Does Roku play local/networked media?

[Homerboy]

Looking to get my kid a Roku player, but I'm reading conflicting reports on if it plays local/networked media or not. I don't want to go the full-blown route of a XBMC machine for him -- just something simple like a Roku to play local and streaming (YouTube etc) content

If it does play local content, then what formats?

 

[queequeg99]

I have a Roku 3. I play local media using Plex (which I also had to use to enable youtube streaming). As far as I know, it won't play local files (e.g. files save on a NAS or PC for example) without the use of Plex.

As for formats, I have only just started to experiment. I've ripped DVDs and converted them to mkv files, which play perfectly.

 

[neovan]

I have a Roku 3 and I believe it has a USB port so you can plug in an external hd (I have not tried this method). I've only had it for about a week.

I currently use it to stream from my Plex server. It plays all type of media files (I mainly use mkv).

The only drawback I have discovered is that it doesn't mount iso files like xbmc does.

 

[queequeg99]

It looks like you should be able to use the USB port to connect external disks:

http://www.solveyourtech.com/how-to-access-a-usb-drive-on-the-roku-3/

 

[HydroSqueegee]

http://www.engadget.com/2013/12/17/roku-3-youtube/?ncid=rss_truncated

We finally get a proper youtube channel!