There are a few points worth mentioning. For one, this is still the same old Roku you remember from five years ago. The user interface is virtually unchanged except for a few areas, and you still have to open each app individually to see what new shows and movies are available. Considering that similarly equipped devices like the Chromecast with Google TV are the same price, that’s a bit of a shame, but it doesn’t stop the Roku Streaming Stick from being a rock-solid value. The new Roku Streaming Stick looks very similar to the old Roku Streaming Stick. It’s about the size of a USB stick and plugs directly into your TV’s HDMI port. To power it, you’ll need to either plug it into a USB port on the TV or use the included power adapter to plug it into the wall outlet. You will notice that there is a solid plastic strip between the head and the end of the streaming stick – this is the long-range Wi-Fi antenna. To maximize range, Roku recommends keeping the antenna away from the TV’s HDMI ports and making sure it doesn’t get tangled with other cables. Otherwise, you may not get the maximum range from the antenna. Also included is a Roku voice remote with two AAA batteries.
