The Haystack app is designed to provide quick and personalized access to the most relevant news. With search, settings, weather, and personalized playlists, finding the content that interests you has never been easier.
✨ Exploring the Haystack Interface
1. Main Navigation
You will find the following key buttons:
📌 Miniplayer Mode
🔍 Search: Find news, topics, and videos by entering keywords in the search bar. - it can be more specific that the user can search for locations or stocks info
📺 Channel Selector: Choose from various content channels based on your interests. See below for details about each channel type.
🎬 Miniplayer: Watch videos in a compact player while exploring other content on the page.
📃 Channel Playlist: Displays the list of videos included in the selected channel’s playlist.
☁️ Weather/Location Selector: Get real-time weather updates based on your current location, shown just below these buttons. -- in the new GUI is different :(
2. Video Player & Full-Screen Mode
The video player is at the center of the app. Tap the mini player to expand it to full screen.
🔹 Full-screen options:
Playback controls.
Closed Captions On/Off.
Interaction buttons (Like, dislike, share).
📌 Elements of the full screen Mode
❤️🔥 Like/Dislike Button: 👍🏼👎🏼 Express your opinion on the content by liking or disliking the video. Your feedback helps us recommend better content and improve the overall user experience.
📤 Share & Subtitles (CC) Button: - this doesn't apply for all the platforms
🔗📄 Easily share videos across your favorite platforms with the Share button.
📝 Enable Closed Captions (CC) to read subtitles in multiple supported languages for better accessibility.📰 Newsline: 🗞️ A continuously updating stream of the latest videos, headlines, and breaking news from the channels you follow. Stay informed with real-time updates and personalized content. -- not shown for all roku devices or on Apple TV
More Information: What is the Newsline and How do i use it?
🎛️ Playback Controls
⏮️⏪⏯️⏩⏭️ Manage your viewing experience with intuitive playback buttons:Previous Video ⏮️
Rewind ⏪
Play/Pause ⏯️
Fast Forward ⏩
Next Video ⏭️
These controls allow you to skip, pause, or rewatch content easily and smoothly.
🎥 Video Title Display: 🖋️ The title of the current video is displayed prominently below the video player. This helps you keep track of what you're watching and provides quick context, especially useful when autoplay is enabled or you're browsing a playlist.
3. 📺 Channel Selector
Haystack News organizes content into smart, auto-updating Channels. Each channel is like a personalized playlist, constantly refreshed with the latest stories that matter most to you. Channels are ordered based on what we think are the most useful and relevant to you.
🔄 How It Works
Select a Channel to dive into a stream of curated videos.
Channels update in real time, so you’re always in the loop.
Switch anytime to explore different topics or moods.
📰 My Headlines
Curated just for you. Your most relevant news, based on topics and sources you follow.
📍 Local
News from your current location — stay informed about what’s happening in your city or region.
🎥 Live
Watch live news broadcasts from trusted local and international networks. Real-time coverage, as it happens.
🔬 SciTech
Explore the future — from AI breakthroughs and gadget reviews to space missions and scientific discoveries.
🌟 Editor’s Picks
Top stories handpicked by the Haystack editorial team. These are must-see highlights across all categories.
🌿 Lifestyle
Tips and stories about health, wellness, food, travel, and how to live your best life.
🏛️ Politics
Stay informed with the latest in government, policy, elections, and political analysis — both domestic and global.
🌍 International
Major world news events, from global diplomacy and conflicts to economic shifts and cultural stories.
🎭 Entertainment
What’s trending in movies, TV, celebrities, and pop culture. From red carpet highlights to streaming hits.
📈 Business
Track the economy with updates on markets, startups, investing, and the world of finance.