What They Say
Roku has a new Express4K+ device that supports the latest Roku OS 10. It has an optional rechargeable voice remote and supports HDR10+ (a first for a Roku device) and costs $40 in the US. The voice remote option costs $30. There is dual band Wi-Fi support and a microUSB connector for wired ethernet.
The new Roku OS 10 has Airplay 2 support and HomeKit. On a Roku TV, the new OS it will automatically recognise a connection to a game console and automatically select features such as a Game Mode. Depending on the Roku TV model being used, settings that get automatically configured may include HDR gaming, Auto Low-Latency Mode, Variable Refresh Rate, High Frame Rate, and THX Certified Game Mode.
Roku OS 10 has begun rolling out to select Roku players and is expected to roll out to all supported streaming players, including the all-new Roku Express 4K and all Roku TV™ models in the coming weeks.
What We Think
Is this a Dongle or a Box? It’s a bit big for a dongle, but small for a box. Maybe it’s a Bongle. In the past it occurred to me that I had never seen a box on top of a set, so the phrase “Set Top Box” didn’t really mean much. I thought that part of the success of flat panel TVs was actually was that they were pretty good “box top sets”!
The new Bongle is said to support hard-wired ethernet, but it’s not obvious to me how it can support hard-wired ethernet with a USB cable alone. I guess it needs a generic Ethernet to microUSB adaptor, which probably has to be powered from a USB port on a TV or other system. (BR)
