Articles about Roku

Roku is going in a new direction with its latest smart home products, stepping away from the rebadged Wyze cameras it offered in the past. This time, the company is rolling out security cameras designed entirely in-house. The new Roku Battery Camera and Roku Battery Camera Plus promise easier installation, longer battery life, and deep integration with the Roku ecosystem.

These weather-resistant cameras are built to work indoors or outdoors, and because they run on rechargeable batteries, there’s no need to mess around with power cables. Roku also plans to offer a solar panel accessory, giving users the option to keep the batteries topped off without manual charging. According to the company, the standard Battery Camera can last up to six months per charge, while the Plus model could go as long as two years before needing to be recharged.

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Roku has achieved a significant milestone, boasting over 80 million active accounts worldwide! This achievement highlights the shifting consumer preference towards streaming, with Roku being at the forefront of this transformation.

In an unprecedented feat, Roku users streamed more than 100 billion hours of content in 2023, averaging a record 4.1 hours per day per account in the fourth quarter. In the United States, Roku's active account base now surpasses the combined subscribers of the six largest traditional pay-TV providers.

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Apple Music is the best streaming music service. Yes, it is much better than Spotify. This is fact. I know this to be true, as I have used both and found Apple's offering to be superior. Apple Music isn't limited to the company's own devices like iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV either -- it can also be accessed on Android and the web, for instance.

Today, Apple Music comes to yet another platform -- Roku. Yes, whether you have a Roku media box or TV with Roku integrated, you can now access Apple Music with it. How cool is that?

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I'm a big believer in paying for quality, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate value. When I can save a buck, I try to do so. Do I regret buying pricey Apple TV devices for my home? No, not really; they work well and I have been satisfied overall. If I had to do it over again, however, I'd probably go with Roku devices. That company's streaming media boxes are much more affordable and largely just as capable as Apple's offerings.

And today, Roku takes its value game up a notch. You see, the Roku Express 4K+ is insanely inexpensive given its features. For a mere $39.99 you get a media box with 4K, HDR, and a rechargeable voice remote control. Yes, folks, this new Roku remote does not require changing batteries. Hell, you even get an HDMI cable in the box.

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There are many streaming boxes nowadays, such as Apple TV and Chromecast with Google TV. Both of those are great options, but they are hardly the most popular. The average consumer typically chooses different devices, such as the Amazon Fire TV or a Roku.

Speaking of Roku, today, the company announces it has hit a major milestone. You see, there are now more than 50 million active Roku accounts! This is quite impressive, as Roku is facing more competition than ever before, including smart TVs with integrated streaming services.

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There are way too many streaming services nowadays. If you want to subscribe to them all, it will cost a small fortune. For instance, there is Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and more. One of the newer services is HBO Max, which is already wildly popular. It will only gain in popularity, as several Warner Bros. movies will debut on the service simultaneously with theaters in 2021. This includes the highly anticipated Matrix 4.

With all of that said, HBO Max has not been available on Roku, which is absolutely tragic. After all, millions on households depend on Roku devices for their streaming services. Today this changes, however, as HBO Max finally comes to Roku. Woo-hoo!

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Christmas may technically be a religious holiday, but for many folks, it is more about enjoying family rather than worshiping. And you know what? That's fine. People have the right to celebrate however they want. Me? I like to do both of those things -- Celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but also, spend time with the people I love. Heck, I even like gift-giving -- it is fun to make someone else happy with a present they really want. OK, fine, I like getting gifts too.

One of my favorite activities to do in December is watch Christmas movies. These holiday films really help me to get into the Christmas spirit. It's a great feeling to be wrapped up in a cozy blanket on a comfortable couch and enjoy some wholesome, family-friendly, Christmas movies. This year, popular streaming media platform, Roku, is sharing ts top 10 most searched Christmas movies. While the films on the list are rather predictable, the positions are a bit surprising.

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Apple Watch is extremely popular with iPhone users, so you might think that they all also own Apple TV for their streaming needs. Well, while I am sure many do, not all iPhone users are heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem -- it can be quite the expensive affair. For instance, Mac computers are much more expensive than Windows machines with similar specifications. Also, the Apple TV media box is much costlier than Amazon Fire TV or Roku. In other words, there are iPhone users that also own Apple Watch, but use non-Apple devices in their lives too.

If you are an Apple Watch user that also owns a Roku device, I have great news. Starting today, you can control your media box using the wearable on your wrist. Yes, the Apple Watch can effectively be turned into a remote control for interacting with Roku.

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Earlier this month, Apple had a big product unveiling, where it showed off a new iPad, Apple Watch, and three new iPhone 11 models. You know what it didn't reveal? A new Apple TV. This was very surprising, as the company is planning to really push its upcoming Apple TV+ streaming service. You would think an upgraded device for Apple TV+ would make sense, but no, the company laid an egg in that regard.

Thankfully, Roku is happy to keep pushing the envelope and releasing new hardware. Following the previous announcement of the innovative Roku Soundbar, today, the company unveils upgrades to two of its most popular devices -- Roku Ultra and Roku Express. The Ultra is its top of the line device, while the Express is a budget offering for the masses.

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I'm a cord-cutter and long gone are the days of me paying the cable company for television -- including the insane cable box rental fees. Instead, I utilize streaming services using my own hardware. In my home, Apple TV is what is used, but to be honest, I am souring on it. Not only is Apple TV overpriced, but the remote control is terrible. Lately, I have been considering a move to Roku instead -- I like the affordability of the hardware, but also, the remote works properly -- it isn't finicky and fragile like Apple's.

Today, Roku may have convinced me to finally make the switch. You see, the company plans to release what it calls the "Roku Smart Soundbar." It is essentially a traditional soundbar with a Roku media box built in. Believe it or not, it is priced the same as a base-model Apple TV 4K! In addition, Roku will sell an optional wireless subwoofer -- perfect for those that love bass.

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Smart televisions are kind of... stupid. While TV makers love to advertise all of the integrated streaming services, the truth is, the interfaces are often slow and clunky. Ultimately, it is a much better experience to use a streaming device, such as Amazon Fire TV, Roku, or Apple TV. Hell, connecting your smart TV to the internet could even put your home network at risk!

The best thing about streaming media boxes and sticks, however, is they are typically very affordable. Well, with the exception of the pricey Apple TV. For instance, you can buy a quality Roku Streaming Stick for less than $40. You know what’s better than spending a little money? Spending no money. You see, Roku is giving away five devices (one per winner) to celebrate the summer.

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Need a TV? You should definitely buy a 4K model. Even if you don't have any UHD content now, it makes sense to "future-proof" at this point as pricing has gotten quite low.

If you are averse to spending money, I have good news -- Roku is giving away a 55-inch 4K Westinghouse TV. This smart TV has an integrated Roku, making it easy to stream content. The model of TV is "WR55UE4019," which I have been unable to find for sale online. That's not all, however -- the company is also including its Roku TV Wireless Speakers for a superior audio experience.

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Game of Thrones is one of the greatest television series of all time. Hell, it is arguably the best. Not only is the acting, casting, and storytelling damn-near perfect, but it is visually stunning too. Back in the day, television shows had terrible special effects compared to films. After all, they had much lower budgets. That's why it is so remarkable, for example, to see such impressive imagery, such as realistic-looking dragons and massive cities, -- both of which are featured on Game of Thrones.

Sadly, all things end eventually, and Game of Thrones is no different. This year, the final season of the hit HBO show will air. To celebrate this significant moment in pop culture history, an official limited edition Game of Thrones Roku Ultra has been produced. Actually, there are six of them, and if you are lucky, you might be able to win one! Yes, Roku is doing a giveaway and entering is rather easy.

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If you need a streaming media box, Roku is an excellent choice. Even if your television is a "smart" variant, it is still wise to add a Roku media box to it. Why? Despite redundant functionality, the apps built into smart TVs are often terrible. Look, you want to enjoy yourself while watching videos or listening to music, right? There is no time to fiddle around with a deficient experience. Not to mention, a Roku box is extremely affordable -- you will be glad you bought it.

But what if you don't already have a television? In that case, you should consider a Roku TV -- a television set with a Roku built in. In other words, it is a smart TV that is actually, you know, smart. Can't afford a new television? No worries -- Roku is giving one away. And no, the prize is not a third-rate TV with lesser specs. Actually, it is a 65-inch 4K model from Hisense.

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Amazon Alexa and Roku. These are two things I greatly appreciate. Why? Well, they are fairly open and don't lock the user into any specific service. In other words, both Roku and Alexa support countless third-party services, making it easy for the owner to switch without compromise. Don't like Amazon Music? Change to Spotify. Not a fan of Sling TV? Go with YouTube TV. It's no surprise that both developers and consumers love Alexa and Roku.

Today, Roku and Alexa finally become friends. You see, Roku has released an official "skill" for Alexa, enabling the user to control the media box with their voice through Amazon's assistant. The skill is also compatible with Roku TV (televisions with the platform built in).

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