Channels & viewing

[ByeClosedSystem]

Goodbye Roku!

Hello Amazon FireTV! 

Just an FYI if you want to be able to use IPTV streaming services, invest in an Amazon FireTV stick, I've seen them new as low as $14.99. Or maybe you hate everything Amazon. Fair enough, there's plenty of other device that utilize an Open Android system. Unlike Android-based operating systems, the Roku OS is a modified Linux OS which acts as its own closed system, meaning there is no way to jailbreak it or customize it. AKA, if they don't want you to use IPTV services, you don't. 

Save yourself the hassle of searching for hours on ways to sideload Roku with any IPTV streaming services, it is flat out a waste of time. If you are lucky enough to sneak one by on a sideload, it will be quickly disabled and your ability to sideload at all will be revoked.

Roku made a definite mistake and underestimated the importance of their Private Channels feature. 

I for example am getting rid of ALL the many Roku devices I had on different TV's and have sworn off the company. I made one last ditch effort today to see if I could save the devices from storage by sideloading any IPTV streaming service and after wasting 1-2 hours trying, I am throwing in the towel      SO SAVE YOURSELF THE HASSLE. I used to love Roku products and recommended them to all of my friends and family but removing such a beloved feature on all of their devices, I made the switch to Amazon (blegh) FireTV and haven't looked back. That said, I am by no means an Amazon fan and may switch further to just a generic Android device for TVs, that way I can install TiviMate Premium. If you have an IPTV streaming service plan, I'd highly recommend you do the same!

Roku cut the private channel feature out of pure greed. They couldn't profit from it, so why allow it to continue? 

I'm proof why. You will continue to lose customers to your top competitors over this gaffe, I guarantee it. 

Adios, have fun on your closed system Roku's!

[Anonymous]

No, I'm not looking for porn or pirated content, but thanks for asking.

[gotnorhythm91]

While it is disappointing, I honestly am coming from those other systems (primarily the Firestick), and I can say Roku has them beat. Primarily because there aren't adds being shoved down your throat. But that is just my opinion, dude.

[denhow]

People who are touting Amazon Fire OS products over Roku products because they allow you to sideload Android APK files (for pirated IPTV services or whatever) have apparently missed Amazon's plan to move from Fire OS to a new proprietary OS (code-named 'Vega') which will likely be based on Linux. So your Amazon TV devices are likely to become as locked-down as a Roku.

www.howtogeek.com/amazon-begins-replacing-its-android-based-fire-os-with-new-software/ 

[MasterCee]

Roku used to have perfectly legal private channels that could be added such as public domain  archive channel and librovox audiobook channels. These sites are free due public domain laws and commercial free.  Roku has removed all their private channels as well as not having a channel to access the internet. Roku has removed their ability to access the commercial free  public domain sites which made them preferable to amazon.  

[Strega2]

So what’s stopping them from creating a not private channel?  (Or you?!!) Anyway, I searched for: librivox roku

And found a post on their forum that said they are busy making books so don’t bother with any apps.  A choice they’re free to make of course.

However, another match for my search was this Roku app:

https://channelstore.roku.com/details/779811e1752955675bc2f1ca8bda92dd

Which says it has Librivox books.

[abrum]

Dailymotion 

[Alexisrfc]

Ghhh

[Myshkin]

Locked down because it’s based on Linux?  You can’t make a proprietary os on top of Linux, the licensing doesn’t allow it. The code that is submitted to Linux is contributed based on licensing conditions that are immutable without tracking down each and every one of the thousands of contributors.