In the event you've been chosen for this free Roku improve, I am jealous

Abstract

The brand new Roku OS homepage design that Roku is at the moment testing features a “Fast Entry” part that remembers your favourite apps.
One function Fast Entry is lacking is the power to customise it, by including or eradicating apps, and Roku is conscious of this and contemplating options.
Roku additionally up to date the house button. If you press it, you may be taken to the grid of choices on the homepage now, reasonably than the sidebar on the left-hand facet of the display.

Roku has had a busy few weeks. It just lately launched two brand-new streaming devices, the Roku Streaming Stick and the Roku Streaming Stick Plus, and introduced its 2025 lineup of TVs. Now, with its new merchandise out, Roku is experimenting with its person interface.

To make it simpler for customers to search out the content material they watch essentially the most, and uncover new content material alongside the way in which, Roku has begun testing a new user interface design for its homepage on Roku OS.

Notably, the spotlight of the modifications Roku is making is the brand new “Fast Entry” part on its homepage, which allows customers to rapidly entry their most ceaselessly used streaming apps, resembling Netflix and Disney+. Roku is at the moment launching its new check to a restricted group of customers.

“We’re all the time trying to make the Roku expertise simply higher, extra intuitive, extra participating, and much more personalised,” mentioned Preston Smalley, Roku’s VP of viewer product, chatting with The Verge. “What we wish to do is guarantee that the house display expertise matches nicely with simply the way you watch TV at present.”

Model: Roku
Dimensions: 3.7 x 0.80 x .45 inches
Connectivity: HDMI
Weight Capability: 26g

A slim plug and play streaming stick that features 4K/HDR assist and features a voice distant.

Roku Select Series 2025 Cardboard Mounting Guide promotional image

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Roku is attempting to make its homepage extra handy

Fast Entry is at the moment lacking one helpful function

Roku / The Verge / Pocket-lint

The brand new Fast Entry part on Roku’s homepage sounds fairly helpful, and I like the way it routinely learns primarily based in your streaming habits. So, should you watch a number of Netflix or Prime Video, these apps will routinely be populated in that part, so you’ll be able to simply entry them sooner or later. In the event you watch a number of sports activities content material or stay TV, suggestions for that kind of content material may also pop up within the Fast Entry part.

Nonetheless, one function at the moment lacking from Fast Entry is the power to customise it, so if you wish to add or take away an app, you’ll be able to’t achieve this at the moment. Nonetheless, as The Verge notes, Roku is conscious of this and is “attempting some totally different approaches” to deal with it.

“One of many issues we all know that is going to be actually necessary is that it simply must work proper out of the field,” Smalley defined. “We’re positively attempting to see how a lot management individuals need, however that is one thing we wish to hear from clients on.”

Personally, I hope Roku finds a approach to repair this as a result of I like the thought of the Fast Entry panel. Nonetheless, being able to customise it or pin sure apps to it will be a lot better, particularly since Roku has additionally modified how the house button operates with this replace.

Roku / The Verge / Pocket-lint

That is proper, together with this new UI change, Roku has additionally modified how the house button works. On this check, if you press the house button in your distant, it is going to now ship you on to the grid of choices on the homepage, reasonably than opening the sidebar on the left-hand facet of the display. Within the present check, the sidebar stays collapsed till the person opens it by attempting to navigate to it.

…I like what I see, and I hope Roku will implement these modifications for all customers shortly, alongside a customization choice for its new Fast Entry part.

Moreover, Roku has moved two choices from the left-hand sidebar to the homepage, notably its “Dwell TV” and “Featured Free” sections, to make them extra seen and accessible to customers shopping the homepage. Roku has additionally added two new options to the homepage: a “Subscriptions” part, the place yow will discover all of the streaming providers you pay for, and a “For You” part, which is a redesigned model of Roku’s “What to Watch” choice that gives personalised suggestions for exhibits and films.

Roku’s new person interface is at the moment being rolled out in a restricted check to customers. It is attainable issues might change with the UI earlier than a broader rollout is made. To this point, I like what I see, and I hope Roku will implement these modifications for all customers shortly, alongside a customization choice for its new Fast Entry part. Roku’s new streaming sticks and 2025 lineup of TVs is on the market now.