Roku Developer Program

[pjsteele]

Is it possible to make the device goto a specific channel and play automatically on reboot?

I am wanting to use the ROKU for a digital display. The client will not want to go with a remote and restart the show every day.

Thanks!

[bbefilms]

In effect that would be allowing an app to hijack the box; I don't think that's possible.

[pjsteele]

That is a bummer.

I'd like to be able to use the Roku for DOOH http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_signage. That would require a device with limited to no user interaction.

I'd prefer using the Roku device because the scripting is so easy. Otherwise, I may have to use the WD mini

[bbefilms]

There are already dedicated devices that do this:
http://www.brightsign.biz/

"pjsteele" wrote:
I'd prefer using the Roku device because the scripting is so easy.

Wasn't brightscript originally developed for these devices?

[RokuKevin]

Yes. Brightscript was originally developed for the Brightsign product line, and those product are designed specifically for the digital signage applications your client may want.

Roku boxes do not allow auto-start applications.

--Kevin

[dlx]

Sorry for the thread-resurrection, but is there a specific reason for this? I would also love to set up a channel for autostart (putio channel in my case). I reckon it shouldnt be too hard to implement - so I'm guessing it's by design. But why?

[BradC]

the second post in this thread indicates a pretty good theory.

[dlx]

Actually it doesn't. If it were to be configured via the central roku settings, and would allow to exit normally via the buttons, no hijacking could occur. It's just about auto starting, not forcing it to stay in focus

[gonzotek]

Create a Roku screensaver (see the clock example), then have it use the ECP launch function to start the channel as soon as it starts up. Have the channel prevent the screensaver from kicking back in if you're not playing video continuously, so it doesn't end up relaunching every 5 minutes (or whenever the screensaver is set to kick in at).

Obviously, this won't allow you to idle on the home screen or in most other channels, so you probably wouldn't want to distribute this widely. But if it's for some custom one-off application, it might be useful.

[tommythamat]

There's a channel to add called roKiosk Launcher.
Add a private channel and enter rokiosklauncher