Over the past four years, Roku tried to convince you that the company behind your TV stick should also guard your front porch.This awkward side hustle appears to be coming to an end.Add How-To Geek on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover The news comes via a report by Janko Roettgers on Lowpass, which obtained confirmation from a Roku spokesperson.
Roku is reportedly stepping back from the smart home market.The company has played around with security cameras, video doorbells, smart lights, and other connected devices over the years.The company reportedly plans to stop selling smart home hardware and redirect its attention to streaming, the business that made Roku a household name.
Roku says it’ll continue to support its existing devices and services, so existing customers won’t be left completely in the dark.The company said it is “sharpening” its focus on becoming the leading streaming platform, and its exit from the smart home business is part of a broader shift in its business.The timing is interesting, too, coming just days after Fox finished its $22 billion acquisition of Roku.
Related I'm worried about Roku under Fox's control, and you should be too The streaming landscape is about to change.Posts 4 By Dan Girolamo Roku’s exit isn’t all that surprising.In 2022, the company launched a range of affordable smart-home items, including indoor and outdoor cameras, video doorbells, smart plugs, and light strips and bulbs.
Many of its original devices were basically rebranded Wyze products, allowing Roku to expand its lineup without having to build everything from the ground up.Eventually, it released more original hardware, including the Roku Battery Camera and Battery Camera Plus.Both cameras ran on batteries, but the Battery Camera Plus offered a significant advantage, with up to two years of battery life on a single charge.
The standard model was rated for up to six months of battery life.Roku’s smart home lineup is already disappearing Rising costs and shrinking availability point to a wider retreat Signs of Roku’s retreat had been taking shape for months, as several smart home products vanished from its website and third-party retailers.Roku’s smart home products are now mostly out of stock on its website, with only the Indoor Camera 360° and Video Doorbell & Chime still available.
Several products have also disappeared from major retailers, including Amazon, where some models are only available refurbished.In its last earnings report before joining Fox, Roku said its hardware losses more than doubled from $22.9 million to $48.6 million year-over-year in the third quarter.That number includes its overall hardware business, not just smart home products, and the company attributed much of the increase to rising memory component costs.
Roku’s exit also means fewer options for shoppers seeking cheap security cameras and smart home accessories.Competitors like Wyze, Blink, and TP-Link’s Tapo already offer competitive pricing, features, and product ecosystems that make it easy for shoppers to build a connected home.Source: Janko Roettgers (Lowpass)
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