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SolveLLC
Visitor

Maintaining support for legacy players

Is there a method to retain support for legacy players while moving to Scene Graph? Would updating the final legacy supported version, allowing some time for updates and then uploading a Scene Graph based channel allow the legacy versions to retain their currently installed channel?
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4 REPLIES 4
RokuJoel
Binge Watcher

Re: Maintaining support for legacy players

We don't allow updates to the legacy device channels unless that update is to upload an out-of-service package. When you upload a channel you will be restricted to using min. firmware 5.x which means the update won't go to legacy devices. So you can leave the legacy channel running and create a new channel scenegraph channel without affecting the legacy channel.

- Joel
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EnTerr
Roku Guru

Re: Maintaining support for legacy players

Yes, technically speaking. That's one of the uses of "minimum firmware" drop-downs in "package submission" tabs. I remember reading (where?) that when you bump up the version there, the new package will be available only to boxes with that OS version onwards - and the older boxes will receive an older (the highest compatible) version instead. Akin to how things are in iOS, older devices download older compatible versions of the app. Note that said setting can only be increased but can't return back to patch older version. The Co. staff can do more on their side but don't know what constitutes compelling reason.

In practice, don't know if approval of update of a "public" channel for 3.1 firmware can be negotiated now, since "legacy" got actively discontinued - TBD what a Roku* says? Worst case, your 3.1 version stays as it were for legacies and the new players (model# > 2222) get the more graphical scenes 🙂

PS. there ya go, Roku* spoked
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SolveLLC
Visitor

Re: Maintaining support for legacy players

"RokuJoel" wrote:
We don't allow updates to the legacy device channels unless that update is to upload an out-of-service package. When you upload a channel you will be restricted to using min. firmware 5.x which means the update won't go to legacy devices. So you can leave the legacy channel running and create a new channel scenegraph channel without affecting the legacy channel.

- Joel


Thank you for the reply. Does the 5.x era support Scene Graph? On a separate note, we still see *a lot* of 3.1 traffic.
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EnTerr
Roku Guru

Re: Maintaining support for legacy players

"SolveLLC" wrote:
Thank you for the reply. Does the 5.x era support Scene Graph? On a separate note, we still see *a lot* of 3.1 traffic.

Strange - I thought all rOS v5 is gone, now that i saw RokuTV migrated to v7. Esp. considering 4 months ago RokuKC said that all non-relegated products are believed to be 6.2 or better.

Lacking response from the Co, do you mind sharing some intel on these mysterious v5 devices you see? If no model#, then perhaps some samples of User-Agent from http logs (specifically the parenthised part of "Roku/DVP-7.0 (047.00E09044A)"). Perhaps together here we can divine what devices these laggards are.

Also do you have estimate on what % of the total players are such?
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