Do you want to learn how to use the Roku TV alarm clock or add a custom Roku screensaver? Read on, as these are some of the best Roku features you should check out right now.
Roku devices come with a few native screensavers, but none of them are particularly inspiring. To select one, go to Settings> Screensaver> Change Screensaver , and make your choice.
Of course, you can also download new screensavers from the Channel Store. You can access the Channel Store from your Roku device and through the web. On your Roku device, go to Streaming Channels>Screensavers to see what's available.
But did you know that there is a third option? You can also create your own custom Roku screensaver using photos from your smartphone.
To add photos to your Roku screensaver, you need to download the Roku app for your Android or iOS device. In the app, navigate to Media>Screen Saver>First Steps . You can choose up to 25 images to use. You also need to set the display style and speed.
Download: Roku for Android | iOS
Roku devices can be addictive. A Netflix subscription is even more addictive. Put the two together, and you have a recipe for all-night binges.
But all-night binges bring their own problems, and we're not just talking about lack of sleep. If you live with other people, they probably won't appreciate being woken up at 4 a.m. by the sound of the television blaring.
Likewise, if your kids love to watch SpongeBob SquarePants on repeat, you might be tired of hearing the same jokes on repeat endlessly.
The solution is private listening. If you have a supported Roku model, the feature is available through the Android app, iOS app, and point-anywhere remote.
Pause Live TV is only available if you have a Roku TV (i.e. a smart TV with the Roku operating system built in).
And even if you have a Roku TV, it's only available if you've connected an over-the-air (OTA) antenna to your TV (which you should, because you'll be amazed at the content you can receive over air for free) .
Finally, you need to connect a USB storage key with at least 16 GB of space to your TV. Live TV Pause uses memory on the stick to save images.
Assuming your setup meets these three criteria, the feature will be available. You can pause live TV for 90 minutes, which is enough time to make a cup of coffee or go to the bathroom.
You've always been able to throw your Roku Streaming Stick in your luggage when you leave home for a few days. And it will put all your content at your fingertips wherever you are in the world.
But there was still a problem:the use of Wi-Fi networks that required you to connect to the network through a web browser. You know the type, you see them a lot in hotels and office buildings.
Well, if your Roku is running Roku OS 7.0 or above, you need to check the Hotel and Dorm Connection functionality. It lets you connect to browser-based Wi-Fi networks in seconds.
Just make sure to select I'm in a hotel or college dorm when you connect to the network.
Although alarm clocks aren't a native feature of Roku, there are several ways to turn on your TV and start streaming a channel of your choice at a specific time.
The easiest way to create a Roku alarm is to schedule a custom routine on the Google Home app. Just open the app, navigate to Routines>Add Routine and follow the on-screen instructions.
Note that not all Roku apps support Google Home Routines. Of those that do, many are live streaming channels such as Newsy and CBS News.
You can also try the Roku Stream Alarm Github project. You can use it to configure a task scheduler or crontab to send a powershell script or curl request to your Roku at any time. To use the tool, you will need some programming knowledge and need to enable developer mode on your Roku device.
Download: Google Home for Android | iOS
There's no shortage of high-quality video-on-demand apps. Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, Sling TV — the list goes on.
Most streaming apps all share one thing in common:they cost money. The same goes for almost all big name services.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Just install The Roku Channel from the Roku Channel Store. It is the official channel of the company and it provides hundreds of best movies for free. You don't even need to create an account. The channel is available on all Roku devices and smart TVs.
The only catch? The channel is ad-supported. However, Roku promises to show fewer ads than regular TV. If you try watching the channel for a while, you'll find that the company stays true to its word.
Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is part of the HDMI standard. It can be used to synchronize volume between devices, coordinate separate audio and video inputs, and can allow a single remote to control all of your devices.
Roku uses CEC's one-touch play feature. If enabled, your TV will switch to the Roku's input port as soon as you press the power button on your Roku remote. This removes the need to use your TV remote if you want to switch from regular cable programming to Netflix, for example.
To enable the feature, go to Settings>System>Control other devices>1-touch play and check the box.
We assumed you weren't already using these Roku features, but it's possible you're ahead of the curve. Don't worry, because there are plenty of other smart tricks you can use to get even more out of your Roku.
