Roku keeps adding Howdy - How to block
Roku keeps adding Howdy to my list of channels.
How can I block Roku from doing this?
Forum Discussion
It's not the legality that offends me. It's the gall and audacity. It also is bad customer relations. I am stuck with the Roku O/S for the life of this TV but will move with the next TV purchase.
btw, as I suspected, Roku support did not need my serial number, etc. to know the answer.
I'd suggest its "bad customer relations" not to read the Terms or monitor/understand their devices DAILY behavior when firmware (RokuOS), middleware (many different Roku services, including screensavers & themes ad ad modules) and apps (The Roku Channel, Howdy, Photo Streams, Backdrops, Live TV Guide, NetFlix, Prime etc etc) are added/updated - and theres no way to prevent this via device settings (some of it it can be somewhat limited but not prevented).
It takes a lot of "gall and audacity" not to expect Roku (or any platform and/or content developer) to promote new apps/services/functionality/content that they've spent significant time/effort/cost developing for their streaming platform/devices.
This is what all streaming platforms/service/content providers/developers do, including Roku's streaming platform market competitors of Google, Amazon, and Apple - they all have platforms & services & content they've developed and/or promote, and they maximize this on their own platforms/devices the same way Roku does.
You are 'stuck' with the platform provider's OS on virtually every platform device (this isnt unique to Roku), though some allow/provide greater flexibility modifying the platform or controlling updates (firmware/middleware/services/apps) than others.
As with any TV's platform/OS, you aren't required to use it beyond the basic TV functionality (again, not unique to RokuOS TVs), and alternative OS-based external streaming platforms/devices abound (though of course those platforms/providers have the same basic interests/behavior as Roku).
There's even an entire 'school of thought' that one should never use the TV's internal OS/apps and only use an external device OS/apps (can't say I agree with it, but its somewhat pervasive).
And no, Roku doesn't need your account or device info for this - thats just the generic required response of Roku's community CS employees/bots.
You're not much of a customer service rep when it comes to diplomacy.
In your "honor", I have renamed Howdy "Rowdy".
Considering I don't work for Roku or their contracted third-party CS I dont need to be "diplomatic" on their behalf; however you should suggest the "Rowdy" service/app name change to Roku - I'm sure they'll consider it as much as not promoting their own content/services by auto-(re)installing their own app on their own platform....
If leaving the Howdy app installed but unused at the end/bottom of your app list is unacceptable, you can always disconnect your Roku or block its internet access @ the router - that will surely prevent the Howdy app from being installed...
