Barb Gonzalez

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SmartStream
Roku OS 12.5 Update to Bring More Sports, Music, and a Videophile Surprise
Barb Gonzalez  |  Oct 11, 2023
The Roku OS 12.5 update that will start rolling out in the coming weeks and months will bring more sports and music in addition to making easier to find what to you want to watch.
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Streaming Device Reviews
Roku Stick: Plug 'N Play Redefined
Barb Gonzalez  |  Mar 22, 2013

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Price: $100 At a Glance: Small stick connects directly to HDMI input on TV • Same menus and channels as full-sized Roku Box • No additional power connection; requires MHL-enabled TV

That Roku box is shrinking…again. The Roku Stick looks like a thumb drive and is only about 3 inches long. For the most part, it provides the same experience as the standard Roku boxes—same menus, same performance. But to use one, you’ll need an MHL-enabled TV or other device.

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Streaming Device Reviews
Roku Streaming HDMI Stick
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 29, 2014  |  Published: Aug 28, 2014

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
PRICE $50

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Direct HDMI connection to most TVs
Extensive content options
Suggested videos and apps on home screen
Remote with direct access to Netflix, M-Go, Amazon Instant Video, and Blockbuster

Minus
Music stops when navigating away from channel
Long start-up time
No option to group channels by category

THE VERDICT
The great features of a Roku box in a stick for half the price.

The second Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI version) is a fit-in-your-pocket HDMI dongle that is basically a Roku box on a stick. Where the previous Roku Streaming stick worked only with TVs that have an MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) HDMI port, the new Roku is compatible with most TVs’ standard HDMI connections. As with its predecessors, the Roku HDMI is easy to use and offers more than 1,700 channels (that is, apps). Notably, these now include apps that stream from pretty much any video source you can think of—the usual online streaming services, plus your home network media libraries, or live TV and recorded DVR recorded content using Simple.tv or a Slingplayer channel.

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CES 2023
Roku to Release Its Own Roku-Branded TVs
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 04, 2023
On the eve of 2023 CES, Roku announced plans to expand its A/V hardware offerings to include for the first time Roku-branded TVs.
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SmartStream
Roku to Release New Wireless Soundbar and Subwoofer
Barb Gonzalez  |  Sep 04, 2019
Following the success of its wireless speakers, Roku is expanding its audio line with two new products.  The first is a Roku soundbar that pairs with the second—a wireless subwoofer.  
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SmartStream
Roku TV Goes Beyond Adding a Stick to Your TV
Barb Gonzalez  |  Aug 20, 2014
TV manufacturers are getting ready to release a new Smart TV powered by the Roku platform. And they promise it goes well beyond adding Roku Stick to a TV.
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Streaming Device Reviews
Roku Ultra 2024 Review: The Ideal Streaming Upgrade for Home Theater Enthusiasts
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 20, 2025

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $99

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent Video Quality with Dolby Vision and HDR10+
Excellent Dolby Atmos Sound Separation
Backlit hands-free voice remote control with mute switch
Minus
No headphone jack on remote
Shortcut button can’t be programmed for specific apps
Search results favor Roku Channel offerings

The Verdict
The Roku Ultra 2024 uses the best video and audio formats for an excellent home theater streaming experience. Its backlit hands-free voice remote and improved Roku OS14 make accessing the content you want to watch easier.

Since 2016, Roku Ultra has been the flagship model of the Roku streamer line. Its emphasis has been on providing the best sound and video experience of any Roku device. This year's model fulfills that promise.

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Media Server Reviews
Roku Ultra Streaming Player
Barb Gonzalez  |  Jan 17, 2017

Performance
Features
Ergonomics
Value
PRICE $130

AT A GLANCE
Plus
Excellent 4K HDR picture and sound quality
Optical audio output for full Dolby Digital Plus surround sound
Agnostic voice search finds movies/TV shows on most streaming channels
Minus
Playback control for music and slideshows is awkward
Doesn’t play Dolby Atmos from Vudu

THE VERDICT
Roku has once again upped the streaming game by including HDR and more in its highly recommendable Ultra 4K media player.

Continuing to up their game, Roku has introduced new products that add HDR (high dynamic range) to 4K streaming while maintaining their anyone-can-use-it simple menu structure. A slew of new models range from the Express player to a new top-of-the-line player, the Ultra. While both the Premiere+ and the Ultra support 4K and HDR (the standard 4K Premiere lacks HDR), the Ultra has a few more features for those who insist on the best picture and sound, and more. It’s proof of how far the streaming player has come from the low-quality picture of its first generation.

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SmartStream
Roku Unveils New Pro Series TVs & Announces Updates
Barb Gonzalez  |  Apr 10, 2024
It must be springtime as Roku today introduced its 2024 Pro Series of mini-LED 4K TVs and announced new features for its forthcoming OS 13 update.
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SmartStream
Roku's OS11 Upgrade Is Here at Last
Barb Gonzalez  |  May 25, 2022
After a two-month rollout, the new Roku OS11 operating system upgrade has finally arrived. It brings new customization features, including new content discovery and recommendations on the home screen, a voice keyboard for login, a slideshow screensaver featuring your photos, and new sound modes. The features may seem subtle, but they change and enhance the Roku experience.  
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