In addition to announcing a trio of new hardware devices, today Roku is debuting the latest version of its smart TV software, Roku OS 10, with a slew of enhancements aimed at helping Roku users get more from their streaming devices.
The free update starts rolling out today to select Roku players and is expected to roll out to all supported streaming players, including the new Roku Express 4K+ and Roku Streambar Pro, and all Roku TV models in the coming weeks.
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Here’s what you can expect to see once your device gets the update.
Improvements for Roku players
Apple AirPlay 2 & HomeKit
Select 4KRoku devices got access to Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit in 2020, but OS 10 brings these features to select HD devices, including the Roku Express, and select HD Roku TV models.
AirPlay 2 lets Roku users stream, control, and share content from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to compatible Roku devices, letting them watch on a bigger screen. Compatible devices also get HomeKit support, which enables control via Siri or the Home app on Apple devices.
Instant resume
One problem when exiting a Roku streaming app (channel) is that you can’t quickly get back to where you were when you relaunch it later. You basically have to start from scratch. With instant resume, select apps will remember what you were watching and your progress, letting you get back to your movie or show much faster.
Instant resume will be supported on more than 15 streaming channels including AT&T TV, FilmRise, Fox Business Network, Fox News Channel, Fubo Sports Network, HappyKids TV, Plex.tv, Starz, The Roku Channel, with more to come.
Customizable live TV channel guide
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If you’ve ever had to contend with a cable or satellite receiver that won’t let you hide the channels you aren’t subscribed to, you’ll appreciate the ability to customize the Roku live TV channel guide. You can now hide individual channels from view and add channels to a favorites list for a custom guide view.
You can quickly switch between guide views to see favorites, recently visited, or all channels.
Automatic Wi-Fi network detection
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Many of us have Wi-Fi routers that run multiple bands like 2.4GHz and 5GHz, but there’s a tendency to simply connect our wireless devices to the default 2.4GHz network. While that might be more than enough bandwidth for surfing the web, when it comes to high bandwidth streaming video, the 5GHz is often the better choice.
In Roku OS 10, your player device will automatically scan for Wi-Fi networks that have the same SSID (network name) as your current network, but that use the faster 5GHz frequency. If it finds one, it can prompt you to switch to that network, but you’ll still have to enter your Wi-Fi password.
Improvements to visual search results for Roku Voice
Roku added visual search results in Roku OS 9.3, giving folks an easier way to see matching content with categorized rows including relevant movies, shows, short-form entertainment. Now, when you initiate a voice search while within a streaming channel, those results will be displayed in a less disruptive partial overlay with content from the active channel in the first row, followed by rows of other matches from elsewhere on the platform.
Voice entry for select on-screen keyboards
This is a big one for those who are sick of hunt-and-peck on-screen keyboards. Your voice can now be used instead of typing. It doesn’t work with every on-screen keyboard within the Roku ecosystem but when it is supported, you’ll know, thanks to a microphone icon that appears when it’s an option.
HDR10+ support
You can still only get Dolby VisionHDR support on the Roku Ultra and select Roku TVs, but OS 10 brings HDR 10+ to the Ultra, Roku Express 4K, and Roku Express 4K+. These devices will automatically detect HDR10+ TV compatibility during setup or users can configure the Display type within the Settings menu.
Improvements for all Roku TVs
Automatic game console configuration
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Roku TV users who connect a new game console to their TVs will benefit from some new automatic settings. When a supported game console is connected to an HDMI port, the input tile on the home screen will automatically change to the game console icon along with an appropriate label.
The TV will also detect the console’s capabilities and automatically enables settings like Game Mode, which reduces latency by turning off some of the picture processing that can introduce lag.
Depending on the Roku TV model being used, settings that get automatically configured may include HDR gaming, auto low-latency mode (ALLM), variable refresh rate (VRR), high frame rate (e.g. 4K at 120Hz), and THX Certified Game Mode.
Improvements for select Roku soundbars
Virtual surround sound
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Roku Smart Soundbar and Roku Streambar Pro owners get an improved sound experience with a new virtual surround setting. It uses software to simulate a full 5.1 surround system using just the four speakers built into the soundbars.
You can access the new setting by pressing the “*” button on the Roku remote, then choosing the sound settings menu, or by accessing the audio menu within settings on your device.
Supported devices
Roku OS 10 is compatible with all Roku TV models and these Roku player devices: 9102X, 9101X, 9100X, 4800X, 4670X, 4662X, 4661X, 4660X, 4640X, 4630X, 4622X, 4620X, 4400X, 4230X, 4210X, 4200X, 3941X, 3940X, 3931X, 3930X, 3921X, 3920X, 3910X, 3900X, 3821X, 3820X, 3811X, 3810X, 3800X, 3710X, 3700X, 3600X, 3500X, 2720X, 2710X, and 2700X.
The LG C4 OLED TV has a $700 discount during 4th of July sales
It’s tough to find markdowns on some of the highest reviewed TVs, to the point where we’re often scrounging for TV deals on last year’s models. But if you’re the kind of person who needs your hardware to belong to the current calendar year (we don’t blame you), we dug up a fantastic LG discount. As part of the brand’s 4th of July TV sales, you’ll be able to purchase the LG 77-inch C4 OLED for only $3,000. We say “only” because this TV usually costs $3,700, so you’ll be able to pocket $700. Put it toward a new soundbar or stereo.
Why you should buy the LG 77-inch C4 OLED
When it comes to colors, contrast, black levels, and even peak brightness, LG OLEDs consistently rank as some of the best big TVs you can buy. In the case of the 77-inch C4, you’ll be working with a 4K panel that delivers a max refresh rate of 144Hz. And the best part about OLED: each individual pixel is self-emissive. This means that when there’s no picture info to display, a pixel can literally be turned off; unlike a traditional LED-LCD TV, which simply dims the pixel as much as possible.
Grab a new dorm room TV for $118 in Walmart’s 4th of July Sale
In the Walmart 4th of July sale, the Philips 32-inch HD TV is down to just $118, $50 lower than the $168 it usually is. There's nothing super flashy about this TV -- the selling point is the price. Throw it in the kid's playroom, your dorm, stuff it in the motorhome or camper, do whatever you want with it because a TV isn't getting much cheaper than this. We can (and will) go on more about what this TV is good for below, but be sure to tap the button immediately below this message to check out the TV for yourself. Over 200 copies of this TV are in people's carts as this is being written, so if you wait, supplies may dwindle.
Why you should buy the Philips 32-inch HD TV
The Philips 32-inch HD TV is a small Roku TV that displays in 720p HD. It is by no means a super-powered TV, but it gets the job done. This is the TV that's a little bit grainy but actually fits in your dorm or camper, that lets you talk and chat with the lads and make memories just as much as you focus on watching it. A bit of spilled beer or, if you put this in a child's playroom, a cupcake-icing fingerprint aren't going to sour the mood or make things awkward with a TV at this price level, either. That's the real charm of this TV. It's for small places and times where the memories are worth more than the content.
The 77-inch LG C3 OLED TV has a $1,500 discount for the 4th of July
One of our favorite LG TVs, and a customer favorite, has a big 4th of July deal going on right now. It's the large, 77 inch version of the LG C3 OLED TV, and right now you can get it for just $1,997, down over $1,500 from its usual $3,500 price point. It's one of the best 4th of July TV deals going on right now and it can be yours if you tap the button below. Or, keep reading to see why you should pick up this TV, as well as why both reviewers and average customers like it.
Why you should buy the 77-inch LG C3 OLED TV
The LG C3 OLED TV is a powerful TV with the powerful a9 AI Processor Gen6 for optimized settings with minimal personal input. This TV is ready for casual viewing, intense movie watching with Dolby Vision and Filmmaker Mode, and gaming with its 0.1ms response time and 120Hz refresh rate.
