Roku Launches Its First High-End TVs in Search of Revenue Growth (bloomberg.com) 18
Roku, the maker of TV streaming boxes and software, is debuting its first high-end televisions in a bid to continue sales momentum for the company's devices. From a report: In the spring, Roku will roll out 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch Pro Series TVs that will cost consumers as much as $1,500. The new televisions put Roku in competition with Samsung and LG, which offer several models in that price range. It's a step up from the company's current TVs -- the Select and Plus -- which top out at $999. [...] The new TVs include a thinner design with a flat back for mounting on walls, improved picture quality and better audio for cinematic sound, the San Jose, California-based company said in a statement.
Who is actually making them? (Score:2)
Roku hardware is all manufactured in China, where they are not allowed to own property so they conclusively do not own a manufacturing plant there.
Who actually makes these TVs? Whose panels will they use?
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My cheap Roku is made by Hisense. It’s not connected to the internet.
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Yeah, I have a Hisense google TV. It is connected to the internet, so I can stream to it. I used a wire, so I can disconnect it and it won't be on my wifi.
But that's not the question, or necessarily the answer. There are multiple vendors making Roku-equipped TVs, it could be any of them. (TCL for example.) Or it could be none of them.
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So we have to wait until someone opens one up to find out? Typical.
Roku jumped the shark when they added all the ads anyway, that was the one and only reason to buy their products and they ruined it. Their interface is mediocre and their app selection is inferior. Google TV is where it's at if you must have a Smart TV. And I must, because the acceptance factor of having a separate box is low, unless it's a Google TV product anyway. And then... might as well have it in the TV.
Imagine that... (Score:1)
This Roku advertisement is paywalled by the privately held Bloomberg Limited Partnership.
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That's the real thing they launched to raise money.
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Bloomberg Limited Partnership makes most of its money from Bloomberg Terminals...
Let me guess (Score:2)
The TV spies on me and serves me advertisement I can't stop?
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The TV spies on me and serves me advertisement I can't stop?
But you pay more for better advertisements!!!
software update min time is? at least 5-6 years? (Score:2)
software update min time is? at least 5-6 years?
if only say 1-2 years then better off with an dumb tv and an streaming box.
They can't even make a decent remote (Score:2)
One I can only turn the TV by pressing the Netflix button.
One doesn't have volume buttons that work (it did work for about 2 months).
The other is lost under the couch. Ok, that one is probably not their fault.
I am considering never buying their products again.
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I have done OK with the one Roku I own, however I have had two Firesticks have device/remote issue.
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Dang, sorry to hear that. I have the same Roku 3 remote from 2013 and it has functioned just fine for 10 years.
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Does new Roku RCs still have missing numerical numbers for TV channels?
I would prefer the "smart" in a separate device (Score:3)
I would prefer to use a Roku (or Fire) device that was separate from the TV. Then I can upgrade the device if needed for a lot less than buying a new TV.
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I would prefer to use a Roku (or Fire) device that was separate from the TV. Then I can upgrade the device if needed for a lot less than buying a new TV.
Sadly if you want anything that is 4K or over 40" you have to get a "Smart(TM)" TV. And you can't make them not "Smart(TM)" by not connecting them to your WiFi because they'll go sniffing for any open access point to send their data back to the advertisers.
I'd love to be wrong on this, at the moment I've just taken to not buying a TV and considering a larger PC monitor. Aside from that, looking to see which TVs aren't just ad vessels pretending to be TVs. Everyone I've used has taken a while to boot too
Response to TCL (Score:2)
I'm guessing this is a response to TCL switching from Roku to Google TV for their smart TVs (at least their larger ones). TCL ships a ton of TVs, so that change must have hurt. At the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if TCL is the company manufacturing them. We'll probably find the answer to that once they ship, as it will probably be obvious if anyone opens it up and compares the insides to other TVs (and that's only if nothing else gives it away).