Congratulations to Roku for the upcoming Roku 2 release. I’m looking forward to getting my hands one one.
The new Roku 2 boxes look like they will have some great new features. I wondered how these features will impact the external controls API and support for older Roku players:
Will the external controls API provide for motion control to simulate the Game Remote? Or will games like Angry Birds only work with the physical game remote?
Will other bluetooth devices be supported, like external keyboards
Are there any other new features coming for the external controls api that we can take advantage of? For example: 1) Standard way to jump directly to a movie or show in Netflix/Hulu Plus/etc in a standard way, 2) Query on current highlighted or playing title, 3) ability to send a string of characters to the search screen rather than one at a time
Since the release is only a couple of weeks away, I’d love to get started on any new changes.
Which release are you referring to to being a couple of weeks away?
It will be a while before an SDK with Roku 2-specific functionality (the gaming features and motion remote) is avaialble. Regarding ECP functionality, at least currently it is exactly the same and I’d expect that to continue.
They quoted the press release, which included this:
Pricing and Availability
The Roku 2 HD, the Roku 2 XD and the Roku 2 XS are expected to be available by the end of July for suggested retail prices of $59.99, $79.99 and $99.99 respectively. Retailers include Roku.com, Amazon.com, Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics and RadioShack.
“RokuPatrick” wrote:
It will be a while before an SDK with Roku 2-specific functionality (the gaming features and motion remote) is avaialble. Regarding ECP functionality, at least currently it is exactly the same and I’d expect that to continue.
It seems only natural that the new functionality (buttons A/B, motion) be accessible over ECP as well. Most smart phones nowadays have accelerometers and even more - latest iPhone/iPod Touch and Android phones (this year’s LG, Samsung, HTC) have gyroscope too.
While the SDK as of recently has described “input” command with suggestions on what kind of parameters might be sent, it is not clrear what kind of parameters (and range of values) will match the new remote - this needs to be explained if expecting to use “input”.
