Latest Roku OS Update Plays Up Device Compatibility in Ecosystem

Roku is expanding its platform in its latest operating system to include digital photo frame capabilities and audio clarity features exclusive to Roku speakers and sound bars, the company said Tuesday. It will roll out the upgrade over the next few weeks, it said.

New audio features are designed to differentiate Roku’s speaker products. Sound modes coming to OS 11 will be available on Roku Streambars and speakers, allowing users to select from Standard, Dialogue, Movie, Music and Night modes to match audio to specific listening experiences. Sound modes will be selectable from the star key on the Roku remote.

A spokesperson confirmed that the sound clarity features are exclusive to Roku speakers and sound bars, saying, “Your Roku audio device will analyze audio in real-time, determine what is speech/dialogue and enable speech clarity for only that part of the movie.” The feature can also determine when an actor in a musical “goes from speaking to singing,” he said.

Roku OS 11 will add photo display and sharing features. Users can create personalized screensavers by uploading images to their Roku devices via PC or mobile phone; they can also share photos with other Roku users, the company said.

Roku is expanding the A/V Sync feature to “supported player and audio devices” with a calibration tool within the Roku Mobile app that’s designed to sync audio with action on the screen. The feature is available when a Roku player or Streambar is connected to the Roku mobile app; it’s accessible within the settings menu, the company said.

To improve content discovery, Roku is adding a What to Watch destination to the home screen that leads users to movies and TV shows from different streaming channels, including those users interact with most frequently, the company said. The section provides a “personalized selection” of recently added new titles, plus recommendations for users based on popular and trending content, Roku said.

The new OS builds on the Live TV on Home Screen Menu Roku launched in January, which pointed users to free live and linear content from The Roku Channel, plus virtual MVPD services including Hulu, fuboTV, Philo, Sling and YouTube TV. The latest OS lets users view recently watched live TV content and discover other free programming in local and national news, sports, movies and more via the home screen menu, it said.

Expanded Roku Voice capability is designed to simplify the setup and channel log-in processes for "supported apps” by allowing users to enter email, password and personal identification number information by voice. Voice-enabled keyboards will be available in Spanish, German and Portuguese in the U.S. and supported countries, it said.

The Roku mobile app gets a facelift with OS 11 with new visual elements about where to stream movies and TV shows. It will highlight which channels are streaming free content or where it can be streamed within existing subscriptions, Roku said.