[Q] upgrading from Gotham to Kodi - Fire TV Themes and Apps

Is this possible simply using the firefox browser I have installed, downloading the zip and running it? or are there reason I shouldn't attempt that?

digery said:
Is this possible simply using the firefox browser I have installed, downloading the zip and running it? or are there reason I shouldn't attempt that?
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I believe Gotham is simply a build of Kodi ( ex. Helix, Gotham & Frodo) & each has their various versions of a particular build. I figure as long as each build & version is compatible with your device it shouldn't matter which method you use to install it. Or did I miss your point entirely?

EL TEJANO said:
I believe Gotham is simply a build of Kodi ( ex. Helix, Gotham & Frodo) & each has their various versions of a particular build. I figure as long as each build & version is compatible with your device it shouldn't matter which method you use to install it. Or did I miss your point entirely?
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Thanks El Tejano. You've not missed my point. The device is the Fire TV. I read that people have Kodi running on the Fire Stick but not read about Kodi the Fire TV Box.

digery said:
I read that people have Kodi running on the Fire Stick but not read about Kodi the Fire TV Box.
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It works fine on the box too.
are there reason I shouldn't attempt that?
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Only possible reason not to would be that Helix is still (barely) pre-release and not as stable as Gotham. Many years of XBMC/Kodi use has taught me to wait for the point releases (ex: 12.1, 13.2, etc) before even bothering to upgrade. They have always been rather anxious with labeling their dev phases. Really In xbmc/kodi land *.0-*.1=RC RC=Beta, Beta=Alpha.

Related

Netflix Build Number for AFTV2 vs original AFTV - is it newer?

I have a couple of the Fire TV version 1 boxes fully rooted with fully unlocked bootloaders and the latest prerooted roms (51.1.6.3_516012020) and the Netflix version loaded is 1.1.6 build 148, which is dated October 2014.
Can anyone who has a new FTV (version 2) confirm the version and build number of the Netflix app that comes installed? If it's newer, I'm wondering if the apk can be extracted and installed on the older units. I know the regular android version of the Netflix app gets updated on a far more regular basis. According to the Play Store, the latest version was updated October 18, 2015. So I have to wonder what features, bug fixes, etc. are we missing being an entire year behind.
So anybody out there who has an AFTV2, please go into the Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications and let me know what you have for Netflix version number.
It just seems a bit odd to me that the regular android version is 3.15.3 build 5269 and AFTV is at 1.1.6 build 148
If there is a newer version on the second gen AFTVs, I would be more than happy to test installing it on my older units.
Thanks in advance for any help.
drewb0y said:
I have a couple of the Fire TV version 1 boxes fully rooted with fully unlocked bootloaders and the latest prerooted roms (51.1.6.3_516012020) and the Netflix version loaded is 1.1.6 build 148, which is dated October 2014.
Can anyone who has a new FTV (version 2) confirm the version and build number of the Netflix app that comes installed? If it's newer, I'm wondering if the apk can be extracted and installed on the older units. I know the regular android version of the Netflix app gets updated on a far more regular basis. According to the Play Store, the latest version was updated October 18, 2015. So I have to wonder what features, bug fixes, etc. are we missing being an entire year behind.
So anybody out there who has an AFTV2, please go into the Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications and let me know what you have for Netflix version number.
It just seems a bit odd to me that the regular android version is 3.15.3 build 5269 and AFTV is at 1.1.6 build 148
If there is a newer version on the second gen AFTVs, I would be more than happy to test installing it on my older units.
Thanks in advance for any help.
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Netflix on the Fire TV 2 is currently on version 2.4.0 build 1032
I'm pretty it's not a special version for AFTV2, but a new version exclusive to FireOS 5
I went ahead and tried extracted the APKs for the new NetFlix and Twitch.TV apps from my AFTV2, tried sideloading them onto my old AFTV but received a minSdkVersion error during installation.
So then I tried to use apktool to decode the APKs, then edited the minSdkVersion to make them installable, rebuilt the APKs, and re-signed the APKs.
I was then able to install the new versions of NetFlix and Twitch.TV on my old AFTV, but both of them simply crash upon launch...
It was my first time using apktool so maybe there are further tweaks you could do to make them work on the old AFTV.
It's not weird for developers to have versions of their apps different from their regular android version.
These versions are built with a leanback interface, made for easy navigation with a remote instead of a touchscreen.
DankNuts said:
Netflix on the Fire TV 2 is currently on version 2.4.0 build 1032
I'm pretty it's not a special version for AFTV2, but a new version exclusive to FireOS 5
I went ahead and tried extracted the APKs for the new NetFlix and Twitch.TV apps from my AFTV2, tried sideloading them onto my old AFTV but received a minSdkVersion error during installation.
So then I tried to use apktool to decode the APKs, then edited the minSdkVersion to make them installable, rebuilt the APKs, and re-signed the APKs.
I was then able to install the new versions of NetFlix and Twitch.TV on my old AFTV, but both of them simply crash upon launch...
It was my first time using apktool so maybe there are further tweaks you could do to make them work on the old AFTV.
It's not weird for developers to have versions of their apps different from their regular android version.
These versions are built with a leanback interface, made for easy navigation with a remote instead of a touchscreen.
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Thanks for all your effort trying with that. I just have issues with the Netflix crashing frequently on my 2 rooted ones with the latest roms that is really quite annoying. As soon as I press play it closes. I'll have to do some more troubleshooting.
drewb0y said:
Thanks for all your effort trying with that. I just have issues with the Netflix crashing frequently on my 2 rooted ones with the latest roms that is really quite annoying. As soon as I press play it closes. I'll have to do some more troubleshooting.
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It seems Netflix on Fire OS 5 on the original fire tv is much better. Hopefully Amazon will be rolling that out sometime... Pretty sure they had originally promised October 5th...
rbox said:
It seems Netflix on Fire OS 5 on the original fire tv is much better. Hopefully Amazon will be rolling that out sometime... Pretty sure they had originally promised October 5th...
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Any odds on the possibilities of a Fire OS 5 prerooted rom for the first gens? If anyone can do it, you can! Thanks for all your hard work.
drewb0y said:
Any odds on the possibilities of a Fire OS 5 prerooted rom for the first gens? If anyone can do it, you can! Thanks for all your hard work.
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Yeah, it's all done. I'm just waiting on Amazon to push a final version.
Can anyone backup and upload the Netflix APK from a FireTV2. I would like to try it on my pre-rooted FireTV 1. Would appreciate it!

Replace the FireOS with google android OS ?

Hello
is there a way to replace the FireOS of amazon fire TV / stick by the full google android OS with google play store, google services...
because i have apps that runs perfectly on my nexus7 android tablet (ea. tunnelbear, . ..) but don't start on fireOS.
thanks for help
vdurieu said:
Hello
is there a way to replace the FireOS of amazon fire TV / stick by the full google android OS with google play store, google services...
because i have apps that runs perfectly on my nexus7 android tablet (ea. tunnelbear, . ..) but don't start on fireOS.
thanks for help
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You would need a fully unlocked bootloader & although most AFTV devices have been rooted at different FW version. Only some first year FTV1's with early FW where capable of being Fully bootloader unlocked. I am lucky enough to own 4 of them.
There have been multiple new methods to root AFTV(S)'s. But no new methods of unlocking their bootloaders. So for now changing the OS on AFTV(S)'s is not going to happen.
vdurieu said:
Hello
is there a way to replace the FireOS of amazon fire TV / stick by the full google android OS with google play store, google services...
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Although there is no way to replace the FireOS. If you have a rooted FTV1 & eventually other rooted FTV devices. You will be able to change the UI. Just keep an eye on this project.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/project-aftv2atv-t3489239/
It should make your FTV function as close to an AndroidTV device as possible.
Y314K I was just given a Fire TV box 1st gen and was able to root and fully unlock the bootloader. I have TWRP installed, and since I'm just using this box for exploring alterations I was wondering if it is possible to completely replace the fire os with a pure android os? I'm having trouble finding tutorials and wondered if you could tell me if it is possible and if you know of any resources of tutorials? What do you run on your FTV 1 boxes? Any other suggestions for tinkering?
Robdogbird said:
Y314K I was just given a Fire TV box 1st gen and was able to root and fully unlock the bootloader. I have TWRP installed, and since I'm just using this box for exploring alterations I was wondering if it is possible to completely replace the fire os with a pure android os? I'm having trouble finding tutorials and wondered if you could tell me if it is possible and if you know of any resources of tutorials? What do you run on your FTV 1 boxes? Any other suggestions for tinkering?
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http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/project-aftv2atv-t3489239/
The above is still the closest option so far. There where a couple of projects a few years ago which you can find here on XDA where developers started to make a Cyanogen 12 & other FW options for FTV1's with unlocked bootloader. But development faded once only a small percentage of FTV1's where capable of having their bootloaders unlocked. And none of the other devices have that capability.
Most mods now are just launcher changes & Amazon service deactivation for a leaner FireOS. But every option still has FireOS as it's base. The AFTV2ATV project does the most changes over all.
You can find the old projects under both development sections.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/orig-development/
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/cm12-android-tv-rom-development-t3016587
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fi...e-tv-2-ubuntu-headless-install-guide-t3323351
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/kernel-overclocked-to-1890mhz-init-d-t2934205
Anything that could be run on a FTV2 can also be ported or modded for a FTV1.

When will there be a new Non-Amazon Custom Rom for the Fire TV Stick 2?

Does anyone know when we'll get a new custom Rom for the Fire TV Stick 2 running Lineage OS? I've looked through their website and found roms for Android TV devices. I know its going to take awhile until the development has finished. If any android developer wants to create a new OS on the Fire TV, this is a good start doing so since the Mediatek exploit is so easy to follow :good:
theflashfromthecw said:
Does anyone know when we'll get a new custom Rom for the Fire TV Stick 2 running Lineage OS? I've looked through their website and found roms for Android TV devices. I know its going to take awhile until the development has finished. If any android developer wants to create a new OS on the Fire TV, this is a good start doing so since the Mediatek exploit is so easy to follow :good:
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It's been many years and no one has made one for any of the Fire TV devices. So, probably not any time soon? When the first fire tv box was first rooted and unlocked I worked on it, but never quite got it finished. I don't really see any point, especially because there's quite a few instructions on how to get the play store and friends working on stock software.
@rbox just out of curiosity what is required to do this?. Can you do a basic explanation how the process works eg would require mapping remote control and identifying chipset devices etc. I have no idea.
brentonv said:
@rbox just out of curiosity what is required to do this?. Can you do a basic explanation how the process works eg would require mapping remote control and identifying chipset devices etc. I have no idea.
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Click to collapse
The same as porting lineage to any device. You have to create a lineage device tree for the device. Figure out all the random settings you need. All the random blobs you need. Figure out how to make the kernel compile with everything lineage needs. And then pray it compiles into a workable image.
rbox said:
The same as porting lineage to any device. You have to create a lineage device tree for the device. Figure out all the random settings you need. All the random blobs you need. Figure out how to make the kernel compile with everything lineage needs. And then pray it compiles into a workable image.
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Click to collapse
Yes I see. Just watched this setup guide https://youtu.be/99LUjX63LhU
Thanks mate!

Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition) ROM

Is the ROM for the Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition) available for download? I'd like to try flashing it onto a Fire TV Stick (Gen 2).
oavald said:
Is the ROM for the Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition) available for download? I'd like to try flashing it onto a Fire TV Stick (Gen 2).
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Yes, the device is called tank. There is lineage 12.1 for it. You need to be unlocked to install.
Thank you for your response. What I want to do is swap the ROM on my Fire TV Stick (Gen 2) for the ROM on the Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition). They share the same hardware specs, but they're intended for different international markets. So, what I'm looking for is the ROM from the Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition). Is it available for download somewhere?
oavald said:
Thank you for your response. What I want to do is swap the ROM on my Fire TV Stick (Gen 2) for the ROM on the Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition). They share the same hardware specs, but they're intended for different international markets. So, what I'm looking for is the ROM from the Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition). Is it available for download somewhere?
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I am sure someone would have full stock, but this thread carries a pre-rooted version of stock. Since you have to unlock to install anyways you might try installing this.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/fire-tv-stick-2-tank-prerooted-stock-t3912271
Michajin said:
I am sure someone would have full stock, but this thread carries a pre-rooted version of stock. Since you have to unlock to install anyways you might try installing this.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/fire-tv-stick-2-tank-prerooted-stock-t3912271
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How do you extract the ROM from a Fire Stick? Are there instructions for this?
oavald said:
How do you extract the ROM from a Fire Stick? Are there instructions for this?
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I use TWRP to make backups. Post your question in the unlock thread or the preroot rom thread. The only way i have ever been able to get the full stock bin file is to download it as a update, copy it out of the update folder. Is there a reason you do not want the pre-root version? you can disable root access, it may also being stock send you updates for the basic edition.
Michajin said:
I use TWRP to make backups. Post your question in the unlock thread or the preroot rom thread. The only way i have ever been able to get the full stock bin file is to download it as a update, copy it out of the update folder. Is there a reason you do not want the pre-root version? you can disable root access, it may also being stock send you updates for the basic edition.
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Thank you for your reply. I've owned several Fire TV Sticks (Gen 2, codename tank), for a couple of years, and they've worked great with Kodi and a few other apps. But I live in a country they're not meant for. In my country, I should be using the Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition, codename dozer), but Amazon in it's infinite wisdom doesn't ship them to my country.
According to the device spec pages I've linked above, the hardware on the tank and dozer models are "largely the same", but the UIs are different. More importantly to me, the tanks run a Prime Video app that doesn't work in my country, and they disable the Prime Video app that does work. I had thought of flashing my tanks with the dozer's ROM, but I might try flashing a pre-root version, and enabling the Prime Video app I want from root, as was suggested to me before.
oavald said:
Thank you for your reply. I've owned several Fire TV Sticks (Gen 2, codename tank), for a couple of years, and they've worked great with Kodi and a few other apps. But I live in a country they're not meant for. In my country, I should be using the Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition, codename dozer), but Amazon in it's infinite wisdom doesn't ship them to my country.
According to the device spec pages I've linked above, the hardware on the tank and dozer models are "largely the same", but the UIs are different. More importantly to me, the tanks run a Prime Video app that doesn't work in my country, and they disable the Prime Video app that does work. I had thought of flashing my tanks with the dozer's ROM, but I might try flashing a pre-root version, and enabling the Prime Video app I want from root, as was suggested to me before.
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I believe i have seen using the prerooted rom as successful for the basic. I think the only difference is the alexa remote.

can i flash a new os? FireTV (Built-in, non stick)

so i have a TV with built in fire, and wanna put a new os on it. its just laggy since its last big update, and id like to have a new os on it if possible. it having less telemetry/data collection and no ads would be a plus. Software Version: Fire OS 6.2.9.6 (NS6296/4555)
Fire TV Home Version: 6450027.1
Model: INSIGNIA_NS-43DF710NA19
RiftScuttler said:
wanna put a new os on it.
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There aren't any custom ROMs or ways to install a custom ROM on any Fire TV television.
Your best option is to buy a stand alone streaming device and use that instead of the television's built-in OS.
Finnzz said:
There aren't any custom ROMs or ways to install a custom ROM on any Fire TV television.
Your best option is to buy a stand alone streaming device and use that instead of the television's built-in OS.
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okay

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