Roku OS’s home screen now features a large, permanent ad
by Scharon Harding from Ars Technica - All content on (#75XHZ)
Roku just unveiled the biggest overhaul to its smart TV operating system (OS) in 10 years. One of the most noticeable differences is that ad space now takes up a large chunk of the screen's landing page.
Before the update, loading up a Roku OS-powered smart TV or streaming device would yield a menu on the left side with sections including What to Watch," Live," and Search." The right side had a row of tiles for Recommended" content above several rows of tiles representing downloaded apps. Once a user started started navigating the home screen, the menu would collapse, and they'd see a large ad on the right side of the screen.
The old Roku OS landing page before the ad is visible. Credit: Roku