If you’re a Plex channel developer, great. Write an article about your current or upcoming project.

Tell us about your concept, the design and the process.

If you’re interested, see the link at the top of the page called, “Guest Post” and write a pitch.

So, you’ve installed the Plex Media Server and you’re streaming all of you’re DVDs, photos, and music to you’re media devices in your house. Awesome, but, are you really taking advantage of everything the Plex Media Server can do?

Related: Plex Media Server and Backing up your DVD collection.

Plex has tons of Channels of high quality TV shows, movies, photos, podcasts, etc. They can help you get around any weaknesses your  cord cutter setup may have. Here are the essentials to get you started.

Broadcast TV Networks

Watch full episodes of the most recent shows on the Big 3 TV networks and PBS. Sure, you can pick these guys up over the antenna and get great HD signal, but If you’re coverage is spotty or you just want to watch these show on your own time, then these channels are the answer.

Cable TV Networks

Even with Hulu and Netflix, there are shows that are hard to find anywhere else but streaming from the network websites. All of these channels will let you watch the latest and greatest TV Shows or catchup on old episodes without having to pull out your laptop.

Web Content

Discover great music using Pitchfork or find the YouTube videos everybody is talking about with Devour. These channels will get you started with finding great content that you don’t normally find on your TV.

These channels should get you started. There are so many other great channels out there, like us on Facebook so you don’t miss our next Plex article.
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Related: Plex Media Server and Backing up your DVD collection.

Two of the most popular ways to cut the cord to cable TV is to use a Roku box or an Apple TV. Which one is right for you?

We’re stacking up the Apple TV 3rd generation with the comparable Roku XS.

Price

They’re both $99. The similarities don’t end there.

Roku does offer other models that start at $49. You can check them out here.

Hardware

So, neither of these little rectangular boxes has anything remarkable on the outside. They’re basically  1″ x 3″ x 3″ squares that sit under your TV. The Apple TV is ever so slightly larger but for all practicality, the same. The Apple TV does feel sturdier, but I don’t plan on throwing them across the room.

If you flip them around and look at the back, you’ll notice a similar set of connectors.

Roku 2 XS Rear

Apple TV 3rd Gen Rear

Both have HDMI and Ethernet but the Roku has AV out and a slot for micro SD and the Apple TV has a slot for optical audio. I do like the ability to play videos off of the micro SD card slot on the Roku. Also, the Roku has a USB connector that can be used to play back video from a hard drive.

If you aren’t using a TV with HDMI, you’re only choice is the Roku.

The remotes are also very similar. They’re small, simple and well designed. Both setups also allow you to use your phone as a remote.

Winner: Roku

User interface

So both systems use icons for their various channels. Both interfaces are snappy and responsive without any noticeable lag. The Apple TV’s interface is more convenient because you can see all of your channels and once, while you’ll be doing some scrolling left and right with the Roku. Also, Roku does display an ad at the bottom of the home screen.

Apple TV Interface

Roku 2 XS Interface

Winner: Apple TV

Setup

Easy as can be with both of them. If you can hook up a toaster, you can install these guys. The directions are simple to follow. You’ll need to set up an account with Roku and the Apple TV but Roku does collect credit card info so you can make purchases from the channel store. In reality, you’ll need to give Apple all of that info to make use of the Apple TV to its fullest.

Winner: Tie

Quality

You’ll get 1080P, 5.1 Surround sound and supper fast 802.11n WiFi. No real differences here.

Winner: Tie

Content

Roku is the big boy in this category.

Apple has Netflix, Hulu, MLB.TV, NHL, NBA, Flickr and YouTube. You can also purchase/rent content from iTunes.

Related: Cord Cutter Guide

The Roku answers with Netflix, Hulu, Vudu, Amazon Instant, Spotify, Vimeo, Pandora and about 300 other channels of various uses. There is also a channel for Plex Media Server. Notice there is no YouTube channel with Roku. If that’s a must, then Apple TV is your box.

Winner: Roku

Play Content from your Computer

As you might expect, the Apple TV interfaces beautifully with your iTunes library. All of your purchases will be available to all of your other Apple devices. If you already own a bunch of Apple devices, have a lot of iTunes purchases and are bought into the Apple ecosystem then the no-brainer choice here is an Apple TV. You’ll even be able to use Apple Airplay to stream content straight from your iPad or iPhone.

If you’re not tied into the Apple world of products and content then you might want to give the Roku a good hard look. You can stream video from your computer but you’ll need media server software like XBMC or Plex Media server installed on the computer.

Winner: Apple

Music

With Apple TV, you have your iTunes library. That’s it when it comes to music. With Roku, you’ve got Spotify, Pandora, and about a dozen other options including radio services.

Winner: Roku

Conclusion

If you’re an Apple person, then go with the Apple TV. It’s just the right move. If you want a lot more channels and more options when it comes to getting content then Roku is your box.

Buy Roku 2 XS 1080p                                              Buy Newest Apple TV 

What do you think? What is the big deciding factor for you?

If you’re like me you’ve probably got movies spread all across your house. You’ve got DVDs, Blu-rays and movie files.

related:  How I save $2000 switching to Roku

In the days of digital streaming, high-definition video and surround sound it seems antiquated to pull out a DVD binder full of movies.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have all this movies backed up and saved on a hard drive for you to watch anytime you want without having to pull out the disc? Sure, people have been backing up their movies for years onto hard drives and CDs, but the system always seemed clunky slow or just plain technologically daunting.

Plex server is the solution to that problem. It allows you to store all your movies on a central server and watch them anywhere you want. You can watch them on your TV on your phone on your iPad or on your computer both home and away. You can even share them with your friends.

It’s so easy your whole family can use it.

Here’s how to set it up…

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