I've own several Roku boxes and I also stream video from my XBox 360, so streaming video from the internet is commonplace in my home. When I had the opportunity to review this new player by Funai, I jumped at the chance.For those of you new to streaming video, here are the basics: you will need a computer (for activating your device on your subscription accounts) and internet service. Most players, this one included, can be set up to be wired (using an ethernet cable) or wireless (over your home wireless network). If you will be using a wired connection, you will need an ethernet cable near the TV you will be hooking this device to, and an available electrical outlet. For wireless setup, you will need to know your SSID and your security password, if any, and an available outlet.
If you will be using this device with an HDTV, you will want to connect using an HDMI cable (NOT included) for the best picture. There are standard AV cables included with this player, but they will not produce an HD picture.
This player is about the same size and shape as the original Roku boxes, and is sleek, attractive and well built. The remote is excellent! It is small and has a few simple buttons so ANYONE can use it. It has a dedicated Netflix and Vudu button on the remote. Batteries were also included for the remote.
One especially nice feature is an included bracket that allows you to wall mount this device. Funai thoughtfully placed a second IR receiver on top of the device for this option. Also, there is an on/off button. This is a big deal to me and Roku does NOT have any way to turn it off except to unplug it.
I wish they had included a usb port so that you could view your own content.
The big question is: How does it work and how does it compare to Roku? Unfortunately, not very well on either count. Set up is easy and quick, and the picture quality is excellent, but then you are left with a paltry number of apps to choose from most of which are subscription which you must pay for. Roku has hundreds of apps (they call them channels) and many of them are free. Funai does have Pandora and YouTube, which are free, but the YouTube app is so clunky and awful with a horrible search feature that it is too painful to use.
The Netflix app works great! There is also Blockbuster Video on Demand, Vudu, and FilmFresh. They are similar services to Netflix, but I don't subscribe to any of them. Sadly, Funai did not include an Amazon Video on Demand app. That is very disappointing to me since, as a Prime member, I have hundreds of free movies and TV shows available to me at no charge. (Roku has an Amazon channel.)
I am not counting Funai out completely because they got the hardware right and the wifi works perfectly and the setup process is even quicker than Roku. But until they add quite a few more apps, and update their YouTube browser, I cannot recommend this player at this time. You will be much, much happier with a Roku.
Note: I do think that Funai will have firmware and software updates delivering soon. I will update this review when/if improvements are made that will make the Funai a device worthy of considering.
Setting up the Funai was very easy, just connect your HDMI cable or audio/visual cables (red, yellow and white) if your set doesn't have HDMI outputs or if you've already got them taken up by other stuff. Put the batteries that came with the Funai in the remote, aim, fire and go through a very easy set-up phase. The Funai might be the best option for those who don't have credit cards because it doesn't ask you for a credit card number as the Roku set up does prior to activation. Not everybody has a credit card and they can still use the Funai. You still have to input your router password, and go to your computer to activate Netflix and some other channels. I opened the Blockbuster channel but don't want to pay for movies I can stream via Netflix or get cheaper on Amazon (Roku).
I had trouble figuring out how to navigate around in the Netflix channel. It was straightforward with the Roku and Wii, but I couldn't figure out how to get back to the main menu with the Funai remote without first having to go to a "FULL STOP" in which Netflix had to be totally reloaded. I thought I had pushed every button on the remote trying to find the one that would take me back to the main menu but couldn't find it. I finally gave up and gave the remote to my 9 year old daughter with the instructions to please figure this out for me and report back. She did. You're supposed to push the "UP" arrow key to go back. Not very logical but I'll be gosh-darned it worked! Neither the Wii nor Roku took so long to figure out and both are extremely easy to navigate around. But once over that hump the Funai streaming player works pretty good.
It's not a bad streaming device, it has a lot more free stuff than the Roku (I think, not completely sure yet) and you can go to Youtube. But it's not a good experience....it's not like going to Youtube on your computer where you can easily see the homepage and type in a few letters and up pops a lot of videos. With the Funai, you have to go to a "search" screen and slowly type in the title of the video you want to see while all the time in the background is a video running which can be anything. The one I had to endure several times was some guy screaming in Spanish and looked like he hasn't had a bath in days and had an IQ of about 60, and that's on a good day. I really got tired of seeing him but at least I could mute him while I toiled with the tiny search screen. The search screen is fairly user friendly but you have to be careful when you approach the letter you need. Stop clicking on the letter before it or it will pass over the letter you want and upload the next letter. So, you have to carefully click up to the backspace button and try again. And again. And a few more times before you get the hang of it.
Overall, it's small, and black like the Roku, has a small remote, has lots of free stuff and you can stream several big movie Channels like Netflix, Blockbuster and Vudu. I was excited to see all the news channels until I realized every single one of them were right-wing, conservative news shows so blech on those. No Al Jazeerah or RT like are on the Roku. Doesn't come with an HDMI cable but does have composites, just like the Roku. I will probably put this streamer upstairs and put the Roku back on the TV downstairs since it's the one watched the most.
Buy Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player Now
This Funai netbox is a simple, well made, easy to use device. The main thing I was looking for out of this device was access to netflix. I do not have a tv with built in apps nor due I own a gaming system that allows access to netflix' library of streaming content. I came accross the funai tb600 and decided it was reasonably priced and that I would give it a shot. I had also had a good experience previously with a dvd player made by funai. I am currently using the device wirelessly on my home wifi network and it was extremely easy to set up. I have it connected to my tv by hdmi cable and the picture quality is brilliant! Like I said previously, access to Netflix was my main interest in this device but I was also pleased with the added feature of pandora radio. I use Pandora quite often on my home pc and iphone, and now have the ability to access internet radio through my tv as well. Overall I am quite satisfied with my purchase and would recommend this product to others!Read Best Reviews of Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player Here
I bought this about a month ago on clearance from another retailer for a little more than half of Amazon's price. It was between this and the equivalent Roku and the price difference made me choose the Funai.This thing was very easy to set up. I used the HDMI out to a TV and the RCA audio out to an older surround system. The wifi works well on an N router with 12 Mb/s cable internet.
I have never used a Roku, so I don't know how much better their channel selection is, but all I really need is Netflix compatibility. The Funai player does just fine on Netflix. The Vudu app gives you a small credit, so that's like one or two free movies. The Blockbuster app was deleted upon firmware update and replaced with Hulu Plus. I didn't have any wierd problems with YouTube other than the interface is a bit clunky; I do like that it lets you click to only show HD videos in your search.
There was one time that it froze up while trying to open Netflix. I had to uplug it but it worked fine when plugged back in. This is a problem with most modern electronics in my experience, so I don't give it much of a hit.
I do wish it did more (Amazon Instant?) but it does well at what it advertises.
Want Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player Discount?
Quickly for those as confused as we were at the start, a primer: Like the well-known Roku brand boxes, this Funai TB600FX2 HD Streaming Player processes an internet signal (online connection not included) into reasonably user-friendly displays, listing the vast and voluminous programming choices available on Internet TV. Though `voluminous' is hardly the word ... there's more programming than you can imagine, even just in the mainstream channels. Take your standard cable or satellite totals and multiply by 100. Really.As with the Roku XS we reviewed last year, this is the HD model, so we'll compare the two here. Hardware setup is simple for both, every type connection is available: HDMI, USB, RCA x 3, and of course wireless. The main distinction between the two is the manner in which they present that vast and voluminous world of programming. You'll have to do some hunting at first to establish where your favorite shows are, and how you're most comfortable searching for content. Along those lines, the Funai displays are "busier," that is they includes more items on a single screen. The Roku displays are simpler, easy on the eye, fewer items on a screen. The Roku remote control is simpler, too.
But even if you tend toward simpler, easy-on-the-eye displays, I recommend this Funai over Roku. One simple reason: YouTube. For whatever reason (and at this point it doesn't matter), Roku has never been able to satisfy Google's technical demands, and thus offers no YouTube channel. None of the endless hours of unique entertainment that the Funai box and YouTube provide. In a recliner or on a couch, those vertical lists of "recommended" videos can keep a YouTube night rolling on until dawn if you're not careful. And that's the edge that puts Funai over the top and ahead of Roku.
But m-o-s-t importantly whichever brand box you choose remember that Internet TV saves you lots of money compared to cable or satellite. YouTube, Picassa, Facebook and other online-based channels are free, and subscription-based Netflix, Hulu Plus and other such channels are less than $10 per month. These channels are adding content at a dizzying rate ... all four major broadcast networks now stream all or part of their lineup on Hulu Plus. You probably already have an Internet connection in your home, so the one-time cost of an Internet TV box like this one is all you need. Throw in a well-calibrated over-the-air antenna for local channels, and it's a Brave New (inexpensive) World of Internet TV out there. Good luck and happy hunting.
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