Technologies

Your Roku Device Is Getting a Free Content Discovery Software Update

Finding something to watch on your Roku will get easier soon. Here’s how to check for the software update once it’s ready.

Roku this week unveiled two updated streaming devices and three new TVs to its lineup for 2025, along with a new set of software features that will head to all Roku devices in the coming months, with a focus on discovering new content to watch.

In its own survey, Roku says that 57% of viewers give up and do something else after searching fruitlessly for something to watch. This new experience hopes to address the scroll fatigue that many streamers face when trying to find something to watch without specific content in mind.

Below, we’ll break down what the new software update is packing and how to manually check for a software update on your Roku device.

For more, here’s how to set up a VPN on your Roku device.

Here are the new features coming to your Roku

So what can Roku users expect with the upcoming update? A lot, actually. Here’s a breakdown of what’s coming.

Coming Soon to Theaters: A new row will be added that will keep you up to date with the latest films that are currently in theaters. If you’re more of an at-home movie watcher than a movie-goer, you can add the films you’re interested in to your Save List and you’ll get a notification when it’s available to stream.
Short-form video content: Roku’s getting on the short-form bandwagon and rows will appear in the All Things Food and All Things Home tabs to get recipes and quick home hacks in a flash.
New badges: In addition to new, paid and free badges, an Award Winner badge will be added to titles so you can prioritize quality content.
Personalized sports highlights: A new and personalized sports highlights in the Sports Zone section will give you the clips that are most important to you for easy viewing.
Sports Zone expansion: Roku is expanding its Sports Zone availability globally, giving you a dedicated spot to catch up on highlights for mobile. You can also select your favorite teams to get notifications when they’re playing.
Additional Roku mobile app updates: Roku is making its app a solid second-screen companion, allowing you to explore what’s on and use the app as a remote for your TV. Updated content details will bring cast and crew, IMDb ratings, trailers and more so you won’t need to switch to another app to get the information you want.
Daily trivia: Test your entertainment knowledge with up to 10 new daily trivia questions each day. From there, you can tap into the Trivia Vault for even more.
New Roku City tile: You’ll soon be able to jump into the side-scrolling Roku City with a press of a button, completely with the purple and orange vibes and plenty of easter eggs hidden throughout.

Here’s a video of Roku City in action in case you need something to mindlessly watch on repeat and are away from your Roku TV.

Roku did not immediately respond to our request for comment about the impending update.

How to manually check your Roku for software updates

If you’re wondering how you’ll be able to get the update (or any update) on your Roku when it’s available, checking to see if new software is waiting for you is a breeze. That said, as long as it’s connected to the internet, your Roku will eventually automatically update itself.

If you’re impatient, here’s how to check for new software updates on your Roku.

Press the Home button on your Roku remote.
Scroll to and select Settings.
Select System.
Select Software update.
Select Check Now to manually check for updates for your device.

If you’re having trouble connecting your Roku to the internet, you can also update the software via a USB flash drive.

For more, don’t miss our best streaming device picks for 2025.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Answers for Friday, April 25

Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for April 25.

Looking for the most recent Mini Crossword answer? Click here for today’s Mini Crossword hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Wordle, Strands, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.

Today’s NYT Mini Crossword is a pretty easy one. 9-Across — the «dog-tor» clue — was a bit of a groaner, but I’ll take an easy answer over a witty, confusing clue any day. 4-Down was a little confusing, but once I filled in the other letters it made sense. (TEXAS and IOWA could’ve fit in 5-Across and 8-Across, with one T replaced in each answer.) Need some help with today’s Mini Crossword? Read on. And if you could use some hints and guidance for daily solving, check out our Mini Crossword tips.

The Mini Crossword is just one of many games in the Times’ games collection. If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.

Read more: Tips and Tricks for Solving The New York Times Mini Crossword

Let’s get at those Mini Crossword clues and answers.

Mini across clues and answers

1A clue: «Beware the ___ of March»
Answer: IDES

5A clue: Sends a message
Answer: TEXTS

7A clue: Pond scum
Answer: ALGAE

8A clue: Teeny-tiny bit
Answer: IOTA

9A clue: Doctor who might more aptly be called a «dogtor»
Answer: VET

Mini down clues and answers

1D clue: «Don’t call ___ comeback!»
Answer: ITA

2D clue: Supermarket section
Answer: DELI

3D clue: Arnold Schwarzenegger or Chris Christie, e.g., for short
Answer: EXGOV

4D clue: 5-Across or 8-Across, if you change the T’s in this answer
Answer: STATE

6D clue: Musical chairs need
Answer: SEAT

How to play more Mini Crosswords

The New York Times Games section offers a large number of online games, but only some of them are free for all to play. You can play the current day’s Mini Crossword for free, but you’ll need a subscription to the Times Games section to play older puzzles from the archives.

Technologies

Razer Releases a Vertical Edition Ergonomic Mouse

Two new mice for productivity still look like they were made for gamers, and that’s okay.

Razer has unveiled the Pro Click V2 and the Pro Click V2 Vertical Edition — two PC mice with ergonomics in mind, complete with expected Razer Chroma RGB LEDs in tow. The latter mouse, revealed Thursday, is Razer’s first vertical mouse and is priced to go head to head with the likes of Logitech’s vertical mouse offerings like the Lift and MX Vertical.

As with almost any new tech product in 2025, the new Pro Click V2 mice will also ship with artificial intelligence features in the form of Razer’s AI Prompt Master, a productivity feature that will give you easier access to services like Microsoft Copilot.

Both mice are available starting Thursday for $100 for the V2, and $120 for the V2 vertical mouse.

Razer is going for a «do it all» mouse with the Pro Click V2

The Pro Click V2 and Pro Click V2 Vertical editions are shaped to fit your hand’s natural resting positions, making it more comfortable and easier to use for long periods of time. The Pro Click V2 is designed at a 30-degree angle and the Pro Click V2 Vertical is tilted at 71.7 degrees, which Razer says is the natural angle of a handshake.

Of course, these are «productivity meets gaming» mice, so you can also expect a host of Razer features that you’d find on its gaming mice offerings. That said, the updated mice do feel more gaming forward than their predecessors. Both include the Razer Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensors for ultra precision and the mice should be able to track easily on glass. The mechanical buttons are said to be up to 6x more durable than the industry average and should be able to take 60 million clicks in their lifecycles.

Both mice received the RGB treatment, with multi-zone lighting that can be customized further with Razer’s Synapse software. There you can also adjust DPI setting defaults and more.

Lastly, both mice should last a long time on a single charge: the Pro Click V2 offers up 3.5 months of battery life while the Vertical Edition can reach up to six months before needing to be charged again. Both mice can be charged via USB-C, and a 5-minute charge can give you 2 to 3 days of battery power when you’re in a pinch.

For more, don’t miss how tariffs are boosting the secondhand tech product market.