Roku unveils a new streaming player lineup, plus Roku OS 9.2 launch

Elijah_Baley · Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:16 am

https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/19/roku- ... -2-launch/

There is one paragraph I found particularly intriguing:

This remote has been upgraded, too, with personal shortcut buttons that can be mapped to any Roku voice command. For example, you could say “Watch Disney+” or “Watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine” or “play jazz on Pandora” and make that one of your buttons.

I wonder if the new OS will also allow reprogramming of existing remote buttons?

Bacon · Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:54 am

Still no players with Dolby Vision.

Disappointing.

Elijah_Baley · Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:08 am

Bacon wrote:
Still no players with Dolby Vision.

Disappointing.

People keep saying this is important but I do not personally know of even one person that uses it or knows what it actually is or desires it. Those that want it seem quite assertive that it has value for them but I have never really seen any good reason for such assertiveness. It just seems to me a small niche that will be replaced again and again as time passes.

atc98092 · Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:15 am

One thing I noticed on the new top level Ultra. Under the videos supported, they have this:

H.264/AVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV), H.265/HEVC (.MKV, .MP4, .MOV); VP9 (.MKV)

What is suspiciously absent is H.262/MPEG-2. Since they added H.262 support over a year ago, I'm wondering if someone did a copy/paste for this announcement and overlooked that. If they truly removed H.262 again, that just makes the Roku even less desirable for my home. The majority of my ripped videos are DVD, which are all MPEG-2 video. But I suspect the announcement is inaccurate. Wouldn't be the first time... :roll:

.
DV isn't a priority for me, as my 4K TVs only support HDR/HDR+/HLG. But I know it is for others. Even Nvidia hasn't added it yet to the Shield. Makes me wonder what Dolby is charging for a license.

Heyitsrick · Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:27 am

Elijah_Baley wrote:
Bacon wrote:
Still no players with Dolby Vision.

Disappointing.

People keep saying this is important but I do not personally know of even one person that uses it or knows what it actually is or desires it. Those that want it seem quite assertive that it has value for them but I have never really seen any good reason for such assertiveness. It just seems to me a small niche that will be replaced again and again as time passes.

You don't know anyone who uses HDR? HDR is a far more important upgrade than 4K is. And Dolby Vision is the most advanced HDR format out there now. Roku has seen fit to offer it in their Roku TV line up. Amazon has implemented Dolby Vision HDR in their 4K Sticks and set tops. Apple TV 4th gen has it. Chromecast Ultra has it. Why would they all do that if it's so "niche"?

twiceover · Thu Sep 19, 2019 8:51 am

Heyitsrick wrote:
Elijah_Baley wrote:
Bacon wrote:
Still no players with Dolby Vision.

Disappointing.

People keep saying this is important but I do not personally know of even one person that uses it or knows what it actually is or desires it. Those that want it seem quite assertive that it has value for them but I have never really seen any good reason for such assertiveness. It just seems to me a small niche that will be replaced again and again as time passes.

You don't know anyone who uses HDR? HDR is a far more important upgrade than 4K is. And Dolby Vision is the most advanced HDR format out there now. Roku has seen fit to offer it in their Roku TV line up. Amazon has implemented Dolby Vision HDR in their 4K Sticks and set tops. Apple TV 4th gen has it. Chromecast Ultra has it. Why would they all do that if it's so "niche"?

I think what they are getting at is DV implementation of HDR isn't as common as just HDR. Are there any streaming services that offer DV?

Elijah_Baley · Thu Sep 19, 2019 9:09 am

Heyitsrick wrote:
Elijah_Baley wrote:
Bacon wrote:
Still no players with Dolby Vision.

Disappointing.

People keep saying this is important but I do not personally know of even one person that uses it or knows what it actually is or desires it. Those that want it seem quite assertive that it has value for them but I have never really seen any good reason for such assertiveness. It just seems to me a small niche that will be replaced again and again as time passes.

You don't know anyone who uses HDR? HDR is a far more important upgrade than 4K is. And Dolby Vision is the most advanced HDR format out there now. Roku has seen fit to offer it in their Roku TV line up. Amazon has implemented Dolby Vision HDR in their 4K Sticks and set tops. Apple TV 4th gen has it. Chromecast Ultra has it. Why would they all do that if it's so "niche"?

From my understanding Dolby Vision may support HDR but it is NOT HDR. Also just because some minor players have it does not mean it should be supported by all devices. It is both unnecessary and redundant.
If Roku chooses to support it that is OK but if they do not that is OK too.

Heyitsrick · Thu Sep 19, 2019 9:28 am

Elijah_Baley wrote:
From my understanding Dolby Vision may support HDR but it is NOT HDR. Also just because some minor players have it does not mean it should be supported by all devices. It is both unnecessary and redundant.
If Roku chooses to support it that is OK but if they do not that is OK too.

Dolby Vision is absolutely HDR. It's Dolby's proprietary HDR format. It differs from standard (non-proprietary) HDR10 in several ways. It can produce a much brighter image, it's 12-bit color vs HDR10's 10-bit color (resulting in billions of different color combos), it's "dynamic" (where each scene can be mastered for accurate shading) vs. HDR10's static "let the TV decide what to show" format, and it's backward-compatible to standard HDR-10. In other words, if you have a Dolby Vision device, you can also get standard HDR10 HDR.

As for "minor players", are you saying anything but Roku streamers are minor players? I'm not sure I get that.

twiceover wrote:
I think what they are getting at is DV implementation of HDR isn't as common as just HDR. Are there any streaming services that offer DV?

Yes - Netflix, Amazon Prime, Vudu and iTunes.

Good article about HDR, and what sets Dolby Vision apart: Dolby Vision HDR

Bacon · Thu Sep 19, 2019 9:59 am

It's just ridiculous that Roku's top of the line "Ultra" player doesn't support Dolby Vision when you can buy a Fire TV Stick 4k on sale for $35 right now that supports DV.

I understand not having the entire lineup support it, but your premium player not having it? At least they threw you a couple customizable buttons this time I guess...

ghb51 · Thu Sep 19, 2019 10:43 am

I wonder if the new OS will also allow reprogramming of existing remote buttons?

Seems possible that their (netflix, sling etc) agreement for those buttons could have been based on a limited time frame that would allow it, or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

blade_005 · Thu Sep 19, 2019 3:15 pm

Elijah_Baley wrote:
I wonder if the new OS will also allow reprogramming of existing remote buttons?

I doubt it.

It appears from the pictures included in preview articles that they are adding two (2) buttons to the remote for the ROKU ULTRA that can be programmed to shortcuts you create. If companies are still willing to pay for dedicated buttons, Roku will not give that up.

New Roku ULTRA Remote Image

blade_005 · Thu Sep 19, 2019 3:25 pm

I was hopeful that OS 9.2 might include a feature to allow GROUPS on the Home Screen.

I thought that Shortcuts might be that initially, but I don't think so. The ability to create groups for 'like' apps/channels would be quite useful in cleaning up the look and navigation of the Home Screen. (i.e. Group for Sports apps, Group for News apps, Group for Major Network apps, etc.)

JohnBoy1 · Thu Sep 19, 2019 3:39 pm

Come on Roku,at least add Dolby Vision to your new Ultra....all other streamers have it...Apple Tv 4k stb have bite into your profits because they add features that people want ….Add Dolby vision,work on bettering the 24p and Atmos support and you will get those apple people back..

jeffrok · Thu Sep 19, 2019 5:51 pm

I feel over the past couple of years that Roku is just playing the shell game with its offerings..

Taking a feature away here, adding it there and calling it an exclusive.. taking away a along ports on one model but throwing in an enhanced remote.. And the only new features to the players are faster processors and a slightly improved OS.

If cell phone companies did this, they'd only sell a new phone to you every 6 to 8 years..

Please innovate more, or you'll fall further behind Amazon and Apple's hardware. The main UI is also very, very old now.

Don't get me wrong, I still recommend Roku's to friends and family, but with the hackability, speed and Bluetooth capabilities of the Fire Sticks, I am thinking of slow migrating away.

trekkeriii · Thu Sep 19, 2019 7:46 pm

You will notice that none of the Second Generation Rokus are on the list to get Roku 9.2 (except for the 3500 Streaming Stick). So, keep that in mind if you have a Roku 2 XS/XD/HD, Roku LT, Roku HD, and the old Roku MHL Streaming Stick.

Roku unveils a new streaming player lineup, plus Roku OS 9.2 launch

Roku unveils a new streaming player lineup, plus Roku OS 9.2 launch

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