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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- New Roku upgrades can be free to all present clients.
- The upgrades embody an AI-enabled Roku Voice function.
- The corporate is launching a brand new $198 good projector.
Roku, the streaming machine producer, simply introduced a listing of updates for current Roku customers, together with a brand new inexpensive projector. The updates embody enhancements to the Roku Metropolis screensaver, Roku Voice, Stay TV Channels, the Roku cell app, and headphone mode.
One of many greatest 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, comparable to “How scary is The Shining?” or “What are different films with X actor?”
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Roku Voice will preserve context through the dialog, permitting you to ask follow-up questions on the identical matter. This replace is coming quickly to all Roku gadgets, and customers will have the ability 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 telephone and use the Roku cell 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’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 may 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 possibly can stream, prioritizing your energetic subscriptions.
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For sports activities followers, Roku is introducing new discovery options, together with stay scores that seem on the tile playing cards of every matchup, with out requiring a selected sport choice. When 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 function to slender 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 in style requests, comparable to closed captions and setting sleep timers. You may additionally have the ability 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 skill to work together with buildings in Roku Metropolis which were featured in a promotion. As an introduction, Roku added new marquees you can 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 obtainable at Walmart. This moveable 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 good residence compatibility to incorporate Philips Ambilight, providing a extra immersive streaming and gaming expertise with Philips Hue lights.
