Roku 3 Launches With Faster Processor, New UI

The Roku 3 has launched with a $99 price tag. The company is promising a much faster and more responsible media box that includes a new remote control with built-in headphone jack for private listening. The company has also announced a new UI, which makes navigating through its hundreds of channels easier than ever.

Now available for sale on Roku.com and Amazon.com, the Roku 3 offers full 1080p video support alongside dual-band wireless connectivity. Other connections include an Ethernet port and USB ports. Users looking for extra storage can also take advantage of the Roku 3’s MicroSD slot.

Just like the Roku 2 XS, the new Roku 3 also comes pre-installed with Angry Birds, which utilizes the media boxes wireless game play adapter.

Roku now features more than 750 channels to choose from and unlike the Roku 2 XS, which features an up-down-left-right navigation, the new store display has been redesign for better user interaction. The new display offers better “flow” for scrolling through categories of apps, along with easier to navigation information displays. Roku has also created a new grid interface that makes it easier for users to scroll through channels they have already installed.

While users had to scroll left-to-right in the old interface, they can now see nine tiled apps on the home screen and view details for each app on the left side of the screen.

With so many channels to choose from, users can also now choose favorites for easier channel recall.

Also included via the Roku 3 is a new universal search feature which allows for premium content searching from a single display. Just like Android and iOS universal searches, the program checks for content across multiple apps at one time, displaying TV shows and movies that are available for viewing. The universal search displays TV shows and movies from both streaming services like Netflix and Hulu and paid services including Amazon Prime Videos and Vudu.

Roku plans to introduce the new UI to older Roku box users in the coming weeks.

Roku has been on a roll lately, raising $45 million to help expand into new markets while introducing new technologies to its customers.

Do you plan on picking up the Roku 3 for $99?