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Hi all
I'm an avid XBMC user who has been using xbmc on a variety of Android TV boxes, these being the Pivos XIOS DS, OUYA and now the Fire TV which I have had imported from the US (to the UK where I live). As you can see, my choice of Android boxes has been influenced only be the Android devices that xbmc actually sponsor, I haven;t tried to use any other Android box other than those enforced by the xbmc org themselves.
In essence I have been looking for an Android TV box that will replace my two sluggish Apple TV2's.
I've had mixed luck with the Pivos and OUYA namely because of the poor remote controls. My family have never really taken to these two boxes and thus we keep reverting to the ATV2's despite the slow performance.
Having seen fire TV I immediately ordered one from the USA, learned how to install XBMC via adb commands and I must say I'm impressed. To the point where I'm almost ready to get rid of all my current TV boxes (including the ATV2's) and replace them all with Fire TVs.
Moving on, XBMC's internal Airplay server does not work with Android devices, this is the one thing stopping me from getting rid of my ATV2's.... I need Airplay!
I have been reading around the XBMC official forum and some other users are in the same boat as me and they have actually managed to install an Airplay server App to the Fire TV, rather than waiting for XBMC to resolve their broken Android Airplay feature. If I could achieve this I'd be happily slinging my ATV2's out of the window! The app that has reportedly been installed (sideloaded) on to the Fire TV is called AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO) which is a paid app.
Actual question:
I have purchased and installed the aforementioned app onto my (rooted) Galaxy S4, I have no intention whatsoever of actually using the app on my S4, I did this SOLELY to extract the app and install on the Fire TV. I have successfully found the APK file using ES File Explorer and copied it to my PC. However when trying to install the APK to the Fire TV using adb command it fails, with error message:
[INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_NO_CERTIFICATES]
I'm guessing this is because I am trying to install the app onto a device for which it was not purchased through. Can anyone please help me overcome this problems, I'm really now desperate to have the Fire TV replace all of my current TV boxes, and I've spent a lot of time looking for the ideal device for XBMC + AIrplay. It looks like I'm very close to achieving my goal and just need some help from some of the experts on there to overcome the final hurdle (Airplay). I've messaged the guy on the XBMC forum that has claimed to have installed this app on his FIRE TV but he has not replied to me. I can;t really post this question oin the xbmc forums becuase I'm not asking for support for xbmc's Airplay server, I'm asking a question more related to sideloading an app with missing certificate that I've actually paid (albeit on a another device).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Adit - XDA newbie.
I do not know how to fix your certificate error, but a new app released yesterday for the Fire TV claims to do AirPlay. Here is the app.
If that doesn't work and you can't figure out how to fix the certificate issue, you can try installing the Google Play Store onto the Fire TV and see if you can download the app directly.
fireTVnews.com said:
I do not know how to fix your certificate error, but a new app released yesterday for the Fire TV claims to do AirPlay.
If that doesn't work and you can't figure out how to fix the certificate issue, you can try installing the Google Play Store onto the Fire TV and see if you can download the app directly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks for the reply here. Many apps 'claim' to facilitate Airplay but if I'm going to pay for one I'd rather it be one that has been tested successfully on the Fire TV, and that's the reason why I went for AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO).
Moving on I have the following questions relating to your Google Play Store. I believe one of the prerequisites of installing Google Pay Store is that the Fire TV must be rooted, correct? Whilst I don't have any personal issue with rooting (after all I just rooted my Galaxy S4 earlier today) my concern is that once I root and install the Play Store and sign into it that the following will happen:
- I'll have to pay for the AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO) again?
- Upon a new firmware update the root will be gone and the app will no longer work?
..
Adit18 said:
Many thanks for the reply here. Many apps 'claim' to facilitate Airplay but if I'm going to pay for one I'd rather it be one that has been tested successfully on the Fire TV, and that's the reason why I went for AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO).
Moving on I have the following questions relating to your Google Play Store. I believe one of the prerequisites of installing Google Pay Store is that the Fire TV must be rooted, correct? Whilst I don't have any personal issue with rooting (after all I just rooted my Galaxy S4 earlier today) my concern is that once I root and install the Play Store and sign into it that the following will happen:
- I'll have to pay for the AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO) again?
- Upon a new firmware update the root will be gone and the app will no longer work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO) itself does not require root, you would still be able to use the app even if a future update removed root. Your only issue would be if a future update disabled root and you, for whatever reason, needed to factory reset the Fire TV. The reset would remove the app and you wouldn't be able to reinstall it because you could no longer gain root.
@ JJ-KwiK
@ fireTVnews.com
Many thanks again for your suggestions, thanks has been added to you both. I'm reluctant to root the Fire TV to install the Play Store for reasons of sustainability. Exactly as stated if an update removes the root and for any reason a factory reset was required then I'd be stuck. Before I reluctantly embark on the mission to root the Fire TV and take on your suggestions I'd like to be a little cheeky and ask a few more questions to you both or anyone else out there who can answer:
1. Instead of rooting and installing Play store, if I wish to instead install and try the new Airplay app that member 'fireTVnews.com' mentions how would I do this? I appreciate you're thinking this is a ridiculous question but I can't see the link between the amazon site and my Fire TV. Maybe once I purchase the app on Amazon site will automatically push the app to my Fire TV? Also I'm in the Uk where a lot of the content is blocked (because the Fire TV hasn't been released here yet), will this cause an issue?
2. If I have success with the new Airplay app from the amazon site does anyone know if I can get a refund for the Airplay PRO app, because it will never even get used if the other app does work? I don;t know much about this because although I have an S4 it's purchase was recent and I'm still new to the world of Play Store. In fact the Airplay PRO app is the first app that I've ever purchased through the Play store and I'm kinda left feeling a little stung. Fair enough if I was going to use the app but a complete waste if I don't.
3. One thing that would solve all of this quite easily is if there is a way to install the certificates for the Airplay PRO app that I've purchased, then install it onto the Fire TV. I don't want to be breaking any forum rules here but I have paid for the app so if anyone could give me any clues / hints I'd be very grateful. Have done the usual googling but with the amount of confusing info out there I don't fancy doing several all-nighters to learn how to do it myself from scratch.
..
I had some free coins I used for the AiPlay Receiver app. I tried a couple of 30 seconds home video clips from my wife's iphone and they worked fine.
Home made videos from my Android phone don't work. It says 'can't play this video'
JJ-KwiK said:
1- I'm in Canada, and I'm still able to download and use apps from the firetv store. I just have to change my address to a fictitious US address and the store will allow me to download apps. This doesn't work for prime video's etc... though. When I'm done downloading what I want, I just change my address back to Canada. All this is done on Amazon's website.
2- Google Play only offers refunds to app users for 15 minutes after the app was purchased I believe. So you're probably out of luck there. You could always try emailing the app developer...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well this is a turn out for the books. I have just purchased the new AirReceiver app from the Amazon website without changing my address, I figured that if it doesn't work I'll demand a refund from Amazon. The Amazon website allowed me to make the purchase without even changing my address. Next I checked on my Fire TV and the app was showing as available to be downloaded and synced, so I did this.... and it works!
Airplay is seems to be working from my ios7 iPad. I haven;t done any exhaustive testing yet and I hope the app auto-starts when the Fire TV does and stays running in the background, rather than having to manually activate the app before airplaying something.
Now the interesting this is, this app looks exactly like 'AirReceiver' by 'felix.long' which is available in the Google Pay Store. In fact I'm certain it's the same app and it definitely hasn't been developed exclusively for Fire TV. This is obvious as the app doesn't even fit on to the screen (neither do most apps which are optimised for mobile phone displays rather than Android TV boxes). Funnily enough, this app was next on my list to try out after the Airplay (PRO) app which I purchased last night, it's a funny old world! Now I just need to email the developer of Airplay (PRO) and see if he will consider giving me a refund. After all, I have actually tested his app on my S4 and whilst Airplay for photos is ok, Airplay for videos from my iPad doesn't even work!
Once again JJ-KwiK and fireTVnews.com thank you both very much for your help. I do have a couple of minor questions tho which you'll probably know the answers to:
1. If this new AirReceiver app is updated, will I automatically be able to install the updated version? Seeing as I've purchased it I would imagine so.
2. Is there any way of getting the app to show properly on the screen? Presumably if Amazon are charging for this app exclusively for Fire TV they should at least have checked that it fits on to the screen. Any novice would be pulling his hair out trying to work out what each of the options are because so much of the text is off the screen. I'm used to this off-the-screen lark with my OUYA and Pivos but even I couldn;t figure out what some of the options say is far too much of the text has disappeared off the screen on the left-hand side. Perhaps there is a way to rectify this on the Fire Tv, which I don;t know about?
3. Lastly, if.... (as of 30 mins ago) I mean WHEN i purchase my next Fire TV, will I have to purchase the app again or can I simply log into the new Fore TV and sync apps again and, in effect get it for free on my 2nd / 3rd Fire TV?
About the app not fitting on the screen, you need to go into the FTV settings-->system-->display-->calibrate display. I had to scale mine to 3%. Now the app fits in the screen perfectly.
z31fanatic said:
About the app not fitting on the screen, you need to go into the FTV settings-->system-->display-->calibrate display. I had to scale mine to 3%. Now the app fits in the screen perfectly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks, will try this. Adoes this adjustment have any adverse effect on other apps or even the main operating system display? What I mean is when you make this adjustment does it screw up anything else?
I haven't noticed it problems with other apps.
Adit18 said:
Well this is a turn out for the books. I have just purchased the new AirReceiver app from the Amazon website without changing my address, I figured that if it doesn't work I'll demand a refund from Amazon. The Amazon website allowed me to make the purchase without even changing my address. Next I checked on my Fire TV and the app was showing as available to be downloaded and synced, so I did this.... and it works!
Airplay is seems to be working from my ios7 iPad. I haven;t done any exhaustive testing yet and I hope the app auto-starts when the Fire TV does and stays running in the background, rather than having to manually activate the app before airplaying something.
Now the interesting this is, this app looks exactly like 'AirReceiver' by 'felix.long' which is available in the Google Pay Store. In fact I'm certain it's the same app and it definitely hasn't been developed exclusively for Fire TV. This is obvious as the app doesn't even fit on to the screen (neither do most apps which are optimised for mobile phone displays rather than Android TV boxes). Funnily enough, this app was next on my list to try out after the Airplay (PRO) app which I purchased last night, it's a funny old world! Now I just need to email the developer of Airplay (PRO) and see if he will consider giving me a refund. After all, I have actually tested his app on my S4 and whilst Airplay for photos is ok, Airplay for videos from my iPad doesn't even work!
Once again JJ-KwiK and fireTVnews.com thank you both very much for your help. I do have a couple of minor questions tho which you'll probably know the answers to:
1. If this new AirReceiver app is updated, will I automatically be able to install the updated version? Seeing as I've purchased it I would imagine so.
2. Is there any way of getting the app to show properly on the screen? Presumably if Amazon are charging for this app exclusively for Fire TV they should at least have checked that it fits on to the screen. Any novice would be pulling his hair out trying to work out what each of the options are because so much of the text is off the screen. I'm used to this off-the-screen lark with my OUYA and Pivos but even I couldn;t figure out what some of the options say is far too much of the text has disappeared off the screen on the left-hand side. Perhaps there is a way to rectify this on the Fire Tv, which I don;t know about?
3. Lastly, if.... (as of 30 mins ago) I mean WHEN i purchase my next Fire TV, will I have to purchase the app again or can I simply log into the new Fore TV and sync apps again and, in effect get it for free on my 2nd / 3rd Fire TV?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes, since you download it from Amazon
2. No idea. Use the screen setting calibrate option.
3. All purchase from Amazon store grants access to all your Amazon devices (Kindle, Kindle Fire, Fire TV etc...) The next part is how many Amazon devices do you have right now or you plan to purchase in the future. For Google Play, iOS, Amazon, I think you can install a purchased app up 5 devices, some even more. This varied depend on developer and app. You are best asking the developer, but it is guarantee that you have access up to 5 devices.
Last, I am not sure about your obsession with Airplay. Since the Fire TV allows installation of XBMC, there are tons of option you can use to stream movies, photos, music over to XBMC. When I means options, I mean network protocol such as FTP, SMB, zeroconf which is designed and supported across all platforms. Airplay is an offspring of iOS system design mostly to work within the iOS ecosystem. The reason why it might not work well with Android apps or other platform is because it is not Apple's intention to bring it to other platforms. It is just because too many people have iOS devices that other 3rd parties try to bring it to other platform, albeit bugs and problems sometimes.
Adit18 said:
Hi all
I'm an avid XBMC user who has been using xbmc on a variety of Android TV boxes, these being the Pivos XIOS DS, OUYA and now the Fire TV which I have had imported from the US (to the UK where I live). As you can see, my choice of Android boxes has been influenced only be the Android devices that xbmc actually sponsor, I haven;t tried to use any other Android box other than those enforced by the xbmc org themselves.
In essence I have been looking for an Android TV box that will replace my two sluggish Apple TV2's.
I've had mixed luck with the Pivos and OUYA namely because of the poor remote controls. My family have never really taken to these two boxes and thus we keep reverting to the ATV2's despite the slow performance.
Having seen fire TV I immediately ordered one from the USA, learned how to install XBMC via adb commands and I must say I'm impressed. To the point where I'm almost ready to get rid of all my current TV boxes (including the ATV2's) and replace them all with Fire TVs.
Moving on, XBMC's internal Airplay server does not work with Android devices, this is the one thing stopping me from getting rid of my ATV2's.... I need Airplay!
I have been reading around the XBMC official forum and some other users are in the same boat as me and they have actually managed to install an Airplay server App to the Fire TV, rather than waiting for XBMC to resolve their broken Android Airplay feature. If I could achieve this I'd be happily slinging my ATV2's out of the window! The app that has reportedly been installed (sideloaded) on to the Fire TV is called AirPlay/DLNA Receiver (PRO) which is a paid app.
Actual question:
I have purchased and installed the aforementioned app onto my (rooted) Galaxy S4, I have no intention whatsoever of actually using the app on my S4, I did this SOLELY to extract the app and install on the Fire TV. I have successfully found the APK file using ES File Explorer and copied it to my PC. However when trying to install the APK to the Fire TV using adb command it fails, with error message:
[INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_NO_CERTIFICATES]
I'm guessing this is because I am trying to install the app onto a device for which it was not purchased through. Can anyone please help me overcome this problems, I'm really now desperate to have the Fire TV replace all of my current TV boxes, and I've spent a lot of time looking for the ideal device for XBMC + AIrplay. It looks like I'm very close to achieving my goal and just need some help from some of the experts on there to overcome the final hurdle (Airplay). I've messaged the guy on the XBMC forum that has claimed to have installed this app on his FIRE TV but he has not replied to me. I can;t really post this question oin the xbmc forums becuase I'm not asking for support for xbmc's Airplay server, I'm asking a question more related to sideloading an app with missing certificate that I've actually paid (albeit on a another device).
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
Adit - XDA newbie.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this exact problem with the same app. If you root your device, you can enable installing from unknown sources. From there you can just push the apk to your fire tv, and install it manually, bypassing the certificate error. This method worked for me, however after using the app for a few minutes, you will get a pop up saying that the app was not purchased on the device and it stops working. As a last resort, I emailed the creator of the app, and within 24 hours, he was able to activate the app using your MAC address. You just have to show him proof of purchase. Of course this was before I got the google play store installed on the FTV, which would have saved me a lot of time.
@z31fanatic - Thanks, the video calibration tool worked a treat 2% for me. Now all apps show properly on the screen. I've had to stretch XBMC calibration out a bit as a result but that's fine. Thanks very much to you, thanks added.
@vi6s - Thanks for the replies, good to know the app will be auto updated if and when the original developer releases an update. I reckon I'll need to use the app on around 4-5 devices eventually, so a 5 device limit should do me just about ok.
Regarding Airplay, there isn't an obsession, just a need for non tech-savvy people in the home (wife and kids) to be easily able to beam photos and home-made videos to the big screen. Airplay hands down the easiest way to to do this I'm sure you'd agree.
@Hrodriguez77 - It is excellent that you had the idea to contact the developer in this way. I did the same but sadly just to request a refund. I didn't think the developer would be interested in what I was trying to achieve (extracting his file to use on another device). However it seems the developer is good guy (and indeed this is the case as he has refunded me). Once question though, how is your video streaming working? Meaning videos that you've shot on your phone / tablet, if you beam those videos to the Fire TV how does it cope?
Install blackmart.apk and you can get those apps no cost. Haven't tried it yet on the fire tv but it works on everything else no problem.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
moeduss said:
Install blackmart.apk and you can get those apps no cost. Haven't tried it yet on the fire tv but it works on everything else no problem.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lets try not promote piracy.
Ok sorry didn't think about that, won't happen again.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Voice from the Developer
Dear all,
I am the developer of Airplay/DLNA receiver. I am sorry to see the terrible experience of side loading our app on your Fire TV.I have submitted my app to Amazon app store now. It is still under review. Several days will be gone before you can see it on Amazon app store.Before that I will provide a simpler way to try our app for 3 days.
You can download our latest apk from here: h t t p://download.waxrain.com/AirPlayer_Signed_PRO/AirPin_PRO.apk
and you can directly install it on your Fire TV .
You can try it for 3 days. 3 days later it will pop out the message of "unauthorized".
If you want to purchase it, you can find an android phone to purchase our app from Google Play ,and tell us the order number and the mac address of your fire TV(which can be found in the "about the app" part of setting in our apk)to authorize. (email: [email protected]) Or you can purchase it on Amazon app store in the future.
I am new on the forum, the real link format is not supported to paste.Please adjust by yourselves. Sorry.
WaxRain said:
Dear all,
I am the developer of Airplay/DLNA receiver. I am sorry to see the terrible experience of side loading our app on your Fire TV.I have submitted my app to Amazon app store now. It is still under review. Several days will be gone before you can see it on Amazon app store.Before that I will provide a simpler way to try our app for 3 days.
You can download our latest apk from here: h t t p://download.waxrain.com/AirPlayer_Signed_PRO/AirPin_PRO.apk
and you can directly install it on your Fire TV .
You can try it for 3 days. 3 days later it will pop out the message of "unauthorized".
If you want to purchase it, you can find an android phone to purchase our app from Google Play ,and tell us the order number and the mac address of your fire TV(which can be found in the "about the app" part of setting in our apk)to authorize. (email: [email protected]) Or you can purchase it on Amazon app store in the future.
I am new on the forum, the real link format is not supported to paste.Please adjust by yourselves. Sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have installed the play store on firetv and purchased your app. It works well for airplay mirroring but when I try to airplay videos from my iPhone 5s it buffers constantly even though my internet speed is up to 50 Mbps. What do you suggest?
I found out, of the amazing power of XBMC and I found out it's been ported to multiple platforms such as Android, OUYA and recently the Fire TV. I want a box that I can use XBMC on my TV to use apps for streaming like (identities of apps have been changed) SmashDown, FireFilms,MovieY2K, SportsDemon (LIVE Streaming) and that one that has XBMC in the name that you can use for torrents and more.
My question is...if I want to use this box for internet streaming and such..which would be the best?
IF I bought a Fire TV? would it come with the unrootable update? (I don't want a Fire TV if I can't root it) what's your thoughts about XBMC on OUYA? At Least I wouldn't have any issues blocking update servers on my router as OUYA doesn't mind rooting....right..?
Which one would be more powerful in streaming? or are they equally matched?
any feedback would be appreciated
go for fire tv. I have switched from a cheap chinese android tv stick and the difference is huge. i mainly use xbmc for streaming tv shows and movies and it runs beautifully.
you can find all the information about rooting here http://www.aftvnews.com/tag/guide/
read through and make sure you are comfortable with the procedure before purchasing fire tv.
Go Fire TV!
A rooted Fire TV with a dedicated XBMC/Kodi Launcher with access to the KFTV Launcher and Amazon content is an outright beast. I could not be happier with the Fire TV after ditching that antiquated Roku platform.
Hmm... Well would it come out of the box if I bought one now with the unrootable update?.. Is it that hard to block update servers?
Not getting a response from the OUYA community so it's looking like a fire TV (if I can root it)
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
Only one way to find out.
stanleyopar2000 said:
Hmm... Well would it come out of the box if I bought one now with the unrootable update?.. Is it that hard to block update servers?
Not getting a response from the OUYA community so it's looking like a fire TV (if I can root it)
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Grab a Fire TV from either Amazon, Best Buy or Staples and give it a try following the AFTVnews guide regarding root and blocking the update. Nothing to lose except time as you are free to return it within 30 days.
It seems that a war of android boxes is coming soon! I bought an Amazon Fire TV and I'm very happy with it.
Android TV shall be available soon this year and also there is another device
http://www.slashgear.com/tronsmart-orion-r28-android-tv-box-supports-4k-28343314/
I believe that we shall be many flavors later on to choose, but to tell you the truth? I'd go with something very related to Google that is Android TV, They always have the best support, also shall come with Android L OS
As an owner of BOTH, I can tell you the AFTV is a b_tch to deal with (not that Ouya is friendly by any means, but nowhere near AFTV). Incompatible apps, kooky app install procedure, draconian checks for apps by Amazon so I can't even install the YouTube for AFTV (which I OWN), etc.
For me the deciding factor was Netflix HD with DD+...if that is not your thing or you don't have Prime, go for Ouya and save some money and hassle in the process.
Hope this helps.
For what it's worth, I just ordered a fire tv from amazon last thursday that came with the original firmware....
Ipse_Tase said:
As an owner of BOTH, I can tell you the AFTV is a b_tch to deal with (not that Ouya is friendly by any means, but nowhere near AFTV). Incompatible apps, kooky app install procedure, draconian checks for apps by Amazon so I can't even install the YouTube for AFTV (which I OWN), etc.
For me the deciding factor was Netflix HD with DD+...if that is not your thing or you don't have Prime, go for Ouya and save some money and hassle in the process.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm... I plan to just use it with rooted XBMC / kodi launcher to stream videos from different live streaming add-ons... How about that?
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
..
Double post. Please delete.
JJ-KwiK said:
Ouya removed alt-launchers support a few updates back.
You can fix this by renaming the ouyalauncher.apk/odex files to .old(or remove the files all together), then installing a version of the ouyalauncher.apk that still supports alt-launchers. I.E. the ouyalauncher.apk from an older update.
It's a bit of a hassle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow...
**** move for a struggling console. It's looking more like a fire TV for me. I'm scared of by the time I get one it's going to be bundled with the unrootable update
Sent from my SM-G900F using XDA Free mobile app
Just got rid of my ouya and replaced it with fire tv. Love it.
Hi - I know I can change my country on the respectively Amazon website to download the apps onto my FTV, but I was wondering if there's somewhere I can just download and sideload them?
Apps that have such geo-specific restrictions: ITV (UK), UKTV (UK), NHK World TV (JP)
Or perhaps there's a thread in here somewhere I just missed?
My experience is that's it's not that simple to rip an official Fire TV app from Amazon without having a rooted Fire TV. Sideloaded APK app versions that rely on a usb wireless keyboard / mouse or bluetooth keyboard work without issues. Tried my Android phone and Nexus 7 to get the official apk version that works with the Fire TV off those devices and sideloaded to my FIre TV, but it would always take me to Amazon underground and install it directly without leaving an APK version of it to transfer to the Amazon Fire TV.
If you want to download the apk versions of those channels from one location, you could sideload the aptoide app store, but it can be keyboard dependent as sometimes it'll use a web browser ( I've tried boat browser, firefox, maxthon...take your pick and download them through aptoide ) looking for the apk file of the app you are interested in.
If you go in another direction, you'll find the most efficient way is to install these channels through Kodi using the add-ons for the respective channel. Call Kodi a one stop shop app for all your channel viewing. It saves the hassle of downloading say the ITV apk app and avoids having to use a keyboard to make it work. Highly recommend you familiarize yourself with Kodi if you haven't already. Another official channel on the Fire TV is the MediaHHH app. It's available on the Amazon Fire TV app menu ( At least for U.S viewers ). That's basically all the U.K freeview live channels on an official app and it works perfectly well without a proxy or vpn required which you'll need if you use either the sideloaded apk version of an app or run the add-on channels using Kodi.
My observation is that if you switch say Amazon locations on your Fire TV and download a regional official APP like the BBC iplayer, you'll lose it when you log back in to your local Amazon Fire TV account, but if all you want are the apps in that location then you shouldn't have a problem as long as you add a geo-proxy to your network or VPN access added to your router.
If someone knows how to pull off a rip of an official Fire TV app without root or knows how to get a ripped version from their Android phone / tablet of an official Amazon Fire TV app, not the universal apk ver, I'm all ears on how to do it.
callanish said:
My observation is that if you switch say Amazon locations on your Fire TV and download a regional official APP like the BBC iplayer, you'll lose it when you log back in to your local Amazon Fire TV account, .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know for a fact that this not true. You can go it amazon content settings and change your locale to UK. Doing so, will allow you to search and download UK apps to your Fire TV. Once done switch it back to US and you can now search for US apps. The US and UK apps reside side by side and can be launched without issues (assuming you have SmartDNS).
None of the above can be accomplished on a Roku - which is why I really love this device.
Strange. Every time I've tried this in the past, the U.K apps disappeared ( 2 Fire TV's ver 1 and 1 Fire tv stick ), but that was a while ago. Maybe they've changed something in their firmware that allows you to do this now, because I remember hitting a brick wall a while back. and gave up Thanks for the heads up. I'll try it again and see if I can make it work now.
vulcan195 said:
I know for a fact that this not true. You can go it amazon content settings and change your locale to UK. Doing so, will allow you to search and download UK apps to your Fire TV. Once done switch it back to US and you can now search for US apps. The US and UK apps reside side by side and can be launched without issues (assuming you have SmartDNS).
None of the above can be accomplished on a Roku - which is why I really love this device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
callanish said:
Call Kodi a one stop shop app for all your channel viewing..
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Click to collapse
Perhaps you can help me - I use a LG smarphone to download apps from the Playstore and sideload to AFTV2. My issue is that since its a smartphone, the APKs it downloads is suited for a phone screen and not for the TV. Is there a way within Kodi to download different variants of the same APK. Google Playstore URL is the same on any device - except the APK that is made available on the page is dependent on the device requesting the download.
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callanish said:
Strange. Every time I've tried this in the past, the U.K apps disappeared ( 2 Fire TV's ver 1 and 1 Fire tv stick ), but that was a while ago. Maybe they've changed something in their firmware that allows you to do this now, because I remember hitting a brick wall a while back. and gave up Thanks for the heads up. I'll try it again and see if I can make it work now.
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Bear in mind that the approach I used did not involved signing out of my Amazon account. All the downloads happens with my single account (only the locales are switched).
I'm not quite sure what kind of experience you've had with Kodi, but Kodi basically is the hub. The channels aren't apps, they're addons from repositories that run content. When kodi is installed, you either rely on the repository that comes with kodi or you continue to add repositories to increase your content options. Those repositories usually come in Zip form and you can sideload them over to Kodi then install them under system / addons. Another way is to type in the URL for the repository directly. Kodi will then add the repository and after that you can install the plugins from that repository. I'm not quite sure if that even remotely answered your question, but just know that Kodi manages and automatically updates content through the repository and that content is universal, so whatever you add to kodi doesn't require an app to function, so you'll never come across a problem with installing phone vs tablet apps
Okay, if I understand you correctly you're looking for the non-phone apk version of an app. The easiest way is probably just to sideload the aptoide app on to the fire TV and download and install the apk apps from there. Aptoide can be browser dependent if it can't find a version of the app you are looking for and will open up a browser to find the apk file somewhere else for download ( In other words download a browser to the Fire TV - Boat browser for tablets is a good one ). You could try just installing the aptoide app on your LG phone and transfer the apk file to your Amazon Fire TV. I've done that before and all versions were non-phone apps. Downside with the standard APK apps on the Fire TV has always been that most of them are keyboard / mouse dependent requiring a usb / bluetooth - keyboard / mouse or app with a keyboard / touchpad that works with the fire tv.
http://www.aptoide.com/page/apps or look up the aptoide.apk file in google to download it and then sideload it. I've had no issues with aptoide and I've been using it for years.
P.S I'll look into what you mentioned. I've been signing into another Amazon account from the U.K, thus losing all my U.S apps. If I manage the settings on the same Amazon U.S account and do a country change to the U.K, maybe from there I can install the U.K official Amazon Fire TV apps directly to the Fire Tv box without losing my U.S content. That's probably where I was going wrong before.
Edit............That was the problem. The solution was not to sign out and re-sign in. As you mentioned, you just have to change the country under the same Amazon account. Downloaded U.K official Fire TV apps and running great without the need for a keyboard / mouse. Thanks for the tip.
Info for the original poster of this thread. Try this link
http://www.eyeondemand.com/2014/10/24/how-to-combine-us-uk-and-de-apps-on-the-amazon-fire-tv/
vulcan195 said:
Perhaps you can help me - I use a LG smarphone to download apps from the Playstore and sideload to AFTV2. My issue is that since its a smartphone, the APKs it downloads is suited for a phone screen and not for the TV. Is there a way within Kodi to download different variants of the same APK. Google Playstore URL is the same on any device - except the APK that is made available on the page is dependent on the device requesting the download.
---------- Post added at 04:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:16 PM ----------
Bear in mind that the approach I used did not involved signing out of my Amazon account. All the downloads happens with my single account (only the locales are switched).
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vulcan195 said:
I know for a fact that this not true. You can go it amazon content settings and change your locale to UK. Doing so, will allow you to search and download UK apps to your Fire TV. Once done switch it back to US and you can now search for US apps. The US and UK apps reside side by side and can be launched without issues (assuming you have SmartDNS).
None of the above can be accomplished on a Roku - which is why I really love this device.
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So the technique is change the settings on the amazon website or on the ftv?
jarayn said:
So the technique is change the settings on the amazon website or on the ftv?
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You change the country settings on the Amazon Website, purchase / add the apps, then re-sync content on the Amazon Fire TV if required. One of the apps, I think it was the ITV player didn't show up immediately, but since I purchased it ( right term if it's free?? ), I could do a search on the main fire tv menu for the ITV player app and then I downloaded it. With all the U.K apps downloaded, I switched the country settings back to the U.S.
Thanks, got BBC and itv now. BBC is perfect but itv seems to require mouse still.
jarayn said:
Thanks, got BBC and itv now. BBC is perfect but itv seems to require mouse still.
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Don't know if you've tried this, but did you try deleting the app and then re-installing it. i've noticed just installing it over the one you already have won't replace it. The official itv player app doesn't require a mouse, so it must be either reinstalling the apk mouse version, or it hasn't synced the official app to your fire tv.
P.S You could try the STV ( Scottish television version of the Itv Player ) app. Pretty much the same content. One thing I noticed is you give up live content with the official ITV player, whereas you could get that with the mouse version. You can always get the live content of ITV through Kodi anyway.
Thanks, good idea. No live though is crazy, thats the only thing i would want itv for.
I don't want to install Kodi because I have no idea about the security rating of the repositories and packages. So far I only install from Amazon or Google Play (sideloaded).
I now have a single platform access to UK and US apps. Very happy. Cannot do this with any of the other devices.
vulcan195 said:
I don't want to install Kodi because I have no idea about the security rating of the repositories and packages. So far I only install from Amazon or Google Play (sideloaded).
I now have a single platform access to UK and US apps. Very happy. Cannot do this with any of the other devices.
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I agree, it's a great device and what's so great about it is just how open the platform is to allow us to do the things we can do with it. From an Ex-pat point of view, I just wanted to offer some various options that I've been using for receiving U.K content and thankfully you helped me solve one of those problems with getting the official U.K apps. If Kodi isn't your thing, then fortunately there are other ways to watch U.K content without having to go down that road. Alway good to have options, that's what I always say
The official ITV Player app on Fire TV is just a temp solution. It will soon be replaced by a new app called ITV Hub, which will have on demand and live tv for all the ITV channels
neil0129 said:
The official ITV Player app on Fire TV is just a temp solution. It will soon be replaced by a new app called ITV Hub, which will have on demand and live tv for all the ITV channels
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Good to know. Thanks for the info.
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
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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
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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.
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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
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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).
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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 .
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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.
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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
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Well that stinks. Hope you'll get reimbursed for it!
What device do you think you'll get as a substitute in the meantime?
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Has anybody looked into a workarround to enable the Sky Go apk to work on Amazon Fire TV Devices?
The app can be installed on Amazon Tablets and other Tablets/Phones and work fine however when it comes to Amazon TV devices it gives an error.
I assume this is due to some sort of Licencing issue or DRM - but it would be nice for those who have it to still use it.
Which brings me arround to the first question, has anybody looked into tweaking the Amazon Fire TV to allow the app to work?
Edit: It is worth noting the German version has been patched before <https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/app-no-root-skygo-for-fire-tv.3776919/> but Im specifically talking the UK version.