Roku OS 9 to Offer New Voice Control, Search and Volume Leveling Features
Business Wire 24-Sep-2018 9:00 AM
Customers Can Use Their Voice to Search for Free Entertainment and
Control iHeartRadio, Pandora and TuneInPlus, Control their
Roku Devices with Google Assistant
Roku,
Inc. (NASDAQ:ROKU) today announced Roku OS 8.2, a
software update for Roku TVs that enables new features for seamless
compatibility with upcoming Roku TV Wireless Speakers; and Roku OS 9, a
new software release with a variety of enhancements to give Roku
customers new easy ways to search and control their entertainment
experience. Roku will soon enable the ability to use Google Assistant
devices to control Roku streaming devices. In addition, premium music
services Spotify and Pandora Premium support are coming to Roku devices.
"As we broaden the Roku ecosystem allowing consumers to add new devices
to their Home Entertainment Networks, we are in a unique position that
is unlike any other TV streaming platform," said Ilya Asnis, senior vice
president of Roku OS at Roku. "Our single operating system running
across Roku TVs and Roku TV Wireless Speakers give us the ability to
innovate how consumers experience audio and entertainment in their
homes."
NEW FEATURES ACROSS THE ROKU PLATFORM
-
Google Assistant – Soon, you'll be able to use Google Assistant
devices to control select Roku streaming devices to pause and search
for content and launch channels. Additionally, Roku TV owners can turn
their TV on and off, turn up the volume, mute, switch inputs and
change channels if there is an OTA antenna connected.
-
Pandora Premium support – With Pandora Premium, listeners can
search and play any song, album or featured playlist, with the option
to create their own, and access personalized soundtracks based on
changing moods. Available via the Pandora channel in the Roku Channel
Store now.
ROKU OS 8.2 FOR ROKU TVS AND ROKU TV WIRELESS SPEAKERS
-
Access and control iHeartRadio, Pandora and TuneIn by voice –
Launch live radio stations from across the country, podcasts, custom
artist stations and more with iHeartRadio; Playlists, stations and
more via Pandora; and live radio stations, play-by-play sports, news,
etc. with TuneIn. Use simple voice commands using Roku voice remotes,
Roku Touch or the Roku mobile app. Subscriptions not required and
premium features available with upgraded services.
-
Automatic Volume Leveling – Automatic Volume Leveling enables a
uniform audio level across various types of content, so it will no
longer feel jarring when a commercial comes on or when streaming
channels are changed. Night mode lowers the volume level for louder
scenes, and boosts it for quieter ones. The volume mode setting will
be accessible by pressing the star button during video playback when
Roku TV Wireless Speakers are connected to a Roku TV.
-
Speech Clarity – This feature looks for voice frequencies and
boosts them to address intelligibility. Speech Clarity will be
available via the star menu when Roku TV Wireless Speakers are
connected to a Roku TV.
-
Spotify – Spotify is the world's most popular music streaming
service. Discover, manage and share over 35M songs for free, or
upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features including
offline mode, improved sound quality, Spotify Connect and ad-free
listening. Roku customers will be able to launch and navigate the
channel using a Roku remote or via Spotify Connect on a laptop, tablet
or mobile phone.
ROKU OS 9 FOR ROKU STREAMING PLAYERS, ROKU TVS AND ROKU TV WIRELESS
SPEAKERS
-
"Free" Genre Voice Search – Browse free content available on
the Roku platform with simple voice requests such as "let's see free
sitcoms," "show me free comedies," "free dramas" and more.
-
Automatic Volume Leveling – Automatic Volume Leveling will be
available on select Roku streaming players, as well as select Roku TVs
whether paired or not to Roku TV Wireless Speakers.
-
Spotify – Discover, manage and share over 35M songs for free,
or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features including
offline mode, improved sound quality, Spotify Connect and ad-free
listening. Roku customers will be able to launch and navigate the
channel using a Roku remote or via Spotify Connect on a laptop, tablet
or mobile phone.
Availability
Pandora Premium is available via the Pandora channel in the Roku Channel
Store now. Customers will be able to control Roku streaming players and
Roku TVs using Google Assistant devices in the coming weeks.
Roku OS 8.2 is rolling out to Roku TVs now and is expected to be
completed in November.
Roku OS 9 will begin rolling out to Roku streaming players in early
November and Roku TVs early next year. It is expected to be completed in
Q1 2019.
About Roku, Inc.
Roku pioneered streaming to the TV. We connect users to the streaming
content they love, enable content publishers to build and monetize large
audiences, and provide advertisers with unique capabilities to engage
consumers. Roku streaming players and Roku TV™ models are available
around the world through direct retail sales and licensing arrangements
with TV OEMs and service operators. Roku is headquartered in Los Gatos,
Calif. U.S.A.
Roku is a registered trademark and Roku TV is a trademark of Roku,
Inc. in the U.S. and in other countries.
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