What a long strange trip it’s been. Vudu initially launched in 2006 as a $400 dedicated movie streaming box. The requisite price cuts and pivots followed, including serving up apps like Flickr and then feeding smart televisions, before Walmart swooped in. Since then, the video service has focused on its own mobile and set-top video streaming app … that’s landed on a whole host of set-tops and mobile platforms. And, here we are again, back to a dedicated piece of hardware in the new Vudu Spark. Having launched in Walmart stores just a few weeks ago, at $25, of course I had to pick one up.
Like other streaming sticks, the Vudu Spark is a small HDMI dongle powered via USB. It looks and feels cheaper than Roku, Chromecast, and the Fire TV Stick. Yet, that shouldn’t concern hidden behind one’s set. But in another possibly related cost cutting measure, unlike its competitors, Walmart does not include an HDMI extension cord or USB power brick should you require one. I found the remote sufficient and surely an improvement over Chromecast, which requires a smartphone to navigate.
On the software side of the house, in my brief time with the Vudu Spark, I’ve come across three different on-screen keyboard layouts and two different Settings areas. So there’s room to tighten up the interface as Walmart expands the Vudu UI to now include hardware management. The rest will be familiar to existing Vudu app customers — there’s a large catalog of movie and television content available for rental or purchase, streaming at up to 1080p and Dolby Digital Plus 5.1. Purchased content is synced to one’s UltraViolet library and available to/from other platforms such as Flixter and Walmart will also gladly virtually rip our (supported) discs for content locker access.
Beyond UV, for me, other Vudu selling points have been integrated Rotten Tomatoes ratings and the Jinni recommendation engine. Further, Vudu also seems to run more sales and promos than say video offered up by Apple iTunes. But, the question remains, does it make sense in the current environment to invest in a single purpose streaming solution… despite the low cost. Given Vudu’s availability on so many platforms, including Roku, Chromecast, and TiVo plus solid, similar offerings from Flixster and Amazon, it’s hard to justify the Spark.
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Some notes...
The "Vudu Spark" graphic on the packaging is a sticker that covers "Vudu Spark Video Streaming Stick" -- wonder if Roku owns "streaming stick" and this is designed to avoid controversy?
The Spark is NOT located with the Chromecast or Roku at the Walmart I visited, but rather nestled in amongst the Blu-rays and DVDs. That's an interesting approach to surface the streaming tech for people who might not have been considering such a thing.
Although the Spark clocks in at $25, Walmart will issue you a $5 Vudu voucher every month, over four months, each being good for 30 days - assuming you put a credit card on file, which in most cases you would.
I landed in an endless loop of some sort at first boot, but pulling the USB and reinserting got it up and running, with Spark downloading an immediate update that was mercifully quick to install.
I do wonder what Walmart's long term intentions are. Might they ultimately offer their own streaming service like Netflix? Or would they add content partners like a Pandora to Spark?
Lastly, the Spark remote looks more like the original Amazon Fire TV remote than the Fire TV Stick does. Curious.
"But, the question remains, does it make sense in the current environment to invest in a single purpose streaming solution"
Of course! You can never have too many single purpose streaming solutions. In fact, I call you out, Dave Zatz, on your appalling lack of these useful items. Where is your Crackle stick? Or PBS stick? Or Weather Channel stick?
The Roku seems appealing at first. But why bundle all those channels into a single cramped box, when you can give each channel the air to breathe with its own stick?
(My visit to Walmart today to pick one up was a bit of disaster, though. Between the lines outside stretching around the block and the throngs rioting inside the store to get their hands on one, I kinda wished I'd ordered online.)
Online sales not yet available... nor is the stick even on the Walmart site. So, line it is.