Month: December 2019

4 Way Technologies is a leading SMART TV app development company across the globe. We have highly skilled and experienced Samsung TV app developers who are proficient in providing robust SMART TV applications to our clients.

In this article, we have discussed the applications and features of Samsung SMART TV.

What is a SMART TV?

Smart TV is also known as connected TV. It is nothing else but a traditional TV with internet connective, interactive web 2.0 features which allow users to stream music and videos, browse the internet, play games (did I forget to mention in HD?), view photos among other things. In addition to traditional TV functionalities, it also provides Internet TV, online-streaming, Over-the-top (OTT) etc. 

Smart TVs were first introduced around the late 1970s. Smart TV is generally preloaded with the Operating System or Operating System can be made available through the set-up boxes. We can state that smart TVs do get some brains, to follow commands with intelligence. 

What is SAMSUNG SMART TV?

As we all are aware Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. is a South Korean multinational electronics company. It is the world’s largest producer of consumer electronics and semiconductors. And, of course, also the world’s largest TV manufacturer.

Samsung introduced its first Smart TV in 2007 and at that, it was known as Smart LED TV and since Samsung is leading the Smart TV industry. Apart from all the other Smart TV features it also supports downloaded Smart TV apps from other developers and sites. Hence, Smart TV app development goes well with Samsung and other smart TV companies as well.

In 2010, Samsung launched its own app store for smart TV – Samsung App Store provides free downloading of applications for Samsung Smart TV. Since then, Samsung Smart TV App Development is the most emerging business. In 2015, Samsung Smart TV adapted an Operating System customized from the open-source Linux based Tizen OS. This makes Samsung smart TV app development easier.

What are the Apps that Run on Samsung Smart TV?

Here are some of the famous SMART TV applications that run on Samsung SMART TV as well:

• (Amazon Video) Prime Video brings you immediate access to award-winning Amazon Originals series, movies and more. Search titles, search for your favorites, or enjoy movies and shows recommended just for you.

• (Netflix) Directly watch TV shows, movies, and original programming. But, of course, you require to have a Netflix account for that. 

• (Apple TV App) For the first time, you can buy, rent, and watch the newest movies, plus subscribe to and watch all-new Apple TV channels without actually buying Apple TV. You heard it right, you can do all this on your Samsung Smart TV with the newly launched Apple TV app. 

• (Spotify) You can listen to the kind of music you love, right on your  Samsung Smart TV. Search your favourite playlists, albums and tracks, using your TV remote or phone, and boom they are your songs playing on your TV. 

• (Toggle) The South Korean or rather Samsung’s channel that provides local entertainment and live sports. 

• (Viu) Viu the  Hong Kong-based over-the-top (OTT) video streaming channel, broadcast the best of Asian entertainment from Korean dramas to other varieties. 

• (YouTube) Enjoy Youtubing on your big screen. 

What are the Amazing Features of Samsung SMART TV?

• Personal Computer Mode

      “TV turns PC”

This mode converts your Smart Tv into a full-fledged computer. You can work on the cloud, as it is available on the Samsung Smart TV. The TV becomes a big-screen mirror for the laptop. And most importantly, Samsung Smart TV provides remote access to your office computer system.       

• Music System on Big Screen 

        “See, feel the music like never before”   

This feature offers a completely incredible, new visual experience to your playlist. Within a few seconds, your smart TV transformed music system that too with 3 different colour formats giving amazing visuals and sound.   

• Home Cloud 

          “Secure storage on TV”

Samsung Cloud provides secure storage. This lets you save your most important files, data on your Samsung Smart TV, with password security, that too wirelessly and automatically. Setting your mobile-phone free from unwanted storage issues. 

• Live Cast 

         “Broadcast the moment”

This is a feature for live-streaming. Stream whatever you like, share and spread the enjoyment with your kind of stuff. Broadcast your experiences from anywhere, anytime. 

• Screen Mirroring 

“Your stuff, on Big Screen”

Connect your smartphone with your smart TV and maximize your enjoyment and entertainment. Play videos, games, go through your gallery, play music for more alive experiences on big-screen. 

• Content Guide 

     “Minimal searching, full-on enjoyment”

With Samsung Smart TV content guide you’ll be recommended popular shows. The search list will-be cut short according to you, just for you. The top of list items will have what you love. 

• Bixby Voice Assistant

    “Your own voice assistant”

It controls TV for you. Discovering your favourite content is now just a voice command away. You can demand an informative update just by saying. 

Hence, all these features make Samsung Smart TV the world-famous. Samsung smart TV app development is gaining popularity you can develop your own Samsung smart TV app.

Conclusion

We hope you will like this blog. However, this article gives you only a brief introduction of Samsung Smart TV, there are several other things as well to explore in Samsung Smart TV. I will try my best to cover more information related to this article in my other subsequent blogs.

ROKU Developers introduced “Static Analysis Tool” which scan’s a channel’s source code for common ROKU development errors. ROKU development team introduces a standalone version of the feature. This simple tool helps developers to regularly analyze their channel during the process of development and identify channel certification violations before submitting a channel for publication.

In this article, we have discussed the static analysis tool and command line utility of ROKU in detail.

Introduction

The channel’s publishing flow includes the “Static Analysis Tool”. ROKU Developers developed this to analyze the channel’s BrightScript source code and detect common issues without having to submit for certification. The ARM developers work with the information they need to optimize their channels and ensure the channel passes certification quickly.

Additionally, the ROKU Developers updated the UI of the Static Analysis Tool’s results within the “Developer Dashboard”. The output is now categorized according to the severity and nature of the issues, making results easier to interpret and act upon. ARM developers can also export the output as a JSON file for their own analysis or record keeping.

So, let us further understand for more clarity on ROKU’s static analysis and command line utility.

What is the Developer Dashboard About?

The ARM developer can access the “Static Analysis Tool” from the “Developer Dashboard”.

• To use the Static Analysis Tool, start with uploading a channel package. Refer to “Update an Existing Channel” for the steps “how to upload a package”.
• After uploading the package, the ARM developer will see a “Static Analysis” option in the drop-down box (as shown below).

• Below is the Static Analysis dashboard setup. Click on “Analyze” to start the Static Analysis of your channel.

• The following screen indicates that the analysis is underway.

Clicking on the “Refresh” button will check whether the analysis results are ready and if yes, will render them.

• The ROKU developers break analysis results in three categories, broken up by severity. Errors will result in your channel failing certification. Warnings may result in your channel failing certification (now or in the future), or may negatively affect the performance of your channel. The Info section includes information that may be pertinent to your development, but which Roku can not be sure of from a simple Static Analysis scan.
  
  Each of the three major error categories is further broken into sub-categories to better cluster your errors into digestible clusters.

Alternatively, the developer can wait for a notification email sent by the service to the email address associated with their developer account. The sent email will contain a link to the results of the Static Analysis for the channel. The results are available for download as a plain text JSON file as well.

What are ROKU’s Static Analysis Test Details?

The ROKU Development team specifies some tests that Static Analysis performs on the channel package. These may be expanded over time.

• Check for deprecated components
  Check for the usage of legacy in UI components. 
• Check for usage of the TimeGrid (EPG) component
  As this component is allowed on a case by case basis, we are checking for its usage in channels.
• Check for breakpoints left in code
  Check for intentional stopping or pausing place in the code.
• Check for potential PII queries
  Check for usage of terms like credit, card, age, gender, etc.
• Extraneous file inclusion
  Channel scanned for files inadvertently packaged with ZIP files (such as the side loadable development app,) __MACOSX artifact folders, .pkg files, etc.
• Deprecated manifest entries
  Channel scanned for the usage of deprecated manifest flags as specified in the Roku Channel Manifest.

What is ROKU’s Command Line Utility?

This utility performs BrightScript code static analysis. It provides information about common channel issues and checks for compliance with a variety of channel certification requirements, deprecated components and API usage etc.

System Utility

This utility supports Windows, Linux, MAC operating system and Java installation is required.

Structure of The Utility

The Static Analysis Utility is distributed as a ZIP file.

Tool Usage from Command Line

Unzip the sca-cmd.zip file to your computer. Note that the usage examples below assume usage on Linux or Mac. There is a corresponding Windows .bat file for Windows users.

Usage:

Examples:

• sca-cmd myapp
• sca-cmd myapp.zip

Severity level choice

You can specify analysis results output verbosity level using –severity command line parameter. This parameter is optional. The shorthand version -s can be used instead of –severity.

Usage:

Example:

Available SEVERITY_LEVEL values are: info, warning  and error :

• info – print all of the logs
• warning – print warnings and errors
• error – print errors only

If the severity level is not specified,  warning is used.

Category filter

You can filter output logs by categories using –filter-categories command line parameter. Short version is -c. This parameter is optional.

Usage:

Example:

List of categories:

• uncategorized
• deprecated_components
• deprecated_apis
• manifest
• raf
• red
• package

If categories are not specified output logs are not filtered.

Output format choice

You can generate a local report file by specifying the file path in –output and file format in –format command line parameters. Destination folder for report file should be a directory that already exists in your file system. It is possible to use short versions -o and -f instead of –output and –format accordingly.

Usage:

Example:

Supported format values are: console and junit:

• console – print all outputs to console
• junit – save all outputs to specified JUnit xml file

If the format is not specified console is used. If specified any file format but not specified output file path a default file path value is used. For junit, this is reports/SCA_Report.xml. For json, this is reports/SCA_Report.json.

Conclusion

We hope you will find this article helpful as it will help you in understanding some impeccable facts about ROKU’s static analysis tool and it’s command line utility in an outstanding way. For more information or software solutions related to ROKU, contact 4 Way Technologies to get the most robust and feature-rich IT solutions.

4 Way Technologies is a leading company in Roku app development. We provide robust Roku applications that help you in outperforming your competitors in this technically driven market. Our highly experienced team of Roku app developers are proficient in delivering top-notch and feature-rich Roku applications for the betterment of your businesses or organizations.

ROKU applications/ channels integrated with Google Analytics is a must nowadays. Google Analytics can be used to track page views, content playback and button clicks; and in addition to this Google Analytics can also track Internet service providers, speed, real-time/ online users and many more such things.

This blog gives you an idea of the implementation process of Google Analytics for Roku applications.

Introduction

Page-views and events that occur on ROKU devices that have your channel installed will generate report data within your Google Analytics Account.

ROKU Developers has introduced a new ROKU SceneGraph (RSG) component library for implementing Google Analytics, Omniture Analytics, and Brightcove Cloud Analytics. The ROKU development team named this library as ROKU Analytics Component Library(RACL). This library creates a simple method for capturing real-time analytics events in SceneGraph Channels using any supported providers.

So, let us dive in!

What are the Three Models of Analytics Platforms?

The ROKU Developers divided analytics platforms supported by RACL into 3 different models, allowing the ARM developer to pick the model and analytics provider that suit their needs accordingly.

Model No.1

The channel Passes video-related events to the analytics module as they are received. And the analytics module is responsible for building and firing any analytics beacons needed for that event. This is most common for services focused on video metrics. Platforms that use this model are Brightcove and Ooyala.

Model No.2

The channel is responsible for deciding when an analytics beacon needs to be fired and collecting the data that needs to be sent with the beacon. This is common for services that track UX interactions as well as video metrics. Platforms that use this are Omniture and Google Analytics.

Model No.3

This model utilizes ROKU’s Event Dispatcher library that allows channels to share In-App user behaviours and events with ROKU by inserting custom tracking pixels into the channel.  The Event Dispatcher enables the ROKU development team to customize the Universal Search results based on a user’s ability to view a particular piece of content without making a transaction.

In other words, content in a channel that the user already subscribes to will appear higher in the search results than content behind an additional paywall or content with ads. The ROKU Event Dispatcher is the vehicle used to allow ROKU to determine a user’s authenticated status.

How to Use RACL with Google Analytics?

For ARM developers to use RACL with Google Analytics, ROKU developers developed a simple strategy. Select the “Website” property view when you set up the Google Analytics dashboard; name your website property accordingly.

Important! Make sure to note the trackingID from Google Analytics from “Admin Dashboard”.

Google Analytics uses the method trackEvent(). 

You can find the attributes of Google Analytics for trackEvent() in this link.

Now, let us understand the method trackEvent().

What is trackEvent() Method?

This method can only be used for vendors using model #2 such as Google Analytics or Omniture.

This method uses roAssociativeArrays class’s method containing the parameters and values that are sent with a beacon. This method can be invoked anytime when an event needs to be fired.

Example:

What is a Debug Method?

This method takes a boolean to determine if debug data will be shown in the console. The default value is false (No debug data will be displayed in the console).

Example:

The Expected Output

Once you run the ROKU Analytics Component, you will see the beacons it fires on the BrightScript console. The analytics will be displayed on your “Analytics Dashboard”.

Example:

Conclusion

We hope you will find this article helpful. After going through this blog, we understand the entire process of integrating Google Analytics for Roku application. So, even if you are a developer at a beginner level, “pull up your socks” and try to integrate Google Analytics in your own Roku app. If you still face any issue, contact 4 Way Technologies for robust and impeccable IT solutions.

Roku is among the most popular media streaming boxes on today’s date. With more than nine million devices sold, Roku has become one of the leading streaming devices across the globe. Creating your own Roku channel or application is the outstanding way for VOD providers to get into impeccable growth.

In this article, we have discussed some important tips that will help you in Roku app development.

Introduction

ROKU TV Developers released a series of important development tips for the ARM developers, who are looking forward to developing amazing applications for the users without chaos.

Let us together understand these Roku app development tips.

What are the Remote Control Codes for Special Screens?

There are four remote control codes for special screens, which are as follows:

1. Dump Core: Home 5x, Up
2. Debug Info On Screen: Rew 3x
3. Channel Version Info: Home 3x, Up 2x
4. Developer Settings Page: Home 3x

What are the Important Roku Development Tips?

• Capture all events sent by roVideoScreen. 
• Keep a check on processing power. If your developed channel experiences a low frame rate or laggy transitions, processing power is to blame. Developers should be careful about CPU-intensive tasks and their effect on older devices.

The animation that runs perfectly on Dallas (channel)

Need not look the same on GoUSA. 

Important! Developers should keep in mind CPU Intensive Tasks and their impact on older devices.

• Developer Setting Page is a must for enabling “Developer Mode” on your box. 
• All files should be prefixed by the device name, followed by a colon “:” – pkg:/filename.txt. You can refer to File System for more information.
• Always use “Screen Facade Object” while launching your application so that it seems to launch immediately for the user (the user won’t experience the delay). And this also avoids flickering screen while the user exits. 
• To create new UI skin for your channel, you can use theme attributes from roApplicationManager. 
• You should use “Device Registry” to store “the linking information” instead of your own servers while using rendezvous style registration and account linking. ROKU TV Developers strictly suggest this to ARM developers so that, in case you need to “Factory Reset” your personal data/information won’t be lost. 
• ROKU only support  “.wma” and “.mp3” audio files. 
• Using unique key for each application you publish, is a good practice. And you can reuse the same key whenever you update the application using “Rekey” option. Reusing the same key ensures that all versions of your application will have access to the same registry data and avoid the relinking again and again after every update. 
• While using “Slide Show Component” a high-resolution image will take time to download, leaving users bored. A good practice is to provide quick feedback to the users and put on the image in your package(so, there will be no downloading), this will help your logo and will inform the customers that the “Slide Show” is “Retrieving….”. 
• ROKU Developers require that your “Web Servers” support range request. If your “Web Servers” don’t support range requests, risk of running into content that is not playable or large images that cannot be displayed is high. The data will appear in the corrupted file format. 
• The screens are always displayed in a LIFO (Last in First Out) order. And this behavior sometimes causes the screen to flicker. There is a close() method in the screen interface for all the screen and dialogue components that deletes the screen out of the display stack. If your screen flickers, you can use this method. 

Example: Closing screens to avoid flicker.

Conclusion

We hope you will find this article helpful. After going through the above blog, we understand the important tips that are required for developing a ROKU channel or ROKU application. So, if you are a ROKU app developer or starting your career in ROKU app development, this blog will help you achieve your goal quickly. You can also contact 4 Way Technologies for impeccable ROKU-based software solutions. Please feel free to share your valuable feedback in the comment section below.

4 Way Technologies is one of the leading Roku Application Development companies across the globe. Our highly skilled and expert Roku developers help you enormously in crafting a top-notch Roku application as per the requirements and needs of your business. We also deliver your product within the given timeline along with its future support.

This article deals with the stunning and new features introduced by Roku in its recently launched OS 9.1.

Introduction

As ROKU has launched its new OS 9.1. The Roku TV Developers added new amazing features to this update for a better user experience, like enhancements to voice capabilities – Voice Search, Guest Mode, Automatic Account Link, and other improvements to overall streaming performance across ROKU devices.

So, let’s dive in!

What are Voice Enchantments?

This new feature will help customers to access TV and movie channels using voice commands or voice searches. TV shows and movies in The ROKU channel will begin playback, rather than displaying a search result screen.

Movie or TV series will begin playback if it’s available on The ROKU channel or when the customer specifies the channel name with the complete name of the desired movie or show. If in case the voice command isn’t available for a specific movie or show, the customer will continue to see unbiased search results ordered according to the price.

UPDATE (5/6/19) – What It Is All About?

As of May 6, 2019, more than 20 channels support this new update. Here is the list of channels that can be accessed while using voice search, movies and TV shows telecast:

• AHC GO 
• Animal Planet GO
• Boomerang
• Cartoon Network
• Destination America GO
• Discovery Life GO
• Discovery GO
• DIY Network
• Food Network
• HGTV, Hulu
• Investigation Discovery GO
• NBC, Science Channel GO
• Spectrum TV
• Starz
• The Cooking Channel
• The Roku Channel
• TLC GO
• Travel Channel
• Tubi
• Velocity GO

These channels automatically begin playback in most instances, instead of displaying search results screen. For optimal results, it’s best to include the name of the channel in the voice request, such as, “Play The Handmaid’s Tale on Hulu.” 

Roku Developers also introduce helpful voice commands including the ability to say “replay” to go back a few seconds while watching a movie or show, as well as quickly toggling closed captions on/off by simply saying “turn closed captions on.” with this new update.

If a customer owns a Roku OS TV and has the Fast TV Start feature enabled, they can use a voice command to turn the TV display on or off while streaming selected music channels including Pandora, iHeartRadio and TuneIn by using phrases like “turn the display off.”

What is Guest Mode?

ROKU developers named “Auto Sign Mode”  as “Guest Mode” in the updated version. When enabled on a customer’s device, this mode allows visiting guests to sign in to their subscribed channels using their credentials.

Guests can also specify a date on which they will be automatically logged out from the ROKU OS device. In order to enable Guest Mode; go to Settings>>System>>Guest Mode.

A new sub-feature is added in Guest Mode. Customers can now turn Guest Mode on/off for specific ROKU OS devices by scrolling to the “My linked devices” section on their “My Account” page. In addition, customers can use their account page to remotely sign a guest out of a device if the guest left early or by mistake selected the incorrect sign-out date.

What “My Offers” Exactly Are?

Customers can see “My Offers” in the left navigation menu of the ROKU Home-Screen if they are eligible for special offers or discounts on ROKU OS devices. 

If a customer sees “My Offers” on Home-Screen he/she can select it to view all the available offers and can choose the desired offer to purchase a new ROKU OS device with a few clicks. If there are no offers available, “My Offers” will not appear on Home-Screen.

Automatic Account Link – Is It Really Automatic?

With this new feature, it’s easier for customers to set up their subscription channels when activating additional ROKU OS devices on their ROKU account. If a customer has already logged in to a supported subscription service on a ROKU OS device, he/she will not be required to enter the account credentials again when launching the same channel to their newly subscribed ROKU device.

This is designed to make subscription streaming on multiple ROKU devices easier for customers. It is supported on nearly 10 subscription streaming services including Pandora, Sling TV etc.

Automatic Volume Leveling For ROKU TV Models

This feature enables a uniform audio level across various types of content, so it will no longer cause chaos for you to lower down the volume or increase it, according to the situation like when a commercial comes on or when streaming channels are changed.

It can be turned on/off within the “Volume Mode Setting” that appears in the options menu after pressing the “*” star button on your ROKU TV Remote. This is available on ROKU streaming Players and ROKU TVs that are paired with ROKU TV wireless speakers.

The list of devices which are supported to have ROKU OS 9.1 are as follows:

ROKU Streaming Players – 4661X, 4660X, 4640X, 4630X, 4620X, 4400X, 4230X, 4210X, 4200X, 3921X, 3920X, 3910X, 3900X, 3810X, 3800X, 3710X, 3700X, 3600X, 3500X, 3420X, 3400X, 3100X, 3050X, 3000X, 2720X, 2710X, 2700X, 2500X, 2450X, 2400X.

ROKU TV – All ROKU TV models.

Conclusion

We hope that you will find this blog helpful. After going through this article, you will be able to understand all the highlights of the recently launched Roku OS 9.1. If I have missed something, please feel free to provide your valuable feedback in the comment section below.