The Vergecast The history of Roku and the fight over CarPlay
Jul 30, 2024
Dive into the fascinating journey of Roku, tracing its origins from the Netflix Player to its pivotal role in shaping the streaming industry. The hosts reflect on Roku's innovative spirit and its impact amidst competition. The conversation heats up as they debate the future of in-car technology, contrasting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and discussing the automotive industry's struggle with software. The episode wraps up with insights into managing spam texts, emphasizing the ongoing challenges listeners face.
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Roku's Origin Story
- Anthony Wood convinced Reed Hastings to partner with Roku to build a Netflix player.
- Netflix later backed out, fearing alienation of partners, but gave the project back to Roku.
Roku's Innovation
- The original Roku Netflix Player launched in 2008, offering a new way to stream content.
- This was groundbreaking, as Netflix streaming was previously limited to Windows PCs via Internet Explorer.
Krantz's Plex Preference
- Alex Krantz didn't own the first Roku because it lacked Plex support.
- He preferred local streaming and piracy over Netflix's limited streaming selection.