At almost every home, the TV is the centerpiece, especially since most of one’s free time after a long day is spent in their family room watching television. Over the past couple years, we have seen the evolution of televisions expand – introducing us to 4K Ultra High Definition.

We now also have the capability of using our TV like a tablet, computer, or phone as they are now able to download apps, use web browsers, and notify of weather & sport updates. Now, LG has displayed a 65 inch 2160p 4K OLED TV at the 2018 CES (Consumer Electronics Show).

Rollin’ Into the Future

OLED had already been brought to our attention. But LG added a twist, releasing a prototype TV which is able to roll back down into its stand with just a push of a button! This makes it easy to transport and safely store. Not only is it great for transport and such, but you can even leave a small portion of it sticking up. At this point the TV turns into an informational center with weather, news, and sports updates. Basically, it’s a coil of paper that provides a 4K 2160p resolution! This also leaves your wall to be used as you wish when the TV is not in use, making your family room look more appealing for guests.

Breakdown of OLED

It’s insane to think that a sheet of paper that can be bent and rolled like a newspaper can even project a picture. It’s like something out of a Harry Potter movie. OLED is an organic light-emitting diode. It contains thin flexible sheets of organic electroluminescent material, making it super light, flexible enough that it could technically even be on clothing, and gives off a brighter and clearer picture. It emits light as a response to electric current when provided. The difference with OLED is that it provides it’s own. Each pixel provides its own illumination instead of an LCD TV in which an LED backlight illuminates all the pixels. This is possible because the organic molecules create their electrons and holes.

OLED’s Potential Downfall

While we see the positives – thinner, lighter, more flexible, and a brighter picture – OLED has its disadvantages which may cause the price of OLED to drop dramatically. With LCD and LED having lifetimes ranging from 46,000 to 230,000 hours you will be shocked to hear that OLED’s lifetime is significantly shorter. The organics it takes to make them only last around 14,000 hours or 5 years at 8 hours a day of use. It being so expensive to buy an OLED TV you would expect to get your moneys worth.

That doesn’t matter though, because manufacturing costs are way too expensive right now to even think to bring down the price. Every electronic is susceptible to being damaged by water, but to our surprise, OLED is even less protected against it. Organic materials are easily damaged by water intrusions into the display. Which inevitably leaves OLEDs having to improve on a sealing process necessary for their displays.

There are a lot of very good things coming from OLED technology. Like any other new
technology, there are still many things to work out as well. We will soon see how the current
problems are solved, what problems arise in the future, and what will be added to the OLED
technology.

One of the biggest problems that come with many streaming and set-top box devices is that they are designed to use with more modern television sets in mind. These include TV sets that can handle HDMI ports.

Needless to say, an older standard definition television set that might have been upgraded to receive digital signals would not be able to handle many of these devices. But Roku has resolved this issue by offering a special receiver that can work on those older TV sets. This unit is called the Roku Express+.

The Roku Express+ is a special gadget compatible with both HDMI ports and composite A/V ports. This is ideal for those who are new to such streaming devices and need something special to work with. It is also great for people who are familiar with how Roku works, but need something for a secondary television set in the house.

How The Roku Express+ is Designed

The Roku Express+ is laid out with a small rectangular body similar to what the regular Roku unit has. At about 1.3 ounces in weight, it is easy to add to your television set.

There are three small ports on the side of the unit. An A/V out port is included alongside an HDMI port. The third port is used to power up the unit.

An HDMI cable and a separate composite cable are both included with the Roku Express+, thus ensuring you have everything you need to the unit up and running. The red/white/yellow composite cable will go into the appropriate audio and video ports to ensure the unit is ready to use.

Quality Signals

The signals produced by the Roku Express Plus are detailed and ensure great picture & sound quality. This works with 480i, 720p and 1080p outputs to give you a good view, or at least whatever the best possible view on your older set might be.

The audio quality is exceptionally strong. The unit produces digital stereo sounds over the HDMI link and DTS Digital Surround support when the HDMI setup is used. For older television sets, the unit will produce the basic sounds that the television unit can handle. But it can still do well to produce clear sound that your older set can still manage.

How About a Wireless Link?

All you need to get the Roku ready to work is an appropriate Wi-Fi signal. It supports 802.11b/g/n signals and has WPA and WPA2 support. The unit works well for getting signals, but like with any other similar device this needs to work with a clear link to a Wi-Fi generator. Fortunately, it can identify the nearest Wi-Fi signal in the area and prioritize that as the one you wish to use when setting it up. You should still check and see that the signals you are getting are strong enough and can actually work with your device.

Getting Online

To use Roku Express+, you will have to get an appropriate Roku account set up. Fortunately, it is free to do when you get your contact information and login data added through the unit with an online setup. This process also allows you to quickly set up any accounts you have with streaming services. The layout of the setup makes it easier for you to get ready to work online with anything you want to stream.

All the Programs You Love

The Roku Express+ has a good interface that links you up to all the programs that you want to enjoy. Get access to all the channels, movies, shows and other things of interest to you through the program. You can view live streaming and on-demand channels from around the country, as well as channels in your local area through this unit.

The programming offered by Roku includes stuff from all sorts of services like Pandora, YouTube, Crackle and many others. You can also get access to various streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, CBS All Access, Amazon Prime Video and DirecTV Now. It does cost extra to get a subscription to one of these services.

Roku Express+ can also work with any cable or satellite packages you have. You can connect your account up with various streaming networks like Watch ESPN, CNN Go, FX Now and Nickelodeon On Demand, among others. The simplicity of linking your service provider account to Roku Express+ is easy to follow and enjoy.

What About the Controller?

You will need to use the standard Roku controller to get Roku Express+ to work for you. Fortunately, the setup is easy to use. It offers a basic layout with large buttons with all the basic controls you need to use. It even has small buttons for Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and Sling. You only need two AAA batteries to use it.

Final Verdict

The attractive design of the Roku Express Plus makes it an outstanding device to have in your home. It works well with various television sets, but it is best for use on any older TV sets you have. Take a look at how well the Roku Express+ can be used for your entertainment demands.