Features, settings & updates

[RobertaW]

Well, excuuuse me!  My comment about the keyboard was not directed at you, but at those who commented that the lack of keyboard support would make browsing extremely tedious. And if you read the whole post, I did suggest an alternative to a full blown graphical browser. If a text based browser is unacceptable, just remember that including the ability to run a full blown browser would likely slow Roku such that it would perform no better than the alternative streamers.

[atc98092]

@RobertaW you made a point that is likely spot on. If Roku was able to run a decent web browser, it might have such a performance impact they it would be of little use. Yes, the phone/tablet app does have a possible keyboard to use. That doesn't help with the lack of a mouse/touchpad though, so still navigating a modern website would still be excruciating. 

Remember, the Roku OS is not the same as even a phone or tablet OS. It is based on Linux, but it's been highly modified and stripped of any function that is not necessary for media streaming. There's no space in the OS for adding removed functions back, so the odds of the OS supporting a modern browser is pretty slim. 

For the person that has no phone or tablet, you appear to have a use case to support a simple text browser. But there's likely very few people that have any interest in a text based browser, so again, Roku needs a sufficient user base for a function before they can consider supporting that function. The use case you describe simply wouldn't be sufficient to spend the time and effort to add it. The fact there's never been a functional web browser on a Roku device is an indicator the OS simply won't support one.

[RobertaW]

I don't see the difficulty in displaying static text as opposed to streaming video, but I do agree that most people would be uncomfortable with a text based browser, myself included.  I know about them, but I have never used one.  I was just offering up a possibility.  The comment about the keyboard wouldn't help the op even if a text based browser could be implemented.  BTW, I wonder if a bluetooth keyboard connected to a mobile device would be able to populate the search field in the Roku remote control app.  I can't test that because I don't have one a bluetooth keyboard.  If that works, it would be easier to use than a moble device's on screen keyboard - especially for someone with large and/or unsteady fingers.

[atc98092]

The problem with a text based browser is that no modern web page is designed for it. The layout will likely be so odd that actually reading the text displayed would be difficult if not impossible. Modern websites are graphic rich, and often the "text" is actually embedded within an image, at least partially to make copying the material more difficult. 

A couple of times I've tried using a much older version of a web browser on an old computer I resurrected. Even though it was a browser capable of displaying graphical pages (think Internet Explorer from a Windows 2000 or Windows XP computer or older), many pages simply display a message saying the content cannot be displayed. And because the web browser wasn't capable of actually accessing the web, I couldn't even try to install a newer browser. So I truly believe a text based web browser would be of little to no use for almost any Roku user. I'm not belittling the desire of the other user, I'm simply stating what I would expect to happen with a browser on a Roku device, even if one existed.

Your question about a BT keyboard connected to a device that is running the Roku app: I'm only guessing but I would imagine the app would have to be written to make use of the external keyboard. I don't have a BT keyboard for my iPad, so I can't try it for you. I had one with my work iPad, but I had to turn it in when I retired two months ago. 

[dkdj5]

Casting does not work well for my 87 years old electronically challenged senior friend. I need to be able to install a shortcut so he can go straight to the channel.

[HoraceHolt1981]

Need help from the area I'm in and the people here doing the same thing as bringing people's lives

[atc98092]

@HoraceHolt1981 no idea what you're asking.

[dkdj5]

There are videos and other content you can't access on Roku as you can on a standard smart TV or Computer. Even on a phone. Casting is cumbersome for many. Even those who can manage it, it no stable. Sound is not stable. It all takes more steps than a web browser would allow. 

It allows you to access any web pages available on a computer.

[NOPE8142]

DOESNT WORK AND HAS MESSED UP MY WHOLE TV !!!!!!!

[atc98092]

@NOPE8142 what has done what?