Roku - SlashGear

Roku tipped with 5 new models inbound: HDR, 4K and more

Brittany A. Roston | Aug 29, 2016

It seems Roku is preparing to launch five new models in the near future, at least two of which will apparently include support for HDR video. The models have surfaced in various ways, including in FCC filings; while those filings have had many of their details redacted, other info has seemingly been made public via a pair of Canadian websites. Assuming one of the leaks is accurate, the official launch will happen on September 7.

Next Roku models to be called ‘Express,’ ‘Premiere,’ and ‘Ultra’

Adam Westlake | Aug 28, 2016

Streaming set-top box maker Roku is expected to release an updated lineup of devices this fall, and according to new information, the company will finally move away from including numbers in their naming scheme (i.e. Roku 1, Roku 2, Roku 3). Zatz Not Funny, a frequently reliable source when it comes to leaks, says that instead of seeing a Roku 5, there will be unique names for each model, including the "Roku Express" and "Roku Premiere."

Hitachi will offer HD and 4K Roku smart TVs this fall

Brittany A. Roston | Jun 29, 2016

Hitachi is onboard to make Roku smart TVs, the company has announced. This upcoming fall, Hitachi will offer a line of Roku TVs with both HD and Ultra HD 4K resolution, all of them with various sized displays and Roku’s own OS. The televisions, as with the TCL and Hisense versions that have been available for a while, will give users access to Roku’s streaming channels while eliminating the need to have a separate set-top-box or Roku Streaming Stick.

PlayStation Vue arrives on Roku in the U.S.

Brittany A. Roston | Jun 21, 2016

Sony's live TV streaming service PlayStation Vue has been available for a while now, and until today, you needed either a PS4 or PS3, iOS, Amazon Fire TV, or Chromecast device to watch it. That changes today, with Roku announcing that PlayStation Vue is now available on its own devices, as well, greatly expanding the number of cable cutters and set-top-box owners who can subscribe to it.

Roku Search finally adds news channels to its results

JC Torres | Jun 21, 2016

Having a set-top box that isn't tied to a specific service or network has many advantages but at least one big disadvantage: sorting through the myriad of sources to get to the content you want, at the price you like. Roku created its Search software to address that need, offering "unbiased" results with their equivalent prices, if applicable. Now Roku is adding more sources to harvest videos from, about more than 50 channels. Those include, for the first time, news channels so that you can also keep updated not just on fictional events but real-world ones as well.

Comcast Xfinity TV will soon be watchable via Roku, Samsung smart TVs

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 20, 2016

Starting this year, Comcast’s Xfinity TV subscribers will be able to watch their cable subscription’s content through a channel on their Roku player, sidestepping the need for Xfinity’s set-top box. The option will roll out some time later this year, and will be available through the Xfinity TV Partner app, an app that has been made — in this case — for Roku’s own set-top boxes and smart TVs.

Roku Streaming Stick update packs quad-core processor

Brittany A. Roston | Apr 5, 2016

Roku has introduced an updated Streaming Stick, and it brings with it a quad-core processor. Unlike the previous Streaming Stick, this new model is black and features the company’s new “Private Listening” feature. With it, users can listen to their show using headphones connected to their phone, assuming the phone is running the Roku mobile app. This feature is available only via the new Streaming Stick, and is similar in convenience to the headphone jack included on some Roku remotes.

Vimeo On Demand store launches on Roku

Brittany A. Roston | Mar 28, 2016

If you have a Roku player, you'll soon be able to buy and watch Vimeo on Demand content directly through the set-top-box. The On Demand store is coming via an update to Vimeo's Roku channel (available alongside other content providers in the channel store). Vimeo on Demand offers a bunch of content, a great deal of which are from indie creators.

TCL 4K Roku smart TVs go up for preorder

Brittany A. Roston | Mar 24, 2016

The latest TCL smart TVs with Roku baked in bring Ultra HD resolution with them, and they're now up for preorder. First announced in January, the televisions offer all the benefits of a Roku set-top-box without having to purchase and hook up the device separately. As well, the TVs can be used to stream 4k-resolution videos, unlike previous TCL TVs, which were capped at a 1080p resolution.

NBC’s Seeso service launches on Roku and Fire TV

Brittany A. Roston | Mar 1, 2016

Back in October, NBC announced a subscription video service called ‘Seeso’ that focuses on comedy shows and charges $3.99 per month. The service is still around, and it’ll be making its way in front of more viewers now that it has launched on both Amazon’s Fire TV and Roku set-top boxes. With the new channels, cord cutters and more will be able to more easily watch the content on their television.

Roku announces 4K streaming with new TCL televisions

Adam Westlake | Jan 4, 2016

When it comes to streaming video and entertainment, Roku has been competing in set-top box market for some time now, but it's also making progress on adopting the strategy of Netflix and Amazon Video by having its service baked into televisions directly as an app. While the latest Roku 4 box introduced support for 4K content, the company has announced at CES 2016 that it's introducing 4K Roku TV built into new televisions from TCL this year.

Deezer lands for Roku users in France, UK, Canada, and Mexico

Shane McGlaun | Dec 23, 2015

Roku fans in a few select countries now have a new streaming option to check out with the launch of Deezer for streaming music. Deezer is now available in France, UK, Canada, and Mexico. The Deezer app for Roku TV users gives users access to tracks, albums, playlists, and their personal Deezer Flow.