Roku today announced Roku OS 11.5, which promises to add a number of features to the home screen and search experience that should make what’s already considered the easiest streaming experience that much more useful. Those who own one of the top three Roku devices will now be able to listen via Bluetooth headphones.
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Here’s the deal:
If you have a Roku Ultra (which is the best Roku “player” device for streaming) or a Roku Streambar or Streambar Pro (which packs the Roku experience into a soundbar), the new operating system will enable “private listening” from a Bluetooth headset. It’s an update to a feature that lets you listen without disturbing others around you either through headphones connected to the Roku Voice Remote or through the Roku mobile app.
That’s a pretty big deal in itself, considering you’ll no longer need to connect to another device first, but that’s really just the tip of the iceberg of what’s headed your way with the 11.5 update.
“We’re in the golden age of streaming with more great shows and movies being released than ever before, which can be overwhelming at times,” Preston Smalley, vice president of consumer products at Roku, said in a press release. “By personalizing the way our users connect with the content they love and offering more ways to discover and access new content to stream or save for later, our users have more tools than ever to watch what they want with ease.”
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The home screen will see a new section called “The Buzz”, which is another portal that aims to lead you to additional content that you might not otherwise see. You’ll get “a frequently updated collection of short-form, entertainment-focused content from popular streaming services.” Those services will include AMC+, Apple TV+, BET+, Crackle, Hallmark Movies Now, IGN, Plex, Popcornflix, Showtime, Starz, The CW, Tubi, Vevo, and Wondrium, for starters.
There’s also a new “continue watching” feature that should make it easier to pick up where you left off in an individual show or movie, rather than having to go back to the individual service first and then find it. It’s not a universal feature, though Roku says HBO Max, Netflix, Paramount+ and The Roku Channel are included so far.
If you’re the kind of person who likes to keep things organized, the new “Save List” will make it easy to create a list of content you’ll want to watch later. Like the “continue watching” feature, it will be found in the “What to watch” section of the home screen.
Need more new features? How about:
- “Roku Store” add-on to your home screen, aiming to add a single place to browse, search and add free and paid channels to your devices
- An update to Roku Voice Control that adds an on-screen component that displays channel options relative to your search
- Categories added to Live TV Guide for a more personalized experience
- Live TV “Guide” button on the remote control of the mobile application
There’s no exact information on when to expect the Roku OS 11.5 update on your device, other than “in the coming months.”
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Source: newstars.edu.vn