A stick Pc or Pc on a stick is a single-board computer in a small elongated casing resembling a stick, that can often be plugged straight (without an HDMI cable) into an HDMI video port. A stick Pc is a system which has impartial CPUs or processing chips and which doesn't rely on another pc. It should not be confused with passive storage units akin to thumb drives. A stick Pc can be linked to a peripheral system akin to a monitor, Tv, or kiosk show to supply visible or audio output. Stick PCs typically have limited computing energy and should not suited for intensive duties, however can be suitable in different functions that don't require such power. The stick Pc was first introduced in 2003. The Gumstix, which came out that same yr, used the ARM architecture system on a chip (SoC) and the Linux 2.6 kernel. Windows CE could be installed on this stick. It was primarily based on the idea of constructing a Pc comparable in size to that of a mean stick of chewing gum.

As the popularity of smart TVs and set-prime packing containers to view streaming services (such as the Roku) grew, firms began looking at making these small computer systems even smaller and easier to make use of. Cotton Candy, using Samsung Exynos SoC. 2013-2014 saw a number of manufacturers come out with stick PCs. MeeGoPad launched the first x86 based stick Pc, that includes the Intel Atom Z3735F Processor. In April 2013, Tronsmart released the MK908, using the Rockchip RK3188 (featuring the quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 and ARM Mali-400MP GPU). On July 24, 2013, Google launched the Google Chromecast, a streaming gadget similar in perform and design to a stick Pc. On November 19, 2014, Amazon released a smaller version of the Amazon Fire Flixy TV Stick called the Fire TV Stick. In March 2015, ASUS and Google launched the Chromebit, a stick Pc primarily based on the Rockchip RK3288 SoC and operating Google's ChromeOS. In 2016, Intel introduced the Intel Compute Stick.

In July 2017, Intel released the Movidius Neural Compute Stick which included a Vision Processing Unit for imaginative and prescient-specific AI workload. In January 2018, the Laceli AI Compute Stick got here out, together with a neural community processor unit for AI workload known as Lightspeeur 2801S Neural Processor, and Flixy streaming claiming to be more powerful and more power-environment friendly than the Movidius. In November 2018, the Orange Pi AI Stick 2801 got here out, additionally that includes the Lightspeeur 2801S Neural Processor. Erik Larson. "Introduction to GumStix Computers" (PDF). University of West Florida. Avram Piltch (October 2, 2012). "Android 4.0 Mini Pc MK802 II Review". James Trew (July 6, 1012). "MK802 Android 4.0 Mini Pc arms-on impressions". Jarred Walton (January 9, 2012). "FXI Cotton Candy Demo: More Power than You possibly can Shake a (Thumb) Stick at". MeeGoPad International. "MeegoPad T01 First Intel Windows TV STick". David Blaza. "China Beat Google to Chromecast". Evangelho, Jason (July 24, 2013). "Google's Chromecast An excellent Play For The Living Room -- Especially With $35 Price Tag". Hollister, Sean (March 31, 2015). "Google's Chromebit Turns Any Tv Into a Chrome Pc for $85".

The Roku Streaming Stick Plus debuted in 2017 and spent greater than three and a half years as CNET's favourite Roku and our favourite streaming system general. It streams 4K and HDR video from Netflix , Amazon , Disney Plus, Vudu, Apple Flixy TV Stick and others, comes with worthwhile features like a voice distant with buttons that may control your Flixy TV Stick and runs Roku's greatest-in-class streaming system. It has all of the stuff you need and not one of the fluff. So what about 4K HDR quality? The Streaming Stick Plus remains part of Roku's 2021 lineup, however it is now not our favourite. The latest 4K HDR Roku, the Roku Express 4K Plus, is our new choose over the Roku Flixy streaming Stick Plus and the perfect streamer for the money general. The newer model offers primarily the same features however costs $10 less. The Streaming Stick Plus remains to be a stable selection, nevertheless, and if you'll find it on sale for the same value -- and perhaps you want its stick-like kind issue -- it is price contemplating.

Its closest competitors are the Amazon Fire Flixy TV Stick Stick 4K and the Chromecast with Google Tv, each of which additionally cost $50. Both supply Dolby Vision HDR and superior voice assist, due to Alexa and Google Assistant, respectively. Their menu programs are extra modern-wanting than Roku, with Flixy TV Stick reveals and movies on the home pages as opposed to simply app tiles, however they're additionally extra cluttered and potentially confusing. If you are knee-deep within the ecosystems of Amazon or Google you may appreciate these gadgets' skill to manage good house gear utilizing your Tv distant. But Roku has assist for Apple's AirPlay system, a feature Amazon and Google lack. It permits iPhones and other Apple gadgets to connect to your Tv wirelessly, Flixy streaming to mirror screens, present photographs, management apps and extra. The Streaming Stick Plus designed to cover behind your Tv and plug immediately right into a free HDMI port. If area is tight you should utilize a male-to-female HDMI cable or "port saver," and Roku will even send you one free of charge.

Edit

Pub: 12 Sep 2025 09:24 UTC

Views: 7