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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- New Roku upgrades will likely be free to all present clients.
- The upgrades embody an AI-enabled Roku Voice characteristic.
- The corporate is launching a brand new $198 sensible projector.
Roku, the streaming machine producer, simply introduced an inventory of updates for present Roku customers, together with a brand new inexpensive projector. The updates embody enhancements to the Roku Metropolis screensaver, Roku Voice, Dwell TV Channels, the Roku cellular app, and headphone mode.
One of many largest updates is the introduction of synthetic intelligence (AI) options to its Roku Voice characteristic. The upgraded voice expertise will allow Roku Voice to reply questions on reveals, motion pictures, characters, or actors. Customers can ask extra nuanced questions, resembling “How scary is The Shining?” or “What are different motion pictures with X actor?”
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Roku Voice will keep context throughout the dialog, permitting you to ask follow-up questions on the identical subject. This replace is coming quickly to all Roku gadgets, and customers will be capable to expertise this by way of the Roku Voice distant or the cellular app.
Bluetooth headphone mode can also be coming to the Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Streaming Stick Plus, eliminating the necessity for the cellular app and permitting you to pair Bluetooth headphones instantly with the Roku streaming sticks. Till now, you wanted to attach your Bluetooth headphones to your telephone and use the Roku cellular app to allow headphone mode with these gadgets.
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New interactive buttons are being launched to trailers on the Roku platform, together with a “Methods to Watch” button and a “Save” button. You possibly can go straight to the film from the trailer with out having to again out from the trailer menu.
The Dwell TV Channel is getting an up to date look. You may see a brand new Search bar within the Dwell TV Channel Information and the Dwell TV Zone. Whenever you see the titles or flick through the platform, Roku will present as much as two streaming apps beneath every title the place you possibly can stream, prioritizing your lively subscriptions.
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For sports activities followers, Roku is introducing new discovery options, together with reside scores that seem on the tile playing cards of every matchup, with out requiring a selected sport choice. In case you press the brand new Reminder button for a sporting occasion that is developing, you may get a notification when the sport is about to start.
Coming later is a brand new customization characteristic to slender down your most popular content material, together with your favourite sports activities and TV or film genres.
The cellular app can also be receiving updates, together with shortcuts that characteristic standard requests, resembling closed captions and setting sleep timers. You may additionally be capable to fee motion pictures and reveals and mark them as already watched (one thing I might like to see Netflix undertake). The highest of the app will sport a brand new navigation bar, permitting you to scroll by way of classes seamlessly.
The announcement included the brand new capability to work together with buildings in Roku Metropolis which have been featured in a promotion. As an introduction, Roku added new marquees that you may choose to be transported to an unique music efficiency from Demi Lovato.
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After unveiling the first Roku TV projector final month, the streaming machine firm introduced the brand new Vankyo smart projector which is offered at Walmart. This transportable projector options 1080p HD decision, auto keystone, auto focus, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It is priced at $198, and options 330 lumen brightness, a 1500:1 distinction ratio, and two 5W audio system.
Roku not too long ago expanded its sensible residence compatibility to incorporate Philips Ambilight, providing a extra immersive streaming and gaming expertise with Philips Hue lights.
