I've been waiting (for years) for a new AppleTV to come out. I think I'm to the point new where I'll just get a Roku.
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AirPlay 2 and HomeKit Rolling Out to Select Roku Streaming Players and TVs
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I agree. It's the same mindset MS has taken with XBox. Buy the console, don't buy the console... fine, whatever. But buy our XBox software no matter what ecosystem you prefer.
How to use AirPlay and HomeKit with your Roku streaming device | Official Roku Support
Make an Apple Airplay connection with a Roku device and you can stream content, control playback, and screen mirror from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac on your TV.
support.roku.com
This post has the link
Pretty much. And, the new Roku Ultra supports Dolby Vision for $99. So, that coupled with AirPlay, why Apple TV?!?
Where did you select HomePod as an audio output for your TV? When I'm in the Roku menu on my TV and select audio it only has TV speakers as an option.
Oh nice, this also adds Homekit support to my TV's via the Roku. I can now turn them on and off, etc.
I’m not selecting the HomePod as the output from the TV. Let me clarify. I am using my iPhone and control center to select both the HomePod and the TV for output. The airplay 2 codec is allowing both to play at the same time in sync but the output I guess is technically from my phone, not the TV.
Ah damn. That's actually quite a nice feature of AirPlay 2 (being able to split the video and audio stream to different locations). But man you had me excited when you replied top the post about the TV doing airplay out to a HomePod lol.
I could see how you could misread my post, but no. I said I can play music thru my HomePod and have it play in sync to my sound bar connected to the TV. Sure wish I could choose the HomePod as a TV audio output though. As far as I know that’s only possible with an Apple TV.
So in my apartment, I have two Roku TVs, as well as separate Apple TV and Xfinity Flex boxes. Technically my PS4 can also stream video, but I use it solely for games. I haven't stopped using the Apple TV so far because:
- It has HBO Max.
- It can play games.
- It's my HomeKit hub.
- The Apple TV app on Roku is slow and has issues buffering content.
They're getting rarer, but there are still TVs released without smart TV functionality. There are also people whose smart TVs are so old they are no longer supported with new apps and features. There is still a market for separate boxes, whether they're Apple TV, Fire TV, standalone Rokus or otherwise.
Same here, that would be quite nice. I have one room without speakers pre-wired in, so I'm using a few HomePods. Keeping an Apple TV in the setup for that reason. Though in fairness I find the Apple TV a nice device to use.
Also, not to get into details over it, but I don't think I misread your earlier post. Return Zero asked specifically if it would allow the TV to output audio via AirPlay 2 and you said Yes, works great.
Does anyone know if this would mean I could control a Roku device from the "control other speakers and TVs" AirPlay menu? Presumably that would only work if I was actively AirPlaying something from an iDevice, though, and not watching, say, Netflix through app on the Roku?
In the scenario you're describing, the HomePod is playing the audio and AirPlaying it to the Roku, not the other way around.
I think that it depends on what the Roku itself is capable of.
Ex:
On my TCL Roku TV, I can change the input via the Home app.
And the cheapest time to get a Roku is Black Friday. Roku themselves sponsor deep discounts.
Guess I read their post as asking if you can use airplay 2 to have sound come out of the TV, which you can. Either way, nice update.
Roku Premiere, which is $29.99 @ Target right now is about as cheap as you're going to get.
HDR video on my phone plays as HDR through the ROKU via airplay. Oddly, enough, the ATV 4K can not. Hilarious.