Posted Mon Oct 2, 2017 at 08:30 AM PDT by Steven Cohen
The company's updated product line has been detailed.
Roku has announced its latest collection of streaming media devices. The lineup includes upgraded Roku Express, Roku Express+, and Roku Streaming Stick models, along with the new 4K HDR Roku Streaming Stick+, and a cheaper price point for the Roku Ultra. Likewise, the company has also announced the arrival of its new Roku OS 8.
"Our new streaming player line up provides performance, price and features to meet our users needs so they can sit back, relax and enjoy their TV viewing experience even more," said Chas Smith, general manager of Roku TVs and players. "Consumers will love our new sleek Roku Streaming Stick+ with an innovative advanced wireless receiver that gives up to four times the wireless range and a remote that controls TV volume and power. It makes 4K and HDR streaming simple."
The second-generation Roku Express ($30) and Roku Express+ ($40, Walmart Exclusive) offer five times better performance over previous editions, giving customers a strong entry-level HD experience. And in addition to an HDMI connection, the Express+ model also includes a composite A/V port for older displays.
Meanwhile, the Roku Streaming Stick ($50) features a compact design with a quad-core processor, 802.11 AC dual-band MIMO wireless, and support for HD streaming. Likewise, the new version now comes with a voice remote. In addition, Roku is also introducing the new Roku Streaming Stick+ ($70) with an advanced wireless range, along with HD, 4K, and up to 60 FPS 4K HDR playback.
Finally, the company is reducing the suggested retail price of its flagship Roku Ultra model to $100. The Roku Ultra features HD, 4K, and 4K HDR playback with up to 60 fps. The device also includes advanced wireless performance, an ethernet port for wired connectivity, a micro SD slot, and a voice remote.
Pre-orders for Roku's new streaming player lineup are set to launch today for an October 8 release.
And beyond its new hardware, the company has also announced the launch of Roku OS 8. The updated operating system offers a New Smart Guide for Roku TVs that blends OTA TV with streaming content; enhanced voice control features; single sign-on for TV everywhere channels; an updated 4K Spotlight Channel and more. Click here for a full rundown of Roku OS 8 features.
"At Roku, we love TV and we're focused on making it better for everyone," said Ilya Asnis, senior vice president of Roku OS at Roku. "Roku OS 8 delivers on our key pillars of ease, content and value. These new features make the entertainment experience more enjoyable for our customers, while solving some of the biggest pain points when watching TV today."
Roku OS 8 will start rolling out to Roku players early this month. Likewise, the update will hit Roku TV models in November, and will expand to all compatible Roku devices by the end of the year.
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