Features, settings & updates

[Karma_]

Id really appreciate if there were repeat and shuffle buttons on the next model remote for Roku Ultra. This would allow me to change the shuffle or repeat 🔁 🔀 state just by pressing remote buttons.

Maybe put a white light above the buttons showing what state of repeat is currently used. And to see wether Shuffle is currently ON or OFF just by looking at a white light above the remote button. Spotify has repeat for current playlist/album or repeat current song. Or Shuffle.

The Live button and streaming service buttons are useless to me and just ads. I never use those and they add unnecessary clutter to the remote.

Roku, please instead add usual functionality buttons to the remote such as repeat, shuffle.

Remove the Live and Streaming services buttons which are basically ads, because the Streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+ paid you to have a permanent place on the remote. 

[atc98092]

Why put buttons on the remote that are only useful for certain apps? Roku keeps their remotes simple by only having buttons that can be used on all available apps. I can't think of any streaming player that has buttons that only works with specific apps, so this isn't specific to Roku.

[Karma_]

@atc98092 I’m sorry did you read the title? It says for music apps as such as Spotify. This includes all music apps not only Spotify, and adds useful functionality when you’re using music apps. So adding those buttons in the next remote would be useful for any music app. Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, you name it.

Also you claim „Roku keeps their remotes simple“ which is very obviously not true. Because of the clutter of streaming service buttons and the IMHO useless Live button the Roku remote is anytime but simple unfortunately… They are paid by these streaming services to have their apps added to the remote regardless of wether people pay for and use those apps…

So I’m not sure why you’re opposed to this idea of adding useful functionality for ALL music streaming apps. 

[atc98092]

It's still only a limited number of apps that would use those buttons. The majority of apps used on a Roku are video based, and there's little use for such buttons on that sort of media. You also mentioned the button on the remote should have a light indicating the current status of the button in use. That would be a huge power draw, not only for powering the light but the need for constant two-way communications between the remote and the Roku. Simply not practical.

The Roku Media Player does have the ability to repeat and shuffle playback, but that's within the app itself. The music apps you refer to can add the same ability within their apps if they desire.

I'm not against Roku adding useful buttons to their remote. Roku has been asked for many years to add number buttons for direct access of channels on the TV version or within apps that have channels (such as Pluto TV). Those would be useful for many more users than the music only apps, but Roku has ignored that request for a very long time.

[Karma_]

I think you seem to have vastly different priorities. Adding Number buttons to the remote would be catastrophic and a huge downgrade as it would add tons of clutter and make the remote bigger and more uncomfortable to use. I never use Number buttons on any remote. So I hope Roku never adds them.

But anyway this is about Shuffle and Repeat buttons. 

Also about using a white dot light, that was just an idea of mine. Roku can think of something else if that’s not ideal to them.

[atc98092]

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@Karma_ wrote:

Also you claim „Roku keeps their remotes simple“ which is very obviously not true. Because of the clutter of streaming service buttons and the IMHO useless Live button the Roku remote is anytime but simple unfortunately… They are paid by these streaming services to have their apps added to the remote regardless of wether people pay for and use those apps…

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Yes, we do have different priorities. But I will say that what I'm mentioning is more aligned with what the vast majority of users desire. 

You say number buttons would greatly clutter the remote. No argument there, as it certainly would increase the number of buttons. But those would be useful buttons for most users. As far as the dedicated service buttons, that's simply a source of income for Roku, as they are paid for those button placements. And because their contracts for those buttons are always changing, there's no consistency to the buttons, with Netflix as the only one with a guaranteed position. I completely agree it would be far more useful to be able to program them for the user's desired usage, but their contracts with the companies don't allow it.

I understand the light idea was just that, an idea. And I can see the value, but from my past programming experience I believe it would be extremely difficult to make something work and not be a complete battery drain. Especially since the light function would only be applicable to specific apps, and the remote has no way of knowing if one of those apps are in use. It would be more practical for a dedicated player that only does that function (stream music) so it doesn't need to know the app in use.

[Strega2]

I think I have seen hundreds if not thousands of people requesting for numbers on the remote.  You have a long way to go until shuffle requestors are anywhere near as big a group for Roku to ignore. 😀😁

For the record, I don’t need either, but I think I would be more likely to want to use a numbered channel service on Roku than a shuffle button.

[Karma_]

Well if Roku sees the potential in having shuffle and repeat buttons, we might hopefully see it some time soon.

(Hopefully never number buttons, god forbid.. and they might aswell remove the GUIDE button, and streaming service buttons)

+ a couple more programmable buttons wouldn’t hurt 

equals = perfect clean, simple remote