zip files for you to install, but that doesn't really matter. Furthermore, you likely won't care for most of the apps that do actually have neat. Sure, the Roku channel store is full of apps capable of running on Now TV boxes, but it's up to the developers to package up the app for side-loading, and you won't find the likes of Netflix and Amazon doing that. Unfortunately, while the actual installation process is a cinch, finding app files isn't so easy. From there, you choose the app file (we'll come to those shortly), hit install, and within a few seconds it'll launch on the Now TV box and will be found in your channel list thereafter, just like any other app. This will take you to the rather bland 'Development Application Installer' page. Now, head to your PC, load up a browser window (we've heard Internet Explorer doesn't work, for some reason), and plug the Now TV box's IP into the address bar - so, for us, it was. (Note that our screenshot shows 'Disable installer,' as we'd already performed the step by this point.) You should be sent to a 'Developer settings' page (shown below) with a prominent IP address centre stage, and the option to 'Enable installer.' Jot down the digits, follow the prompts to accept the T&Cs, and your Now TV box will reboot and look completely unchanged.

Home, Home, Home, Up, Up, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right Being able to run software like Plex immediately makes the cheap set-top box an even more compelling proposition, and better yet, side-loading apps couldn't be much easier.Īssuming you're all set up, logged in and faced with the Now TV channel screen, the first step is basically like entering a video game cheat code. You see, Sky's hardware is basically a re-branded Roku LT player with a heavily curated app store, but as long as you have the correct file, you can push apps to a Now TV box that otherwise shouldn't be there.

Understandably, the selection of channels is limited - Sky would prefer you use the box for its paid content - but with only a few minutes of tinkering, you can easily turn your Now TV into a robust network media player capable of pulling video and audio from your personal network and several internet sources. The idea, of course, is that cash continues to flow in Sky's direction by means of the film, TV and sport subscription packages, but there's nothing to stop you from forking out the hardware fee and using it simply as a window to BBC iPlayer, 4OD and other free services. Update 16/3/17: Sky has begun rolling out an update to all Now TV boxes that disables developer mode and purges any sideloaded apps.Īt just £10, Sky's Now TV box is pretty good value for money as is.

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