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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- New Roku upgrades shall be free to all present clients.
- The upgrades embrace an AI-enabled Roku Voice function.
- The corporate is launching a brand new $198 sensible projector.
Roku, the streaming gadget producer, simply introduced a listing of updates for present Roku customers, together with a brand new reasonably priced projector. The updates embrace enhancements to the Roku Metropolis screensaver, Roku Voice, Stay TV Channels, the Roku cell app, and headphone mode.
One of many largest updates is the introduction of synthetic intelligence (AI) options to its Roku Voice function. The upgraded voice expertise will allow Roku Voice to reply questions on reveals, films, characters, or actors. Customers can ask extra nuanced questions, similar to “How scary is The Shining?” or “What are different films with X actor?”
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Roku Voice will preserve context throughout the dialog, permitting you to ask follow-up questions on the identical subject. This replace is coming quickly to all Roku units, and customers will be capable to expertise this by way of the Roku Voice distant or the cell app.
Bluetooth headphone mode can also be coming to the Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Streaming Stick Plus, eliminating the necessity for the cell app and permitting you to pair Bluetooth headphones straight with the Roku streaming sticks. Till now, you wanted to attach your Bluetooth headphones to your cellphone and use the Roku cell app to allow headphone mode with these units.
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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’ll be able to go straight to the film from the trailer with out having to again out from the trailer menu.
The Stay TV Channel is getting an up to date look. You will see a brand new Search bar within the Stay TV Channel Information and the Stay TV Zone. Whenever you see the titles or flick thru the platform, Roku will present as much as two streaming apps below every title the place you may stream, prioritizing your energetic subscriptions.
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For sports activities followers, Roku is introducing new discovery options, together with dwell scores that seem on the tile playing cards of every matchup, with out requiring a particular sport choice. In the event you press the brand new Reminder button for a sporting occasion that is arising, you may get a notification when the sport is about to start.
Coming later is a brand new customization function to slim down your most well-liked content material, together with your favourite sports activities and TV or film genres.
The cell app can also be receiving updates, together with shortcuts that function standard requests, similar to closed captions and setting sleep timers. You will additionally be capable to fee films and reveals and mark them as already watched (one thing I would 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 means to work together with buildings in Roku Metropolis which have been featured in a promotion. As an introduction, Roku added new marquees you could choose to be transported to an unique music efficiency from Demi Lovato.
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After unveiling the primary Roku TV projector final month, the streaming gadget firm introduced the brand new Vankyo sensible 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 lately expanded its sensible dwelling compatibility to incorporate Philips Ambilight, providing a extra immersive streaming and gaming expertise with Philips Hue lights.
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