Roku Solves the Biggest Problem With Home TV Streaming
â–¼ Summary
– Roku is providing free upgrades to all current customers, including enhancements to Roku Voice, Live TV Channels, the mobile app, and headphone mode.
– The AI-enabled Roku Voice will answer nuanced questions about shows and actors, maintain conversation context, and work via remote or mobile app.
– Bluetooth headphone mode is being added to Roku Streaming Sticks, allowing direct pairing without needing the mobile app.
– New interactive trailer buttons, Live TV Channel updates, and sports discovery features like live scores and reminders are being introduced.
– Roku announced a new $198 Vankyo smart projector with 1080p HD, auto focus, and Bluetooth, available at Walmart.
Roku is rolling out a significant set of free upgrades for its streaming platform, directly addressing common user frustrations and enhancing the overall entertainment experience. These improvements span voice control, audio options, content discovery, and mobile app functionality, all designed to make navigating and enjoying TV simpler and more intuitive. The introduction of AI-powered Roku Voice stands out as a major leap forward, allowing for more natural, conversational queries about movies, actors, and shows.
One of the most anticipated updates brings Bluetooth headphone mode directly to the Roku Streaming Stick and Streaming Stick Plus. This eliminates the previous requirement to route audio through the Roku mobile app, letting you pair your Bluetooth headphones straight to the streaming stick for private listening.
The platform’s trailers are becoming more interactive with the addition of new buttons. A “Ways to Watch” button lets you jump directly to a movie from its trailer, while a “Save” button allows you to bookmark content for later. This streamlines the process of finding and starting to watch your chosen entertainment.
The Live TV Channel guide is receiving a visual refresh, complete with a new Search bar for easier navigation. As you browse titles, Roku will now display up to two streaming apps where you can watch each show or movie, prioritizing the services you are already subscribed to.
Sports enthusiasts gain new tools with live scores appearing directly on matchup tiles. A new Reminder button for upcoming games will send a notification when the event is about to start, ensuring you never miss the opening play. Future updates promise even more personalization, allowing you to filter content based on your preferred sports, genres, and more.
The Roku mobile app is also getting smarter. It will feature shortcuts for popular commands like turning on closed captions or setting a sleep timer. New functions let you rate content and mark shows as watched, a handy feature for tracking your viewing history. A redesigned navigation bar at the top of the app makes scrolling through different categories a seamless experience.
In a fun, interactive twist, the iconic Roku City screensaver now includes selectable buildings. As an introductory promotion, choosing certain marquees transports users to an exclusive music performance by Demi Lovato.
Beyond the software updates, Roku announced a new, affordable hardware option. The Vankyo smart projector, available at Walmart for $198, is a portable device offering 1080p HD resolution, auto keystone, auto focus, and built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It boasts 330 lumens of brightness, a 1500:1 contrast ratio, and dual 5W speakers.
Finally, Roku continues to build its smart home ecosystem, recently expanding compatibility to include Philips Ambilight. This integration syncs with Philips Hue lights to create a more immersive, ambient lighting experience for both streaming and gaming.
(Source: ZDNET)
