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Wolverton: 4K streaming no big advantage for Roku 4
By Troy Wolverton
Mercury News Columnist
Posted: 10/23/2015 03:40:22 PM PDT2 Comments | Updated: 3 days ago
Ultra-high definition video is the big new thing in television, and Roku is hoping to cash in on the trend.
The Saratoga startup has updated its lineup of digital set-top boxes to include one that can display ultra-high definition, or 4K, movies and television shows. Dubbed the Roku 4, the device represents the company's new flagship and, at $130, is priced accordingly.
Unfortunately for Roku, the ability to display 4K video is less useful than it would seem. And at least right now, the Roku 4 isn't worth the premium the company is charging for it.
Many of the problems with the Roku 4 are really just shortcomings of the 4K standard itself. Although there are a growing number of ultra-high definitions being sold and an increasing amount of 4K video available, there's still not a lot to watch on them.
Out of the more than 3,000 channels available through Roku boxes, the Roku 4 offers just six that have 4K content: Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, YouTube, M-Go and kids video provider Toon Goggles. Even among those handful of channels, only a small portion of their videos are available in the ultra-high resolution standard. And that video can be hard to find; many of the channels don't highlight their 4K content, so you have to comb through videos one by one to see if they are available in ultra-high definition.
Wolverton: 4K streaming no big advantage for Roku 4
By Troy Wolverton
Mercury News Columnist
Posted: 10/23/2015 03:40:22 PM PDT2 Comments | Updated: 3 days ago
Ultra-high definition video is the big new thing in television, and Roku is hoping to cash in on the trend.
The Saratoga startup has updated its lineup of digital set-top boxes to include one that can display ultra-high definition, or 4K, movies and television shows. Dubbed the Roku 4, the device represents the company's new flagship and, at $130, is priced accordingly.
Unfortunately for Roku, the ability to display 4K video is less useful than it would seem. And at least right now, the Roku 4 isn't worth the premium the company is charging for it.
Many of the problems with the Roku 4 are really just shortcomings of the 4K standard itself. Although there are a growing number of ultra-high definitions being sold and an increasing amount of 4K video available, there's still not a lot to watch on them.
Out of the more than 3,000 channels available through Roku boxes, the Roku 4 offers just six that have 4K content: Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, Vudu, YouTube, M-Go and kids video provider Toon Goggles. Even among those handful of channels, only a small portion of their videos are available in the ultra-high resolution standard. And that video can be hard to find; many of the channels don't highlight their 4K content, so you have to comb through videos one by one to see if they are available in ultra-high definition.
