As regulars are well-aware, I love me a good mystery. And Roku just applied with the USPTO to trademark “Tada!” These sorts of filings are generally difficult to decipher, as the descriptions are often broad and vague, providing the company latitude down the road. So Tada! could refer to just about anything from a new marketing slogan, to an improved universal search utilizing recently licensed TiVo patents, another in-house recommendation show, a publishing platform for content distributors, or a full-on streaming video service to take on the likes of Sling TV or PlayStation Vue.
Audio-video receivers; Computer hardware; Computer hardware and software for processing digital music files; Computer hardware and software systems for transmitting, receiving, accessing and sharing audio and video content; Computer peripheral equipment; Computer software for controlling and managing access server applications; Computer software for processing digital music files; Computer hardware and software used for the control of voice controlled information and communication devices; Computer software and hardware for transmitting, receiving, accessing and sharing audio and video content; Digital audio and video recorders and players; Digital audio players; Digital materials, namely, downloadable audio and video files featuring music, video, motion pictures and television programs; Digital media streaming devices; Downloadable films and television programs featuring action, drama and comedy provided via a video-on-demand service; Downloadable music, video, motion pictures and television programs via the internet and wireless devices; Electric audio playback units with lights and speakers; Interoperable communication system designed to provide radio, streaming video, wireless internet, and VOIP phone; Juke boxes for computers; Portable and handheld digital electronic devices for recording, organizing, transmitting, manipulating, and reviewing text, data, image, and audio files; Speech recognition software; Wireless communication device featuring voice, data and image transmission including voice, text and picture messaging, a video and still image camera, also functional to purchase music, games, video and software applications over the air for downloading to the device; Wireless communication devices for voice, data or image transmission
Streaming of audio, visual and audiovisual material via a global computer network; Streaming of video material on the Internet; Streaming of audio, visual and audiovisual material on the Internet; Television broadcasting; Television transmission services; Video broadcasting; Video broadcasting services over the Internet or other communications network, namely, electronically transmitting video clips; Video broadcasting services via the Internet; Video transmission over digital networks; Video-on-demand transmission; Video-on-demand transmission services; Broadcasting of television and video programs; Communications services, namely, transmitting streamed sound and audiovisual recordings via the Internet; Electronic transmission of voice, data and images by television and video broadcasting; Transmission and delivery of video, television, movies and entertainment content via Internet transmission and streaming
Providing a website featuring entertainment information in the field(s) of music, video, motion pictures and television programs; Providing a website featuring non-downloadable videos in the field of music, video, motion pictures and television programs; Entertainment in the nature of ongoing television programs in the field of action, drama and comedy; Entertainment services in the nature of creation, development, and production of television programming; Entertainment services in the nature of development, creation, production, distribution, and post-production of television programs, motion pictures and video content; Entertainment services in the nature of production of motion pictures, television programs and entertainment content; Entertainment services, namely, production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of music, action, drama and comedy; Entertainment services, namely, providing a web site featuring photographic, audio, video and prose presentations featuring music, action, comedy and drama; Entertainment, namely, a continuing television show broadcast over cable, satellite and Internet transmission; Production and distribution of television shows and movies; Providing on-line entertainment information, namely, information about television programming
A “Roku-Tv” streaming solution with select cable and local channels WITH A GUIDE!!! wouldn’t hurt to add to the rest of the rabble that already have one out. The more, the better for consumers and for pricing wars.
We already know Roku is at least exploring a live streaming service based on prior comments so wouldn’t surprise me if it had something to do with that.
Shame I gave up on Roku ages ago, I like both the Fire TV and Apple TV significantly more though they aren’t without their own shortcomings. It appears as though even developers have noticed as a majority of companies launching new apps or redesigns seem to be in the “We will have a Roku app eventually when we get around to it” camp.
Mike 1, pricing is largely determined by the content owners and Roku would likely negotiate less favorable terms given their positioning and stature.
Mike U, must have missed those rumblings. Hm. I hear you on Fire TV possibly eclipsing Roku in a number of areas for a variety of reasons, as you mention. However, Roku TV exists and is pretty darn good compared whereas we don’t exactly know what the Fire TV televisions will look like in the next month or so. Before we moved, I had a Fire TV as primary streamer at family room TV. Post-move, will probably get a TCL C Series with Roku built right in. I know it’ll become obsolete at some point, but it’s a good place to start.
I don’t think Roku is bad by any means, I just think at this point there are better options available. Roku definitely has the advantage of penetration between the TV’s cheap set tops etc. which is why it surprises me that development is generally behind others wether it be with the release getting out of the door or in features for released apps.
RE: streaming service it was a pretty small blurb but here is the article that says they are considering launching their own streaming service. https://www.recode.net/2017/4/5/15190486/roku-lobbyist-net-neutrality-fight-privacy-online-washington-dc
For 4K and HDR, the FireTV or AppleTV certainly isn’t better than the Roku.
Right now there’s not enough 4k content and even less HDR content for me to justify jumping in on the 4k game especially when no one can agree on an HDR standard yet. Last I saw there are 5 different HDR standards (HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, HLG and Advanced HDR). Roku only supports HDR10 which is being replaced by HDR10+ with no clear indication yet if only some or all compatible devices will be upgradable to the new format.
My guess, is an improved search engine based around voice. Tell it what you’re looking for and TADA !