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This is an example of interoperability that I did not expect to see any time soon: Roku announced that over the next few weeks, consumers will be able to control their Roku broadcast boxes, sticks, and televisions. using the voice commands of the Google Assistant.
Users will be able to launch specific streaming apps, control playback (play / pause / etc.), search for content, and 'go home' by talking to a Google Home speaker or wizard on their mobile phone. For owners of Roku TVs, voice commands can also turn their TV on or off, adjust the volume, change inputs, or tune to a specific channel received from a connected antenna. This also opens up great potential for integrating Roku hardware into your Google Assistant routines.
Roku's voice remote control, bundled with some of its products, already offers a universal search that includes the content of the most popular streaming services. (You can cast channels, request movies featuring a specific actor, or say something like "show me Hulu documentaries," for example). For customers who do not have voice remote, the Roku smartphone app is the same feature. And the company's upcoming TV speakers will also include a washer-like Roku Touch remote that will allow users to record voice commands or frequent searches and assign them to a hardware button as a shortcut.
Kissing Google Assistant shows that Roku is not afraid to open his platform, even if it's just a little bit. Roku's voice technology may be able to find a movie or show to watch, but it's not as smart or complete as the wizard. Unfortunately for those who prefer Alexa, we do not know if Roku plans to introduce Amazon as well.
In addition to future compatibility with Google Assistant, Roku also announces several other new software related features. First, Spotify returns after removing its application from the platform at the end of last year. At the time, Spotify admitted that the experience it offered on Roku did not live up to the standards of the company and that it intended to return with a "much better" application. That's what's happening, and that's what you expect. In addition, Pandora's Roku app adds premium support for the service.
Other software features available to Roku streaming players and TVs in the coming months include:
- Voice search "free _____": You will be able to tell your Roku voice remote to "show free comedies" or whatever you want, and the operating system will deploy anything that you can stream for free and that meets your criteria.
- Automatic Volume Leveling and Speech Clarity: Both solutions will apply to people with both Roku TV and Roku Wireless Speakers. Automatic volume leveling will prevent a discordant transition between content and commercial breaks or between different streaming applications. The night mode will preserve the sanity of your roommates and neighbors in the evening. And clarity of speech will emphasize dialogue to make up for the lack of central channel in Roku's speaker configuration.
- Control Pandora, iHeartRadio and TuneIn with: Roku adds voice commands for these three music apps.
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