After Google had Roku remove their unlicensed YouTube channel and indications over a year ago that a new channel was under development, CEO Anthony Wood tells analyst Michael Wolf that YouTube on Roku “isn’t far away.” By the same token, he mentions that Google now requires partners to integrate their YouTube HTML app and Roku has found performance on their current “cheap” chips “unacceptable.” Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we’ll be seeing new Roku hardware this season (other than the Streaming Stick) … although Roku 2 packaging has seen a refresh in time for the holidays (as shown below).
I already have it with plex.
Yeah, there are some unofficial ways to get access… the old app, via Facebook, via Plex. But a native app is preferable for a variety of reasons.
“a native app is preferable for a variety of reasons.”
This is unquestionably true.
But it’s always worth remembering that Plex is like Ubik. No matter what the problem is, just spray a little Plex on it, and it’ll fix you right up…
One of the tech sites had a whole think on some new workaround which sounded a lout like “stand on your head, put your finger in your ear, close your eyes really tight, say the magic words and then push YouTube from your iPad to your TV using AirPlay” – about 700 steps too many for your average YT video.
“One of the tech sites had a whole think on some new workaround which sounded a lout like “stand on your head, put your finger in your ear, close your eyes really tight, say the magic words and then push YouTube from your iPad to your TV using AirPlay”
Actually, iOS to the big screen via AirPlay is an interesting UX for YouTube, in that you use a snappy touch interface instead of a 10ft interface. And given that most YouTube users aren’t concerned with PQ, all the unnecessary WiFi bottlenecks in such a setup that degrade PQ aren’t a significant problem.
I’m not into YouTube on the big screen, so I have no idea how it’d work for actual use-case scenarios, but it may be perfectly viable for some subset of folks.
I already have a bunch of devices with YouTube accesss so it isn’t missed on my Roku2 boxes. Plus no devce has all the apps or does the best job them. So I use mutiple apps from different devices depending on what display I’m watching or audio source I’m listening from. I use y Roku 2 boxes some and my other devices as well.
I messed around with pushing youtube over airplay from the Jasmine app on my ipad to my XBMC HTPC, and it works extremely well. There is no perceptible image degredation at all.
Now the youtube addon works fine in XBMC, so I don’t actually use this for anything, and obviously the appletv comes with a youtube app so you wouldn’t use it there either.
And, umm, the roku doesn’t have airplay. So why were we talking about it again?
“And, umm, the roku doesn’t have airplay. So why were we talking about it again?”
You haven’t discovered the code for the secret AirPlay channel on the Roku?
Just add the private channel “VideoBuzz”. It’s a private channel promoted by Roku. You sign in to your YouTube account and have pretty much the same access as you do on PC. It works great. Just Google VideoBuzz and it will give you a link to add the channel to your Roku.
There’s a simple answer already: VideoBuzz private channel. Google “Streaming TV Guide” and the channel name VideoBuzz (all one word) to find the link to the private channel, plus tricks to customize it too.
I’m confused! I already have YouTube on my Roku? Perhaps it was a private channel or something. Been so long since I added it, I really can’t remember.
There was an unofficial YouTube app (created by an individual who became a Roku employee) that Google had Roku remove. It’s not available to new folks, but for whatever reason Roku did not remove it from boxes as they could have. I still have it too.
“Google now requires partners to integrate their YouTube HTML app”
The Tivo YouTube App blows, Google should rethink.
John G
I believe they do it that way so you can’t circumvent their advertising, which consists of not only interstitial ads but also promoted links, popup banners (along the bottom of the video), and other such intrusive bullshit.
I still have the older unsanctioned YouTube Channel, I agree it is BS to require the popups, I can accept the video play in front of the video for a few seconds which should suffice. Why should YouTube require more special video advertising than Hulu does?
Thanks for the “Video Buzz” tip. I had been waiting all this time for the YouTube channel. Didn’t know there was already an alternative. It works perfectly!