Roku releases revamped mobile app
David Farnor | On 18, Jan 2017
New year, new app for Roku users, as the streaming platform launches a revamped mobile interface for 2017.
Roku is increasingly stepping up its living room presence, teaming up with manufacturers in the US to make smart TVs with its platform built in. But it’s not forgotten about its iOS and Android users, releasing version 4.0 of its mobile this week.
The new app has a sleeker look designed to make it easy to access both Roku’s features and the movies and shows available on the services it supports.
When users launch the Roku mobile app, they’ll see a scrollable view of all of their streaming channels – now it just takes one tap to get to Netflix, BBC iPlayer, or any other channel installed.
Once open, the app will enter playback mode with the remote front and centre.
“We know that getting to the channel you want is only the first half of streaming the content you want to watch,” says Matthew Wee, Senior Product Manager. “To make this transition easier and faster, once you launch a streaming channel the remote control will automatically appear on the app giving you a seamless experience to find the show you were looking for. Now you can quickly go from deciding where you want to watch to finding what you want to watch without additional taps.”
The remote has also been tweaked: the new remote tab now more closely matches the buttons on the Roku device remote, with the buttons and directional pad moving closer together so it’s easier to press the onscreen buttons with one hand. And, while the remote is open, there is a channels icon at the top left of the remote screen so users can quickly access their installed streaming channels and navigate from one channel to another.
A new navigation bar at the bottom of the app, meanwhile, means that wth one tap, users can view and launch their installed streaming channels, use the remote or share photos and videos to your TV. They can also browse what’s on – tapping the “What’s On” will launch a selection of popular entertainment available to rent or buy, while users can also choose to follow movies that are currently in cinemas to be updated when they’re available for streaming.
The new app still includes the features that have made Roku one of the most popular options for streamers, from voice search for movies and shows to being able to share videos, music, and photos from mobile devices to the TV.