This gadget from Roku is neat, uses little power, and is currently rather cheap - http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/roku-lt...86105-pdt.html It's also available from Amazon at under £40. It's clearly not perfect - there are things it won't do, and many of the things it will do perhaps won't be wanted (e.g many music videos ..., etc.). It won't do 1080 HD, but couple it with a small TV and you won't notice. Currently I don't think it does anything from ITV, Channel 4 or Channel 5, but the iPlayer feature is very good.
A very recent announcement is that it will shortly do Spotify as well as Vevo (what's that?).
It will work with older TVs, and if you have an old analogue TV which is about to go to landfill, you could at least give it a short reprieve. It's similar to Apple TV, but currently about half the price. Roku do make other models which sell at higher prices, and which will give 1080 HD, but the LT model is fine if you want to add iPlayer to a bedroom or kitchen TV
It doesn't have an on/off switch. The argument is that since it uses around 2 Watts of power it's hardly worth the bother - unplug it or switch it off at the wall if you want to save around 90p-£4.50/year, depending on electricity tariffs.
I think there's also a Plex client, so if you put a Plex server (http://www.plexapp.com/ ) on your network you may well be able to fill in some of the features which the little box currently lacks, and you should be able to watch stored video files.
To get it to work you do have to register, and provide a credit card number. If you don't trust Roku not to use it, then don't bother with the device. However, Roku say that the service is free and that the CC is only to be used for certain online purchases.
It may, of course, increase your broadband fees, but if you have an "all you can eat" package, and don't do excessive downloads, then many ISPs won't charge any more.
A very recent announcement is that it will shortly do Spotify as well as Vevo (what's that?).
It will work with older TVs, and if you have an old analogue TV which is about to go to landfill, you could at least give it a short reprieve. It's similar to Apple TV, but currently about half the price. Roku do make other models which sell at higher prices, and which will give 1080 HD, but the LT model is fine if you want to add iPlayer to a bedroom or kitchen TV
It doesn't have an on/off switch. The argument is that since it uses around 2 Watts of power it's hardly worth the bother - unplug it or switch it off at the wall if you want to save around 90p-£4.50/year, depending on electricity tariffs.
I think there's also a Plex client, so if you put a Plex server (http://www.plexapp.com/ ) on your network you may well be able to fill in some of the features which the little box currently lacks, and you should be able to watch stored video files.
To get it to work you do have to register, and provide a credit card number. If you don't trust Roku not to use it, then don't bother with the device. However, Roku say that the service is free and that the CC is only to be used for certain online purchases.
It may, of course, increase your broadband fees, but if you have an "all you can eat" package, and don't do excessive downloads, then many ISPs won't charge any more.