Roku Launches Roku 4, Its First 4K-capable Streaming Box, For $130

Not sure where to find 4K video?

The apps main page now acts more like the Roku home screen, showing updates in the Roku Feed. At that time the company debuted Movies Coming Soon, which allows consumers to “Follow” box office movies they’re interested in and receive automatic updates when the movie becomes available for streaming, from what provider and at what price.

With all the brouhaha about Amazon cutting commercial ties with Apple TV and Google Chromecast, it’s easy to forget that there are other players in the video-streaming realm – such as Roku. The most significant upgrade, however, might be the system’s new 4K capabilities.

The new look of the hardware is the first indication that under the hood, things are different.

So what will set the Roku 4 apart from the competition?

Roku had a head start in the streaming set-top box business, and has seen monster viewing numbers from those with devices in their houses already.

Specific to the Roku 4, is a “4K Spotlight Channel”, which shows curated 4K content from a number content partners as well as from the web like YouTube.

The new Roku 4K box will also be powered by the manufacturer’s also new Roku 7 software, which also has new additions to its OS technology.

Roku’s new 4K over-the-top streaming box won’t leave you high and dry when it comes to content, either. Klarke said that Roku will let users customize their remote finder sound, and said that the company worked a while on perfecting this feature.

Joining the hypercompetitive field is the Roku 4, a 4K-enabled player due to arrive later this month; the $130 device is available for preorder at Roku.com and leading retailers.

The Roku OS 7 update’s headline feature builds on May’s introduction of a “Feed” to the players’ homescreens.

The Roku is available to order today for delivery in late October.

The app also got a redesign with quicker access to commonly used features.

In a way, Roku Feed is resembles the menu you’d find on a DVR, with a big list of videos that’s always being updated as new content becomes available. The Nvidia Shield Android TV launched with 4K support in May, and Amazon just released a Fire TV box with 4K streaming as well. That element, offered via a laptop or mobile browser, essentially served as a bridge/passthrough to connect the Roku to those networks, and the user will typically only have to go through this process once. It doesn’t care whether you buy shows from Amazon or Apple; the Roku 4 just serves up as much content as it can from as many apps as possible, and makes it all easy to search and discover.

The remote’s remains largely unchanged – it’s still thick and plasticky and has an audio jack for headphones – with the exception of the new voice search button and Sling TV button that’s replaced the Google Play button on the Roku 3 remote.