Saturday, November 7, 2015

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #139





Hi, everyone !!



Bit pushed for time today as, even though there's not too many new channels, there are a lot of extra details for one or two. So, I'm going to jump straight into the list of new channel additions and will flesh-out the Roku-related news aspects of the article as & when I get the chance. Anyway, here goes:-






ELLIOTT WAVE TV...........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "EDUCATIONAL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

PLEASE NOTE:- That, because the "ElliottWaveTV" channel was previously released via the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the first week of October 2015, you will not see it listed under the "New" category of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store... and, instead, you will need to look to the "Educational" genre of the channel store if you'd like to add it to your selection of channels. Of course, you could also use the built-in Roku 'Search' function (either from the 'Channel Store', or on the 'Homescreen' of your Roku device) in order to locate the "ElliottWaveTV" channel as well. ;-)






IZZIT. ORG...........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "EDUCATIONAL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***

PLEASE NOTE:- That, although the "izzit.org" channel was previously released via the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the last week of October 2015, you will still see it listed under the "New" category of the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store... but you'll need to scroll a bit further down (past the channels released this week - shown here) in order to find it and, as with the "ElliottWaveTV" channel, you will (again) need to look to the "Educational" genre of the channel store if you'd like to add it to your channel selection... or, you can simply use the built-in Roku 'Search' function (either within the 'Channel Store', or on the 'Homescreen' of your device) to locate the "izzit.org" channel. ;-)






DISCOVER THAILAND.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "TRAVEL" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






NOISEPORN.........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






NBA CHANNEL..................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

PLEASE NOTE:- That, in so far as I can tell, this appears to be the UK equivalent of the Roku USA channel called, 'NBA Game Time', the description for which can be found on the "Official" Roku website - VIA THIS LINK - in addition to a 'Roku Guide' review - FOUND HERE - for anyone interested in making a comparison. It's also worth noting that the 'Roku Guide' review includes links to social media for the 'NBA', whose official website has been provided (above) in the absence of a link to any "official" channel description for the "NBA Channel" from the Roku website as is the norm.

ALSO:- Whilst the "NBA Channel" is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices in the UK, and does include a fair amount of FREE-TO-VIEW content, there is much more to be gained by UK basketball fans who like to follow the action from the NBA if combined with an 'NBA League Pass' or, if preferable, an 'NBA Team Pass' both of which will unlock more for die-hard fans of the sport, as well as further options for those who prefer to dip in & out by watching the odd game every so often. You can find FULL DETAILS (INCL. UK PRICING) for all membership packages - ON THIS WEBPAGE - and then opt for the subscription which best suits your needs. Meanwhile, here's a basic summary for you:-




HINT: CLICK on the above image TO ENLARGE IT for easier viewing !!

PHOTO SOURCE: NBA.com [Screenshot]



It really is worth checking out the full details for each of the packages (via the link above) as there is information about the additional benefits that come with each option, although there's a more general overview of the very latest features - IN THIS NEWS ARTICLE - published a couple of weeks ago by the 'NBA', which is also worth a look if you're considering a subscription.

Meanwhile, in addition to being able to watch on Roku devices, there are also recently updated apps for both Apple (iOS) and Android mobile devices which may come in handy for those times when you are away from your Roku but don't want to miss out on the basketball action. Here's the links:-


FREE DOWNLOAD of '2015 NBA App' for Apple Mobile Devices (n.b. requires iOS 7.0 or later)

plus

FREE DOWNLOAD of 'NBA 2015-16' for Android Devices (n.b. requires Android 4.0 & Up)


One last thing... as this channel is (slightly) different to the one which can be found on Roku devices in the USA, there is (currently) no active link to an 'Roku Guide' review of the 'NBA Channel' available on Roku streaming media players in the UK. Needless to say, if that situation changes, I will update this post with the "missing" link just as soon as the details have been made known to me. Meanwhile, like I said before, the 'Roku Guide' review for "NBA Game Time" should provide sufficient information for would-be UK subscribers to the "NBA Channel", particularly when used in conjunction with the extra details I have provided here. If you have any further questions, then I suggest you contact the 'NBA' via  one of the various links provided by myself and/or in the 'Roku Guide' review of "NBA Game Time"!







VICE......................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






CHRIST THE PRIEST MEDIA..................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






WORD SOUP.....................COST: £1.99 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "GAMES" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***

PLEASE NOTE:- That the above game is NOT COMPATIBLE WITH ALL UK ROKU MODELS and, while it is KNOWN TO WORK WITH 'Roku 3' DEVICES, you will need to check the "Games" genre on your individual Roku player(s) to see if it is available on that model. To save some of you the trouble, I have ascertained that it is NOT AVAILABLE ON 'Roku 2 XS' DEVICES and, therefore, it is unlikely to be on the older 'Roku LT', or the interim 'Roku 1' / original 'Roku 2' [Model: 2720] but that does not mean you won't be able to find it on / add it to some of the newer UK Roku models, such as the 'Roku Stick (HDMI Version)' and, a more recent addition to the UK Roku line-up, the updated 'Roku 2' [Model: 4205EU]. It would help other UK Roku users if owners of the (as yet) unknown UK Roku models could confirm the availability (or not) of "Word Soup" on their devices. Like I say... it's already been confirmed as being ON 'Roku 3' but NOT ON 'Roku 2 XS', so it's only the remaining UK Roku devices (as mentioned previously) which require any confirmation. Please leave a comment below, or message me via the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels, if you are able to help.


ALSO:- Despite requiring a payment in order to add it to Roku devices, the "Word Soup" game / channel is also available as an assortment of FREE TO DOWNLOAD or PAID APPS for owners of Apple (iOS) and Android, as well as Windows Phone and BlackBerry mobile devices (see various links below) which means that, if you happen to own an compatible device, you can try this game for free (or, at least, a bit cheaper) before deciding whether or not to buy the Roku version! ;-)




'WORD SOUP' for iOS (££££) -  AVAILABLE VIA THIS LINK - (c/o iTunes UK App Store)

or

'WORD SOUP' for Android (FREE) - AVAILABLE VIA THIS LINK - (c/o Google Play Store)

or

'WORD SOUP' for Android (££££) - AVAILABLE VIA THIS LINK - (c/o Google Play Store)

or

'WORD SOUP' for Windows (££££) - AVAILABLE VIA THIS LINK - (c/o Microsoft UK Store)


or

'WORD SOUP' for BlackBerry (FREE) - AVAILABLE VIA THIS LINK - (c/o BlackBerry World)

or

'WORD SOUP' for BlackBerry (££££) - AVAILABLE VIA THIS LINK - (c/o BlackBerry World)


Of all the paid apps (££££) those with BlackBerry devices get the best deal, as that version happens to be on  sale (at the time of writing) for £0.75, with paid apps for other mobile platforms costing upwards of £2.00 on average - although (as indicated above) many offer free versions of the game too! :-)


There is also a short teaser trailer for this game, as evidenced by the 'YouTube' video below:-






This promo video was published around March 2013, and is specific to iOS, Android and BlackBerry but this game has been released on so many platforms over the years, I'm surprised it took this long to come to Roku devices! In any event, whichever medium you choose to play the game, the basic idea remains the same and specific instructions as to the control mechanisms of the Roku version have been provided in the various screenshots for the channel, as well as in the game itself.


Meanwhile... if you'd like to contact 'Fuzzy Bug Interactive', the developer of 'Word Soup' for Roku, options to communicate with the folks behind the game include their Twitter Feed: @FuzzyBugInt as well as their FB page: Fuzzy Bug Interactive (Facebook) where I'm sure they would welcome your feedback as well as any questions you may have. For those who really enjoy the social media aspect of the gaming community, there's also a dedicated FB page for the game: Word Soup Game (Facebook) which also happens to be where they made this official announcement about the Roku version! :-)


Ultimately, of course... as with any game, the best way to get a feel for it is to play it for yourself since no video, review or second hand experience is going to give you that. So, accept no substitutes, get one of the free downloadable apps (see links above) and give it a try. If you like it, you can then decide if you want to purchase the Roku version and play it on your big screen from the comfort of your sofa. There's not really much more I can say about it, except that it's suitable for everyone to play - from kids, to big kids, and grandma's... even if they do happen to prefer fighting games! ;-)




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Anyhow, like it or not, that is your lot for this week and, whilst it doesn't quite match-up to the eleven channels which made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store during the same time-frame, it's better to have this choice of 8 NEW CHANNELS than none at all, don't you think?!


Meanwhile... hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within the eight "public" channels outlined above... or else from the "private" channels, whose access codes were "gifted" to you via the companion Twitter Feed to this blog, at various points throughout the last seven days. Even so, if you didn't find anything to add to your Roku channel selection from the assortment of channels on offer this week, you'll just have to pay us a visit another time when, with any luck, there will be something more to your liking. Afterall, there's no point installing every channel because like I say... when it comes to adding more new channels to your Roku, IT'S YOUR CHOICE and, as with all things Roku... THE CHOICE IS ALWAYS YOURS !!



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As mentioned earlier in this post, you can expect my usual summary of all the goings-on (or not) in the (severely restricted) Roku Channel Store that features on NowTV Boxes to follow in the near future. Meanwhile, whether you happen to own a Roku player, a NowTV Box, OR BOTH, as I do... be sure to check my previous posts (as mentioned above) for all the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in each of the sixty-five preceding weeks and then come back again in seven days' time for my next 'Weekly RoundUp'. However, if you can't wait that long, remember you can always keep up with all the UK Roku action (as it happens) throughout the coming week, by following the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels where up-to-the-minute info on all things Roku-related (here in the UK) is posted on a daily basis (well, almost).



Until the next time, then...



That's all folks !!





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