Hi, everyone !!
Following the suspension of my original Twitter Account: @ukrokuchannels as reported last week, I had hoped to establish a new presence on social media to accompany this blog by the time I made this next post. However, having since decided to take a short break and perform some long-overdue updates to the individual category listings from the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store - some of which had been in need of a refresh for almost two years now - I'm afraid to say that my social media plans will have to remain on the back burner for (at least) another week, while I catch-up on all the "missing" entries in the Roku UK Channel Store Listings from the side-bar of this blog. Of course, details for all these "missing" channels have been published on this blog (as part of my 'Weekly RoundUp' posts) but, due to the mammoth size of the task, I had put-off doing a proper "audit" to update the individual list(s) of each channel store genre (i.e. category) for much longer than I originally intended. Needless to say, once all of the updates have been completed, I will turn my attention to restoring my presence on social media where, had Twitter not been such a pain in the proverbial, I would also have shared details of the one major Roku-specific news item that was published during the past week. Given how this latest press release is of most significance to Roku users in the United Kingdom, I thought it best to (at least) mention it as part of this 'Weekly RoundUp' post so that anyone who missed the official announcement on Tuesday 24th April 2018, or this related post via the "Official" Roku Stream Blog, can catch-up on what they might otherwise have found out (in a more timely fashion) through my now permanently suspended Twitter Feed! :-/ :-(
In the event that you weren't already aware of it, or can't be doing with corporate-style press releases, the gist of the story is that Roku will finally make its "Enhanced Voice Search" feature available to Roku users in UK, as of Tuesday 1st May 2018. Having already been available to Roku customers in the USA since last year, this "Enhanced Voice Search" feature will soon enable UK Roku customers to use their voices in a more natural way, for finding entertainment on their streaming devices, just as Roku users in the United States have been able to do for a while now. The new feature comes as part of an update to Roku OS 8.1, which begins rolling-out early next week, and allows for more natural language understanding that will enable UK Roku users to search for movies, shows, actors and directors, or even launch streaming channels, in a more conversational tone. It will be available for use with all compatible UK Roku players via the Roku mobile app as well as, for Roku Streaming Stick+ owners, through the (supplied) hardware remote control that has a built-in mic as standard! :-D
The general idea is… that by speaking naturally to compatible Roku Enhanced Remotes, or by using the free Roku mobile app, you will be able to use conversational phrases such as “show me movies with Tom Hanks”, or “launch NOW TV”, to search and control your Roku streaming device. Since this new feature will be with us in a matter of days, I thought I'd take this opportunity to share a few guidelines as to the type of commands that can be used with the "Enhanced Voice Search" feature:-
- Find a specific title
“Harry Potter”
“find Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
“show me episodes of Silicon Valley”
- Find content for an actor or director
“Halle Berry”
“search for comedy movies with Will Ferrell”
“find all Martin Scorsese films”
- Find content in a genre
“show me comedies”
“find thriller movies”
- Find content in a genre on a specific channel
“show documentary films on SnagFilms”
- Launch a streaming channel
“go to Amazon Video”
“launch NOW TV”
“Netflix”
Note: Channels included in search results will vary from one Roku "region" to another. Certain individual channels and/or content may require payment in order to stream any media therein.
For those of you who might not be fortunate enough to have an enhanced Roku remote, such as that supplied with the latest 4K-capable Roku Streaming Stick+ [Model: 3810EU], and may be wondering "How do I use voice control with my mobile device?" having first installed the free Roku mobile app
(available for both iOS plus Android platforms) here are some tips on how to access this feature:-
To get started, launch the Roku mobile app and then follow the instructions below:
When Using The "Channels" and/or "What’s On" Features:
1. Tap either the "Channels" or "What’s On" icon from the bottom of the screen;
2. Tap the magnifying glass icon (at the top of the screen) to access the search page;
3. Tap the "Microphone" icon (in text box) to initiate voice control for search commands;
Note: The first time you use voice, the Roku mobile app will ask to access the microphone.
You must grant permission to use voice controls.
4. Clearly speak into your mobile device at a normal volume, and tap the middle of the screen
when you have finished speaking.
When Using The "Remote" Feature:
1. Tap the "Remote" icon at the bottom of the screen;
2. Tap the "Microphone" icon in the top right corner of the screen.
Note: The first time you use voice control, the Roku app will ask to access the microphone.
You must grant permission to use voice search or control commands.
3. Clearly speak into your mobile device at a normal volume, and tap the middle of the screen
when you have finished speaking.
After your query is processed, the Roku mobile app will carry out your request, either presenting you with a list of search results on your mobile device, or by updating your Roku device.
If, on the other hand, you do happen to have one of the hardware Roku remotes which includes a built-in microphone (mic) - e.g. like the one supplied with the latest 4K-capable Roku Streaming Stick+ [Model: 3810EU] - follow the instructions below to use voice control with your remote:-
1. Hold your remote face up in the palm of your hand;
2. Point your remote upwards and position it about six inches from your mouth;
3. Press and hold the "Microphone" button, or "Magnifying Glass" button (see photo above), and;
4. With the button still pressed, clearly speak into your remote at a normal volume,
then release the button once you have finished talking.
After you release the button, your Roku device will carry out your request, delivering you to the Roku Search screen, or elsewhere within the Roku interface. In the event that your spoken phrase has not been captured correctly, simply follow the on-screen prompts to try again. For best results, try to make sure that you are speaking clearly and at a normal volume... always remembering that, when it comes search requests, you can also use Roku Search with the on-screen keyboard if all else fails! ;-)
Anyway, with no other Roku-related news to share this week, I'm now going to get straight into bringing you details of all the latest new Roku channels (apps) which have been released during the seven days since my last 'Weekly RoundUp' post was published! :-)
Firstly, though, I'd just like to mention (on a not entirely un-related note) that I have now added links to some (though, still not all) of the 'Roku Guide' reviews that were previously "missing" for many of the new Roku channels released in the last few weeks... so, if you'd like to see an independent appraisal of those, be sure to check-out my post from last week (see link above), which (itself) contains a link to the previous week's post (and so-on, and so-forth), for details of where to find them. Unfortunately, there are (again) more "missing" links to the 'Roku Guide' reviews for over eighty per cent of the channels published during the last seven days... which means, much like many other posts from recent months, I'm going to have to leave it for each of you to (once more) access those details on your own. As of two months ago, you can choose to do that either via the built-in channel store on your Roku device(s)... or else, by following the links provided in each post to the relevant channel description(s) from the Roku Web Channel Store. Meanwhile, once the "missing" reviews have been published by 'Roku Guide', I will (as I have done previously) ensure that I add the relevant links to each post. Apologies (as always) for any inconvenience that may be caused by the absence of active links to an independent review for so many of these new apps but, like I say, it was entirely out of my hands. Hopefully they will catch-up on the ones they missed sometime in the coming week!?! ;-) :-)
Still, back to the list... which, as always, will help you to identify the very latest apps that 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. So, 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! ;-) :-)
With twice the number of active links to check out, not just for this week... but each and every post that has been previously published as part of my 'Weekly RoundUp' series over the last five years, there's a *lot* of reading to catch-up on. So, without further ado, here's my 'Weekly RoundUp' of all new Roku channels released between 22nd April 2018 and 28th April 2018:-
COLLATERAL DAMAGE REPORT (Vol.3)............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
COLLATERAL DAMAGE REPORT (Vol.2)............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
MODE.....................................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
NIU MEDIA..............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "PERSONAL MEDIA" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
FREE CLASSIC MOVIES.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
DOOBIE TIME - WEED TV......................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
MODERN DAY CELEBRITY................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SHORT SHORTS - COMEDY SKITS TV................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "COMEDY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
KIND NETWORK - WEED LIFESTYLE.............................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "LIFESTYLE" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
WHAM NETWORK - GAMING..........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CALTA-VISION........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "COMEDY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
INDIE MUSIC LIFESTYLE.................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
ADVENTURES WITH RJ.........................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPECIAL INTEREST" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
SALTWATER HUNTERS.....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
SURF ADVENTURE............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
POWDER SKI........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SPORTS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
REVEAL.....................COST: FREE (30-day Trial) + $4.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, although this 'REVEAL' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku device(s) and does offer a FREE 30-DAY TRIAL for all those choosing to register for the service - as well as including a small selection of videos that are FREE-TO-STREAM by anyone who installs the app - it is also worth noting that A SUBSCRIPTION WILL BE REQUIRED to watch the vast majority of videos from the content library at a cost of $4.99 PER MONTH once the initial promotional period has ended. So, while it is possible for Roku users to browse the entire content library without charge, the fact is that anyone wishing to maintain full access to the programming beyond the free trial will be required to make some form of payment for the privilege. That said, if you are happy to commit in the long-term, there are savings to be had by choosing their ANNUAL PAYMENT OPTION at a cost of $49.99 PER YEAR which is equivalent to getting TWO MONTHS FREE for anyone who is able to pay upfront for the full twelve-month period. For those seeking a library of "award-winning and engaging Bible studies", plus additional video content for "spiritual growth", all of which is available for "on-demand" streaming at any time... then, this channel might be worthy of your consideration!?!
VENICE...............................................COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES....................COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
HORSE & COUNTRY......................COST: FREE + £5.99 (MONTHLY) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, although this "Horse & Country" channel is FREE-TO-ADD to Roku devices and does offer a modest selection of videos within the content library which are FREE-TO-STREAM for Roku users, anyone wishing to have full access their comprehensive programme catalogue should be aware A SUBSCRIPTION IS REQUIRED at a cost of £5.99 PER MONTH for the privilege. As an added benefit, subscribers can also watch the live channel, 10-day catch-up, plus an assortment of TV series and shows, as well as some additional exclusive content. Those choosing to register for this subscription-based equestrian sports & lifestyle channel over the long-term will find there are savings to be made thanks to their ANNUAL PAYMENT OPTION at a reduced cost of £59.99 PER YEAR - equivalent to getting TWO FREE MONTHS over the full year - if you pay upfront for the service! ;-)
Further information is available in the 'Roku Guide' review (see link above) as well as by visiting the official website for "Horse & Country" where you can also browse through the available videos. For those preferring to connect via social media, there is an official Twitter Feed: @HorseAndCountry plus an official FB Page: Horse & Country (Facebook) through which to get in touch over any aspect of their service. If you have any technical issues, comments, or suggestions for improving their app, please visit the official support pages of their website, or email H&C TV Support for more help. Also remember that, whenever your Roku device is not close to hand, both monthly and yearly packages can be used on any 'Horse & Country' supported device (including online, mobile or Smart TV) and there is a FREE DOWNLOAD of their mobile app for iOS devices (e.g. iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch) that might come in handy for those with Apple products running iOS 9.0 or later! ;-) :-)
BLACK & WHITE FILMS....................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
HEALING GRACE MINISTRIES.........................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
TOON NETWORK INTERNATIONAL..................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, because the "Toon Network International" channel for Roku devices is an "International" version of the previously released US-only "Toon Network" channel, and (therefore) does not feature alongside the original channel in the Roku USA Channel Store, there is no active link (above) for an 'Roku Guide' review of this international release. However, since both the 'U.S.' and 'International' versions are based upon content that has entered the "public domain" for their respective territories... the main difference between the channels boils down to whether the title has "public domain" status worldwide, or solely for the United States. Needless to say, there will be a certain amount of crossover (content-wise) between the two versions and it's (likely) safe to assume that the look and feel of the channel will be more or less the same regardless of which Roku "region" you're in. Consequently, the original 'Roku Guide' review of the "Toon Network" channel can also be said (for the most part) to hold true for "Toon Network International" that now has a place under "Kids & Family" within the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. In other words, aside from the titles which only have "public domain" in USA, this "International" version is otherwise identical and, in the absence of a review for this (non-US) version, the original (U.S.) review should suffice! ;-) :-)
IGLESIA SENDERO DE LA CRUZ......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CARROLLTON FBC..............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
HIKE ACROSS AMERICA...................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
THE PLASTIC SURGERY CHANNEL.................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "EDUCATIONAL" in theRoku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
ISRAEL REVIVAL - ENG & SPAN.......................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "RELIGIOUS" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
NORTH AMERICAN ANIMALS......COST: £0.69 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
SYFLIX INT.............................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCI & TECH" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, because the "SyFlix Int" channel for Roku devices is an "International" version of the previously released US-only "SyFlix" channel, and (therefore) does not feature alongside the original channel in the Roku USA Channel Store, there is no active link (above) for an 'Roku Guide' review of this international release. However, since both the 'U.S.' and 'International' versions are based upon content that has entered the "public domain" for their respective territories... the main difference between the channels boils down to whether the title has "public domain" status worldwide, or solely for the United States. Needless to say, there will be a certain amount of crossover (content-wise) between the two versions and it's (likely) safe to assume that the look and feel of the channel will be more or less the same regardless of which Roku "region" you're in. Consequently, the original 'Roku Guide' review of the "SyFlix" channel can also be said (for the most part) to hold true for the "SyFlix Int" channel that now has a place under "Sci & Tech" within the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. In other words, aside from the titles which only have "public domain" in USA, this "International" version is otherwise identical and, in the absence of a review for this (non-US) version, the original (U.S.) review should suffice! ;-) :-)
WESTERNFLIX INT.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, because the "WesternFlix Int" channel for Roku devices is an "International" version of the previously released US-only "WesternFlix" channel, and (therefore) does not feature alongside the original channel in the Roku USA Channel Store, there is no active link (above) for an 'Roku Guide' review of this international release. However, since both the 'U.S.' and 'International' versions are based upon content that has entered the "public domain" for their respective territories... the main difference between the channels boils down to whether the title has "public domain" status worldwide, or solely for the United States. Needless to say, there will be a certain amount of crossover (content-wise) between the two versions and it's (likely) safe to assume that the look and feel of the channel will be more or less the same regardless of which Roku "region" you're in. Consequently, the original 'Roku Guide' review of the "WesternFlix" channel can also be said (for the most part) to hold true for the "WesternFlix Int" channel that now has a place under "Film & TV" within the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. In other words, aside from the titles which only have "public domain" in USA, this "International" version is otherwise identical and, in the absence of a review for this (non-US) version, the original (U.S.) review should suffice! ;-) :-)
263AFRICA TV......................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
CHILLERFLIX INT...............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FILM & TV" in Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, because the "ChillerFlix Int" channel for Roku devices is an "International" version of the previously released US-only "ChillerFlix" channel, and (therefore) does not feature alongside the original channel in the Roku USA Channel Store, there is no active link (above) for an 'Roku Guide' review of this international release. However, since both the 'U.S.' and 'International' versions are based upon content that has entered the "public domain" for their respective territories... the main difference between the channels boils down to whether the title has "public domain" status worldwide, or solely for the United States. Needless to say, there will be a certain amount of crossover (content-wise) between the two versions and it's (likely) safe to assume that the look and feel of the channel will be more or less the same regardless of which Roku "region" you're in. Consequently, the original 'Roku Guide' review of the "ChillerFlix" channel can also be said (for the most part) to hold true for the "ChillerFlix Int" channel that now has a place under "Film & TV" within the "Official" Roku UK Channel Store. In other words, aside from the titles which only have "public domain" in USA, this "International" version is otherwise identical and, in the absence of a review for this (non-US) version, the original (U.S.) review should suffice! ;-) :-)
GARDEN OF THE GODS.................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
WHISPERINGS....COST: FREE (With Ads) / £0.69 PER MONTH (No Ads) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "MUSIC" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
PLEASE NOTE:- That, although this 'Whisperings Solo Piano Radio' channel is FREE-TO-ADD to your Roku device(s) and does allow for all content to be enjoyed on a FREE-TO-STREAM basis by including commercials to support the costs associated with providing that service, anyone wishing to appreciate the music without interruption can take advantage of their MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION at a cost of ONLY £0.69 PER MONTH (or $0.99 USD for those in USA) and use their 'PureStream' account to tune-in and listen to the audio recordings of 300+ pianists 100% commercial-free! :-)
If needed, Roku users will find more details on the official website of 'Whisperings Solo Piano Radio' or (if preferred) can also connect with them via social media, for answers to any additional questions, courtesy of their official FB Page: Whisperings (Facebook) where I'm sure they'll be only too pleased to hear from you - just be sure to tell them where you heard about their Roku channel! ;-) :-D
MOM INTO FITNESS.............................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "FITNESS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN FIRST RELEASED***
AARDBOILED.........................................................................COST: FREE [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "KIDS & FAMILY" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***
PIKES PEAK......................................COST: £1.49 (ONE-OFF PAYMENT) [Roku Guide Review]
***FILED UNDER: "SCREENSAVERS" in the Roku UK Channel Store WHEN RELEASED***