 XS. With over 750 channels to choose from (some for free, others for a fee), Roku far surpasses other standalone platforms in its number and variety of entertainment options. One glance at the list of available apps, or channels, as Roku prefers to call them, and it's easy to see why. Amidst a crowded field of streaming media players, Roku players consistently find themselves atop the Best-of and Editor's Choice lists.
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