Roku Developer Program

[BestDeveloper]

Is it possible to create overlay apps? Like an independent app that can overlay another app. I see this being useful for like reminders, ads, ecommerce etc, so people can interact with that app directly when watching content.

[destruk]

No...

[BestDeveloper]

Are you sure?

[destruk]

One roku can run one app.  So to run two apps you either need to use two rokus, or you need to get the channel code of what you want to overlay and merge it into your existing main app to display on top of it's regular screens.  So yes.  I am sure.  Nobody has NetFlix with a Twitter app running on top of it.
I suppose another option would be to use two rokus and try to use Picture-in-picture on your TV to display HDMI port2 in the corner while HDMI1 is using the rest of the screen?  But that's not your question - your question was can you run two apps at the same time on the same single Roku, and no, you can't.

[BestDeveloper]

Ok I see. 

"you need to get the channel code of what you want to overlay and merge it into your existing main app to display on top of it's regular screens"

If I write a standalone overlay app is there an easy way to merge this overlay app with another "main" app (like call it within that app)? For example users will install the overlay app, then other apps that integrates the overlay app (not sure how) will have the option of opening the overlay.

[Komag]

Short answer, no, sorry. Basically you would have to work directly with other channel authors and convince them to update their channels with a bunch of new code, and each case would be unique and a lot of work and testing and no one is going to do that. But you're free to try.

[acreskey]

You can create a sceensaver application.

[BestDeveloper]

"Komag" wrote:
Short answer, no, sorry. Basically you would have to work directly with other channel authors and convince them to update their channels with a bunch of new code, and each case would be unique and a lot of work and testing and no one is going to do that. But you're free to try.

"acreskey" wrote:
You can create a sceensaver application.

A screensaver would stop working when the user interacts with it though.
But if a screensaver works can we assume that Roku probably has the ability to run two apps at the same time?

[squirreltown]

"BestDeveloper" wrote:

But if a screensaver works can we assume that Roku probably has the ability to run two apps at the same time?

No. Again.