Roku in Talks With Apple About AirPlay 2 Support

by

Roku is in talks with Apple about supporting AirPlay 2, with the two companies currently working out details surrounding the partnership, according to a source familiar with the matter. The plans are not finalized and are subject to change.

roku airplay 2
We're told that ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support is likely to arrive in the form of a Roku OS software update for Roku media players, which can be used with virtually any smart TV. The update would likely extend to smart TVs with Roku OS preinstalled, including select models from Sharp, TCL, Insignia, Hisense, Sanyo, and RCA.

It's unclear when the software update might be released or if it will be limited to select Roku players and TVs. We're told the partnership may extend to Apple Music, suggesting that Roku OS could gain an app to access the streaming music service alongside existing apps for Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora.

Last month, we asked Roku if it was willing to work with Apple on ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support and a spokesperson said "we don't have anything to share regarding this now." Roku did not immediately respond to our follow-up request for comment today, while Apple rarely comments on its plans in advance.

With ‌AirPlay‌ 2 support, Roku users would be able to stream video, audio, photos, and more directly from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to their smart TVs. HomeKit is also coming to many smart TVs, enabling users to control volume, playback, and more using Siri or the Home app on an ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, or Mac.

Last month, Apple announced that select ‌AirPlay‌ 2-enabled smart TVs are coming from leading brands such as Samsung, LG, Vizio, and Sony. Samsung's latest smart TVs are also getting an exclusive iTunes app for movies and TV shows.

Tags: AirPlay, Roku

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
Read Full Article • 68 comments
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Read Full Article • 160 comments
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
Read Full Article • 162 comments
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
Read Full Article • 130 comments
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...
Read Full Article • 80 comments
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...
Read Full Article • 60 comments

Top Rated Comments

MattG Avatar
MattG
72 months ago
Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.
Yeah, pretty sure you've got that backwards. Apple is getting crushed in the streaming device market because like usual, they've created a niche device that costs 5x as much as what the competition is selling, without 5x the functionality to back it up. Getting AirPlay into devices like Roku and the new TVs that were announced at CES is a way for Apple to have an "in."
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aldaris Avatar
Aldaris
72 months ago
Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.
Unless Apple makes a display they won’t be crushing anyone. Samsung, Sony, Vizio, etc are all players bringing different things to the table across this space. Apple is the one who is best served being more concerned with ‘services’.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lostczech Avatar
lostczech
72 months ago
Of course they are. This nothing company needs all the help they can get or Apple will just crush them in the long run. They would be stupid to not support it.
I'm fairly certain Roku WANTS AirPlay but need Apple's blessing. I doubt they are the reluctant ones in this equation.

Plus, the "nothing company" is the only set top provider I use as at one point they were the only box that had Amazon Prime outside of Amazon's FireTV (Yes, AppleTV finally has it as well, like 3 years after Roku)
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aldaris Avatar
Aldaris
72 months ago
More options the better ;)
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
lostczech Avatar
lostczech
72 months ago
It really doesn't matter that it's the only provider you use.

It's a terrible business and it will be absorbed or will die on its own. They've never made money.
[doublepost=1549316177][/doublepost]
Apple can crush Roku without making a display, lol. Displays are a terrible business. Why would Apple want to do that?
Wonderful sweeping statements made there. They were profitable in Q2 2018 (haven't bothered digging deeper, since I've already put more facts into this than you have), which is quite in contrary to "They've never made money"
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cgriffis753 Avatar
cgriffis753
72 months ago
Oh that would be awesome!! I'm more interested in the HomeKit aspect of this than the Airplay
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments