Roku

Microsoft is reportedly considering other iterations of its streaming dongle that is still under development. The company has reportedly also confirmed the codename Keystone for the dongle after it appeared on the Xbox OS list. It is expected to be circular in shape similar to Roku-like puck. This streaming dongle is said to be a modernised HDMI streaming dongle running Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud that can be connected to any TV or monitor directly, eliminating the need of a full-blown console for streaming.According to…

Most of the outdoor gogglebox solutions we've seen over the years are either pricey or very pricey indeed. But now there's a relatively inexpensive option joining the patio party courtesy of Roku and Element Electronics.Part of Element's Patio Series, model EP400AB55R is billed as the first outdoor Roku TV, and while it's not as gargantuan or tricked out as offerings from luxury brands like C Seed, it also doesn't come with a million dollar price tag. And it's even cheaper than a similar-sized Terrace TV introduced by…

Roku is giving its best streaming player an overdue update. On Thursday, Roku announced that its premium Roku Ultra now includes the Roku Voice Remote Pro. Ever since it launched in 2020, the Roku Ultra has shipped with the standard voice remote. Starting today, it comes with the Voice Remote Pro in the box, but it still costs $99.99. Roku’s Voice Remote Pro retails for $30, so if you were in the market for a 4K player anyway, this is a solid deal. Just make sure you get the new bundle and not the old one.…

Roku announced on Thursday that its Ultra streaming box will include its Voice Remote Pro, which upgrades the company’s standard remote by adding more buttons, always-on listening, and a rechargeable battery. Despite the fact that Roku is including a remote that costs $30 to purchase on its own, the Ultra will stay at its original $99.99 price point. In its press release, the company says that the bundling will begin in “mid-May,” and its website already says that the Ultra comes with the Pro remote. When my colleague…

Roku Inc. ROKU 5.83% has teamed with private-equity firm Apollo Global Management Inc. APO 3.73% to bid for a minority stake in the pay-TV and streaming service Starz, which is known for series like “Outlander” and “Power,” according to people familiar with the situation. In November, movie and television production company Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.…

Roku users can now play songs and videos from Apple Music on their TVs, streaming players, or Roku soundbars. Roku announced on Monday that the “app will be available to download later today.” It’s taken a while for Apple’s music service to make it to one of the most popular smart TV platforms. It was ported to Amazon’s Fire TV in 2019 and has since made it to at least one game console: the PS5 (though it doesn’t seem to be supported on Xbox or Switch). In my opinion, though, streaming music services make a lot of…

As the old saying goes, if you can’t beat ‘em, partner up with another overly powerful cable giant to give yourself a better shot. This morning, Comcast and Charter announced a new joint venture that will see the two companies teaming up to develop “a next-generation streaming platform on a variety of branded 4K streaming devices and smart TVs.” This new platform and the devices that run it will square off against Amazon, Roku, Google, Apple, and other established streaming hardware players. The new venture is evenly…

Roku has signed a multiyear deal with Lionsgate to exclusively offer the studio’s theatrical releases for free on its ad-supported Roku Channel immediately after their showing on Starz, starting with its 2022 release slate. It includes films like John Wick: Chapter 4, The Expendables 4, Borderlands, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, and more, which will be available on the channel in two separate windows. The second window will be nonexclusive, however, so the Roku Channel will be the first place viewers can see…