Roku, Now in 4K... Plus!

Roku has two new streaming sticks, the 4K and 4K+, set to arrive in October.

September 21, 2021 It's September 21, 2021. It's National New York Day! New Yorkers don't need a reason to celebrate their home state, but whether you're a local or just visiting, make sure to give Lady Liberty some love. Even if it's from a distance.     ⏰ Today's Big Stories... in 30 Seconds Today We Watched, Read, and Listened to (so you don't have to): 239 articles, 11 podcasts, 8 press releases, 381 tweets, and 11 YouTube videos 1. Roku Announces New 4K and 4K+ Streaming Sticks Roku's new 4K and 4K+ streaming sticks will release in the US in October. Both are upgrades over previous models, claiming a faster boot-up time, re-designed Wi-Fi receiver, and Dolby Vision. Only the 4K+ comes with the Voice Remote Pro, though, so if that's appealing to you, save $70 for next month. 2. FCC Documents Reveal Surface Duo 2 Improvements Microsoft's Surface Duo 2 will reportedly have NFC, 5G, and ultra-wideband compatibilities. The FCC has published documents detailing Microsoft's filing, which noted the device will also have "Wireless Power Transfer." Could this mean wireless charging or charging for the Surface Pen? We're interested! 3. Ikea Releases New Hidden Wireless Charger Ikea is getting deeper into the wireless charging game, releasing a new charger that can be attached to the bottom of almost any desk/table. Called the Sjömärke, it retails for $40 and creates a wireless Qi charging hotspot above the surface it's connected to. Talk about subtle. We like it! 🦑 Go Deeper It's great companies are making it easier for us to repair our devices, but will it really have an impact? Joshua Hawkins isn't convinced, arguing it likely won't change how often people simply choose to get a new phone.     🎱 By the Numbers How much of that was original content? Data: ExpandedRamblings.com It's easy to think of Apple TV, Netflix, or Hulu when you think of streaming, but Roku is over here amassing an audience of its own. Its viewers are so numerous and invested in the hardware/service that they've watched ~60 billion hours of content since 2015. That's... a terrifying amount of time.   🔥 Today's Hot Deal Lenovo's Smart Clock with Google Assistant (Charcoal only) is 50% off at Best Buy right now, making it an even $40. Ready to ditch those boring clocks you can't talk to? Pick this one up now. Don't Miss This Deal 🤓 Nerd Out "Clown makeup finally has a purpose." —Kevin Hogan, Content Strategist Facial recognition is pretty complex, so it must be hard to fool, right? Nope. A group of researchers at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Israel just outsmarted it using makeup. Y'know, that makes sense. (Share on Twitter) 💎 You Know You Want It  Tall, loud, elegant Image: Steinway & Sons If you're serious about your home theater and money is no object, Steinway & Sons' LS Concert Speakers are for you. At 8 feet tall, the speakers can cover large rooms in high-quality sound over long distances, ensuring no one mishears anything. The hardest part? Finding a dealer to buy them from. 🙈 Wait, What? Hardcover or e-book? Does it really matter if you're reading something on paper or a digital screen? Turns out, yes, it does. Studies have shown that people retain more info when paper is involved, but it also depends on how we approach reading on a tablet, phone, or PC screen. Yup, brains continue to be weird.     🗞 Extra! Extra! We've got you covered with the best in daily tech news! See the latest on our site or follow us on Google News. Did someone forward this to you? Sign up here. Have something you'd like us to write about? We're always open for suggestions, too. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Tech Today newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here .   Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links. A Dotdash Brand 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10005 2020 Dotdash • All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.   [View in Browser]