106-465: Roku ( / ˈ r oʊ k uː / ROH -koo ) is a brand of consumer electronics that includes streaming players , smart TVs (and their operating systems), as well as a free TV streaming service . The brand is owned by Roku, Inc. , an American company. As of 2024, Roku is the leading streaming TV distributor in the U.S., reaching nearly 120 million people. Roku was founded by Anthony Wood in 2002; he had previously founded ReplayTV ,
212-733: A 10-foot user interface with support for a remote control and, in some cases, voice commands , as control schemes. Some services may support remote control on digital media players using their respective mobile apps , while Google 's Chromecast ecosystem is designed around integration with the mobile apps of content services. A digital media player's operating system may provide a search engine for locating content available across multiple services and installed apps. Many digital media players offer internal access to digital distribution platforms, where users can download or purchase content such as films, television episodes, and apps . In addition to internet sources, digital media players may support
318-478: A 3:2 pulldown to interlace them. While the formal output of the MPEG-2 decoding process from such stations is 1080i60, the actual content is coded as 1080p24 and can be viewed as such (using a process known as inverse telecine ) since no information is lost even when the broadcaster performs the 3:2 pulldown. In June 2016, German television stations began broadcasting 1080p50 high-definition video on eight channels via
424-467: A DVR company that competed with TiVo . After ReplayTV's failure, Wood worked for a while at Netflix . In 2007, Wood's company began working with Netflix on Project:Griffin, a set-top box to allow Netflix users to stream Netflix content to their TVs. Only a few weeks before the project's launch, Netflix's founder Reed Hastings decided it would hamper license arrangements with third parties, potentially keeping Netflix off other similar platforms, and killed
530-433: A digital media extender , digital media streamer , digital media hub , digital media adapter , or digital media receiver (which should not be confused with AV receiver ). Digital media player manufacturers use a variety of names to describe their devices. Some more commonly used alternative names include: By November 2000, an audio-only digital media player was demonstrated by a company called SimpleDevices, which
636-575: A dongle form factor using Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL). Later in October, Roku introduced a new search feature to the second-generation models, aggregating content from services usable on the device. Roku unveiled its third-generation models in March 2013, the Roku 3 and Roku 2. The Roku 3 contains an upgraded CPU over the 2 XS, and a Wi-Fi Direct remote with an integrated headphone jack. The Roku 2 features only
742-403: A television or AV receiver or both. The term is most synonymous with devices designed primarily for the consumption of content from streaming media services such as internet video , including subscription-based over-the-top content services . These devices usually have a compact form factor (either as a compact set-top box , or a dongle designed to plug into an HDMI port), and contain
848-499: A 55-inch outdoor Element Roku TV. The television offers minimal reflection, an anti-glare display, 4K streaming, and can be used in bright outdoor environments. In March 2023, Roku announced a partnership with Best Buy in which the retailer will exclusively sell the Roku Select and Plus Series TVs manufactured by Roku. Roku provides video services from a number of Internet -based video on demand providers. Content on Roku devices
954-544: A Mexico City court banned the sale of Roku products in Mexico, following claims by Televisa (via its Izzi cable subsidiary) that the devices were being used for subscription-based streaming services that illegally stream television content without permission from copyright holders. The devices used Roku's private channels feature to install the services, which were all against the terms of service Roku applies for official channels available in its store. Roku defended itself against
1060-441: A PC with a TV tuner. Some other capabilities which are accomplished by digital media players include: In the 2010s, there were stand-alone digital media players on the market from AC Ryan, Asus, Apple (e.g., Apple TV ), NetGear (e.g., NTV and NeoTV models), Dune, iOmega, Logitech , Pivos Group, Micca, Sybas (Popcorn Hour), Amkette EvoTV , D-Link, EZfetch, Fire TV , Android TV , Pinnacle, Xtreamer , and Roku , just to name
1166-569: A Roku OS update in June 2024 had "ruined" the Roku TV experience. This update was said to add "motion smoothing", and was cited to be irreversible. This followed another identical issue reported in 2020 for Roku TVs made by TCL. In August 2024, a Wired review cited the ease of use as "one of the main reasons" to buy any Roku product. The first Roku model, the Roku DVP N1000, was unveiled on May 20, 2008. It
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#17328440482801272-555: A conventional analog HiFi without connecting a computer to an amplifier or television. The means to play these files on a network-connected digital media player that is permanently connected to a television is seen as a convenience. The rapid growth in the availability of online content has made it easier for consumers to use these devices and obtain content. YouTube , for instance, is a common plug-in available on most networked devices. Netflix has also struck deals with many consumer-electronics makers to make their interface available in
1378-480: A deal the previous day (and also after media speculation that WarnerMedia moving Wonder Woman 1984 and Warner Bros' 2021 theatrical slate to a hybrid theatrical/HBO Max release model were an attempt to get Roku to agree to their terms). Another dispute, starting mid-December 2020, caused Spectrum customers to be unable to download the Spectrum TV streaming app to their Roku devices; existing customers could retain
1484-502: A different name in the future, as have torrent trackers . In June, the service's operator was also sued by the Bell/Rogers/Videotron consortium for inducing copyright infringement. In June 2017, Televisa was granted a court order banning the sale of all Roku products in Mexico, as it was alleged that third-parties had been operating subscription television services for the devices that contain unlicensed content. The content
1590-528: A digital media player was also introduced by Intel in 2002 at the Intel Developer Forum as part of their Extended Wireless PC Initiative. Intel's digital media player was based on an Xscale PXA210 processor and supported 802.11b wireless networking. Intel was among the first to use the Linux embedded operating system and UPnP technology for its digital media player. Networked audio and DVD players were among
1696-468: A faster processor, stronger Wi-Fi and Dolby Vision as well as Bluetooth audio streaming and built-in Ethernet support. Roku also announced Roku OS 10.5 with several new and improved features. On November 15, 2021, Roku announced a budget model Roku LE (3930S3) to be sold at Walmart , while supplies last. It lacks 4K and HDR10 support, making its features similar to those of the 2019 Roku Express (3930). It has
1802-503: A few. The models change frequently, so it is advisable to visit their web sites for current model names. These devices come with low power consumption processors or SoC (System on Chip) and are most commonly either based on MIPS or ARM architecture processors combined with integrated DSP GPU in a SoC (or MPSoC ) package. They also include RAM -memory and some type of built-in type of non-volatile computer memory (Flash memory) . HD media player or HDD media player ( HDMP )
1908-417: A full 1080p HD picture when the player is connected to a 1080p HDTV via an HDMI cable. The Blu-ray Disc video specification allows encoding of 1080p23.976, 1080p24, 1080i50, and 1080i59.94. Generally this type of video runs at 30 to 40 megabits per second, compared to the 3.5 megabits per second for conventional standard definition broadcasts. Smartphones with 1080p Full HD display have been available on
2014-449: A high-definition progressive scan format operating at 1080p at 50 or 60 frames per second was being evaluated as a future standard for moving picture acquisition, although 24 fps was used for shooting movies. Until the early 2010s, EBU was endorsing 1080p50 as a future-proof production format because it improved resolution and required no deinterlacing , allowed broadcasting of standard 1080i50 and 720p50 signal alongside 1080p50 even in
2120-420: A leap in the ability of video game consoles to render gaming content at a 1080p resolution or higher, rather than relying on upscaling . This trend continued with the launch of the current ninth generation of video game consoles in 2020, in which both Sony's PlayStation 5 and Microsoft's Xbox Series X were advertised as including 8K UHD support. As of 2024, however, neither console yet supports outputting
2226-626: A lower resolution or frame rate (such as 720p60 or 1080i60) and will gracefully ignore additional packets, while newer hardware will be able to decode full-resolution signal (such as 1080p60). In June 2016, EBU announced the "Advanced 1080p" format which will include UHD Phase A features such as high-dynamic-range video (using PQ and HLG ) at 10 and 12 bit color and BT.2020 color gamut, and optional HFR 100, 120/1.001 and 120 Hz; an advanced 1080p video stream can be encoded alongside baseline HDTV or UHDTV signal using Scalable HEVC . The ITU-T BT.2100 standard that includes Advanced 1080p video
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#17328440482802332-557: A more limited and strict beta channels platform which only allows twenty users to test a channel for up to four months. Pay television-styled carriage disputes emerged on the Roku platform in 2020, as the company requires providers to agree to revenue sharing for subscription services that are billed through the platform, and to hold 30% of advertising inventory. On September 18 of that same year, Roku announced that NBCUniversal TV Everywhere services would be removed from its devices "as early as this weekend", due to its refusal to carry
2438-526: A multi-year agreement to keep the YouTube app on Roku and to restore the YouTube TV app on Roku. Streaming device A digital media player (also known as a streaming device or streaming box ) is a type of consumer electronics device designed for the storage, playback, or viewing of digital media content. They are typically designed to be integrated into a home cinema configuration, and attached to
2544-456: A new trend in the broadcast television industry, as the list of options for watching movies and TV over the Internet grows at a rapid pace. Research also shows that even as traditional television service providers are trimming their customer base, they are adding Broadband Internet customers. Nearly 76.6 million U.S. households get broadband from leading cable and telephone companies, although only
2650-493: A pixel for pixel reproduction of the 1080p (1920 × 1080) format. Additionally, many 23, 24, and 27-inch (690 mm) widescreen LCD monitors use 1920 × 1200 as their native resolution; 30 inch displays can display beyond 1080p at up to 2560 × 1600 ( 1600p ). Many 27" monitors have native resolutions of 2560 × 1440 and hence operate at 1440p . Sony has their first and formerly Vaio 1080p laptop, VPCCB17FG, in 2011, and since Asus also has their first 4K laptop GL502 which
2756-448: A portion have sufficient speeds to support quality video steaming. Convergence devices for home entertainment will likely play a much larger role in the future of broadcast television, effectively shifting traditional revenue streams while providing consumers with more options. According to a report from the researcher NPD In-Stat, only about 12 million U.S. households have their either Web-capable TVs or digital media players connected to
2862-415: A pre-loaded app store offering apps for multiple streaming and subscription services dealing primarily in copyrighted media. 1080p 1080p (1920 × 1080 progressively displayed pixels ; also known as Full HD or FHD , and BT.709 ) is a set of HDTV high-definition video modes characterized by 1,920 pixels displayed across the screen horizontally and 1,080 pixels down the screen vertically;
2968-409: A prominent disclaimer when non-certified channels are added, warning that channels enabling piracy may be removed "without prior notice". In mid-May 2018, a software glitch caused some users to see copyright takedown notices on legitimate services such as Netflix and YouTube. Roku acknowledged and patched the glitch. In March 2022, the private channel system was deprecated due to abuse and replaced with
3074-462: A scripting language the company describes as 'unique', but "similar to Visual Basic " and "similar to JavaScript ". Developers who wish to test their channels before a general release, or who wish to limit viewership, can create "private" channels that require a code be entered by the user in the account page of the Roku website. These private channels, which are not part of the official Roku Channel Store, are not reviewed or certified by Roku. There
3180-428: A set of features for use with over-the-air TV signals, including a program guide that provides information for shows and movies available on local antenna broadcast TV, as well as where that content is available to stream, and the ability to pause live TV (although the feature requires a USB hard drive with at least 16GB storage). On November 14, 2019, Walmart and Roku announced that they would be selling Roku TVs under
3286-427: A temporary federal injunction against five retailers of Android-based set-top boxes, alleging that their continued sale were causing "irreparable harm" to their television businesses, and that the devices' primary purpose were to facilitate copyright infringement. The court rejected an argument by one of the defendants, who stated that they were only marketing a hardware device with publicly available software, ruling that
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3392-429: A user to convert these media into playable digital files using a separate computer and software. They are also usually incapable of recording audio or video. In the 2010s, it is also common to find digital media player functionality integrated into other consumer-electronics appliances, such as DVD players , set-top boxes , smart TVs , or even video game consoles . Digital media players are also commonly referred to as
3498-464: A video-capable digital media player was presented by F.C. Jeng et al. in the International Conf. on Consumer Electronics in 2002. It included a network interface card, a media processor for audio and video decoding, an analog video encoder (for video playback to a TV), an audio digital to analog converter for audio playback, and an IR (infrared receiver) for remote-control-interface. A concept of
3604-457: Is a consumer product that combines digital media player with a hard drive (HD) enclosure with all the hardware and software for playing audio , video and photos to a television. All these can play computer-based media files to a television without the need for a separate computer or network connection, and some can even be used as a conventional external hard drive. These types of digital media players are sometimes sold as empty shells to allow
3710-479: Is an NDK (Native Developer Kit) available, though it has added restrictions. Roku launched its own streaming channel on its devices in October 2017. It is ad-supported, but free. Its licensed content includes movies and TV shows from studios such as Lionsgate , MGM, Paramount, Sony Pictures Entertainment , Warner Bros. , Disney , and Universal as well as Roku channel content publishers American Classics, FilmRise, Nosey, OVGuide, Popcornflix, Vidmark , and YuYu. It
3816-445: Is beginning to appear in some newer 1080p displays, which can produce a true 1080p quality image from film-based 1080i60 programs. Similarly, 25fps content broadcast at 1080i50 may be deinterlaced to 1080p content with no loss of quality or resolution. AV equipment manufacturers have adopted the term Full HD to mean a set can display all available HD resolutions up to 1080p. The term is misleading, however, because it does not guarantee
3922-501: Is currently rolling out throughout the U.S. The majority of the stations that broadcast at 1080p are CBS and NBC stations and affiliates. All other stations do not broadcast at 1080p and usually broadcast at 720p60 (including when simulcasting in ATSC 3.0) or 1080i60 (outside of ATSC 3.0) encoded with MPEG-2. There is also technical restrictions with ATSC 3.0 multiplex stations that prevent stations from airing at 1080p. While converting to ATSC 3.0
4028-458: Is implementing an ad revenue sharing model with content providers. On August 8, 2018, the Roku Channel became available on the web as well. Roku also added the "Featured Free" section as the top section of its main menu from which users can get access to direct streaming of shows and movies from its partners. In January 2019, premium subscription options from select content providers were added to
4134-426: Is meant to guarantee a minimum set of functionality and proper interoperability among digital media players and servers regardless of the manufacturer, but unfortunately not every manufacturer follows the standards perfectly which can lead to incompatibility. Some digital media players will only connect to specific media server software installed on a PC to stream music, pictures and recorded or live TV originating from
4240-505: Is provided by Roku partners and is identified using the term channel . Users can add or remove different channels using the Roku Channel Store or the search feature. Roku's website does not specify which channels are free to its users. The Roku is an open-platform device with a freely available software development kit that enables anyone to create new channels. The channels are written in a Roku-specific language called BrightScript,
4346-421: Is streamed through unofficial apps that are added to the devices through hacking. Roku objected to the allegations, stating that these services were not certified by the company or part of its official Channels platform, whose terms of service require that they have rights to stream the content that they offer. Roku also stated that it actively cooperates with reports of channels that infringe copyrights. The ruling
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4452-745: Is voluntary by TV Stations, there is no word when any of the major networks will consider airing at 1080p in the foreseeable future on a national scale, although they are required to broadcast ATSC signals for at least five years thereafter. However, satellite services (e.g., DirecTV , XstreamHD and Dish Network ) use the 1080p/24-30 format with MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 encoding for pay-per-view movies that are downloaded in advance via satellite or on-demand via broadband. At this time, no pay service channel such as USA, HDNET, etc. nor premium movie channel such as HBO, etc., stream their services live to their distributors ( MVPD ) in this format because many MVPDs, especially DBS and cable, do not have sufficient bandwidth to provide
4558-925: The Android platform which gives them an advantage in terms of applications and games from the Google Play store. Even without Android some digital media players still have the ability to run applications (sometimes available via an app store ), interactive on-demand media, personalized communications, and social networking features. There are two ways to connect an extender to its central media server - wired, or wireless. While early digital media players used proprietary communication protocols to interface with media servers, today most digital media players either use standard-based protocols such SMB/CIFS/SAMBA or NFS , or rely on some version of UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standards. DLNA-compliant digital media players and Media Servers
4664-551: The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act for selling devices that can circumvent effective technical protection measures . In Canada, it was initially believed that these set-top boxes fell within a legal grey area, as the transient nature of streaming content did not necessarily mean that the content was being downloaded in violation of Canadian copyright law . However, on 1 June 2016, a consortium of Canadian media companies ( BCE Inc. , Rogers Communications , and Videotron ) obtained
4770-512: The Federal Court of Appeal blocked an appeal requesting that the injunction be lifted pending the outcome of the case. Although the software is free to use, the developers of Kodi have not endorsed any add-on or Kodi-powered device intended for facilitating copyright infringement. Nathan Betzen, president of the XBMC Foundation (the non-profit organization which oversees the development of
4876-625: The HEVC -encoded DVB-T2 protocol. A total of 40 channels were available on March 29, 2017 (Phase 1). Further changes took place on November 8, 2017 (Phase 2a), April 25, 2018 (Phase 2b), September 26, 2018 (Phase 3a-I), October 24, 2018 (Phase 3a-II), November 8, 2018 (Phase 3a-III), November 28, 2018 (Phase 3a-IV), December 5, 2018 (Phase 3a-V), March 13, 2019 (Phase 3b-I), April 3, 2019 (Phase 3b-II), May 22, 2019 (Phase 3b-III) and August 29, 2019 (Phase 3b-IV). Blu-ray Discs are able to hold 1080p HD content, and most movies released on Blu-ray Disc produce
4982-541: The Wii unable to support the resolution. All home video game consoles launched as part of the eighth generation , which began in 2012 with the launch of the Wii U , were capable of 1080p outputs. Mid-generation hardware revisions and new models introduced by Sony and Microsoft to their respective PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles added the capability of outputting at 4K UHD — well beyond 1080p. Moreover, this mid-generational improvement in computing power also represented
5088-476: The frame rate ; i.e., 1080p50 signal (50 progressive frames per second) actually produces the same bit rate as 1080i50 signal (25 interlaced frames or 50 sub-fields per second). In the United States, the original ATSC standards for HDTV supported 1080p video, but only at the frame rates of 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30 frames per second (colloquially known as 1080p24 , 1080p25 and 1080p30 ). In July 2008,
5194-533: The p stands for progressive scan , i.e. non- interlaced . The term usually assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9 , implying a resolution of 2.1 megapixels . It is often marketed as Full HD or FHD, to contrast 1080p with 720p resolution screens. Although 1080p is sometimes referred to as 2K resolution (meaning having a horizontal resolution of approximately 2,000 pixels ), other sources differentiate between 1080p and (true) 2K resolution. 1080p video signals are supported by ATSC standards in
5300-439: The ATSC standards were amended to include H.264/MPEG-4 AVC compression and 1080p at 50, 59.94 and 60 frames per second ( 1080p50 and 1080p60 ). Such frame rates require H.264/AVC High Profile Level 4.2 , while standard HDTV frame rates only require Level 4.0. This update is not expected to result in widespread availability of 1080p60 programming, since most of the existing digital receivers in use would only be able to decode
5406-477: The Android operating system and branded as being " fully-loaded ", that are promoted as offering free streaming access to copyrighted media content, including films and television programs, as well as live feeds of television channels . These players are commonly bundled with the open source media player software Kodi , which is in turn pre-loaded with plug-ins enabling access to services streaming this content without
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#17328440482805512-457: The Channel Store, where users could download third-party apps for other content services (including the possibility of private services for specific uses). Netflix support was initially dependent on a PC, requiring users to add content to their "Instant Queue" from the service's web interface before it could be accessed via the Roku. In May 2010, the channel was updated to allow users to search
5618-463: The Internet, although In-Stat estimates about 25 million U.S. TV households own a set with the built-in network capability. Also, In-Stat predicts that 100 million homes in North America and western Europe will own digital media players and television sets that blend traditional programs with Internet content by 2016. Since at least 2015, dealers have marketed digital media players, often running
5724-446: The Kodi software), argued that the reputation of Kodi had been harmed by third-party retailers who "make a quick buck modifying Kodi, installing broken piracy add-ons, advertising that Kodi lets you watch free movies and TV, and then vanishing when the user buys the box and finds out that the add-on they were sold on was a crummy, constantly breaking mess." Betzen stated that the XBMC Foundation
5830-882: The Netflix library directly from the device. In August 2010, Roku announced plans to add 1080p video support to the HD-XR. The next month, they released an updated lineup with thinner form factors: a new HD; the XD, with 1080p support; and the XDS, with optical audio, dual-band Wi-Fi, and a USB port. The XD and XDS also included an updated remote. Support for the first-generation Roku models ended in September 2015. In July 2011, Roku unveiled its second generation of players, branded as Roku 2 HD, XD, and XS. All three models include 802.11n, and also add microSD slots and Bluetooth . The XD and XS support 1080p, and only
5936-512: The Onn brand exclusively at Walmart stores, starting November 29. In January 2020, Roku created a badge to certify devices as working with a Roku TV model. The first certified brands were TCL North America, Sound United, Polk Audio , Marantz , Definitive Technology , and Classé . In January 2021, a Roku executive said one out of three smart TVs sold in the United States and Canada came with Roku's operating system built-in. In May 2020, Roku announced
6042-644: The Roku Channel. Originally only available in the U.S., it launched in the UK on April 7, 2020, with a different selection of movies and TV shows, and without premium subscription add-ons. On January 8, 2021, Roku announced that it had acquired the original content library of the defunct mobile video service Quibi for an undisclosed amount, reported to be around $ 100 million. The content is being rebranded as Roku Originals. The Daily Beast alleged that non-certified channels on Roku eased access to materials promoting conspiracy theories and terrorism content. In June 2017,
6148-517: The Roku Streaming Stick, Roku Express, and Roku Express+. In September 2018, Roku introduced the seventh generation of products. Carrying over from the 2017 sixth-generation without any changes were the Express (3900), Express+ (3910), Streaming Stick (3800), and Streaming Stick+ (3810). The Ultra is the same hardware device from 2017, but it comes with JBL premium headphones and is repackaged with
6254-542: The Streaming Stick (3600) was held over from the previous generation (having been released the previous April) as a sixth option. The Roku Premiere+ and Roku Ultra support HDR video using HDR10. In October 2017, Roku introduced its sixth generation of products. The Premiere and Premiere+ models were discontinued, the Streaming Stick+ (with an enhanced Wi-Fi antenna device) was introduced, as well as new processors for
6360-515: The U.S. In December 2023, a Popular Mechanics review cited Roku TVs to be affordable and easy to use, while also noting that the Roku-integrated TVs lacked "the premium brand badging of big players like Sony or Samsung". In April 2024, TheWrap reported that the Roku streaming platform was reaching an estimated 120 million people in the U.S. In July 2024, an article in The Verge stated that
6466-497: The US and other countries through select internet providers since 2013. As of 2012, most consumer televisions being sold provide 1080p inputs, mainly via HDMI , and support full high-definition resolutions. 1080p resolution is available in all types of television, including plasma , LCD , DLP front and rear projection and LCD projection . For displaying film-based 1080i60 signals, a scheme called 3:2 pulldown reversal ( reverse telecine )
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#17328440482806572-838: The United Kingdom, the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) has taken court actions on behalf of rightsholders against those who market digital media players pre-loaded with access to copyrighted content. In January 2017, an individual seller plead not guilty to charges of marketing and distributing devices that circumvent technological protection measures . In March 2017, the High Court of Justice ruled that BT Group , Sky plc , TalkTalk , and Virgin Media must block servers that had been used on such set-top boxes to illegally stream Premier League football games. Later in
6678-566: The United States and DVB standards in Europe. Applications of the 1080p standard include television broadcasts, Blu-ray Discs, smartphones , Internet content such as YouTube videos and Netflix TV shows and movies, consumer-grade televisions and projectors , computer monitors and video game consoles . Small camcorders , smartphones and digital cameras can capture still and moving images in 1080p (sometimes 4K, or even 8K) resolution. Any screen device that advertises 1080p typically refers to
6784-462: The Voice Remote Pro as an optional upgrade for existing Roku players, and Roku OS 10 for all modern Roku devices. On September 20, 2021, Roku introduced the tenth generation of products. The Roku Streaming Stick 4K was announced along with the Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ which includes an upgraded rechargeable Roku Voice Remote Pro with lost remote finder. Roku announced an updated Roku Ultra LT with
6890-457: The XS model includes an Ethernet connector and USB port. They also support the "Roku Game Remote"—a Bluetooth remote with motion controller support for games, which was bundled with the XS and sold separately for other models. The Roku LT was unveiled in October, as an entry-level model with no Bluetooth or microSD support. In January 2012, Roku unveiled the Streaming Stick - a new model condensed into
6996-649: The Xbox 360 gaming console from Microsoft was among the first gaming devices that integrated a digital media player. With the Xbox 360, Microsoft also introduced the concept of a Windows Media Center Extender , which allows users to access the Media center capabilities of a PC remotely, through a home network. More recently, Linksys, D-Link, and HP introduced the latest generation of digital media players that support 720p and 1080p high resolution video playback and may integrate both Windows Extender and traditional digital media player functionality. A digital media player can connect to
7102-441: The YouTube app, and stated that its carriage of a YouTube app was under a separate agreement, and unnecessarily brought into negotiations. As a partial workaround, YouTube began to deploy an update to its main app on Roku and other platforms, which integrates the YouTube TV service. On December 8, 2021 (a day before the agreement for the main YouTube app expired), Roku and Google announced that they had settled their dispute and reached
7208-507: The ability to accept 1080p signals in native resolution format, which means there are a true 1920 pixels in width and 1080 pixels in height, and the display is not over-scanning, under-scanning, or reinterpreting the signal to a lower resolution. The HD ready 1080p logo program, by DigitalEurope , requires that certified TV sets support 1080p 24 fps, 1080p 25 fps, 1080p 50 fps, and 1080p 60 fps formats, among other requirements, with fps meaning frames per second . For live broadcast applications,
7314-616: The addition of new channels for other video services. Roku launched two new models in October 2009: the Roku SD (a simplified version of the DVP, with only analog AV outputs); and the Roku HD-XR, an updated version with 802.11n Wi-Fi and a USB port for future functionality. The Roku DVP was retroactively renamed the Roku HD. By then, Roku had added support for other services. The next month, they introduced
7420-528: The allegations as such, stating that these channels were not officially certified and that the company takes active measures to stop illegal streaming services. The 11th Collegiate Court in Mexico City overturned the decision in October 2018, with Roku returning to the Mexican market soon after; Televisa's streaming service Blim TV (now Vix ) would also launch on the platform. In August 2017 Roku began to display
7526-604: The app, but would lose it upon deletion, even to fix software bugs. This dispute was resolved on August 17, 2021. On April 30, 2021, Roku removed the over-the-top television service YouTube TV from its Channels Store, preventing it from being downloaded. The company accused operator Google LLC of making demands regarding its YouTube app that it considered "predatory, anti-competitive and discriminatory", including enhanced access to customer data, giving YouTube greater prominence in Roku's search interface, and requiring that Roku implement specific hardware standards that could increase
7632-627: The company's streaming service Peacock (which had been unavailable on Roku since its launch in July 2020) under terms it deemed "unreasonable". It reached an agreement with NBCUniversal later that day, which allowed Peacock to become available on Roku. HBO Max , which launched in May 2020, was unavailable on Roku until December 2020 due to similar disputes over revenue sharing, particularly in regards to an upcoming ad-supported tier. On December 17, 2020, HBO Max began streaming on Roku, after WarnerMedia and Roku reached
7738-630: The computer. Apple iTunes can, for example, be used this way with the Apple TV hardware that connects to a TV. Apple has developed a tightly integrated device and content management ecosystem with their iTunes Store , personal computers, iOS devices , and the AppleTV digital media receiver . The most recent version of the AppleTV has lost the hard-drive that was included in its predecessor and fully depends on either streaming internet content, or another computer on
7844-454: The cost of its devices. Roku accused Google of "leveraging its YouTube monopoly to force an independent company into an agreement that is both bad for consumers and bad for fair competition." Google claimed that Roku had "terminated our deal in bad faith amidst our negotiation", stating that it wanted to renew the "existing reasonable terms" under which Roku offered YouTube TV. Google denied Roku's claims regarding customer data and prominence of
7950-836: The current infrastructure and was compatible with DCI distribution formats. 1080p50/p60 production format requires a whole new range of studio equipment including cameras, storage and editing systems, and contribution links (such as Dual-link HD-SDI and 3G-SDI ) as it has doubled the data rate of current 50 or 60 fields interlaced 1920 × 1080 from 1.485 Gbit/s to nominally 3 Gbit/s using uncompressed RGB encoding. Most current revisions of SMPTE 372M , SMPTE 424M and EBU Tech 3299 require YCbCr color space and 4:2:2 chroma subsampling for transmitting 1080p50 (nominally 2.08 Gbit/s) and 1080p60 signal. Studies from 2009 show that for digital broadcasts compressed with H.264/AVC, transmission bandwidth savings of interlaced video over fully progressive video are minimal even when using twice
8056-418: The defendants were "deliberately encourag[ing] consumers and potential clients to circumvent authorized ways of accessing content." 11 additional defendants were subsequently added to the suit. The lawyer of one of the defendants argued that retailers should not be responsible for the actions of their users, as any type of computing device could theoretically be used for legal or illegal purposes. In April 2017,
8162-488: The device is powered on. Interface navigation on the television is usually done with an infrared remote control , while more-advanced digital media players come with high-performance remote controls which allow control of the interface using integrated touch sensors. Some remotes also include accelerometers for air mouse features which allow basic motion gaming. Most digital media player devices are unable to play physical audio or video media directly, and instead require
8268-404: The device's main function. Digital media players do not usually include a tuner for receiving terrestrial television , nor disc drives for Blu-rays or DVD . Some devices, such as standalone Blu-ray players, may include similar functions to digital media players (often in a reduced form), as well as recent generations of video game consoles , while smart TVs integrate similar functions into
8374-457: The device's menus, for their streaming subscribers. This symbiotic relationship between Netflix and consumer electronics makers has helped propel Netflix to become the largest subscription video service in the U.S. as of 2011 using up to 20% of U.S. bandwidth at peak times. Media players are often designed for compactness and affordability, and tend to have small or non-existent hardware displays other than simple LED lights to indicate whether
8480-434: The eighth generation of products. The same year, Netflix announced that it would stop supporting older generations of Roku, including the Roku HD, HD-XR, SD, XD, and XDS, as well as the NetGear-branded XD and XDS beginning on December 1, 2019. Roku had warned in 2015 that it would stop updating players made in May 2011 or earlier, and these vintage boxes were among them. On September 28, 2020, Roku introduced
8586-469: The faster CPU. A software update in October 2014 added support for peer-to-peer Miracast wireless. In October 2015, Roku introduced the Roku 4; the device contains upgraded hardware with support for 4K resolution video, as well as 802.11ac wireless. In September 2016, Roku revamped their entire streaming player line-up with five new models (low end Roku Express, Roku Express+, high end Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere+, and top-of-the-line Roku Ultra), while
8692-596: The first consumer devices to integrate digital media player functionality. Examples include the Philips Streamium -range of products that allowed for remote streaming of audio, the GoVideo D2730 Networked DVD player which integrated DVD playback with the capability to stream Rhapsody audio from a PC, and the Buffalo LinkTheater which combined a DVD player with a digital media player. More recently,
8798-465: The format streaming live to their subscribers without negatively impacting their current services. For material that originates from a progressive scanned 24 frame/s source (such as film), MPEG-2 lets the video be coded as 1080p24, irrespective of the final output format. These progressively-coded frames are tagged with metadata (literally, fields of the PICTURE header) instructing a decoder how to perform
8904-906: The home network for media. Television connection is usually done via; composite, SCART , Component, HDMI video, with Optical Audio (TOSLINK/SPDIF), and connect to the local network and broadband internet using either a wired Ethernet or a wireless Wi-Fi connection, and some also have built-in Bluetooth support for remotes and game-pads or joysticks. Some players come with USB ( USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 ) ports which allow local media content playback. The convergence of content, technology, and broadband access allows consumers to stream television shows and movies to their high-definition television in competition with pay television providers. The research company SNL Kagan expects 12 million households, roughly 10%, to go without cable, satellite or telco video service by 2015 using Over The Top services. This represents
9010-453: The home network using either a wireless ( IEEE 802.11a , b, g, and n) or wired Ethernet connection. Digital media players includes a user interface that allows users to navigate through their digital media library, search for, and play back media files. Some digital media players only handle music; some handle music and pictures; some handle music, pictures, and video; while others go further to allow internet browsing or controlling Live TV from
9116-470: The inaugural Emmy for Television Enhancement Devices . In January 2018, CNET reported that Roku was debuting a new licensing program for smart audio devices such as smart speakers, sound bars and whole-home audio, while noting the "ease of use" and "superb streaming options" offered by Roku TVs. According to CNBC in 2021, Roku was the U.S. market leader in streaming video distribution. Later in 2023, Variety called Roku "the top connected TV platform" in
9222-635: The maintainers of the DVB suite, added support for 1080p50 signal coded with MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level 4.2 with Scalable Video Coding extensions or VC-1 Advanced Profile compression; DVB also supports 1080p encoded at ATSC frame rates of 23.976, 24, 29.97, 30, 59.94 and 60. EBU requires that legacy MPEG-4 AVC decoders should avoid crashing in the presence of SVC or 1080p50 (and higher resolution) packets. SVC enables forward compatibility with 1080p50 and 1080p60 broadcasting for older MPEG-4 AVC receivers, so they will only recognize baseline SVC stream coded at
9328-752: The market since 2012. As of 2014, it is the standard for mid-range to high-end smartphones and many of the flagship devices of 2014 used even higher resolutions, either Quad HD (1440p) or Ultra HD (2160p) resolutions. Several websites, including YouTube, allow videos to be uploaded in the 1080p format. YouTube streams 1080p content at approximately 4 megabits per second compared to Blu-ray's 30 to 40 megabits per second. Digital distribution services like Hulu and HBO Max also deliver 1080p content, such as movies available on Blu-ray Disc or from broadcast sources. This can include distribution services like peer-to-peer websites and public or private tracking networks. Netflix has been offering high quality 1080p content in
9434-499: The month, Amazon UK banned the sale of "certain media players" that had been pre-loaded with software to illegally stream copyrighted content. On 26 April 2017, the European Court of Justice ruled that the distribution of set-top boxes with access to unauthorized streams of copyrighted works violated the exclusive rights to communicate them to the public. In September 2017, a British seller of such boxes pled guilty to violations of
9540-532: The new model number 4661. Roku has resurrected the Premiere and Premiere+ names, but these two new models bear little resemblance to the 2016 fifth-generation Premiere (4620) and Premiere+ (4630) models. The new Premiere (3920) and Premiere+ (3921) are essentially based on the Express (3900) model with 4K support added, it also includes Roku Streaming Stick+ Headphone Edition (3811) for improving Wifi signal strength and private listening. In September 2019, Roku introduced
9646-513: The ninth generation of products. An updated Roku Ultra was released along with the addition of the Roku Streambar, a 2-in-1 Roku and Soundbar device. The microSD slot was removed from the new Ultra 4800, making it the first top-tier Roku device since the first generation to lack this feature. On April 14, 2021, Roku announced the Roku Express 4K+, replacing the 8th generation Roku Express devices,
9752-721: The older, less-efficient MPEG-2 codec, and because there is a limited amount of bandwidth for subchannels . In Europe, 1080p25 signals have been supported by the DVB suite of broadcasting standards. The 1080p50 format is considered to be a future-proof production format and, eventually, a future broadcasting format. 1080p50 broadcasting should require the same bandwidth as 1080i50 signal and only 15–20% more than that of 720p50 signal due to increased compression efficiency, though 1080p50 production requires more bandwidth or more efficient codecs such as JPEG 2000 , high-bitrate MPEG-2 , or H.264/AVC and HEVC . In September 2009, ETSI and EBU ,
9858-595: The permission of their respective copyright holders. These "fully-loaded" set-top boxes are often sold through online marketplaces such as Amazon.com and eBay , as well as local retailers. The spread of these players has been attributed to their low cost and ease of use, with user experiences similar to legal subscription services such as Netflix . "Fully-loaded" set-top boxes have been subject to legal controversies, especially noting that their user experiences made them accessible to end-users who may not always realize that they are actually streaming pirated content. In
9964-430: The playback of content from other sources, such as external media (including USB drives or memory cards ), or streamed from a computer or media server . Some digital media players may also support video games , though their complexity (which can range from casual games to ports of larger games) depends on operating system and hardware support, and besides those marketed as microconsoles , are not usually promoted as
10070-482: The practice of using digital media players for pirated television content first became popular during the Qatar diplomatic crisis , after Qatari pay television network beIN Sports was banned from doing business in the country. The pirate subscription television service BeoutQ operated a satellite television service featuring repackaged versions of the beIN Sports channels, but its Android-based satellite boxes also included
10176-458: The project. Fast Company magazine cited the decision to kill the project as "one of Netflix's riskiest moves". Netflix then decided instead to spin off the company, and Roku released their first set-top box in 2008. In 2010 they began offering models with various capabilities, which eventually became their standard business model. In 2014, Roku partnered with smart TV manufacturers to produce TVs with built-in Roku functionality. In 2015, Roku won
10282-458: The same form factor as the 2019 Roku Express, except the plastic shell is white rather than black. Roku announced its first branded smart TV and it was released in late 2014. These TVs are manufactured by companies like TCL , LG , Westinghouse and Hisense , and use the Roku user interface as the "brain" of the TV. Roku TVs are updated just like the streaming devices. More recent models also integrate
10388-706: The set is capable of rendering digital video at all frame rates encoded in source files with 1920 X 1080 pixel resolution. Most notably, a "Full HD" set is not guaranteed to support the 1080p24 format, leading to consumer confusion . DigitalEurope (formerly EICTA) maintains the HD ready 1080p logo program that requires the certified TV sets to support 1080p24, 1080p50, and 1080p60, without overscan /underscan and picture distortion. Most widescreen cathode-ray tube (CRT) and liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitors can natively display 1080p content. For example, widescreen WUXGA monitors support 1920 × 1200 resolution, which can display
10494-629: The television itself. Some TV makers have, in turn, licensed operating system platforms from digital media players as middleware for their smart TVs—such as Android TV , Amazon Fire TV , and Roku —which typically provide a similar user experience to their standalone counterparts, but with TV-specific features and settings reflected in their user interface. In the 2010s, with the popularity of portable media players and digital cameras , as well as fast Internet download speeds and relatively cheap mass storage, many people came into possession of large collections of digital media files that cannot be played on
10600-787: The user to fit their own choice of hard drive (some can manage unlimited hard disk capacity and other only a certain capacity, i.e. 1TB, 2TB, 3TB, or 4TB), and the same model is sometimes sold with or without an internal hard drive already fitted. Digital media players can usually play H.264 (SD and HD ), MPEG-4 Part 2 (SD and HD), MPEG-1 , MPEG-2 .mpg , MPEG-2 . TS , VOB and ISO images video, with PCM , MP3 and AC3 audio tracks. They can also display images (such as JPEG and PNG ) and play music files (such as FLAC , MP3 and Ogg ). While most media players have traditionally been running proprietary or open source software frameworks versions based Linux as their operating systems, many newer network connected media players are based on
10706-529: Was awarded two patents covering this invention in 2006. Developed under the SimpleFi name by Motorola in late 2001, the design was based on a Cirrus Arm-7 processor and the wireless HomeRF networking standard which pre-dated 802.11b in the residential markets. Other early market entrants in 2001 included the Turtle Beach AudioTron , Rio Receiver and SliMP3 digital media players. An early version of
10812-467: Was developed in partnership with Netflix to serve as a standalone set-top box for its recently introduced "Watch Instantly" service. The goal was to produce a device with a small footprint that could be sold at low cost compared to larger digital video recorders and video game consoles . It features an NXP PNX8935 video decoder supporting both standard and high definition formats up to 720p ; HDMI output; and automatic software updates, including
10918-520: Was formerly branded Republic of Gamers in 2017, 1080p has also become the nowadays lowest standard for laptops. While Microsoft's original Xbox , launched as part of the sixth generation of video game consoles in 2001, could support a 1080i output in limited circumstances, support for 1080p began with the launch of the seventh generation of home video game consoles in 2005. Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were capable of outputting at 1080p, with only
11024-657: Was overturned in October 2018 after Roku took additional steps to remove channels with unauthorized content from the platform. In May 2018, the Federal Communications Commission sent letters to the CEOs of Amazon.com and eBay , asking for their help in removing such devices from their marketplaces. The letter cited malware risks, fraudulent use of FCC certification marks, and how their distribution through major online marketplaces may incorrectly suggest that they are legal and legitimate products. In Saudi Arabia,
11130-431: Was subsequently published in July 2016. In practice, 1080p typically refers to a 1920 × 1080p raster with a 16:9 picture aspect ratio . The following is a list of other resolutions with a picture height of 1080 lines that are sometimes referred as 1080p. In the United States, 1080p over-the-air broadcasts are currently available in select stations in some cities in the US via ATSC 3.0 multiplex stations where as ATSC 3.0
11236-432: Was willing to enforce its trademarks against those who use them to promote Kodi-based products which facilitate copyright infringement. Following a lawsuit by Dish Network against TVAddons, a website that offered streaming add-ons that were often used with Kodi and on such devices, in June 2017, the group shut down its add-ons and website. A technology analyst speculated that the service could eventually re-appear under
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