Your Roku devices are getting a big, free upgrade – including AI Voice

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• New Roku upgrades will be free to all current customers.
• The upgrades include an AI-enabled Roku Voice feature.
• The company is launching a new $198 smart projector.

Roku, the streaming device manufacturer, just announced a list of updates for existing Roku users, along with a new affordable projector. The updates include enhancements to the Roku City screensaver, Roku Voice, Live TV Channels, the Roku mobile app, and headphone mode. 

One of the biggest updates is the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) features to its Roku Voice feature. The upgraded voice experience will enable Roku Voice to answer questions about shows, movies, characters, or actors. Users can ask more nuanced questions, such as “How scary is The Shining?” or “What are other movies with X actor?”

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Roku Voice will maintain context during the conversation, allowing you to ask follow-up questions about the same topic. This update is coming soon to all Roku devices, and users will be able to experience this through the Roku Voice remote or the mobile app. 

Bluetooth headphone mode is also coming to the Roku Streaming Stick and Roku Streaming Stick Plus, eliminating the need for the mobile app and allowing you to pair Bluetooth headphones directly with the Roku streaming sticks. Until now, you needed to connect your Bluetooth headphones to your phone and use the Roku mobile app to enable headphone mode with these devices.

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New interactive buttons are being introduced to trailers on the Roku platform, including a “Ways to Watch” button and a “Save” button. You can go straight to the movie from the trailer without having to back out from the trailer menu.

The Live TV Channel is getting an updated look. You’ll see a new Search bar in the Live TV Channel Guide and the Live TV Zone. When you see the titles or browse through the platform, Roku will show up to two streaming apps under each title where you can stream, prioritizing your active subscriptions.

Also: Which Roku streaming stick should you buy? I tested every model, and here’s my pick

For sports fans, Roku is introducing new discovery features, including live scores that appear on the tile cards of each matchup, without requiring a specific game selection. If you press the new Reminder button for a sporting event that’s coming up, you’ll get a notification when the game is about to begin. 

Coming later is a new customization feature to narrow down your preferred content, including your favorite sports and TV or movie genres. 

The mobile app is also receiving updates, including shortcuts that feature popular requests, such as closed captions and setting sleep timers. You’ll also be able to rate movies and shows and mark them as already watched (something I’d love to see Netflix adopt). The top of the app will sport a new navigation bar, allowing you to scroll through categories seamlessly. 

The announcement included the new ability to interact with buildings in Roku City that have been featured in a promotion. As an introduction, Roku added new marquees that you can select to be transported to an exclusive music performance from Demi Lovato. 

Also: Your Roku TV has hidden settings and menu screens – here’s how to access them

After unveiling the first Roku TV projector last month, the streaming device company announced the new Vankyo smart projector which is available at Walmart. This portable projector features 1080p HD resolution, auto keystone, auto focus, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It’s priced at $198, and features 330 lumen brightness, a 1500:1 contrast ratio, and two 5W speakers.

Roku recently expanded its smart home compatibility to include Philips Ambilight, offering a more immersive streaming and gaming experience with Philips Hue lights.