Roku Offers Netflix Upgrade

27 May, 2010 By: Erik Gruenwedel

---

Roku, manufacturer of an Internet-enabled media player, May 28 will launch new software designed to enhance selection of DVD/Blu-ray Disc rentals and streaming of movies and episodic television programming from Netflix, among other features.

Saratoga, Calif.-based Roku, which cut its teeth in 2008 as the first media device to stream Netflix movies onto the TV, also added two music services to its channel store.

The free Netflix upgrade allows subscribers from the online DVD rental pioneer to more easily scroll through rental options and monitor their queue right on the screen.

As a result, users can now search for titles to add to their physical media queue or begin streaming instantly, if available. Functionality reportedly is not as easily accomplished on Netflix-enabled video game consoles and Internet-connected Blu-ray players.

In addition, users can find more information about a particular movie, which pops up in a descriptive box when a title is highlighted. 

Roku also included and — the latter a third-party commercial free, non-computer generated radio station that mixes modern and classic rock, world music, electronic, classical and jazz.
 

Bookmark it: