Solving playback issues

[ToyShop]

Hello, We had another issue last night where the sound came through the speakers but no picture. Went through all HDMI connections with no change. Turned everything off and on several times. The only thing that corrected it was to unplug the Roku from power and reboot that way. 

 I seem to have corrected the programs starting automatically by turing off autostart in the * menu. ***Another thing that had been happening with Acorn is it would just scroll when opening and not load the App until I rebooted the Roku. 

I just had this autostart issue with YouTubeTV again even though autostart is turned off in the settings - Version 2.24 build 91 - Tracker ID GV-002-810

Model: 4850X-Ultra, Ser: X02800Y33KGV, Software ver: 14.0 build 12222-G6, Acorn Ver: 4.30 Build 241113

[Stuntastic206]

Then if that's the case is there a way to turn it off and also how come the moderators haven't said it's a feature with the ultra??

[StreamerUser]

@Stuntastic206 

There is no way to turn it off, however if you EXIT the YT/YTTV (or any Instant Resume enabled) apps via their UI/Menus Exit options (keep going Back until you get the Exit option then Exit) then that forces the app to fully close and will re-launch normally the next time they are opened.

Unfortunately the "Moderators" are not highly trained/knowledgable Roku employees in regards to RokuOS or hardware (and certainly not third party vendor apps) and lack adequate training/knowledge beyond typical CS recipes/flowcharts/pre-formulated responses/KB usage, and in fact are highly limited/restricted in what they are allowed to post.

[StreamerUser]

@jtgostars 

The YT/YTTV apps (2.24.229/2.24.91) on the 4850 support the Instant Resume feature of RokuOS, which allows apps to save their current state without closing when "exited" via Home, such that when the app is re-launched the app returns to the previous state (VOD playback goes to the content details page, Live playback goes directly back to the playback point).

The YT/YTTV app versions/builds on other models do not currently support Instant Resume.

The behavior you are experiencing is correct/by design for Instant Resume - this is not a bug.

[jtgostars]

In that case I will be rolling back to my prior ultra Roku. My opinion is that this is a very annoying feature. Maybe because I am not an avid TV watcher am not interested in continuing with a show I was watching in the past, especially the news or a live sporting event. I could see this as possible functionality if I closed the app while watching recorded (DVR) content but not live streaming.

I think you are going to find I am not alone in not wanting this type of behavior as it really makes no sense as it works today

This probably is also why I am seeing the Hulu app open to a profile that was last used on a different Roku box (4660X) as opposed to the last profile used on the Ultra 4860X although in that case it would be probably more of a Roku server issue in managing different OS's on different devices by the same person

[Stuntastic206]

So this function is just on the ultra?? I have 4 other streaming sticks and they automatically close and restart the app

[AvsGunnar]

@jtgostars 

As indicated by @StreamerUser and included in the reference link provided for this feature,  https://developer.roku.com/docs/developer-program/media-playback/instant-resume.md, this should only affect channels/apps that have implemented this feature when you press the 'Home' button to immediately exit the channel/app.

If you use the 'Back' button instead to back out to the Main Menu of the channel/app and then 'Exit' the channel/app this prevents the Instant Resume from taking place the next time you launch the channel/app. (at least for VOD/on-demand content).

On most channels/apps, if you press the Back button repeatedly, an overlay box is presented with language similar to "Are you sure you want to Exit?".  By exiting in this manner, you should be presented the Main Menu next time time you enter the channel/app and not the Instant Resume feature.

[jtgostars]

Thanks albeit that link is very technical and appears to be meant for developers/testers. I do use the Roku Home button to exit any of the apps I am using. It's easier, more efficient and faster than having to press the back button 5 times and then pressing the OK button for exiting; 6 total clicks (YouTube TV) which is a horrible user experience as opposed to 1 (one) button to exit an app.

I can't believe the majority of Roku users are interested in "picking up where they left off" especially when viewing live streaming content; news, sports, certain network TV presentations etc. I understand if they were watching recorded content but not most live content that isn't set for recording.

And it sounds like you're stating this is controlled by the app owners (You Tube TV, Hulu, Amazon, etc.) and not Roku so any complaints I have need to be directed to them? Is that correct? Good Luck with that!!

[AvsGunnar]

@jtgostars 

"And it sounds like you're stating this is controlled by the app owners (You Tube TV, Hulu, Amazon, etc.) and not Roku..."

Yes, if you watched that little 4min video that was in the link, a Roku developer walks through a demonstration of the implementation (very easy to follow/understand), and emphasizes the hope that more developers will implement the Instant Resume feature so that channels/apps can load faster and users can get right back into the content they were watching. (At least, that was their premise).

Unfortunately, I doubt any of the developers will scrap the Instant Resume after implementing it, but perhaps may listen to feedback how to improve.  Probably not Youtube though, they are pretty tone-deaf and care little for user experience.

-----

It can definitely come in handy for older users that may have trouble navigating Roku.  All they have to do is press a button to launch the channel/app and they are right back into the show. (which hopefully then justs loads the next show if watching a series).  I actually prefer the channels/apps that provide an initial option box that allows you to resume or return to the library/menu.

The Instant Resume is also device-dependent. (not available on all devices/depends on the processor used/whether or not developer enabled feature on a model, etc).  I have some older devices in my setup (like the 4660 Ultra and 3921 Premiere+) and I actually prefer them because they are not so affected by some things that are considered 'features' of the newer Roku devices and newer Roku OS.  Kind of the reason I still keep buying older models for my personal use.

[jtgostars]

I rarely, if ever, find myself wanting to rejoin something I was streaming after leaving. In most cases when I exit I am either going to a different channel/app or turning the TV off. If there is a show or event I want to continue later at my leisure I simply start recording it. And the last thing I would want is to wake up in the morning, turn on the TV and immediately jump into last nights Colbert, late night news or a sporting event. And to now start pressing the back button 5 or 6 times when ever I do that is a waste of time and very irritating.

Given all the problems I have had with this newest Roku Ultra; rebooting 4 or 5 times at start up, losing track of the last profile used in an app on that device, the problem documented above, Spotify not loading, etc. I think I will just roll myself back to my older Ultra.