Saturday, August 26, 2017

Roku UK Channel Store - Weekly RoundUp #233





Hi, everyone !!



Much like the past few weeks which preceded it... this has been another fairly quiet one in terms of Roku-related news, as those of you follow the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog will attest. As a result (yet again) there isn't much to report other than the fact there has been a further minor update to the recently released Roku OS 7.7 software. Having originally rolled-out with a build number of '4094', followed by minor updates to 'Build 4108' then 'Build 4116', plus another to 'Build 4117' reported two weeks ago, this latest update to Roku software 'Version 7.7.0 - Build 4135' should fix a few more of the bugs which have been reported by Roku users since the roll-out began. Here is a screenshot confirming the most recent change to the Roku software build in the UK:-






If you wish to check which Roku software version is currently running on your device(s) simply go to the 'Home Screen' on your Roku menu and then click through each of the following options from the on-screen menus which are displayed on your television, projector screen, or other display monitor:-

  • Settings
  • System
  • System update

From the 'System update' screen, take a look at the 'Software Version' and 'Build' numbers in the lower right portion of the screen (below the highlighted 'Check now' option). Then, if your Roku device is running anything other than the current software: 'Version 7.7.0 - Build 4135', you should press the "OK" button on your Roku remote to 'Check now' for an update to whatever version you are on. Should an update to your current software version and/or build be available, you will then see a message window (similar to the one in the image above) and you must then select 'Continue' before pressing the "OK" button again to initiate the update. 


PLEASE NOTE:- That if your Roku devices are on an older software version and/or build number than the one shown here, and you don't get a message saying "Update available", this just means it is not yet your "turn" to receive the update. That being the case, there is nothing you can do to "force" the update through... you must simply wait until it is either applied automatically, or you choose to attempt a manual update at a later date that just happens to coincide with your "turn" to receive it.


With little else aside from details of a minor build update on the latest Roku OS to bring you, in terms of newsworthy Roku items from the last seven days, I'd best now turn my attention to more important matters, such as getting you up to speed with all of the latest new Roku channels (apps) which have been made available on UK Roku devices since my last 'Weekly RoundUp' post was published! ;-) :-)


If you happen to have read my previous 'Weekly RoundUp' post, in which I made a comment as to how 'Roku Guide' began their summary of what had been going on Roku-wise in the United States with: "It was a slow week in the Roku channel store with only one new channel...", then you may well be similarly disappointed to hear there has been a similar introduction - reporting a less than stellar output (in terms of new apps for Roku devices) - again this week... although, as was the case last time, it was (once more) nowhere near as bad as they suggested. Nevertheless, as a direct result of that, there are "missing" links to almost ninety per cent of the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store from the list I'm publishing as part of this particular 'Weekly RoundUp' post. Unfortunately, this (again) leaves UK users rather short of additional info... so, much like last week, rather than simply regurgitate what is written in each channel description from the channel store, I'm going to leave it up to each of you (individually) to access those details via the built-in channel store on your Roku device(s). Needless to say, once the "missing" reviews have been published by 'Roku Guide', I will add the relevant links to this post. Apologies (as always) for any inconvenience that may have been caused by the absence of any active links to the usual independent review(s) for many of the channels but, like I say, it was completely out of my hands. Meanwhile, I advise scanning the list below to see which channels (if any) you think are likely to appeal... and then go to the built-in channel store on your Roku device(s) to read the description(s) there, for precise details on your pick of the latest new Roku channels (apps) which have been made available during this past week! :-)


While it's far from being another epic list of fifty-plus channels as it was eight weeks ago, you will find that there are a few extra options under "Film & TV", "Lifestyle", "Web Video", as well as a couple more under both the "Food" and "Special Interest" categories (i.e. genres) among others, to keep you entertained over the coming weeks and months. In fact, while it's only a comparatively short list, there should be something to please most streamers here. If not, I did share details for some private channels (via social media) and some great special offers related to various Roku channels that are available in the UK. Check out my Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels if you'd like to know more about those and, while you're there, maybe "Like" and/or "Retweet" some of my messages to spread the word about what's happening Roku-wise in the UK and beyond! ;-) :-)


Anyway, back to the list... which, as always, will help you to identify the very latest apps which have been added to Roku devices in the UK. Other websites offering Roku channel listings will base their contents on the Roku USA Channel Store, which means they also include apps that are unavailable to UK Roku users. Like I've said before... if you really want to know what's available channel-wise, for owners of Roku devices in the UK, you need to be reading this blog each and every week! ;-) :-)


Before I run through the new channels, however, a reminder that UK Roku users are still subject to restrictions (imposed by Roku) and (bizarrely) remain unable to access the channel descriptions from the web store on the Roku (USA) website. That said, the majority of text in those web listings can also be found within the individual descriptions from the built-in "Channel Store" (accessed via "Streaming Channels" from the main menu) on all Roku devices and, together with the associated screenshots (where available), should give a pretty good indication of what those channels are about.


My advice to any UK-based readers of this blog is to ignore the links below (and to the left of) each channel icon shown here and (instead) rely on the link to the right (below each channel icon) which (where available) will redirect you to an 'Roku Guide' review for additional details on that channel. As it stands, the links below (and to the left of) each icon are (currently) only of use to readers of this blog from the USA. This means that Roku users from the other "supported" regions of the world (i.e. Ireland, Canada, France and Mexico) are, like those of us in the UK, unable to browse the Roku Web Channel Store - which for now (at least) remains an exclusive privilege of Roku users in the USA. :-(


Hopefully Roku will (one day) wake-up to the fact that improving the experience for users in "other" Roku "regions" is just as important as it is for those who buy & use their products in the U.S. and that denying access to the Roku website does not help the end-user experience for those of us (outside the USA) who wish to browse the web channel store. Meanwhile, that which Roku (apparently) doesn't want UK Roku users to see on their website (i.e. the list of new channels) is regularly summarised on this blog in my 'Weekly RoundUp' posts. So, without further ado, here's my 'Weekly RoundUp' of all the new Roku channels released between 20th August 2017 and 26th August 2017:-







REDDIT BROWSER........................COST: £2.99 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]

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






MUBI.....................COST: FREE (30-DAY TRIAL) + £5.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






DIRECT SALES TV.................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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






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

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






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

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






COURTNEY LUNDQUIST - VLOG......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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






EMMA & ELLIE - FAMILY VLOG.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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






IT'S ALEX CLARK - CARTOONS.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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






MICHAEL HICKOX FILMS - LEGOS..................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






TINA YONG CREATIVE - BEAUTY.....................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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






SIMPLYNESSA15 - VLOG....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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






PAGE SIX.................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "NEWS & WEATHER" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***






ONE POT CHEF - COOKING................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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






BLUNT NATION TV...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

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






KUNG FU TV..........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]

***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***






REAL TIME RIDES...........COST: FREE (n.b. may require additional fees) [Roku Guide Review]

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




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Anyhow, like it or not, that is your lot this week and, while it only amounts to just under two-thirds of the twenty-five channels that made it into the "Official" Roku USA Channel Store in the same time-frame, it's still better to get 16 NEW CHANNELS than none at all... as I'm sure you will agree?!


In any event, hopefully everyone in the UK with a Roku player managed to find something they like within the sixteen "public" channels outlined above... or else from the "private" channels, whose access codes were "gifted" to you via the companion Twitter Feed: @ukrokuchannels to this blog, at various points throughout the past week. However, if you didn't find anything to add to your Roku channel selection from the assortment of channels on offer this week, you can always pay us a visit another time when, with any luck, there will be something more to your liking. After all, there's no point installing every channel because, like I say... when it comes to adding 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 previously, you can expect my usual summary of all the goings-on (or not) in the (severely restricted) Roku Channel Store (aka "App 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 earlier posts (as mentioned before) for all the new additions to the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store in each of the one hundred and fifty-nine 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 !!