Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video
  3. News

Roku infiltrates soundbars and wireless speakers with its own voice assistant

Kris Wouk
By

roku connect voice assistant soundbars speakers lifestyle xfinity
Image used with permission by copyright holder
In its early years, Roku was known for making some of the best streaming boxes around, before integrating its technology into a platform that could power smart TVs. Now the company is expanding its reach even more with Roku Connect, a platform for TVs, speakers, and soundbars that includes the voice-powered Roku Entertainment Assistant.

This new platform will let the company’s partners — like those who are already manufacturing Roku-branded TVs — offer products that work together as an entire home entertainment network. Not only will this allow for multiroom streaming, but all the different products will be controlled by a single remote or voice commands. Users will be able to use phrases like “Hey Roku, play jazz in the living room” to play music through a Roku Connect-enabled soundbar, even if the TV is turned off.

Recommended Videos

While Roku Connect and the voice assistant will be offered in smart TVs, smart soundbars, and smart speakers, they aren’t limited to new hardware. Both Roku Connect and Roku Entertainment Assistant will be rolled out as a free software update planned to launch by this fall. While specific model names have not been mentioned, the announcement states that this free software update will be available on most Roku TV models and streaming boxes.

Related

“We’ve always focused on making it incredibly simple for consumers to find and enjoy streaming entertainment on their TVs, and with an expanded Roku ecosystem, consumers will be able to add great sound their TVs and audio around the whole home in a modern way,” Roku CEO Anthony Wood said in a statement. “Consumers will love the benefits of a home entertainment network, such as having more affordable options, adding one device at a time, using their voice, having a simplified set up and Wi-Fi connectivity, and holding just one remote control.”

While there are plenty of multiroom streaming options out there, Roku’s is certainly one to watch. Four years ago, the company launched its licensing program for manufacturers to build Roku functionality into their TVs. Now the company says that one out of every five smart TVs sold in the United States in the first nine months of 2017 was a Roku TV model.

Yet another partner has joined on as well: Magnavox plans to bring new smart TVs using the company’s tech to market this spring.

We’re sure Roku has more to say about this new program as well as its streaming boxes and smart TV platform, so be sure to keep an eye on our CES coverage.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Kris Wouk
Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Roku is aware of its OS 10.5 update breaking your streaming apps
Roku OS 10.5.

If you're struggling to stream video after the Roku OS 10.5 update, you're not alone, apparently. The leading streaming platform's user forums have been busy in the days following the major update, with all sorts of complaints of things being broken.

The complaints range from channel-specific — things like YouTube TV not working — to overall network connectivity problems to general malaise. It's not easy to troubleshoot from afar when you're dealing with multiple devices over multiple generations, but the general consensus over 20 pages of posts so far (as well as in the Roku subreddit) is that something is wrong.

Read more
TCL’s latest soundbars go fully wireless at CES 2021
TCL Alto R1 wireless Roku TV Ready Soundbar

Last week, ahead of CES 2021, Roku announced that it had created a reference design for a wireless soundbar that could be used with the Roku TV Ready platform. The key innovation here is Roku's elimination of the HDMI cable (or optical cable) that is normally a requirement when connecting a soundbar to a TV. Roku said that it expected TCL to be the first company to introduce one of these wireless speakers, and today, that's what TCL has done.

The TCL Alto R1 is the first soundbar to make use of Roku's proprietary Wi-Fi Audio streaming technology. Instead of connecting the Alto R1 to a TCL Roku TV directly, you simply plug it into a wall outlet for power, and the TV will automatically detect the speaker and prompt you with an on-screen setup guide.

Read more
Panasonic’s flagship OLED TV is covered in speakers, but it’s not coming to U.S.
Panasonic JZ2000 OLED TV

With a little more than 48 hours to go until CES 2021, Panasonic has unveiled its flagship OLED TV for 2021, the JZ2000 -- a stunning technological tour de force festooned with speakers. And, as has been the case for several years now, Panasonic has not committed to U.S. availability or pricing for the new model, which may be sold only in Europe.

The JZ2000 will be sold in Europe later his year in two sizes: 55- and 65-inches. Running down the JZ2000's list of features is like doing a deep dive into every TV technology that's emerged over the last year or so -- and then some. It all starts with the Master HDR OLED Professional Edition panel, which Panasonic claims "has been exclusively customized by Panasonic R&D engineers to achieve even greater control of the parameters that affect picture quality." Not only does Panasonic promise better picture quality, but it also boasts that the JZ2000 will be so bright that "other OLED TVs look dim by comparison."

Read more