Channels & viewing

[cordcutternewbi]

I'm about to buy an Ultra, but not the Walmart one. It has a limited amount of memory. I think that I may have already asked this question on this forum.

Is there a maximum number of apps that can be stored on the Ultra without it having problems like freezing, lagging?

I seem to recall reading somewhere that if a new app is installed but there's not enough room for it, an existing app will be removed to make room. Does the Ultra have a cache?

[makaiguy]

@cordcutternewbi-

I don't think anybody can answer that question with a number.  It depends on how much memory space each of your channel apps take up.  Some channel apps are more complex than others, some support more different Roku models than others, some are just more efficiently coded, and a few have different variants for different models.

You are correct that when you try to go to a channel not currently stored, any Roku will make room by removing one or more less used apps and downloading a new copy of the one you have selected.  That will delay the startup of that channel a few seconds the first time you run it.

Per this Wikipedia chart, the highest channel storage space is 4 GB, on the following models:

Express 4K/4K+ (3940/3941)
Ultra/Ultra LT (4800/4801)
Streaming Stick 4K/4K+ (3820/3821)

The current Ultra 4802 has not been added to the chart yet.

[cordcutternewbi]

That makes sense. I hadn't thought about that. Some Roku apps are bigger than others.

So, I reckon that if that happens to me & an app is deleted to make room for a new app, I'd have to reinstall the app that was deleted. Which probably means that another app would be deleted to make room for the reinstalled app!

Does the Roku OS pop up a window warning that memory is getting low? I wish that there was a way to add additional memory to the Ultra via a flash drive. How about it Roku VIPs?

[makaiguy]

@cordcutternewbi-

Your channels are actually attached to your Roku account, not each individual device.  If one has been dropped from the memory on the particular device you are using at the time, when you try to access it again it will automatically be downloaded and installed, potentially bumping some less used channel. 

[cordcutternewbi]

"Very interesting" as Arte Johnson used to say on the TV show Laugh-In.

OK, a related question. I know that Roku has Live TV, like 350 channels. Can any of the channels be hidden so as to make a favorites list?

[RokuArjiemar]

Hello! @cordcutternewbi,

Thanks for the post,

We appreciate you reaching out to us. We're pleased to assist.

With a large variety of live streaming channels in the Live TV Channel Guide, you may wish to hide certain channels, create a custom list of your favorites, or filter the guide to only show certain channels. If you have a Roku TV and have an HDTV antenna connected, you can also hide and set favorites with "over-the-air" broadcast channels.

When you want to hide a channel, favorite a channel, or filter the list of channels in the guide, access the Channel options menu using the steps below.

1. Open the Live TV Channel Guide.
2. Find the channel you wish to hide.
3. Move left until the channel name and logo are highlighted.
4. Press * on your Roku remote to open the Channel Options menu.

When you want to hide a single channel, open the Channel Options menu and select Hide this channel. You can repeat this for each channel you wish to hide or use the instructions below to hide many channels at once.

1. Open the Channel Options menu.
2. Select Manage channels.
3. Select Manage channel lineup.
4. Press OK to check the box next to any channel you wish to hide.

As you move down the channel lineup, pause for a moment, and your Roku® device will switch to the channel for a quick preview.

Thanks,

Arjiemar