Digital media player maker Roku LLC has announced a lower price for its HD1000. They’ve also introduced a bundle that combines the HD1000 with six “Art Packs.”
The HD1000 is a high-definition digital media player that enables you to use your TV or HDTV to view digital content like photos, music, videos and art, stored on either flash media or a Mac, PC or Linux system on a home network.
Previously US$499, the HD1000 is now $299. Roku said that it’s expanding distribution to get the device into more retail store locations. A new $499 bundle, the “Roku HD1000 Gallery Collection,” combines the HD1000 with six of Roku’s “Art Packs” on a CompactFlash card, including Aquarium, The Classics, Nature, Space, Clocks and Holidays.
The Roku HD1000 features CompactFlash, SD/MMC, Memory Stick/Memory Stick Pro and SmartMedia slots along its front panel. On its back is a variety of video input and output and audio output interfaces, USB and a 10/100Mbit Ethernet interface. You can also connect it to a wireless network using supported USB wireless Ethernet adapters.
The HD1000 works with Mac OS X v10.2 “Jaguar” or later, thanks to Apple’s support of Samba — Mac users simply activate “Windows Sharing” from the Sharing system preference pane to make digital content available to the HD1000 over their network.
Customers who have bought the HD1000 on or after Feb. 4 can get a $200 rebate or, if they prefer, a free Roku SoundBridge M1000 interface. Contact the vendor by e-mail for details.