Roku OS 9 to Offer New Voice Control, Search and Volume Leveling Features
September 24 2018 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
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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RokuSeana Norvellsnorvell@roku.com
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