New software release 4.3 for Roku 2 and Roku LT players

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Tom Markworth

Just in time for a rainy, perfect-for-streaming weekend, we bring you a fresh software update for Roku 2 and Roku LT players. Most of the updates center around a better Netflix experience and improved app discovery. Read on for the full list of improvements.

Roku software version 4.3 contains the following fixes and improvements:

  • Improved video startup performance in Netflix.
  • Optimized the performance of screen navigation in Netflix.
  • Fixed an audio-video sync issue with Dolby Digital Plus audio in Netflix.
  • Improved subtitle and audio settings in Netflix.
  • Improved HLS streaming format support.
  • Improved support for multiple gaming remotes during game play.
  • Improved SSDP device discover support used by mobile applications, including Roku’s iPhone app and Android app, to find and connect to Roku players on home networks.
  • Added a legal disclaimer section in Roku settings.

The Roku software update will be pushed automatically to all Roku 2 and Roku LT players over the next 48 hours. If you can’t wait, select Settings > Software update > Check now from your Roku player.

Information on what we fixed in the previous 4.2 release can be found here.

Happy Streaming!

About Tom Markworth

Director of Product Management, Roku
This entry was posted in Announcements, Roku News and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://www.chailife.com/ Evan Primakow

    Awesome. Thanks for the update!

    • Noor AL-Mtowaq

      Not Awesome, Amazon graphics not good hugo was disappointed graphics not 1080p i though.
      i paid 4.99 to enjoy it but i went to redbox instead. Netflix no netflix setting and just for kids and disable search feature

      • http://www.chailife.com/ Evan Primakow

        So… You’re mad at Roku for Amazon not providing a movie in 1080p? I’m confused.

  • http://www.pnwlocalnews.com Seth Long

    Will there be any more software updates for the older Roku boxes? I have a 2-year-old XR that’s still running great (well, except for the Hulu Plus app…). It’d be a shame if I had to give up a great piece of hardware in a forced upgrade just to keep the software fresh.

    • http://profile.yahoo.com/NTXSGW2CMFRXHZPORRLX4HO4GA BrendanH

      I agree. I also have an issue with the Hulu Plus app freezing. I talked to Roku and they said it was not an issue on their end and I would need to talk to Hulu.

      • Noor AL-Mtowaq

        netflix the app is not good, i am having a big issue with it. 720p graphics is not good 1080p not support yet.

      • http://profiles.google.com/larry.davis Larry Davis

        The entire Roku freezes, or sometimes reboots, yet Roku claims it’s not a problem on their end…

        • http://www.pnwlocalnews.com Seth Long

          Larry – in my experience it ONLY happens with the Hulu Plus app. I’m convinced that the app is complete garbage since my 2-year-old Roku runs fabulously with any other app.

          FWIW, My TV has a Hulu Plus app that runs perfectly – fast, smooth and bug-free. Unfortunately, the TV’s Netflix app is total crap.

    • http://profiles.google.com/larry.davis Larry Davis

      May as well forget about Roku and Hulu fixing that problem. Hulu is content in having a crappy channel and Roku is content with allowing a crappy channel to completely crash their box. 2 years with a complete inability to fix it tells me this.

  • Steve

    Glad to see updates, even though I just cancelled Netflix in favor of Amazon Prime Instant Video. :)

    • Noor AL-Mtowaq

      I watched Hugo on roku 2 and the roku 2 4.3 started to act on me by reboot every time so i cant handled this 4.3 updated i got like 10 issue with it.

  • ScottS

    When will there be an update with VUDU added to the channel lineup? :-)

  • ScottS

    When will there be an update with VUDU added to the channel lineup? :-)

    • Paul Urbahns

      From what I have read on the Internet VUDU is the hold up…I’d like to see it added also. Some of the new releases store a digital copy on VUDO so you can access it without putting a hardware disk in your drive.

  • zelig2

    Can you add more details about “Improved HLS streaming format support”? It would great if you could increase the h264 level parameter. Right now it’s set to <= 4.0 and it would be awesome if that was increased.

  • Anonymous

    YouTube?????

    • Noor AL-Mtowaq

      yeah that will amazing to bring all the devices has youtube why not roku 2

  • Pauljriley

    Please please please please please please please please please, could the roku owning Android users in the I UK get the Android app.

  • Miguel

    Where is YouTube and .avi support?

    Thanks!

    • Noor AL-Mtowaq

      yeah same here i want to see youtube 1080p 720p and sign in and watch

      • Dlanejr

        likewise! youtube would be a great addition

  • http://www.facebook.com/thesteveballantyne Steve Ballantyne

    Hooray! I was having a strange problem where Netflix would run slower and slower until it locked up entirely and I had to restart the device. Seemed like a memory leak. I am hoping that problem has gone away. Also, the crappy video startup of movies and shows was annoying, but tolerable. ;-)

  • Rick

    Please add MAX GO to the channel store!

  • Asim

    Still no DLNA / Network streaming support.. and no additional codecs from USB. :(

  • Phil

    When will Roku be able to get live sports from CBS, NBC and FOX sports? It is March Madness, why should I have to watch the games on my computer when I would rather watch it on Roku!

    • Dshedder1

      Get a HDMI cable and use your TV as a monitor. That is if you have a newer digital TV.

  • Peg

    FInally able to see GBTV

  • Balzac_nyc

    Subtitles, once selected, stay on. Bravo!

    Acorn TV has been saying they are working on being added to Roku. What’s the holdup?

  • Hopeful

    Can I watch my slingbox in my Roku yet? I keep hoping…….

  • Smspinho

    Not the change I expected to see in Netflix. There’s no ‘Just for kids’ section like in the wii. Please make this more kid friendly!!

    • Robert Barbrow

      that would be a great second app

      • Noor AL-Mtowaq

        Netflix app: just for kids, netflix setting disable search,500 instant queue, nothing new with the new update. i still the same problem on the netflix app. subtitles are 10 delayed and it will be great to bring netflix setting and just for kids feature

    • Chris

      I would actually like to see the Family & Kids section at the very top. This would make it SOOOOOO much more user friendly for my kids!! Please!
      “Daddy where are my movies??”

  • Anonymous

    how long is the update supposed to take? attempted twice fisrt time unplugged after an hour of bouncing Roku. second time, now 40 mins into bouncing ROKU…

  • Sonny Rinehart

    I love my Roku and will be updating when I get home. Just wanted to comment on the Like / Dislike button on your site. I applaud your willingness to accept negative feedback. This make my impression of Roku even more positive. Thanks for the great products and service.

  • Twisterlight

    Wow, nice software thanks, but still their is just for kids feature. Also it will be great to add new setting feature fix 1080p, layout background and screensaver, Netflix setting disable the search feature to streaming our own queue, subtitles setting off and on future in setting

  • Noor AL-Mtowaq

    netflix setting to disable the search and subtitles setting in setting thanks

  • Anything

    netflix now freezes my roku and forces it to restart. It tells me it’s been deactivated, and when i go to plug in my netflix user information to log back in, it freezes. Netflix still works on the wii, whats the deal.

  • Mychaelp

    Will there be an update for older boxes soon also? If you decide to not update them anymore can you let us know so we would stop looking for them and bugging you.

  • Noor AL-Mtowaq

    Hugo on 4.3 was disappointed

  • Jamiek2004

    Always good to see updates to the device. But I notice it says “Improved subtitle and audio settings in Netflix” but it doesn’t look any different to me. Am I missing something here??

  • Manuel Fernando Jiménez Ruiz

    Tom can you tell us about Roku plans for Latin America? I have one of those boxes and is kind of useless in my country. I think Roku has the potential to take the world of nexflix streamers, but i don’t get why it dont work world wide.

  • Lou Ann

    I lost my service and don’t know how to get it back. My router is working. The Roku works but the TV does not turn off or on anymore. What happened?

  • JES

    Thanks so much for the “always use subtitles if available” default! As far as I can tell, once selected on a given stream, it then applies to all. Very nice. I was so surprised to see I didn’t have to set it over and over that I almost dropped the remote. :)

  • Auntsoey

    I can’t find a way to turn off the subtitles on my netflix stuff–i find them very distracting

  • Auntsoey

    I can’t find a way to turn off the subtitles on my netflix stuff–i find them very distracting

  • Dee

    Since the lastest update 4.3 on March 16, 2012, All apps continuously drop and reload. This has become frustrating; it takes three hours to watch a one hour program. Checked my wireless connection and that has not changed, signal – excellent and but speed keeps changing, never had this problem before. Is this a coincidence or have changes been made that may effect this?

  • Travis

    When will Roku add screen reading support for assisting the visually impaired to navigate its menus? The Apple TV box has VoiceOver. Roku is so much better in every way but this. Please add accessibility support so more users can enjoy your product!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1483083017 Ken Schabelski

    …seems the upgrade just converted a once great Christmas present I got from my daughter into a piece of worthless furniture. Nothing but drops that I did not experience before. Every cupla minutes?

    Didn’t you guys do a walk through before shoving this “upgrade” down everyone’s throat…Looks like it’s good bye to Roku 2. Was fun while it lasted…

  • Bluemonkeyninja

    Is there a way to flash older firmware. 4.3 seems full of bugs. Netflix doesn’t work and amaz videos have no sound. This is highly annoying for a cableless user.

  • Juliad

    when will you attain you tube rights again?

  • Leo

    Very much interested in “Just for Kids” version of Netflix just like Wii and PS3. My kids have a dedicated Roku box in their playroom just Netflix and Disney. Thx!

  • Leroybrown

    where is the avi support?

  • Karskipr

    We are canceling Hulu on Roku. The Hulu app is useless, it freezes the minute we start using it and never quits. Can’t watch anything on Hulu. Too bad… they have a great lineup of shows.

    • rielea518

      Hulu is the only app that i have an issue with now. A couple months ago it worked fine but now i cant watch anything without it freezing. I just cancelled Hulu Plus because of this.