Roku has added five new streaming players and unveiled a new version of its operating system.
The entry level Roku Express and Roku Express+ are described as being five times more powerful than their predecessors and retail from $29.99. The key difference between the models is the ability for the Roku Express+ to connect with older TV sets. In the US it is available exclusively through Walmart.
The $49.99 Roku Streaming Stick features a quad-core processor and 802.11 AC dual-band MIMO wireless. It also comes with a voice remote that extends to TV power and volume control on selected TVs.
The Roku Streaming Stick+ is priced at $69.99 and offers up to 4 times the wireless range than the 2016 Roku Streaming Stick to minimize buffering.
At the top of the range Roku Ultra ($99.99) features an ethernet port for wired connectivity and micro SD slot to help speed up streaming channel load times. It also features a headphone jack and a remote finder button for when the control slips in between the sofa cushions.
Meanwhile, an upgraded Roku OS 8 includes voice control and a new programme guide that blends Roku’s on demand services with broadcast TV. There’s also a single sign-on for pay-TV services and a ‘spotlight’ for 4K services.
OS 8 will be deployed from October 8.