The latest update to the Roku OS will bring hugely helpful features to Roku audio users and a new feature to the home screen, unlike anything Roku has ever offered. For Roku sound bar owners Roku is rolling out a new feature that will work to automatically fix syncing issues with audio that can cause the audio to be off from the video causing a dubbing effect for movies and TV shows. This has been fixable by working with TV and audio settings in the past but the new update is meant to save customers the trouble of diving into settings. But for all Roku users its latest home screen update will add two major new features. One upgrade is an update to the Live TV on Roku that will let users see what content they were watching last so that they can jump right back in. But the biggest news might be what Roku is calling “What to Watch”. The feature will be a new content discovery tool that makes content suggestions (according to Roku) from across all of the apps available in the Roku search.
If that works as advertised it would be the most in-depth content discovery section found on any streaming platform by far. While other systems like Android TV offer suggestions on the home screen based on a pre-selected group of favorite apps and Apple’s “TV” app offers a setup based on a large group of specific partners, the ability to get suggestions based on the hundreds and hundreds of apps available via the Roku universal search feature would be pretty unprecedented.
Along with this Roku is upgrading its voice controls and popular mobile app.
See the details below.
ROKU AUDIO
- Automatic Speech Clarity and Sound Modes – Roku strives to deliver the best sound, always. Now available for Roku audio products, Roku’s new automatic speech clarity setting dynamically identifies and amplifies dialogue so you don’t miss a word.
- New Sound Modes for Roku Streambars and Speakers – Choose the optimal settings for whatever you’re streaming. Our new sound modes, Standard, Dialogue, Movie, Music, and Night are easily accessed by pressing the star button * on your Roku remote or through the Roku mobile app and are tailored for different viewing scenarios to ensure the best audio experience.
- A/V Sync – Roku is expanding A/V sync to supported player and audio devices with a simple calibration tool within the Roku Mobile app, syncing audio with the action on the screen. This feature is available when you have a player or Streambar connected to the Roku mobile app and is accessible within the settings menu.
EXPANDED CONTENT DISCOVERY
- What to Watch on Roku Home Menu –What to Watch is a new destination added to the Roku Home Menu, leading to movies and TV shows from a variety of streaming channels, including those users most frequently interact with. What to Watch provides easy access, a personalized selection of new titles that were recently added, recommendations for users based on popular and trending content, and so much more.
- Live TV on Roku Home Menu – In January, we added a Live TV Zone on the Roku Home Menu giving users easy access to free live and linear content from The Roku Channel as well as cable alternatives, including Hulu, fuboTV, Philo, Sling, and YouTube TV, to name a few. With Roku OS 11, you will be able to see your recently watched live tv content and discover the latest in local and national news, sports, movies, and more in the Live TV section now located on the Roku Home Menu.
- Voice Enabled Keyboard – Roku Voice simplifies device setup and channel login for supported apps by allowing users to enter email, password, and PIN information with their voice. With OS 11, voice-enabled keyboards will be available in Spanish, German, and Portuguese in the U.S. and supported countries.
MOBILE APP
- Mobile Content Details – With OS 11, the free Roku mobile app will provide users with a more visual experience when searching on the platform. New visual elements with OS 11 provides additional information about where to stream movies and TV shows, highlighting which channels are streaming the content for free or where it can be streamed within existing subscriptions, allowing everyone to get more out of the channels they are paying for. The new content details on the mobile app also show visual images of the cast and crew to assist with choosing what to watch. All of these updates are the perfect match to the recently added Save List, which allows you to save movies and TV shows while on the go so that you can stream them when you’re back home and ready to watch.
AVAILABILITY
Roku OS 11 is rolling out to supported Roku streaming players, Roku TV™ models, and peripherals over the coming weeks.
