Streaming developer Roku has launched a new campaign that positions its hardware and platform as one that makes it easy to discover and watch content from thousands of apps — and the company has updated some of its hardware to help streamers take their favorite shows and movies with them when they travel.
Starting next month, streamers will have their choice of two new Roku streaming sticks — a $30 version capable of streaming content in high definition, and a premium, $40 model that includes support for ultra high-definition (UHD/4K) video and other enhanced features — which are being marketed as a way to install a clean streaming set-up and with portability in mind.
According to internal research cited by Roku, nearly three-quarters of streaming customers “want to be able to watch their go-to shows or pick up where they left off without having to skip a beat.” The new low-cost streaming sticks announced on Wednesday are likely to be the perfect travel companion, owed to their small overall size yet more-than-capable internal hardware.
Roku also says their streaming sticks are best positioned to help streamers achieve a clean set-up, with the sticks plugged into one HDMI port typically found on the side or behind a TV set. A USB cable powers the streaming stick and includes an integrated Wi-Fi antenna; the entire package means streamers can install a Roku stick, and then forget it’s even there.
Both sticks include a voice-powered remote control that allows streamers to navigate across apps and services using speech. Roku says it has enhanced its voice capabilities over time as part of a broader effort to make it easier to find familiar shows and movies, as well as new things to watch.
On that note, the company is introducing a number of enhancements with search and discovery in mind. In the near future, Roku devices will debut two new menus — one called “Coming Soon to Theaters” that includes movie trailers and news about Hollywood debuts, and another that integrates short-form content across The Roku Channel and other services.
Roku is also updating its app for smartphones and tablets to include content listings with IMDb ratings, as well as content-based alerts that link to watchlists and favorites lists across the Roku platform. An example offered by the company on Wednesday included one where a user “favorites” a particular baseball team, then receives a notification through the Roku app on their phone that a game involving that team is slated to start within the next 15 minutes.
