A software update rolling out to Roku streaming boxes today adds the ability to pause live TV, further narrowing the gap between a Roku-based cord-cutting strategy and a traditional cable subscription.
With Roku OS 7.5, you can pause and play back digital broadcast TV, something that was once only available to pioneering cord cutters willing to hook up a PC with a TV tuner card to their home theater setup.
Roku's TV pause feature also requires a bit of extra hardware, but the setup is far less complicated. You'll need to connect an antenna and an external USB storage device to your Roku TV. The USB drive must be 16GB or larger, which will enable the Roku to pause a broadcast for up to 90 minutes.
Other streaming services, like Sling TV and PlayStation Vue, also offer the ability to pause broadcasts, but those are paid options. In Sling's case, you can only pause a few of the more than 20 channels available for streaming. Roku, meanwhile, lets you pause any TV station you can get over the air for free.
Other updates in Roku OS 7.5 include mobile private listening for Roku TV models, which lets you stream Roku audio to a mobile device with the Roku app while the video plays on the TV. That feature is also available by plugging earphones into the remotes of certain Roku boxes. Net result: you get to watch a show or game on the big screen without bothering your spouse, kids, or roommates.
The update also increases compatibility for streaming content to Roku from your phone or tablet. You can now cast your Android or Windows mobile screen to the recently unveiled Roku Premiere, Roku Premiere Plus, and Roku Ultra. Using the Roku mobile app, iOS and Android users can also display their photos on the big screen using the Play on Roku feature.
Finally, certain Roku remotes will get the ability to control TV or audio receiver volume via the HDMI CEC interface.