Roku's new Streaming Stick takes on Chromecast: $49, HDMI

(Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET)

Google Chromecast, you're not the only stick in town.

Roku announced the Roku Streaming Stick today, which manages to pack nearly all the functionality of a full-size Roku box into a device not much bigger than an USB flash drive. It's actually a new version of Roku's old MHL-based Streaming Stick, but there are two major differences: it now works with any TV that has an HDMI input, and it's half the price, at just $49.

The Streaming Stick sports Roku's signature purple color and it's designed to connect directly into a spare HDMI port on your TV. It's just a little over three inches long and there's not much else to the device, save for the HDMI connector, a micro-USB port, an indicator light, and a tiny button to reset the stick. The micro-USB port lets you power the device, by connecting it to a USB port on TV (if it has one) or using the included power adapter.

If this all sounds familiar, that's because the design is awfully similar to Google's $35 Chromecast and it's hard not to see the updated Streaming Stick as a response to Google's popular streamer. So what do you get for the extra $15?

(Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET)

For one, you get a traditional remote and an onscreen interface. It's a pretty standard Roku remote and it works via Wi-Fi Direct, so it can still control the Streaming Stick when its hidden behind your TV. (On the other hand, the tucked away location means it likely won't work with a traditional IR-based universal remote.) Note that the remote doesn't have the neat headphone jack for private listening, so you'll still need to step-up to a Roku 2 or Roku 3 for that feature.

(Credit: Lori Grunin/CNET)

The onscreen interface allows for a more traditional TV browsing experience, although the Streaming Stick will also have some Chromecast-like 'push' capabilities, as both YouTube and Netflix will let you cast from a mobile device exactly like you would with a Chromecast.

The other major perk over the Chromecast is you get access to all 1,200 of Roku's apps, or 'channels' in Roku's parlance. This includes nearly every major service -- such as Netflix, YouTube, HBO Go, Amazon Instant, MLB.TV, Showtime Anytime, and PBS -- as well as a huge number of niche content sources. While the Chromecast has added some crucial apps since its launch (including HBO Go, Hulu Plus and Pandora), it still can't compare to Roku's sprawling and frequently updated library.

(Credit: Roku)

In terms of the hardware, the Streaming Stick has 1080p output, dual-band Wi-Fi support, and Roku says the internal chip is similar to the one in the Roku 1, so it likely won't be quite as lightning-fast as the Roku 3.

(Credit: Matthew Moskovciak/CNET)

When I met with Roku, the company also showed off an upcoming version of its overhauled mobile app, which is due in April. Besides the new look, the app also integrates Roku's excellent cross-platform search, which scours several major content sources (including Netflix, Amazon Instant, HBO Go and Hulu Plus) to find where a TV show or movie is available and how much it costs. It's a great feature to add to the mobile app, where it can be easier to type in search terms, although Roku's predict-as-you-type searching using the onscreen keyboard is pretty quick too.

The new Roku Streaming Stick is scheduled to come out in April for $49. I'll have a full review as soon as I get my hands on a review sample, but from my initial impressions the new Streaming Stick has a decent shot at dethroning our current streaming box Editors' Choice, the Roku 3.

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