I am a very early adopter of the Fire TV. One issue with set top boxes that really sticks in MY CRAW is how they can market a device for gaming then provide no storage to keep them? At its release this was suppose to be added to Fire TV and unless I'm missing something still no support?
Fire TV is not alone Android TV devices , Madcatz Mojo, have slots for expansion then provide a OS that does not support it? I just can't see the Logic!!!! You ask me to buy games? Where am I suppose to put them do a uninstall daily or weekly? You should not have to modify the device?
Am I the only one who is missing something here? Can anyone explain the thought process behind this? There has to be a reason I JUST DONT SEE IT?
My fire TV sits in the closet
I agree. Terrible device. Just send it to me.
artkrime said:
I agree. Terrible device. Just send it to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:laugh: Please dont get me wrong I am not saying Fire TV is bad ! Just want the ability to store my games local?
wastate2014 said:
:laugh: Please dont get me wrong I am not saying Fire TV is bad ! Just want the ability to store my games local?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't buy 2 of these boxes for gaming. But, yes I think you have a VERY legitimate gripe. The only reason I bring it up is the other nite I was watching the news and saw people were suing Apple over the new iPhone.
I didn't follow-up on it & 'really only just thought about it when I read your post, but they're basically mad because Apple promises x amount of storage without making it clear that the OS takes up a significant amount. I don't have a iPhone but I'll bet the provider has some immovable bloatware as well. THEN their only solution for you is to upgrade for a substantial fee or pay for cloud storage.
I've pointed out it seems like a crime to have such little space to start then take another 30% or so away from the user. (Yes that's almost exactly how I put it) Now we may find out if it IS a crime.
But I bought this to root it and attach external storage. To be honest, even if it came with double the advertised 8gb, it still wouldn't make a difference to me.
The current FireTV is unrootable though. So there iż no way to extend storage. I am slowly thinking of moving to Nexus Player - it's at least open although it has an awful remote.
Magnesus said:
The current FireTV is unrootable though. So there iż no way to extend storage. I am slowly thinking of moving to Nexus Player - it's at least open although it has an awful remote.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would wait for Razer's $99.00 upcoming Forge TV MUCH nicer specs same price:good:. Still don't know if it will support storage?
I know most on this forum have no issues modding a device which I am all for. Should it not come standard without the need to mod? Amazon needs to step up to the plate!
Nexus has no wired network unless I'm wrong. At the price they are I also would like to argue over storage but for now I just made my box a 1 trick pony Xbmc and some streamed TV etc and use something else for the rest. I can't buy any games or videos there's no room for paid apps
I recently bought the Oddworld: Stranger game for my AFTV. While my system is rooted, I am not currently using the best method for external storage (4TB drive to be here today), so it would download the game, but then tell me I didn't have enough room to install it.
I ended up resetting my AFTV because I it ended up I needed like an extra 300mb to install the software. Really stupid on Amazon's part. They need to put in usb storage for unrooted peeps.
I guess in my case I am looking at this device without a Mod whatsoever. I am trying to understand Amazon spending Hugh $$$$ + on developing games to market on Fire TV where am I suppose to put them??? I just cant wrap my head around how this is good business sense? Really this is more me venting with frustration as calling Amazon support is useless on this matter heck half of them did not understand what I meant about external storage
Example: Bard Tale alone can be 1.8GB at that rate you are out of space within a few large games?
You do have a very valid point regarding storage. With the current unrootability of newer FTVs it sucks not having the storage expansion. That should be something built into the system. I was lucky to get a new FTV that was rootable after Christmas and now I have it all hooked up. I have probably over 100 games installed on an external WD My Passport with 320GB storage. I installed the Ouya Everywhere apks, with a modded launcher, the Google Play Store, and Nova Launcher. It took some tweaking, but most everything works awesomely. The FTV is a great little device with enough power to make it a usable gaming system. The lack of storage and now unrootability may be its downfall though. The average user is not going to even bother with rooting, let alone the mods needed to expand the storage. Amazon should rethink this for its FTV2.
wastate2014 said:
I guess in my case I am looking at this device without a Mod whatsoever. I am trying to understand Amazon spending Hugh $$$$ + on developing games to market on Fire TV where am I suppose to put them???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon recently released a nice game made by their studio - Tales From Deep Space - but it's only available on Fire Tablets, not on Fire TV. I don't know what they are thinking, really.
Check out this guide for moving app data/obb files to external storage (requires root): http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-move-and-run-amazon-fire-tv-apps-from-an-external-usb-storage-drive/
This lets you have more than just one or two big games at a time.
just wondering, are any of those large games actually supported by the AFTV(as in downloaded directly from Amazon's limited Fire TV app store)? or are they ones that exist on other platforms(and not vetted to run on the AFTV) that you side loaded?
The big games (in terms of file size) I have from Amazon are all the GTA titles. I also installed KOTOR from Google Play.
tekweezle said:
just wondering, are any of those large games actually supported by the AFTV(as in downloaded directly from Amazon's limited Fire TV app store)? or are they ones that exist on other platforms(and not vetted to run on the AFTV) that you side loaded?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I got my 4TB drive that I hooked up to my aftv using the method that copies the /data folder over. Love it so far, but dang copying stuff from my computer to the aftv with that drive is slow. Thinking I should boot up a linux livecd, hook the usb HD to my computer and copy stuff over that way.
As for games, it depends. If I'm buying the game, i prefer an Amazon Fire TV version. Otherwise I'll try to located a pirated version of it (from a trusted uploader on torrent sites) to test out. And then generally I buy the paid version, but not always. Sort of hard to put money out for GTA SA when I've bought that game like 5 times for various systems so far. And still haven't finished it.
Anyways, Amazon was stupid to put only 8gb of ram in their system and needs to get rolling with usb storage support. While it's not necessarily a gaming machine, for android devices, it's actually a really nice gaming device.
Do you mean this method? http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/mounting-external-usb-to-data-t2889319
You all got me thinking about trying it, so I switched this evening. It seems like a better option because some games don't keep their bulk in the data/obb files so there's nothing for FileMount to move.
Mrreg said:
Do you mean this method? http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/mounting-external-usb-to-data-t2889319
You all got me thinking about trying it, so I switched this evening. It seems like a better option because some games don't keep their bulk in the data/obb files so there's nothing for FileMount to move.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, did method 1, all the data. Got a fast drive, so only limitation is the usb speed. Seems to be okay so far. No complaints.
It is a joke what amazon did with the storage, they said 8bg but when you open the box you have 5.49 space and out of that you have only 4.85gb available to use.....what nonsense! They really didn't think AFTV was going to do well cuz they said gaming was just an added bonus for the AFTV but i suppose once they saw it was one of the hottest item selling on there site they decided add more games.
i use aftv just a media center to run xbmc, i am not prime member.
They are forcing auto updates on AFTV and the latest firmware are not root able as of today. At this point they have 4 options, either wait and see if user will pay for could storage or released a firmware updates which will allow user to use the external storage via USB or come out with AFTV2 with bigger hard drive or discontinue the AFTV.
I for one will not pay could storage or will pay for apps, why do i have to pay for the same app again if i already bought it on google play store, Amazon probably notice that user are not willing paying for the same apps 2x, which is why they offered that $220 free apps bundled during the holidays to keeps folks happy cuz most folks were probably going to return it cuz that $99 device will cost you more cuz u have to buy all the apps again.
Thank you
tekweezle said:
just wondering, are any of those large games actually supported by the AFTV(as in downloaded directly from Amazon's limited Fire TV app store)? or are they ones that exist on other platforms(and not vetted to run on the AFTV) that you side loaded?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a very good point. I have not added any Mods to my Fire TV the only games come directly from Amazons Store. Little experiment: load all of your standard TV apps. Then go into the Amazon store and just see how many games (Amazon only) you can download and install? Many are rather large 500MB+? Then if you are not technical I would bet many would find it hard to dig down into settings to find how to uninstall? Yeah your games are in the cloud but the bandwidth to keep downloading these games is crazy? In addition I stream ALLOT about 1.2TB a month and I pay extra after 1 TB so every time I download it again its costing me money.
Mrreg said:
Check out this guide for moving app data/obb files to external storage (requires root): http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-move-and-run-amazon-fire-tv-apps-from-an-external-usb-storage-drive/
This lets you have more than just one or two big games at a time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think your missing the point New boxes are un rootable by software alone and even so Jo Public should not have that necessity to buy games on a "games console" 1 or 2 big games and your stuffed. D
As it stands it does not fullfill the promise.
Related
I saw the new Kindle Fire SD announced with slightly better specs available for $159. I wanted to buy it and also sign up for Prime to stream video and borrow books and have apps and stuff, plus root it and run Android 4.1 so I can have an awesome cheap "android tablet" with Amazon Prime
Is it worth the $280?
Will there be development?
Thanks in advance for aiding a little noob.
Encerspay said:
I saw the new Kindle Fire SD announced with slightly better specs available for $159. I wanted to buy it and also sign up for Prime to stream video and borrow books and have apps and stuff, plus root it and run Android 4.1 so I can have an awesome cheap "android tablet" with Amazon Prime
Is it worth the $280?
Will there be development?
Thanks in advance for aiding a little noob.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy it because you want to use it as an Amazon tablet. Whether or not these can ever be used as an Android tablet is the big question mark right now. There are rumors and much speculation about whether or not the bootloader will be secured in some way. The way that Amazon is marketing these things with lockscreen advertising, they have plenty of reasons to keep them from being easily manipulated like the first generation devices. Nobody will have any good idea about their potential until the right people start looking at them.
I have no idea where this $280 figure comes into play.
EDIT: I'm not sure the SD version is a good buy anyway. For $40 more, you get the better display, double the storage, bluetooth, HDMI out... that seems like the better choice.
kinfauns said:
Buy it because you want to use it as an Amazon tablet. Whether or not these can ever be used as an Android tablet is the big question mark right now. There are rumors and much speculation about whether or not the bootloader will be secured in some way. The way that Amazon is marketing these things with lockscreen advertising, they have plenty of reasons to keep them from being easily manipulated like the first generation devices. Nobody will have any good idea about their potential until the right people start looking at them.
I have no idea where this $280 figure comes into play.
EDIT: I'm not sure the SD version is a good buy anyway. For $40 more, you get the better display, double the storage, bluetooth, HDMI out... that seems like the better choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The $280 includes Prime, sorry I didn't clarify that
$40 doesn't seem like much at all, and your views on the SD tablet are very interesting. I honestly haven't even considered the HD version. I'll check it out.
Thanks for the input.
It's still a question mark on whether the developers will be able to root the new fire easily. I suggest waiting for a month or so.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
The new Kindles have a locked bootloader, but I have a feeling they'll be easily bypassed since Amazon lets you do manual updates via USB.
Ok you're asking us about 2 separate things. In my opinion, Amazon Prime is only worth $80 if you buy a lot of stuff online.
If I were in your shoes, I'd buy a used Kindle Fire or I'd find a way to get $40 together and buy a Nexus 7.
Ok, guys... Ouya is not available in my country, but I have one opportunity to buy this console, since my friend is in the USA atm.
I am not interested in Ouya games (some are too expensive for my taste). I'm thinking of buying the console for video playback (MX Player or XMBC), Cheapcast (to stream from my Nexus) and emulating some old gaming systems (GBA, NES, Sega, etc).
I don't like the fact that it's easily brickable (I know you don't like that, too).
Should I buy it for that? What's your opinion?
Go for it.
I am more than happy using mine for XBMC and emulators along with side loaded games and a few choice Ouya games.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Corvus Corax said:
Ok, guys... Ouya is not available in my country, but I have one opportunity to buy this console, since my friend is in the USA atm.
I am not interested in Ouya games (some are too expensive for my taste). I'm thinking of buying the console for video playback (MX Player or XMBC), Cheapcast (to stream from my Nexus) and emulating some old gaming systems (GBA, NES, Sega, etc).
I don't like the fact that it's easily brickable (I know you don't like that, too).
Should I buy it for that? What's your opinion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its why i bought mine really.........really dissapointed that it wasnt the whole open console....but pleased with it to watch stuff on
hippopig said:
its why i bought mine really.........really dissapointed that it wasnt the whole open console....but pleased with it to watch stuff on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought it for xbmc but to be honest, I think that i would have been better off doing more research. It was an impulse buy and if you are going tobe doing emulation and side loaded stuff you may as well spend the money elsewhere.
HT123 said:
I bought it for xbmc but to be honest, I think that i would have been better off doing more research. It was an impulse buy and if you are going tobe doing emulation and side loaded stuff you may as well spend the money elsewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK the xbmc part is debatable, personally i enjoy mine using xbmc but i can see others frustrated with it. However I'm curious about the emulation part, I am running the nes, genesis and a few other emulators on it without a hiccup and absolutely love it for that. It is probably only a matter of time before someone does a good port of mame to it and that will just add to it.
what the unit does and the form factor, or a better way to put it not having to have a full pc there to do these little things. and if i want to do something more powerful normally i'm at my desk for that anyway.
chewyboy said:
OK the xbmc part is debatable, personally i enjoy mine using xbmc but i can see others frustrated with it.
what the unit does and the form factor, or a better way to put it not having to have a full pc there to do these little things. and if i want to do something more powerful normally i'm at my desk for that anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think android and a small set top box are the correct OS and form factor for TV displayed emulation but i say money could be better spent elsewhere for the following reasons. For XBMC, the controller is horrible. It just is. If you want a decent remote to go with the Ouya it will run you at least $35 or $40. For most other stuff the Controller is not the best and a PS3 controller seems to be the current controller of choice for gaming. If you get an android HTPC it will still be able to pair a remote (or use flirc) as well as pair with a PS3 controller. The other selling point with a Non-ouya android device is that you are not given a version of the android OS which needs to be modded to use the Play store. My final complaint and the biggest is the wifi is just horrible, just. plain. horrible. Moving the wireless router or running a cable 35 feet to the living room are not options and it is the only device with such bad performance.
that is my rant... i just talked my self out of an Ouya... too bad i didn't write this $99 ago.
HT123 said:
I think android and a small set top box are the correct OS and form factor for TV displayed emulation but i say money could be better spent elsewhere for the following reasons. For XBMC, the controller is horrible. It just is. If you want a decent remote to go with the Ouya it will run you at least $35 or $40. For most other stuff the Controller is not the best and a PS3 controller seems to be the current controller of choice for gaming. If you get an android HTPC it will still be able to pair a remote (or use flirc) as well as pair with a PS3 controller. The other selling point with a Non-ouya android device is that you are not given a version of the android OS which needs to be modded to use the Play store. My final complaint and the biggest is the wifi is just horrible, just. plain. horrible. Moving the wireless router or running a cable 35 feet to the living room are not options and it is the only device with such bad performance.
that is my rant... i just talked my self out of an Ouya... too bad i didn't write this $99 ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK i have to argue about the controller part of this. if you are geeky enough to buy an ouya then you have at least 1 tablet laying around, dont say you do not because you do. the xbmc remote for android or ios devices works great for xbmc and the ouya so really that is not an excuse for complaining about the controller for controlling the ouya when in xbmc.
now setting it up sucks, but there is a way around that to, it's called plug in a usb keyboard for 10 minutes and setup your network shares and all.
chewyboy said:
OK i have to argue about the controller part of this....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am geeky enough and currently use that solution at times although honestly, I dislike the XBMC remote on the phone and tablet. I like buttons that I can push. Aside from personal preference, that solution is only valid if the box stays in XBMC and XBMC is used as a launcher for android programs and another controller is handy and paired. The other issue is that solution is only valid if I am both home and willing to let the other people in the house use my phone or tablet as a remote so they can use XBMC.
So while I agree there are other solutions for controlling XBMC I don't think they justify the purchase of the Ouya simply because they are available, especially since they are generic apps and will be available regardless of the android based set top you buy. Why pay the price for the Ouya controller so you can immediately implement a solution that is suitable for the situation.
Sad news, guys. A friend went to BestBuy in NYC yesterday to buy me an Ouya. http://stores.bestbuy.com/1448/
They had 3 of them and all were sold yesterday during the day. The nearest BestBuy was 15 blocks away and he didn't have the time to go there. Today he is flying back home, so no Ouya for me... :/
It's a piece of sh***... Don't waste your money for this console or whatever it was supposed to be. I have it and I hate it... Waste of time and money... Get a real android or Linux device and that makes you happy
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
I am looking for a replacement to the mad catz m.o.j.o console i had a refund on it but i want open android with superb graphics really,but the thing is i don't want anything too expensive or too cheap either,the problem is i don't know what models are best,or more importantly for this section of the forum what i can do in relation to getting a fire tv gaming and web browsing etc?Can i play games can more importantly can i sideload and also can i sideload downloaded stuff? Or possibly flash a rom on it?
PHYSC-1 said:
I am looking for a replacement to the mad catz m.o.j.o console i had a refund on it but i want open android with superb graphics really,but the thing is i don't want anything too expensive or too cheap either,the problem is i don't know what models are best,or more importantly for this section of the forum what i can do in relation to getting a fire tv gaming and web browsing etc?Can i play games can more importantly can i sideload and also can i sideload downloaded stuff? Or possibly flash a rom on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont take this the wrong way, but to get everythihg you want you will need to custom build a HTPC with a computer. These android boxes are good and most are cheap, but they do have limitations and will not meeet all your expectations.
IMO, the FTV is the best box on the market in the under $150 category. If you are willing to comprimise, it should meet most of you expectations. All you questions are answered in this forum, so read up or use search.
byrdcfmma said:
Dont take this the wrong way, but to get everythihg you want you will need to custom build a HTPC with a computer. These android boxes are good and most are cheap, but they do have limitations and will not meeet all your expectations.
IMO, the FTV is the best box on the market in the under $150 category. If you are willing to comprimise, it should meet most of you expectations. All you questions are answered in this forum, so read up or use search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had enough of pc's i am a computer repair technician,i want it for the lower power consumption but with nearing or par with console level graphics.Pc's are too expensive to run they are rubbish in small form factors they tend to burn out on the bridge on the board, or they come with cheap [email protected] psu's that cost a bomb for good one's in small form factor.If there's one thing i learned quickly it was never buy small form factor pc's if you want it to last or not to overheat.
But on the other hand android tv box's don't push the same high level temps because they are only passively cooled quite often as apposed to actively cooled,besides if i really want i'll cooling mod it like my k-r42 with 80mm fan and shimmed.
But basically i want an android unit that has gaming power beyond a mali400 and closing in on if not better than a snapdragon 8xx chip.I've looked at the huwaei tron but it's yet again a 4.2x android system with no guarentee my tv will be supported over hdmi properly i learned that from my mad catz m.o.j.o not outputting 1080p on my 1080p tv.So i may just hang on until k1 touches down in shops but it looks like they are not in a hurry although there is the mipad rumor,i think i'll be waiting until 2015 at this rate before a god unit comes out that has kitkat on it,i was wondering if any rockchip 8 core cpu's are out in tv box form yet,and if they have a heightened gpu to the mali 400? And was also wondering where they fit in terms of graphical power?
Firetv is anything but open. IMO android boxes are all underpowered and frustratingly issue laden. Pity as I too am wanting to buy something good... I bought a s89 tronsmart and it's not as good as I'd hoped. I was interested in the MOJO... Why did you return it, it's a lot more open than Amazon firetv surely?
Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk
I've bought it as replacement for raspberry pi and was disappointed. Yes Fire TV build perfectly and has a good hardware. But software is a crap and no way for root by now, only hopes and blocking of update server. It's not clear for now what improvements OTA brings and if root will be issued. If you looking for a good device that works and not for fun reverse engineering hours. Try to find alternative.
May be once it will be a good choice but not now, unfortunately.
Sent from my LG-G2 using XDA Free mobile app
Rumored Android TV BOX... http://pulse.me/s/1jrW6M
God I hope that one IS true and GREAT!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I was 100% happy with my ouya, with stock OS, and then even better with CM11. performance was never a problem.
really the only reason I went for firetv was that I watch prime video A LOT. and between flash-plugin + pick-your-favorite-browser being way-EOL and a bit buggy, and the fact that it took literally 6-8 clicks/actions to go to the next episode of a show, vs 1 (or at most 2) clicks/actions on firetv (yeah first-world problems...)
ouya sales on amazon for $60 would still be worth it (esp they want like 50 bucks for just an extra controller) but at the 100 point might as well firetv or something else.
but honestly it all comes down to what do you want to do with it. oh wait I don't have to re-ramble all this...
http://www.xbmchub.com/forums/threads/21722-Fire-TV-vs-Ouya?p=185275&viewfull=1#post185275
Anyone who bought Amazon-anything devices and expect openness is definitely going the wrong path. Amazon has some great devices but it has a pretty strict walled garden environment (which, granted, is kind of pretty) where they are expected to stay. Amazon is somewhat similar if not worse than Apple in this regard.
Amazon's latest devices such as the Fire HDX and the Fire TV are amazing devices on their own right, but if you are not getting them because of what they can do out of the box but instead of what they 'should be able to do' and expect to hack/mod them, you are in for a disappointment. This is what differentiate them to Google's devices, where it can be a gamble whether a product can be 10x better or 10x worse in the few months following its release (see: Google TV vs. Chromecast).
With Amazon devices it's extremely simple. You go to the product page and look at what it's offering. If you're wowed by those, then get it, if you think that 'it has potential', then don't get it.
Newcron said:
Anyone who bought Amazon-anything devices and expect openness is definitely going the wrong path. Amazon has some great devices but it has a pretty strict walled garden environment (which, granted, is kind of pretty) where they are expected to stay. Amazon is somewhat similar if not worse than Apple in this regard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and no - I bought this box because I wanted one device that did both amazon video and Netflix. Met expectations there.
But I also wanted to be able to use it as a front-end for music stored on my NAS. This is why I was never interested in Roku, might've been interested in the Apple product but don't remember it having Prime support, and kept using my Western Digital Live Plus for as long as I did - the access to files inside the walls is important to me.
By day 2, I had enabled ADB and sideloaded XBMC. Yes, I don't have root, but I have Amazon, Netflix and local files all in one place, which I like a lot.
From what I've seen, on the Fire tablets amazon doesn't block sideloaded apps, or I wouldn't have bought this device. It makes a decent HTPC device for my purposes, though, and is open enough for me. Of course I'd prefer root, but in this instance, not if having root broke the Amazon Video stuff.
My biggest complaint so far is that amazon doesn't give us a preference setting for how much bandwidth the box should allocate to itself. So I needed to do that with my firewall instead.
I'll be interested to see if Amazon makes Prime available for the rumored Google TV box. My guess is they will not. But if they do, and I'm within my return window when the device is fully announced...
I am hoping someone can help me make sense of why Fire TV or Android TV do not have options to allow external storage without a mod?? They want you to purchase games then give you no room to install more than a few at a time? The cloud is great but to me it is a waste of bandwidth to download multiple times? Heck install Bards Tale once on Fire and you are about full?
Maybe it's me I must be slow for I fail to see the Logic?
wastate2014 said:
I am hoping someone can help me make sense of why Fire TV or Android TV do not have options to allow external storage without a mod?? They want you to purchase games then give you no room to install more than a few at a time? The cloud is great but to me it is a waste of bandwidth to download multiple times? Heck install Bards Tale once on Fire and you are about full?
Maybe it's me I must be slow for I fail to see the Logic?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a very controlled ecosystem. The hardware is almost too good for what Amazon wants to offer. If I couldn't root it I wouldn't be buying another one. But at the very least they could've offered an upgrade like with phones and tablet. Maybe we'll see 16gb hdd on the 2nd gen but the way they've been so vigilant around rooted devices, I probably won't buy.
I was surprised when I picked up a ouya for my son it only had 5 gb and change available to start. But at least there you have ext storage and can feel secure in rooting and modifying.
I am new to Fire TV and don't currently own one.
Whats the deal with the jailbroken fire tv units being sold on flea bay? Are they a waste of time & money?
They claim to provide live TV channels to replace cable etc.
As far as I know there was never a "jailbreak" for this device.
Only certain software revision Fire TVs can be rooted. The current ones at amazon and best buy cannot. It's really hard to find ones that are rootable. I can sell you mine. Thing is a serious POS. First it's as closed off as an apple product when stock. Which wouldn't be so bad, if it actually functioned. Alas, Netflix cannot play smooth on the device at all. I don't know if intentional that amazon does it so you'd use their services or what. At any rate. Buy the shield TV. It's $100 more, but it's at least powerful enough you shouldn't have an issue. I'm unloading mine asap to buy the shield.
supremekizzle said:
Only certain software revision Fire TVs can be rooted. The current ones at amazon and best buy cannot. It's really hard to find ones that are rootable. I can sell you mine. Thing is a serious POS. First it's as closed off as an apple product when stock. Which wouldn't be so bad, if it actually functioned. Alas, Netflix cannot play smooth on the device at all. I don't know if intentional that amazon does it so you'd use their services or what. At any rate. Buy the shield TV. It's $100 more, but it's at least powerful enough you shouldn't have an issue. I'm unloading mine asap to buy the shield.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's no worse than the kindles, at least towelroot works. If you're so eager to get rid of yours, sell it to him cheap...
ldeveraux said:
It's no worse than the kindles, at least towelroot works. If you're so eager to get rid of yours, sell it to him cheap...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was implying, but I'm pretty sure xda rules perhibit private sales. This thing has been nothing but frustration. My $25 Chromecast? Plays Netflix flawlessly. There's no reason that this device shouldn't be able to.
supremekizzle said:
That's what I was implying, but I'm pretty sure xda rules perhibit private sales. This thing has been nothing but frustration. My $25 Chromecast? Plays Netflix flawlessly. There's no reason that this device shouldn't be able to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're kidding me right? You can side load kodi (hell...you can side load anything). Can't do that on ATV. Its got much better specs. You can use an external drive. And up until a short time ago it retailed for the same as apple TV. Chromecast? Its like a decent tool but what it is able to do doesn't make up for what ftv stick does and the price is the same.
This thread seems kind of trollish.
supremekizzle said:
That's what I was implying, but I'm pretty sure xda rules perhibit private sales. This thing has been nothing but frustration. My $25 Chromecast? Plays Netflix flawlessly. There's no reason that this device shouldn't be able to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I wasn't agreeing with you[emoji1] . I've had no problems or issues at all with mine, sorry. Everything plays exactly as planned...
KLit75 said:
You're kidding me right? You can side load kodi (hell...you can side load anything). Can't do that on ATV. Its got much better specs. You can use an external drive. And up until a short time ago it retailed for the same as apple TV. Chromecast? Its like a decent tool but what it is able to do doesn't make up for what ftv stick does and the price is the same.
This thread seems kind of trollish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you really follow. I'm not claiming the Chromecast as being more feature rich or powerful than the FTV. I'm saying that if a $25 device can play Netflix smoothly, it's absurd that the FTV can't. Go ahead and Google "fire TV netflix" and it'll return results from tons of people saying that Netflix playback on the device is crap. Netflix is BY FAR and away the most used streaming service. There shouldn't be problems using it on the FTV, but there are. So let me revise my stance: OP, 'jailbroken' or not, if you plan on using the fire TV for Netflix streaming, seek other options. If you're undeterred from broken Netflix, then rooted FTV's are worth it for the extra functionality. Especially the larger partition HDD, since amazon deemed having larger than 4gb would condone piracy since external HDD are apparently only to be used for apps and games, not your media collection.
supremekizzle said:
I don't think you really follow. I'm not claiming the Chromecast as being more feature rich or powerful than the FTV. I'm saying that if a $25 device can play Netflix smoothly, it's absurd that the FTV can't. Go ahead and Google "fire TV netflix" and it'll return results from tons of people saying that Netflix playback on the device is crap. Netflix is BY FAR and away the most used streaming service. There shouldn't be problems using it on the FTV, but there are. So let me revise my stance: OP, 'jailbroken' or not, if you plan on using the fire TV for Netflix streaming, seek other options. If you're undeterred from broken Netflix, then rooted FTV's are worth it for the extra functionality. Especially the larger partition HDD, since amazon deemed having larger than 4gb would condone piracy since external HDD are apparently only to be used for apps and games, not your media collection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard you fine. Your Netflix issues are just like the ones I've documented/complained about in the past year & change. I was focusing on your 1st post where you called AFTV a "POS" then made a reference to chromecast. I've said many times that its a great media device for the price but Netflix not working is unacceptable. Amazon's heard my complaints but unless I want to shell out $200 for nvidia or upgrade to an htpc, I think this is still the best media center for under $100. Even though my laptop had less trouble with Netflix back in like 2006. My apple TV plays Netflix flawlessly and with better resolution but will remain in storage because although amazon is restrictive, apple has no equal in terms of being locked down.
Btw--what do u mean it won't play? Not at all? Or are you often greeted with an "unable to play title"/loads to 99%...which is usually resolved by quitting the app, worse case reboot.
KLit75 said:
I heard you fine. Your Netflix issues are just like the ones I've documented/complained about in the past year & change. I was focusing on your 1st post where you called AFTV a "POS" then made a reference to chromecast. I've said many times that its a great media device for the price but Netflix not working is unacceptable. Amazon's heard my complaints but unless I want to shell out $200 for nvidia or upgrade to an htpc, I think this is still the best media center for under $100. Even though my laptop had less trouble with Netflix back in like 2006. My apple TV plays Netflix flawlessly and with better resolution but will remain in storage because although amazon is restrictive, apple has no equal in terms of being locked down.
Btw--what do u mean it won't play? Not at all? Or are you often greeted with an "unable to play title"/loads to 99%...which is usually resolved by quitting the app, worse case reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. Glad we're on the same page. I concur that at $100 it's the best option save for Netflix, closed ecosystem, HDD. With the XDA community it had accomplished quite a bit. So I will agree to disagree and retract my POS comment. Yes. Netflix is almost unusable. I get loading to 99% and unable to play, somewhat frequently. However, the worst problem is the video getting all choppy and stuttering while the audio plays fine. Then the video has to speed up to " catch up" to the audio. This happens ALL OF THE TIME. I've cleared cache, rebooted wayyyyy more times than should have been necessary with this thing.
supremekizzle said:
Ok. Glad we're on the same page. I concur that at $100 it's the best option save for Netflix, closed ecosystem, HDD. With the XDA community it had accomplished quite a bit. So I will agree to disagree and retract my POS comment. Yes. Netflix is almost unusable. I get loading to 99% and unable to play, somewhat frequently. However, the worst problem is the video getting all choppy and stuttering while the audio plays fine. Then the video has to speed up to " catch up" to the audio. This happens ALL OF THE TIME. I've cleared cache, rebooted wayyyyy more times than should have been necessary with this thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You ever consider the fact that it may be network handshake issues? Or speed issues? Wireless vs wired? It seems to work fine for me and all the other people that haven't chimed in, there's no reason it shouldn't for you too!
And realistically you can google any device, paired with any problem, and you'll see threads and threads on that topic. Look how many people can't follow simple instructions with towelroot!
Netflix has always worked fine on my Fire TV connected via ethernet and on my Fire Stick connected via 5GHz wireless. Check for interference or a bad ethernet cable. Change your router to use 5GHz instead of 2.4.