Develop Bugs

XBMC customization help

Hi all.
I've played with XBMC a little in the past but nothing too in depth. When I saw the Fire TV come out I ordered day one. My main goal is to completely replace all my Windows Media Center machines and switch to XBMC + Fire TV for each location in my house. The reason for this change is I believe that it will be easier to add-on a few features i've been missing with my WMC setup.
So far ive loaded XBMC and configured it. I repurposed a WMC to be my TV/DVR server in the basement using PVR.WMC. I found a few tricks and this is now functioning as my whole house DVR.
My main issues that need addressing are as follows:
Add "Fire TV" apps to XBMC main menu (Amazon Prime movies, Netflix, and Pandora)
Remote Music Channels from the PVR menu in PVC.WMC
BluRay playback
I have all my DVDs/BRs stored in ISO format on a NAS in my basement. DVDs are fine. BR is a challenge. Am I better off converting to MKV? Does anyone know a way to make a library that is also shared with PLEX?

According to this wiki
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Amazon_Fire_TV
It is possible to add android apps to the xbmc menu if you are using Gotham. I tried doing it and as soon as I went to android application xbmc 13 final just crashes to the fire TV main menu.

nba1341 said:
According to this wiki
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Amazon_Fire_TV
It is possible to add android apps to the xbmc menu if you are using Gotham. I tried doing it and as soon as I went to android application xbmc 13 final just crashes to the fire TV main menu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im having the same issue. it would be a perfect box for me iff i can load the streaming services that are built in (netflix, amazon prime, hulu, pandora) from XBMC.
personally i can skip the entire Fire TV menu and live in XBMC if i can load the very nice a pretty customized fire tv apps from XBMC. kinda like using XBMC as a launcher

KCHASE731 said:
im having the same issue. it would be a perfect box for me iff i can load the streaming services that are built in (netflix, amazon prime, hulu, pandora) from XBMC.
personally i can skip the entire Fire TV menu and live in XBMC if i can load the very nice a pretty customized fire tv apps from XBMC. kinda like using XBMC as a launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wonder if it's just a problem with the final version. I am running a older version and I am able to load android apps just fine.

ahoslc said:
Wonder if it's just a problem with the final version. I am running a older version and I am able to load android apps just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version are you running? are you able to load the Fire TV versions of the apps from XBMC?

ahoslc said:
Wonder if it's just a problem with the final version. I am running a older version and I am able to load android apps just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will have to check when I go home it's like a week or 2 old. I can launch all the apps except for Amazon Prime.

Wifey bought me a FTV!

I currently use plex for my media management solution, which is fantastic. I have a quad processor server with 18TB of storage, 12TB usable as its configured for Raid6. I chose plex due to the fact that plexapps are available for my Samsung smart tvs, and for simplicity with my chromecast.
The wife knows my love of tinkering and that I've been eyeballing the AFTV for a while now. Can anyone provide some insight? I'm looking to further enhance my cord-cutting future as we are moving to South Korea next year and will need to rely on my server as well as streaming content for entertainment.
I'm tired of horrible firstrow streams for my football games, as well as UFC matches and indycar/rally races. Are there "alternatives" available with much improved quality?
Anything I should do first to the AFTV? How can I integrate it into my existing content delivery system?
Thanks in advance!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

cliff p said:
Anything I should do first to the AFTV? How can I integrate it into my existing content delivery system?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might want to see if you can root the Fire TV before you ever hook it up. This allows for harnessing the power of the device with XBMC and the addons that are available. The How to setup a new Fire TV without blocking Root guide is a great starting point. Otherwise, the Fire TV will primarily be an Amazon centric box. And where is the fun in that?

That was generally the idea (to root the device first before doing anything else with it).
When I first started looking into Media Servers, I worked very little with XBMC. A few friends with Plex suggested it to me, and it seems to fit the bill more for me. With that being said, can XBMC be integrated or coexist with PMS?
EDIT: Disregard the XBMC question, I did a quick search and found that I can install PlexBMC that will work with the PMS backend.

So I've rooted the AFTV, Installed BB and SuperSU, and XBMC. Added a few "add-ons" like 1Chan and some others. Pretty cool little device! Kinda wishing there were more HD capable streams for certain programs, since there isn't much difference streaming the actual website steam via my laptop to my TV via HDMI.
I may put it in my VPN route and see if I can get my NFL games in HD at least.
Quite honestly wondering if it was worth installing Plex on, since my Samsung TV already has Plex and is a bit more seamless. I may use the device in place of the Chromecast dongle I have in the bedroom, though.
Can anyone point me in the right direction for some higher quality feeds, etc?
Almost forgot: Themes for the XBMC? Is it more worthwhile to have XBMC autostart on boot? I don't have a subscription for Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, etc. I use Plex, and use it heavily with Sickbeard/Couchpotato/Headphones/Etc.
THX.

Take a look at the [LAUNCHER] XBMC for Fire TV (Root). This XBMC launcher replaces the Fire TV launcher and at the same time allows access to it if you were to have Amazon content.

mjbxx said:
Take a look at the [LAUNCHER] XBMC for Fire TV (Root). This XBMC launcher replaces the Fire TV launcher and at the same time allows access to it if you were to have Amazon content.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Works great! Thanks!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

HomerunTV - HD Homerun Live TV on Fire TV

Just wanted to share my experience today I bought this app since I own HD Homerun while having it on Kodi with PVR was nice it required a server computer to be running while watching.
Just wanted to let all guys know that the app costs 2.99$ (it's not mine of course I wish I was that skilled) everything works amazingly with fire REMOTE there is only one small issue in order to hit PLAY you must use mouse, I emailed dev asking him about this so it might be fixed soon!
How it works? it uses MX player or VLC media player to play the live channel ( my ISP is Verizon fios ) and channels stream usually around 18 mbps on lan in HD.
My Setup is:
Ethernet Cable
Homerun TV
VLC Media player (newest extracted from playstore) sometimes screen gets black it might be VLC issue (did not try with MX Player)
I'd say it's worth 2.99$ quality over VLC media player is great as well!
Update Feb 06 2015
Small Tips:
In order to play channel you must USE mouse to point it to "play button"
Set VLC media player to "Full hardware accelaration"
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zaren.HomeRunTV&hl=en
Stream live TV from your HDHomeRun device to your phone or tablet. (Unprotected, copy freely channels only)
This application will allow you to stream live TV to your android phone or tablet. It can be streamed to your device in 1 of 2 ways.
1. Directly from the hdhomerun to your device. This requires a strong network connection to your device (wireless N recommended) and a powerful enough device to decode 1080i video.
2. Through the HdhomerunStreamServer. This uses VLC to transcode the video to a lower bandwidth.

you're telling me you can stream HD smoothly with this app? It's been a couple months since I tried it when it first was released for the Fire TV, and any HD channel caused severe stuttering. I'm on a wired GBe LAN as well. That'd be great if an update to the app fixed this.
UPDATE: Nevermind, I was referring to the app released by Silicon Dust themselves.

onlinespending said:
you're telling me you can stream HD smoothly with this app? It's been a couple months since I tried it when it first was released for the Fire TV, and any HD channel caused severe stuttering. I'm on a wired GBe LAN as well. That'd be great if an update to the app fixed this.
UPDATE: Nevermind, I was referring to the app released by Silicon Dust themselves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea the silicondust app is very laggy.
This one streams without a SINGLE lag because it uses MX Player or VLC.
Make sure to sideload VLC media player.
I asked the dev about placing the play button somwhere else. We'll see what happens.
Streams perfectly.

patt2k said:
Just wanted to share my experience today I bought this app since I own HD Homerun while having it on Kodi with PVR was nice it required a server computer to be running while watching.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't mind me asking, what setup were you using with Kodi (e.g. server OS, server software, HDHomeRun configuration, etc.). I've got the HDHomeRun Plus / Extend and have not had a lot of luck settings things up.
I tried using TVHeadEnd on an Ubuntu server and Kodi running the TVHeadEnd plug-in. It streams fine only some of the time, but I get frequent crashes, especially when changing channels. In addition, I could not get any PVR functionality to work, nor have I been able to get h.264 transcoding from the HDHomeRun to work.
I then tried using MythTV, but could not get the Kodi MythTV plugin to work -- it would show the stations, but not be able to connect to the streams. (I also had trouble getting the MythTV server configured with the HDHomeRun, but that's not really related to the Fire TV.)
Thanks.

wunderdrug said:
If you don't mind me asking, what setup were you using with Kodi (e.g. server OS, server software, HDHomeRun configuration, etc.). I've got the HDHomeRun Plus / Extend and have not had a lot of luck settings things up.
I tried using TVHeadEnd on an Ubuntu server and Kodi running the TVHeadEnd plug-in. It streams fine only some of the time, but I get frequent crashes, especially when changing channels. In addition, I could not get any PVR functionality to work, nor have I been able to get h.264 transcoding from the HDHomeRun to work.
I then tried using MythTV, but could not get the Kodi MythTV plugin to work -- it would show the stations, but not be able to connect to the streams. (I also had trouble getting the MythTV server configured with the HDHomeRun, but that's not really related to the Fire TV.)
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use any PVR's I simply use Homerun TV and watch it via the app (I added shortcut in Kodi) so it's faster to open it.

I have a HDHomerun plus, adding the dlna server source of the HDHomerun to the files under videos is by far the best quality live streams I have gotten.
Regarding PVR with the Hdhomerun plus, I tried the same things. I finally said forget it and got a simple TV for $100 on woot with lifetime sub. It actually works much better than the reviews led me to believe. I access the recordings through plex.

goodhur said:
I have a HDHomerun plus, adding the dlna server source of the HDHomerun to the files under videos is by far the best quality live streams I have gotten.
Regarding PVR with the Hdhomerun plus, I tried the same things. I finally said forget it and got a simple TV for $100 on woot with lifetime sub. It actually works much better than the reviews led me to believe. I access the recordings through plex.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw it being offered free not to long ago (lifetime sub)

I'm missing something. I have it installed, but how do I play a stream? When I click on the channel it takes me to a stream diagnostics screen (signal strength, etc.) How do I play it? Thanks!

ChaOConnor said:
I'm missing something. I have it installed, but how do I play a stream? When I click on the channel it takes me to a stream diagnostics screen (signal strength, etc.) How do I play it? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is the trick... you must use "mouse" to point it to play button.
I emailed the DEV and asking him if he can somehow in future make it "play-able" via REMOTE.
Every other part of the app works fine with remote.

patt2k said:
Here is the trick... you must use "mouse" to point it to play button.
I emailed the DEV and asking him if he can somehow in future make it "play-able" via REMOTE.
Every other part of the app works fine with remote.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Well that's why I couldn't get it to work. So plug a mouse into the Fire and I should be good then?

ChaOConnor said:
Thanks! Well that's why I couldn't get it to work. So plug a mouse into the Fire and I should be good then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep for now that is what I do. Also in vlc settings turn on full acceleration (hardware) for better playback
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

patt2k said:
Yep for now that is what I do. Also in vlc settings turn on full acceleration (hardware) for better playback
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!

I found out a few days ago that you can adjust the quality stream in the actual HDhomerun view app. When the app is open just keep on pressing the menu button rapidly until the settings comes up then you can select the stream quality.
Also I had a Amazon gift card to burn so I actually bought InstaTV Pro. It comes up as a free app but it is by no means a free app. It cost $10 (which bites) because it has to download codecs. However it works very well.

Youtube TV

So I know there's a Smart Youtube app and Ive installed it. Is there any way to cast my iphone and YouTube TV to my FireTV? If not was toying around with getting an Apple TV
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

sparker781 said:
So I know there's a Smart Youtube app and Ive installed it. Is there any way to cast my iphone and YouTube TV to my FireTV? If not was toying around with getting an Apple TV
Thanks
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://www.reddit.com/r/firetvstick/comments/7n20hc/casting_with_smart_youtube_tv/

With the Smart YouTube TV app you've installed on your Fire TV, technically no.
The regular YouTube app (and by extension the Smart YouTube TV) doesn't use the proper Chromecast protocol - it uses a different, 'cut-down' version called DIAL. More information about this protocol can be found here.
It seems that I'm in a similar situation as you are - I've got a Fire TV, however also want to cast things to it. A native YouTube TV app would be nice as well!
Unfortunately Amazon and Google still haven't sorted their differences, hence waiting for a native YouTube TV app for FireOS might be foolish at this stage. As you can see in your other post on the topic, there does seem to be developer movement in figuring out how to successfully side-load YouTube TV. Fingers crossed.
From my research as of now, you might want to consider getting a different streaming media player - you'd probably want an Apple TV (if you have an iPhone), and I'm thinking of getting a Nvidia Shield TV (since it supports all the streaming services and has chromecast functionality built-in).

your_posse said:
With the Smart YouTube TV app you've installed on your Fire TV, technically no.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But that's fine, I have the Smart YouTube TV app connected with my smartphone by ID and now I can stream and controll from the Phone-YouTube app to the Fire TV app .

i found a workaround for now. Can cast from my iphone to my Xbox One
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

your_posse said:
With the Smart YouTube TV app you've installed on your Fire TV, technically no.
The regular YouTube app (and by extension the Smart YouTube TV) doesn't use the proper Chromecast protocol - it uses a different, 'cut-down' version called DIAL. More information about this protocol can be found here.
It seems that I'm in a similar situation as you are - I've got a Fire TV, however also want to cast things to it. A native YouTube TV app would be nice as well!
Unfortunately Amazon and Google still haven't sorted their differences, hence waiting for a native YouTube TV app for FireOS might be foolish at this stage. As you can see in your other post on the topic, there does seem to be developer movement in figuring out how to successfully side-load YouTube TV. Fingers crossed.
From my research as of now, you might want to consider getting a different streaming media player - you'd probably want an Apple TV (if you have an iPhone), and I'm thinking of getting a Nvidia Shield TV (since it supports all the streaming services and has chromecast functionality built-in).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am waiting for delivery of a Channel Master Stream+ made by Technicolor:
https://www.channelmaster.com/Stream_Plus_p/cm-7600.htm
It arrived at their ware house last week. When they will ship to buyers remains unseen. And, will Netflix be supported and USB hard drive be enabled. it does has Micro SD DVR for now. My goal is OTA DVR for Locals and stream the rest. Tried a Shield Pro last summer but the remote was dead and support was less than helpful. Sent it back. Curious as to why the pro has been discontinued.

rainman74 said:
But that's fine, I have the Smart YouTube TV app connected with my smartphone by ID and now I can stream and controll from the Phone-YouTube app to the Fire TV app .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and that's all you'll be able to do with the 'Smart YouTube TV' app - it only supports sending video links from YouTube --> YouTube (and other limited uses) using the DIAL protocol.
OP specifically asked for casting abilities (I'm presuming more Chromecast- or AirPlay-like), so that they can cast not just YouTube, but also other apps (such as 'YouTube TV'). This is definitely not supported with the alternative 'Smart YouTube TV' app at this stage.
If you have an Xbox One, then this supports casting from iOS and Android (as OP stated above).
Various other media streaming box options exist that have full casting abilities built-in (such as the Channel Master Stream+ @schneid has mentioned). This device actually looks pretty interesting, and I'd like to hear about your experience with the device when it eventually gets shipped @schneid !

schneid said:
I am waiting for delivery of a Channel Master Stream+ made by Technicolor:
https://www.channelmaster.com/Stream_Plus_p/cm-7600.htm
It arrived at their ware house last week. When they will ship to buyers remains unseen. And, will Netflix be supported and USB hard drive be enabled. it does has Micro SD DVR for now. My goal is OTA DVR for Locals and stream the rest. Tried a Shield Pro last summer but the remote was dead and support was less than helpful. Sent it back. Curious as to why the pro has been discontinued.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Stream+ was shipped and lost in the mail. Probably a good thing. I've been reading on AVSForum and the product seems to be a disaster:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/42-hdtv-recorders/2963228-official-channel-master-stream-owner-s-thread.html

schneid said:
My Stream+ was shipped and lost in the mail. Probably a good thing. I've been reading on AVSForum and the product seems to be a disaster:
http://www.avsforum.com/forum/42-hd...ial-channel-master-stream-owner-s-thread.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that stinks. Hope you'll get reimbursed for it!
What device do you think you'll get as a substitute in the meantime?
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

Fire Cube TV - HD downloads with sideloaded prime video app?

Does sideloaded prime video (phone/tablet version) download movies in HD on Fire TV Cube?
I just bought an L1 certified xiaomi android tv box & surprisingly it only downloads in SD, which suggests Amazon have a device whitelist which it isn't on.
My guess is they haven't whitelisted their own tv cube either as if they deemed this ability suitable, it'd be in the official android tv app which currently only streams (which makes it no more useful than a smart tv which is limited to streaming only).
Can somebody confirm before I buy?

visualise1k said:
Does sideloaded prime video (phone/tablet version) download movies in HD on Fire TV Cube?
I just bought an L1 certified xiaomi android tv box & surprisingly it only downloads in SD, which suggests Amazon have a device whitelist which it isn't on.
My guess is they haven't whitelisted their own tv cube either as if they deemed this ability suitable, it'd be in the official android tv app which currently only streams (which makes it no more useful than a smart tv which is limited to streaming only).
Can somebody confirm before I buy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To me the fire cube was their worse device
I'm pretty sure the 4k stick is more powerful.
Only the recast boxes actually download and store video but at that price Id get a Nvidia shield and add a external SSD.
Sent from my ONEPLUS A6010 using Tapatalk