For years one of the main complaints about Roku was how confusing it was to update Roku channels. You could wait for it to happen or run a system update. Now with Roku OS 9.2, Roku has made it easier to update Roku channels.
With the Roku OS 9.2 update, you can easily update any Roku channel just by selecting the channel and hitting the * key on your remote. There you will find a new option to update that Roku channel. No longer do you have to run a full system update or wait for other Roku channels to update just to get a new feature from a Roku channel.
This is one more hidden feature in the Roku OS 9.2 update. Roku also updated the sleep timer to make it the first option in the menu. This makes setting a sleep timer far easier than it used to be.
Here are the features and updates coming to Roku devices with OS 9.2:
SEARCH & DISCOVERY
Roku Zones: Search for a genre or topical subject for a curated selection of relevant content from channels across the Roku platform. Roku Zones are organized into browsable, categorized rows that may include new releases, free titles, and rentals. Additional genres and topics may be added over time.
4K Spotlight Channel: A content-first, hand-curated selection of 4K entertainment from channels across the Roku platform now leverages the new Roku Zones architecture. Browse 4K titles across categories such as Most Popular, Action, Drama, TV shows, and 4K channels. A preview of the Spotlight section is shown below:
ROKU
VOICE FEATURES
Set Sleep Timers on Roku TVs: Roku TV customers can use their voice remote or Roku mobile app to quickly set a sleep timer on their TV by saying, “Go to sleep at 11 p.m.”
Search by Movie Quotes: Enjoy finding movie results by searching for the top quotes from thousands of popular movies across the Roku platform.
4K in Roku Search: Use Roku Voice to say “4K movies” to see results for a variety of popular 4K movies. Entering a text search for “4K” will now return results including the 4K Movies & TV Zone.
Support for Roku Media Player: Customers who use the Roku Media Player to play their personal music, movies, and photos can now use Roku Voice to find, play, and control stored files by using commands such as “Play” and “Skip.”
Control Multiple Roku Devices with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant: Customers who use Alexa-enabled devices and/or Google Assistant to control their Roku device can now control multiple Roku devices in their home.
ROKU TIPS & TRICKS
The new Roku Tips & Tricks channel is packed with helpful Roku-created videos to assist customers in getting the most out of their streaming experience. The channel is installed on all Roku streaming devices, and videos cover a variety of topics including notable features, new products, and popular support topics.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES
In addition to the search and voice command updates, OS 9.2 will include several features that will improve the Roku viewing experience.
With the update, we’ll see channel performance improvements to video start times, along with better caching to reduce load screens when launching channels and making the initial setup of new Roku devices faster.
For those using the new version of the Roku Ultra, channel performance will be enhanced with the fast channel launch feature. This feature gets users to entertainment faster, improving channel launch times for the top channels across the Roku platform, which is an improvement for all viewers but will especially benefit sports fans. Faster load times means viewers will see less of a delay behind live games and less lag time when flipping from channel to channel.
A new shortcut section on the home screen will make it easier to find exactly what you’re looking for more quickly. At launch, Roku players will have a shortcut tile for adding channels and to turn the TV on and off. Roku TVs will have shortcut tiles for adding channels and setting a sleep timer. A screenshot showing the shortcut section is shown above.
The update will also include Roku TV support for the new Roku Wireless Subwoofer when Roku TV Wireless Speakers are paired to a Roku TV.
Roku OS 9.2 will begin rolling out to select Roku players this month and is expected to launch to all supported streaming players, including the Roku Smart Soundbar, in the coming weeks. Roku TV models are expected to receive the update in phases over the coming months.
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