The new homescreen has a 4x4 app row, up from 3x3, a 'Continue Watching' row on top, folders, and ads. Roku will also start referring to apps as apps.
After testing the refreshed homescreen with select users for some time, it is now rolling out to all Roku owners starting with the high-end media players, according to CordCuttersNews.
The switch to a 4x4 layout would in theory make more apps visible on the homescreen but the addition of the 'Continue Watching' on top, shortcuts, and the large banner ad to the right, means that you actually see fewer app icons than before until you scroll down.
The new Roku homescreen. Photo: CordCuttersNews
The report says that there are now also folders "for things like inputs on Roku TVs" and notes that Roku has finally embraced the term 'apps' instead of 'channels'.
Roku usually has a hardware launch every fall so we can probably look forward to an official announcement soon.
- Source: CordCuttersNews
