My Twitter followers likely encountered some snark in regards to Roku’s initial Google Assistant integration — with the two primary complaints being that I could only link up a single Roku device, despite a household of several, and Google’s frequent target device confusion, given the nonsensical responses that I don’t posses a Chromecast.
TRYING to control Roku via Google Assitant is infuriating. In fact, it’s the best endorsement of Fire TV.
— Dave Zatz (@davezatz) December 12, 2018
So it’s with great interest, as an Amazon-centric home with two Rokus still in play, that I learn the streaming company has just unveiled a Roku Alexa Skill … that sounds promising:
Alexa is a cloud-based voice service from Amazon that integrates with Roku voice search and voice control letting you use commands like “Alexa, show me action movies on Roku”, or “Alexa, launch HBO NOW on Roku” to help find content and manage playback on your compatible Roku device. If you have a Roku TV™, you can also use voice commands for tasks like adjusting volume, switching inputs (e.g., HDMI 1, HDMI 2, etc.), and powering the TV screen off or on. This article helps you integrate an Alexa-enabled device with Roku voice search and voice control, and provides some examples of voice commands you can use with your Roku device.
Unlike Google, there doesn’t appear to be an Alexa device limit and I plan to put the new skill through its paces in the near future. According to the Roku support note, all modern devices running OS 8.2 or higher are capable of linkage and control. We shall soon see!
Unfortunately according to the Alexa skills page only one Roku is able to be linked per account. I wish this were more like TiVo’s solution. Pick which Echo device controls each TiVo.
Damn, same limitation as Google Assistant. I’ve got three Rokus in the house.
Sigh. Feeling pretty good about my ongoing migration from Roku to Fire TV over the last few months. The Fire TV UI is a mess, but so much of it is abstracted away via the superior voice control. Also deeper access to Amazon services – the Prime Music app is real nice for Disney soundtracks with lyrics, for example.
#Fail
Even if it connected with every Roku, you’d never use it because it has extremely limited functionality.
Basically just opens an app, can call up some menus on Hulu but can’t actually play a show without you needing the remote, which defeats the whole purpose.
Roku’s primary objective at this point seems to be turning their home screen into the Roku Channel, a la Fire TV, to generate more ongoing revenue per customer.