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USA TODAY & # 39; HUI
Posted at 4:59 AM and September 24, 2018 |
Apple TV has Amazon's Siri, Amazon TV has Alexa, and now, Roku has joined forces with the Google assistant to bring a well-established voice to its popular streaming players and branded TVs.
Roku, the # 1 streaming player, had offered its own voice search, but Google's wizard, usually accessed via Google Home speakers, is more widely used by the public.
Roku, announcing new products for the fall of this Monday, did not specify a deadline for the change, saying only that it would be "soon" and for most existing devices. In addition, Roku TVs will have more features with Google, which will allow viewers to say "Hey, Google", turn on and off their TV, increase volume, turn off, change channels , but only if at an antenna.
Amazon, recognized by analysts as the # 2 streaming device, has integrated Alexa into the cornerstone of its experience, using voice control to open applications and find entertainment to watch. Earlier this year, Amazon launched a line of Toshiba-brand TVs and the Fire TV Edition brand Insignia, which connect to the Echo speaker to control the experience.
Roku has introduced two new players, the Roku Premiere at $ 39.99 and the Roku Premiere + at $ 49.99, which offer the ability to display 4K video content at lower prices. They will begin to be delivered to customers on October 7th.
The Roku line starts at $ 29.99, with the Express, which offers a resolution of up to 1080p, and reaches $ 99.99 for the Ultra. This unit offers extensions that less expensive players do not have, such as a microSD card and a USB port, and an Ethernet port for spaces with low wifi connectivity.
Roku also announced a line of speakers, as an alternative to the big sound bars. The stereo pair, which will sell for $ 199, is offered to provide better sound for TVs and streaming devices. However, they are not connected by voice.
Streaming players have emerged as a holiday gift as they are cheap, small and easy to pack. According to eMarketer, Roku will have 32.4% of streaming viewers in 2018, compared to 26.6% for Amazon, 16.8% for the Google Chromecast dongle and 13.2% for Apple TV.
Follow Jefferson Graham on Twitter, Twitter, @jeffersongraham
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