Roku’s companion app for Android has made great strides in functionality, and some great new additions are being introduced today.

The company updated its app to include a “Play on Roku” feature, a utility for streaming photos and music from your phone to your Roku player using your home’s WiFi network.

It’s also announced that the app is now available in every country where Roku is sold, meaning none of their customers should be boxed out from the ultimate Roku experience.

Photos streamed on TV using Play on Roku can be viewed individually using a swiping gesture on the mobile device, or in automatic slide show mode. When music is streamed using Play on Roku, a screen saver with the song title, artist, album name and cover art will appear on the TV while the song plays. Photo slide shows can also be viewed with music streaming at the same time. Play on Roku is compatible with MP3 and M4A audio files and JPG and PNG image files.

Roku boxes are a low cost option for those who want internet TV-like features without wanting to pay the hefty costs usually associated with the likes of Google TV, Apple TV, and more. Check it out at Roku’s site if you’re in need of a cost-effective multimedia solution, and be sure to get the app from the Google Play Store. Read on for full press details.

Roku Announces Mobile App Updates; Introduces Play on Roku

‘Play on Roku’ Lets Customers Stream Photos and Music from iOS or Android Mobile Devices to Roku Streaming Players

SARATOGA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Many Roku® customers take photos and download music on smartphones or tablets for easy access anytime, and anywhere. For these customers, Roku today announced updates to the Roku mobile app that include Play on Roku, a feature that allows customers to stream photos and music from a mobile device wirelessly to a Roku streaming player. The Roku mobile app – which essentially turns a smartphone or tablet into a Roku remote control – is now also available in all countries where Roku players are sold, including the U.K., Canada and Ireland.

“For most people, mobile devices are an extension of their lifestyle – they use their smartphones and tablets for almost everything, including capturing photos and curating music”

Photos streamed on TV using Play on Roku can be viewed individually using a swiping gesture on the mobile device, or in automatic slide show mode. When music is streamed using Play on Roku, a screen saver with the song title, artist, album name and cover art will appear on the TV while the song plays. Photo slide shows can also be viewed with music streaming at the same time. Play on Roku is compatible with MP3 and M4A audio files and JPG and PNG image files.

“For most people, mobile devices are an extension of their lifestyle – they use their smartphones and tablets for almost everything, including capturing photos and curating music,” said Jim Funk, senior vice president of product management at Roku. “With this in mind, we wanted to provide a mobile experience that gave customers different ways to enjoy their photos and music, while getting even more value out of their Roku players.”

With the Roku mobile app, customers can control their Roku player without using the included IR remote. Additionally, customers can:

• Assign names to Roku players
• Instantly replay favorite movie moments
• Quickly add and remove channels
• Control and switch between multiple Roku players
• Enter text easily with the included keyboard feature

Available for iOS and Android mobile devices, the Roku mobile app can be downloaded for free from the iTunes App Store or Google Play. Play on Roku works with all Roku 2, Roku LT and Roku HD (model 2500R) players today and will work with the Roku Streaming Stick, expected to ship in October.

About Roku Inc.

Roku is the leading dedicated streaming platform for delivering video, music and casual games to the TV. Roku launched the first player to stream Netflix to the TV in 2008, and today the Roku platform streams more than 600 channels to millions of devices in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and the Republic of Ireland. Roku was founded by Anthony Wood, inventor of the DVR. The company is headquartered in Saratoga, Calif. For more information, visit www.roku.com.

Roku and Roku Ready are registered trademarks and the Roku Streaming Stick is a trademark of Roku, Inc. in the United States and other countries, and all other trade names and logos used herein are registered trademarks or are trademarks of their respective owners.