Roku has pulled the wraps off its latest set-top box, the Roku 4, that brings 4K capabilities to your living room along with announcing an overhaul to its iPhone companion app.
The Roku 4 keeps most of what people love the most about it, namely the huge range of content, while adding some nifty features besides 4K, like a remote finder. Because who can ever keep track of a remote control, right?
A few of the interesting specs:
- Quad-Core processor, up to 60 fps 4K streaming, HDCP 2.2 and Optical Audio Out
- 802.11ac MIMO Wi-Fi for optimal wireless
- Access to more streaming channels for 4K entertainment than any other streaming player with selections from Netflix, M-Go, Amazon Instant Video, ToonGoogles, Vudu and You Tube
- Curated 4K Spotlight channel exclusive to Roku 4 offers instant access to 4K movies, TV shows and more
- 4K UHD category within the Roku Channel Store to make finding streaming channels with 4K entertainment quick and easy
- Remote control with voice search, headphone jack for private listening, and the new Remote Finder
The companion app for Android and iOS is also getting a makeover, as well as the latest Roku 7 OS being pushed out to existing devices:
"The redesigned Roku mobile app offers a major update to the existing free Roku Mobile App for iOS and Android devices, making it easier to access key features including Roku Search, Roku Feed, Remote Control and Play on Roku. Now, with just the tap of the screen, you can instantly access Voice Search, view and add to Roku Feed, launch Play on Roku to display photos and videos on the big screen and much more. Similar to the Roku Home Screen, the Roku Mobile App also displays notifications to make you aware of new updates in the Roku Feed. Additionally, "Pinch to zoom" capabilities lets you view every detail of your personal photos. If you have photos on your mobile device you can cast them and even create new screen savers that plays when Roku 4 is idle."
It doesn't say when the app update will be pushing out, but you'll find the download link below for when it does.
The Roku 4 will cost $129.99 and is available to pre-order now with a view to shipping later on October 21. Roku OS 7 will roll out to current-generation Roku players in the U.S., Canada and the UK, and Roku TVs in the US and Canada from sometime in October and is expected to be completed in November.
Reader comments
Roku app for iPhone getting an overhaul alongside a new set-top box
So now we have two additional competitors to the new Apple TV, the Amazon fire and Roku 4. Both support 4K and both have optical out ports. The Roku 4 has expandable memory via micro sd slot AND a USB port for external storage. As big an Apple fan as I am this is an attractive piece of hardware, and $20 cheaper.
Very much the front runner for my next box. USB port to access my hard drive is huge. Micros expansion is nice too. And the fact that it's not locked in so i can get amazon tv and google apps like access to my google music stored music (assuming there's an app) is a plus. Interestingly Amazon tv is probably second because other than having an iphone and 4 paid apps i'm not tied to the apple ecosystem. But i dont' think it has nbc sports live extra. And you can sideload apps on Amazon tv since it's android so that which is very cool.