Roku is the latest company to jump on the bandwagon of projecting artwork onto the TV screen, offering viewers a moment of relaxation and serenity when they’re not actively watching something. Today, the company announced a new feature/app called Backgrounds, and it all sounds pretty familiar.
Launching first on Roku-branded and third-party Roku TVs (and then on Roku streaming devices “later this fall”), Backgrounds features “a catalog that includes famous classics, extensive museum collections, abstract designs, and more.”
Here's more information on what to expect:
Viewers can also learn more about the artwork, including the name of the artist, the year it was created, and a brief description of each image, and can even select photos from their personal collection to display on the largest screen in their home. Whether you want to relive those unforgettable captured sunsets or showcase a favorite piece of art, the choice is in the hands of the viewer.
Credit where credit is due: Samsung's The Frame sparked this whole phenomenon, which has since been copied by Hisense, TCL, and other TV makers. amazon has also brought amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=24675707011&tag=theverge02-20″>An “environmental experience” to your Fire TV platform to achieve a similar effect.
At least Roku acknowledges that it's a little late to this game with the ridiculous, over-the-top video that appears describing Backgrounds as “revolutionary.” The Frame's success isn't just down to its design, of course; the TV has customizable bezels and a matte screen finish that makes the whole effect more convincing.
But fear not: Backgrounds won't replace Roku City as the default screensaver on the Roku platform. The two work a little differently. Backgrounds can be activated manually, or you can set a collection of artwork to display whenever a Roku TV is in the “off” state. But if you fall asleep on the couch, you'll still wake up to Roku's signature side-scrolling screensaver. It's valuable ad space, after all.
