# Two Somewhat Complicated Questions About Using The Roku

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-somewhat-complicated-questions-about-using-the-roku/809358>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 22, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-somewhat-complicated-questions-about-using-the-roku/809358 "2018-02-22T19:06:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-somewhat-complicated-questions-about-using-the-roku/809358/1 "2018-02-22T19:06:43Z")

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1. I have the Roku app on my iPhone, and it allows me to implement “Private Listening.” Long story short, I plug in my headphones (to my phone) and listen to whatever I would be seeing on the TV through my phones, no sound emerges from the TV.

When I’m doing Private Listening, how do I adjust the sound? Using the volume on my TV remote does nothing. I can change my phone volume, but it only goes so high. Is there something I’m missing?

1. I’m looking for a Roku app that recommends movies and TV shows based on my preferences, and consolidates the recommendations based on what is available to me. Here’s what I mean:

Say I want to watch _Get Out_. Using the search function that came with my Roku, I can search “Get out” and learn that it’s available on these apps for this price and/or free with subscription. Similarly, I can use the search terms “Pineapple Express” and find out my options for watching it (free and/or with subscription).

Is there an app that says “Hey, Homie, you liked _Get Out_, and _Pineapple Express_, maybe you’ll like _Weeds_, which is available with your Netflix subscription…” or “Maybe you’ll like _The Descen_t, which is available for free on your TubiTV app…”  
’  
Is there an app like that?

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**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\
**Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/two-somewhat-complicated-questions-about-using-the-roku/809358/2 "2018-02-22T19:30:28Z")

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> [@HeyHomie](#):
>
> When I’m doing Private Listening, how do I adjust the sound? Using the volume on my TV remote does nothing. I can change my phone volume, but it only goes so high. Is there something I’m missing?

AFAIK, you’re not missing anything; the only way to control the volume in that scenario is with your phone’s volume control.

When I l listen this way, cranking the phone volume all the way to the top makes it almost too loud for me to tolerate. I also have the Roku app on my iPad, and turning the volume all the way up makes it PAINFULLY loud. I’m guessing there is something going on with your phone that is limiting the volume.

I don’t know anything about your second question, but that would be a cool thing for Roku to implement (if it doesn’t already exist).