Besides the huge announcement about the launch of the Roku 4 today, Roku has announced a major update to their Operating System and app:
Unprecedented Level of Entertainment Search and Discovery: Last March we introduced Roku Feed, a first-of-its-kind discovery feature that lets you know when entertainment is available for streaming. We launched this feature with a focus on “Movies Coming Soon” allowing you to follow box office hits and receive noticed when available. We’ve updated your Feed so that you can now follow movies, TV shows, actors and directors and receive updates on availability of movies and TV episodes as well as changes to price. And now when there are several related updates you’ll see them grouped on the home screen.
Travel and Connect Anywhere: The Hotel and Dorm Connect feature allows you to easily connect your Roku player, Roku TV and Roku Streaming Stick to Wi-Fi networks that require sign-in through a web browser like those commonly found in hotel rooms, college dorms and other public locations. Simply connect your Roku device to the password-protected network, sign-in with your login credentials using the browser on your mobile phone, tablet or laptop, and you’re ready to start streaming.
New Roku mobile app offers companion experience: 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.
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 through a software update beginning in mid-October and is expected to be completed in November.