Crochet Ever After - A New Channel on Roku

I recently began crocheting, and although I have enjoyed being able to cast crochet tutorials from YouTube to my living room television through PlayOn, I was very excited to find a dedicated channel, "Crochet Ever After" hosted by the very talented designer Deja Jetmir on my Roku player.

With over twenty years of experience in crocheting and five years sharing her talents as a teacher, her tutorials offer something for everyone from the beginner to the advanced, as well as left-handed stitchers.  With a nice voice, clear close-ups, and step-by-step "workshops", you can easily crochet along.

The channel is also organized very nicely, divided into categories such as:  New, Single Crochet, Double Crochet, Half Double Crochet etc.  I learned the Typical Granny Square and crocheted my first baby blanket.  Another tutorial I really enjoyed was learning her Linked Double Crochet stitch which eliminates the gaps normally seen in that stitch.

You can find the "Crochet Ever After" channel in the special interest category on your Roku player.  Deja is also on Raverly as "DeeDeeVuu", and is also on Etsy, Craftsy, Knit Picks.  She has written several patterns which are offered as Kindle ebooks and Barnes & Noble iBooks which are available for download.

Welcome to Roku, Deja, and thanks for sharing your talents with us.

Links:

Crochet Ever After on YouTube
Crochet Ever After Blog
Deja Jetmir's iBooks at Barnes & Noble 
Deja Jetmir's eBooks on Amazona.com

PlayMark by PlayOn

A Browser Extension Well Worth Adding

The Beta version of this extension came out last June, and after testing it, I was truly excited about its possibilities.  The browser extension, which appears at the top of your screen similar to the Pinterest button, is a snap to use and works seamlessly with PlayOn or PlayLater.

The beauty of the extension is that it will send virtually any video you are viewing online to your television to watch immediately, or play later.  This includes music, movies, and tutorial videos from YouTube.

Since I retired my genealogy websites in October of 2013, I took up crocheting.  I found PlayMark to be especially wonderful in sending those crochet tutorials to my large screen television, and it only takes a few shorts steps.

Example of using PlayMark Browser extension

Once you begin playing a video online, you simply click the PlayOn icon extension.  It then analyzes the video and sends it to your television via your Roku player.  If you have more than one player, you can select from which television you'd like to view.  After the "Success" of the casting, you simply open your PlayMark channel and the folder to which it was saved.  This folder is the same as the original destination, so that if you viewed the video on YouTube, it would be in a folder of the same name.

For me, I cast the video to the television, grab my hook and yarn, and start the video.  What's especially nice about this feature is that I can stitch, pause, play or rewind.  It's a great feature for any tutorial, and these functions work even better if you have downloaded the Roku Remote app onto a tablet.  Additionally, the app will also turn your mobile phone into a remote.

That's really all there is to it.  I love PlayOn, and this new feature, now out of beta and fully functional, is a real plus.   Users can watch the recorded shows on their televisions by streaming media not only through the Roku, but also through Xbox360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Wii U, Google TV, and any other PlayOn-compatible device or mobile device.

PlayOn is always having a sale, and its well worth the low currently annual cost of $29.99, or the lifetime price of PlayOn and PlayLater bundle of $69.99.  You can check out all their plans at the  PlayOn store, risk free, with a 30 day money back guarantee and if not completely satisfied, you cancel at any time. It really is that simple.

You've got nothing to lose, and so much to enjoy by giving it a try.

As always, Happy Streaming!

Note: Example photo is from Jennifer's "Fiber Flux" blog spot.  If you are a crocheter, or want to learn, check out her easy-to-follow tutorials - and enjoy learning on your big screen, thanks to PlayMark!

Setting Up Email Alert for Hulu Plus

Log into your Hulu Plus account at www.hulul.com/plus and in the upper right hand corner you will see your "Welcome" name. 

In the drop down menu, select "Account" and a new page asking you to re-enter your Email will appear.  After doing so, the Log-in information will appear along with a list of your supported devices, billing information, and an area where, if you need to put your account on hold, is also included.  

In the top row of tabs, select "Content."  Here you will be able to view your queued shows, change their settings, and delete your watched history.

Wondering how to put a show in Queue?  Perhaps you'd like to set the ABC's comedy, "Last Man Standing" in the Queue so you don't miss an up-coming episode of the current season.  Simply hover your mouse over the title and a pop-up will appear with the option to view the show details, or add it to Queue.  Select “Add it to Queue” and when you return to your account in the upper right hand corner, click "Queue" on the drop down menu.  When the page opens you will see the new queued show listed at the top.

And finally, if you'd like to receive an email alerting you when a new episode has been added to your Queue, simply open up your "Favorites" tab and in the column next to the show of your choice select "edit settings" and a pop-up will appear in which you can make a selection to receive an alert for "All" or "New episodes only."  Make your selection, click the submit button, and you're all set!

As always, questions and comments are welcome.
Browse, click, stream ... and enjoy!

Hulu Plus

Dishing up my Favorite Á la carte

From the hundreds of channels offered on the Roku player, we have added about thirty-five channels.   The difference between watching only a handful of channels on the Roku as opposed to watching only a handful from our satellite provider is the quality of programs and the price.  We have reduced our monthly bill from near $90 to a mere $7.99, and have no contracts.

Like most viewers, we have a handful of favorites we enjoy watching.  During the summer when we were subscribed to satellite, we often found ourselves surfing channels looking for something to fill the slot until the season premiere of our show resumed the end of September.  What makes the Roku different is the availability of new original shows, or even old shows you might not have seen.  Our favorite channel for locating something new is Hulu Plus.  

Nearly all of our favorites are streamed through the Hulu Plus channel for $7.99 a month.  These include the popular shows Nashville, Motive, Grey’s Anatomy, Mistresses, Vampire Diaries, and even This Old House.  Without a doubt, HuluPlus is our main viewing channel.  We recently watched the first two seasons of “Downton Abbey,” and we are currently watching “The Tudors,” “Heroes,” and “The City” – and it’s summer!

From talking with others who also use the Roku, one of the things they most enjoy is the ability to watch one episode after another of a series from start to finish.  If you never saw Lost, Ally McBeal, Desperate Housewives, Private Practice (the list goes on and on), you can watch the entire series from start to finish in marathon fashion or as if you were watching the series on a DVD.  Hulu Plus even remembers where you left off, and keeps a history of the shows you watched in case you can’t remember.

You can also add shows to your Queue.  You can request that only new episodes be added, or you can select all episodes.  Similar to your DVR recording your show and making it available for viewing, the queue will alert you if a new episode of your favorite is available.  For instance, Mistresses, which premiered in June of 2013 starring Alyssa Milano and a cast of other great actors, airs on Monday.  The following day, Hulu Plus sends me an email alerting me that a new episode has aired and is available in my Queue.

That’s the beauty of the Roku.  It’s all about choice.  It’s the a la carte you can’t get from your cable or satellite provider, and it offers you a selection of programs you might never have considered.

So yes, we’ll take the Roku with a generous serving of Hulu Plus a la carte. No need to fill ourselves up on an expensive satellite buffet which excludes beverage, dessert, our favorite entrée – and apparently is our only choice for the next twenty-four months unless we want to pay more.

Á la carte, please!

Roku Channels – Liberating the Way You Watch TV

I understand how hard it is to make changes and enter into the unknown, especially for those of us who are fifty-something or consider their selves technologically challenged, but cutting the cord and streaming programs at your own convenience can be so liberating.

Considering I thought the DVR (Digital Video Recorder) was the best thing since the internet, I shouldn’t have been surprised to discover that Anthony Wood, the inventor of that wonderfully intelligent gizmo, was also the inventor and founder of Roku, pronounced “Roh-koo.” This little streaming device is simple to use and so inexpensive that I’ve become rather passionate about sharing my experience in hope others might also enjoy exercising their freedom to choose. 

One of the best things about the Roku player is the ability to select your own channels and have them accessible with the click of an icon. With over 750 channels in the Channel Store, there’s a channel for everyone. 

The following is a small sample of the available channels within the various categories:

• MOVIE & TV (131): Netflix; Amazon Instant Prime; Hulu Plus; Redbox Instant; Vudu; Crunchyroll
• MUSIC (69): Pandora; Plex; Vevo; Tunein Radio; iHeartRadio; Spotify; Amazon Cloud Player 
• GAMES (65): Angry Birds; Angry Birds Rio; Video Poker; Mouse About; Jeopardy
• FOOD (23): Allrecipes.com; Chow; The Outdoor Cooking Channel; Simply Vegetarian;  Drinks
• SPORTS (53): MLB.TV; CBSSports.com; NHL GameCenter; Sail TV; USAC Racing TV
• PHOTOS & VIDEOS (28): Facebook Photos & Video; Flickr; USB Media Player; Vimeo
• NEWS & WEATHER (47): WSJ; RT; CNN International; HuffPost Live; 8ctave HD 
• KIDS & FAMILY (29): Disney; PBS Kids; Family TV; Ameba; Kaplan College Prep
• FITNESS & OUTDOORS (42): DailyBurn; All Fitness TV; YogaVibes; YogaGlo;  NetFit
• SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (25): TED; CNET; TWiT; NASA Edge; Spacevidcast
• TRAVEL (26): The Venture Channel; Cruise Addicts; Outer Banks TV; MyDestination TV
• SCREEN SAVER & APPS (40): Weather4us; Cloc; WebCam-One; Nature Window TV
• INTERNET TV (89): Twonky; Just The Story TV; ComedyTime;  blip.tv; HSN; Gay Life TV
• SPECIAL INTEREST (83): QVC; The Yachting Channel; The Coin Vault; Hypnosis TV
• INTERNATIONAL (37): DISHWorld; DramaFever; Africa Live; Sahara TV; Haiti TV Network
• RELIGIOUS & SPIRITUALITY (229): Sky Angel; K-LOVE Radio; Parables TV; PAX
• NEW (45): Nook Video; Courier Times; Hollywood Ticker; Today’s Daily App. 
• MOST WATCHED (25):  HuluPlus; Netflix; Amazon Instant Video; Disney; Pandora; Vevo;  
• FEATURED PAID (46): Movie Vault; Classic  Westerns; Photo Puzzle; Totally Vegetarian  

Once you’ve made your selections the channel’s icon or logo will appear when you click the home button of your Roku remote, and can be re-arranged in the order of your own choosing. Using the < or > buttons you can easily navigate across the screen, click the “ok” button and it only takes a moment for the streaming to begin. There is no longer a need to worry about setting your DVR or looking at a TV schedule, and you are now able to view what you want, when you want ... With brief, limited commercials.

As noted, some of the channels require a very nominal, one-time fee. Other channels offer low monthly or annual subscription rates such as HuluPlus, Netflix and PlayOn. If you live in an area where an OTA (over the air antenna) will not work, this is a very inexpensive and easy way to access the local networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, and the The CW.

Speaking from my own experience, I truly feel liberated and so encourage you to also brave this newer territory that is quickly gaining popularity. Soon you will be able to sit back and enjoy viewing television without a contract or a bundle of channels you never watch. You might even have extra time to imagine what you could do with the money you have saved. And if you aren’t quite ready to cut the ties with your cable or satellite provider just yet, the Roku player also complements your own programming by adding additional features to your current subscription. 

Please feel free to use the comments to ask questions, and I’ll do my very best to answer them.

Browse, click, stream – and enjoy!

Navigation and Content

Streaming content to your television from your Roku player requires little more than a decent internet connection.  Living in a rural area, we don’t have lightning speed internet.  A test this morning indicates a download speed of just over 3Mbps, which is really at the lower end of internet speeds now available, yet we are still able to happily stream our programs.

Unlike conventional TV programming, the majority of the content is not live or same day stream.  Most of the programs, however, are available the day after they have aired and contain only very short, limited, commercials.  Like most who have enjoyed the DVR technology, we typically recorded our shows and watched them at a later, more convenient time, so next day availability has never been an issue.

The channels available on the Roku player now number over 750 channels, many of which are free.  As I noted in my first post, “Thinking About Cutting the Cord?” we subscribe to Hulu Plus and watch much of our content from that channel.  For news clips and live coverage, we tune into CNN International, RT America, WSJ Live, and the Huffington Post Live.  Roku also offers dozens of music channels.  We listen to free Pandora, but others include Plex, Vevo, Slacker, and Spotify to name a few.  If you are looking to rent or own a movie, there are channels for Netflix, Vudu, Amazon Instant, Blockbuster and Redbox.

When you turn on your television and click the Home key of your Roku remote, an option appears for The Channel Store.  Clicking this displays a screen of familiar icons sorted by categories such as New, Popular, TV and Movie, News, Weather, Music, etc.  Simply add the channels of interest to you, and you are quickly on your way to viewing television in a new and liberating way.

In future posts I’ll discuss specific channels, popular shows, and how to access them.  If you can browse the web or use a remote, you have the knowledge and ability to stream your programs to any television which has been connected to a Roku player.  It’s as easy as that.

Browse, click and enjoy.

Thinking About Cutting the Cord?

In October of 2012 my husband and I cut the satellite cord, and I’m here to blog about the experience.

Dissatisfied with the tier of programming offered, the continual rise in subscription rates, and the mandatory contract which renewed with every single change made to our subscription, we had decided enough was enough.  We aren't sport fans, we don’t like reality shows, and we don’t speak Spanish – so this ruled out many of the channels we were paying for.  When it came down to it, we realized there were only a handful of TV programs we actually enjoyed watching and yet we were paying just under $90 a month for a "choice" package, one DVR, HD and an additional TV.

Total Choice?  Not exactly.  If it were our choice, we would be able to select a certain number of channels and create our own package, or pay a set price per channel.  But subscribers of satellite and cable know that is not how it works.  The satellite and cable companies select the channels and offer packages that are always lacking channels that are only available in their next tier or package.  And then they lock us into a contract.

Sound all too familiar?

Our contract had expired and we were suddenly free to explore options.  Before cutting the cord, we started scouring the web for information on streaming devices and settled on the Roku2 XD which we purchased at our local Walmart for $79.99 plus tax.  Set up was a few simple steps: 1) Connect one end of the HDMI cable (not included) to the Roku player and one end to the HDMI port on the TV;  2) insert the batteries (included) into the Roku remote; 3) connect the power cord to the Roku device and wall outlet; 4) configure your wireless network which is automatically detected; and 5) link the Roku player to your Roku account and you’re good to go.    

We cut the cord the following month and have no regrets.  We were so happy with our choice that we bought a second Roku for our bedroom, and sent another as a gift.  Since then, we've recommended streaming to anyone who will listen and they are now among the happy streamers who have cut the cord.

Aside from the Roku player, we subscribed to Hulu Plus for $7.99 a month and bought an annual subscription to PlayOn which was on sale at the time for $29.99.   To summarize – for a little more than one month’s subscription to our satellite provider, we are now able to view almost everything we watched before we cut the cord ... and it costs us all of $7.99 a month.  Why pay more?

I’ll be writing about what’s available to view and the current events that continue to change the way TV is viewed with the hope of  encouraging others to cut the cord and make a choice that is truly their own.

Your questions and comments will help determine future blogs, so please feel free to post questions and comments, and I'll happily reply.

Click, browse, and enjoy!

Note: Roku and the Roku logo are registered trademarks of Roku, Inc. in the United States and other countries.