Roku today announced the Roku 4 streaming player, which streams 4K Ultra HD (UHD) videos as well as Full HD 1080p content. In addition to its sleek new design, the Roku 4 includes a new handy Remote Finder feature, which enables you to locate your remote control at the touch of a button. The new streaming media player will cost $130, which is a $30 dollar premium over Roku 3 without 4K.
The Roku 4 runs the new Roku OS 7 that the company also announced today. Roku OS 7 is filled with new discovery features that give consumers more access to entertainment choices. With a major update to the Roku Feed consumers can now follow movies, TV shows, actors and directors to receive automatic entertainment updates about pricing and availability. Those at college or who travel and want to stream will now be able to use the new Hotel and Dorm Connect feature for quick wireless connectivity in locations that require log-in credentials to access the network.
“The Roku 4 is our best streaming player ever,” said Roku Founder and CEO Anthony Wood. “It provides an amazing 4K experience with powerful performance and brilliant picture, at up to 60 frames per second on 4K TVs, and access to the most streaming channels with 4K entertainment, plus innovative features like Remote Finder. Powered by the new Roku OS 7, the Roku 4 gives consumers a new era of streaming performance and control over their entertainment.”
Features
- Brilliant picture and stunning performance for both 4K UHD TVs and HDTVs
- Quad-Core processor, up to 60 fps 4K streaming, HDCP 2.2 and Optical Audio Out
- Sleek 1080p home screen and user interface
- 802.11ac MIMO Wi-Fi for optimal wireless
- Access to more streaming channels for 4K entertainment than any other streaming player with selections from Netflix, M-Go, Amazon Instant Video, ToonGoogles, Vudu and YouTube
- Curated 4K Spotlight channel exclusive to Roku4 offers instant access to 4K movies, TV shows and more
- 4K UHD category within the Roku Channel Store to make finding streaming channels with 4K entertainment quick and easy
- Remote control with voice search, headphone jack for private listening, and Remote Finder
- Roku mobile app for Android and iOS offering full device control, personalized screensavers for the Roku 4 and soon, on-the-go access for following entertainment when away from home
Built for Streamers – Unprecedented Level of Entertainment Search and Discovery
In March, Roku introduced the Roku Feed, a first-of-its-kind discovery feature that lets consumers know when favorite entertainment becomes available for streaming – and at what price. At that time the company debuted Movies Coming Soon, which allows consumers to “Follow” box office movies they’re interested in and receive automatic updates when the movie becomes available for streaming, from what provider and at what price. With Roku OS 7, consumers can now follow movies, TV shows, actors and directors to receive automatic updates in their Roku Feed from select partners. Consumers will receive updates when a movie or a new episode of a TV show becomes available, or the price changes.
Notifications on the Roku Home Screen help consumers easily discover when they have new updates in the Roku Feed. Additionally, new updates within the Roku Feed are clearly marked so consumers can quickly identify new information about the entertainment they follow.
New Mobile App Offers Companion Experience
Roku is also releasing a major update to the free Roku Mobile App for iOS and Android making it easier for consumers to access key features including Roku Search, Roku Feed, Remote Control and Play on Roku. Now, with just the tap of the screen, consumers can instantly access Voice Search, view and add to Roku Feed, launch Play on Roku to display their 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 consumers aware of new updates in the Roku Feed. Additionally “Pinch to zoom” capabilities let consumers view every detail of their personal photos. Consumers with 4K photos on their mobile device can cast their photos and even create new screen savers that play when Roku 4 is idle.
Connecting Away from Home Just Got Easier
Hotel and Dorm Connect is a new feature that allows consumers to connect their 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. Consumers simply connect their Roku device to the password-protected network, sign-in with their login credentials using the browser on their mobile phone, tablet or laptop, and they’re ready to start streaming. Now consumers have TV on their terms anywhere they go, whether it’s after a long day of classes, on a family vacation or in the hotel on a business trip.
Availability
The Roku 4 is available for pre-order today from www.roku.com and major retailers for $129.99. It will be available in October 21, 2015. Roku OS 7 will be rolled out to current-generation Roku players and Roku TVs through a software update beginning in mid-October and is expected to be completed in November.
About Roku OS 7
At the heart of the Roku streaming platform is the Roku OS, a powerful operating system purpose-built for the TV screen. Designed to run on affordable streaming players and TVs, the Roku OS gives consumers a superior entertainment experience while enabling channel developers to effectively grow and monetize their audiences through advanced development, billing, and advertising tools. Using Roku Scene Graph, content providers can quickly develop custom streaming channels and deliver content to millions of devices worldwide. Roku Billing offers seamless, one-click subscription to certain Roku channels, streamlining users’ access to content, while accelerating developers’ user acquisition efforts. Roku’s Ad Framework enables advertisers to reach Roku’s large audience of TV streamers with sophisticated advertising tools, while helping developers bring more, free, ad-supported content to Roku users.
