This week on TechHive: Roku has an app problem (and a possible solution)

Roku players are more affordable than ever, especially with the new Express, Premiere, and Ultra models announced this week. (More on those shortly.) But at the same time, the platform’s app selection is deteriorating. Roku is no longer the primary destination for some major content providers such as PlayStation Vue and Twitter, and when those providers do get around to supporting Roku, the quality of their apps doesn’t match other platforms.

Roku does seem to recognize the issue, with some major improvements to its app development tools on the way. Still, it’s unclear whether those tools will be good enough, or whether developers will even take advantage of them. Read the full column on TechHive.

Weekly Rewind

A brand new batch of Roku Boxes: Say goodbye to the Roku 1, 2, 3, and 4. On October 9, Roku will replace its entire streaming box line with five new models, including its cheapest device yet and its first ones with 4K HDR video support:

Roku Express ($30): A basic streaming box with 1080p video support
Roku Express+ ($40): Same as the express, but with Composite video output for old TVs.
Roku Premiere ($80): Similar speed and 4K video as last year’s Roku 4, but without the noisy internal fan.
Roku Premiere+ ($100): Adds 4K HDR video, Ethernet, MicroSD, and a headphone jack on the remote for private listening.
Roku Ultra ($130): Adds USB storage and optical audio, and the remote comes with voice search, a remote-finding feature, and gaming buttons.

The Roku Streaming Stick is also sticking around for $50. Roku’s entry level pricing beats any other streaming device on the market, and at the moment there’s no cheaper option for 4K or HDR (which helps bring out more color detail in dark and light areas). But it’s not all good news, as users who want voice control will now have to spring for the most expensive model. I’ll be reviewing the new boxes over the next several weeks. In the meantime, check out my coverage at TechHive for more details.

Amazon’s all-new Fire TV Stick: Amazon wasn’t far behind this week with its own hardware news, announcing a second-generation Fire TV Stick. The new version is supposedly up to 30 percent faster, and supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The price is still $40, but Amazon is now including a voice remote, rather than charging $10 extra for it.

I have not yet seen the new Fire TV Stick, but I’m hoping the speed boost is noticeable, as the old model really tended to drag with navigation and certain apps. The new Stick will launch on October 20, and I expect to have a review around then.

More Catch-Up

The Fire TV may be getting a new interface to go with its new hardware.
CW’s subscription-free app has arrived on Roku and Fire TV. Other platforms are coming soon.
AT&T’s DirecTV streaming bundle will have more than 100 channels, but for how much?
Google will probably announce a 4K Chromecast next week, probably for $69.

Save More Money

Never paid for Hulu before? New subscribers are getting a limited-time offer of $6 per month for the first year, down from $8 per month regularly. That’s version with ads, though. If you want to go ad-free, you’ll have to pay $12 per month whether you’ve subscribed before or not.

Thanks for reading!

What a crazy week this was for streaming device news. Between the new Roku players, the new Fire TV Stick, and whatever Google is doing with Chromecast, we’ll have a lot to talk about over the next few months.

In the meantime, here’s something to think about: What if cable companies had meaningful competition on hardware, the way Roku, Amazon, Google, and Apple do are now? Maybe they’d be more motivated to deliver features like 4K HDR video and voice control, instead of charging a healthy subscription fee for the same old cable boxes. No wonder they’re so resistant to attempts at opening up the market.

Got questions or comments? Reply to this email or find me on Twitter.

Until next week,
Jared