{"id":20785,"date":"2026-09-17T16:00:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T16:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/rokus-new-labs-hub-brings-experimental-apps-to-the-big-screen\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T16:00:02","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T16:00:02","slug":"rokus-new-labs-hub-brings-experimental-apps-to-the-big-screen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/rokus-new-labs-hub-brings-experimental-apps-to-the-big-screen\/","title":{"rendered":"Roku&#8217;s new Labs hub brings experimental apps to the big screen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roku is turning your TV into its own testing grounds. On Thursday, the connected TV device maker unveiled the latest update to Roku OS, which introduces a new experience called Roku Labs that allows U.S. customers to access experimental apps made by the company.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img title=\"Roku&apos;s new Labs hub brings experimental apps to the big screen\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"437\" width=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?w=680\" alt=\"Roku Weather Voice Search High Res\" class=\"wp-image-3165488\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png 2000w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=150,96 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=300,193 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=768,494 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=680,437 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=1200,772 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=1280,823 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=430,276 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=720,463 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=900,579 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=800,514 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=1536,988 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=668,430 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=583,375 583w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=960,617 960w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=708,455 708w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-Weather_Voice-Search_High-Res.png?resize=50,32 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Roku<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These still-in-development apps will be accessible through a new tile on the Roku\u2019s Home Screen. Initially, users will see apps for tracking the weather, stocks, and a new game called Roku Dash. The latter involves customers flying a UFO across \u201cRoku City,\u201d the company\u2019s default screensaver of a neon purple and pink city skyline, interspersed with references to pop culture and ads.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img title=\"Roku&apos;s new Labs hub brings experimental apps to the big screen\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" height=\"437\" width=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?w=680\" alt=\"Roku City Dash 2 High Res\" class=\"wp-image-3165480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png 2000w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=150,96 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=300,193 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=768,494 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=680,437 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=1200,772 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=1280,823 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=430,276 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=720,463 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=900,579 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=800,514 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=1536,988 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=668,430 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=583,375 583w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=960,617 960w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=708,455 708w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Roku-City-Dash_2_High-Res.png?resize=50,32 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Roku<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The additions suggest Roku is increasing its investment in what could turn out to be monetizable first-party apps that put the company at the center of connected households. Today, the streaming device and TV maker competes with often more advanced AI-powered connected TV products from rivals like Google and Amazon, powered by their assistants, Gemini and Alexa+.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alongside this update, Roku is making its newer, personalized Home Screen available in new markets, including Mexico and Brazil, where it will offer region-specific features like localized content and tailored suggestions. In addition, Roku\u2019s Voice assistant will now be able to answer weather-related questions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the streaming side, Roku will begin offering bundled subscriptions in the U.S. and Mexico that let you mix-and-match streaming plans from smaller services like AMC+, Fox ONE, Hallmark+, Howdy, and Starz. These bundles are usually more affordable than purchasing each plan \u00e0 la carte.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roku also said it is open-sourcing the software that powers its Roku remote, Roku LT OS, which could invite outside developers and makers to build their own applications and devices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2026\/09\/17\/rokus-new-labs-hub-brings-experimental-apps-to-the-big-screen\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Roku is turning your TV into its own testing grounds. On Thursday, the connected TV device maker unveiled the latest update to Roku OS, which introduces a new experience called Roku Labs that allows U.S. customers to access experimental apps made by the company. Image Credits:Roku These still-in-development apps will be accessible through a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20786,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ecig-canada-zone"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20785"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20785\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20786"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecigcanadazone.com\/restofcanada\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}