Roku Streaming Stick will fail
Lauren Goode via All Things D
The Streaming Stick will deliver HD streaming video and feature Wi-Fi capabilities, a processor and upgradeable software. The Stick won’t require any cables or a separate remote. It will, however, work only on TV sets with HDMI ports that are enabled for Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL).
This is the problem. Roku has a great idea, one that I have dreamed of for a long time. Using a non line of sight remote (RF, Bluetooth, or WiFI) with just a simple HDMI dongle is perfect replacement for a set top box, except for power. To draw power from HDMI you need a newer TV with MHL. Until this is as ubiquitous as the HDMI port itself this dongle idea wont make any impact. Hopefully Roku has enough market share to drive all TV manufactures to implement the technology required for a simple dongle set top box like this to succeed in the future.
