Develop Bugs

Wifey bought me a FTV!

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

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

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

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

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

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

A few ways to boot sideloaded PLEX/XBMC from the Amazon Fire TV interface

Hi all
Unrootable UK fire TV here so these are a few things I found out that made me a lot happier
1) You can use llama to boot a NEWER sideloaded PLEX app (google play store) from the original OUT OF DATE amazon store versions icon - keeping it all nice looking :¬)
As they install to 2 different locations :¬) - (google llama tutorials)
Another good reason to do this is you wont get all kinds of weird program loops when using the back button.
2) if you need an icon to boot up a sideloaded XMBC app - Just use the amazon store Air Buddy app as its own start-up screen has a boot XBMC button if its been detected
3) I found out Netflix and amazon prime would not pass-through DD5.1 to anything I own using HDMI (even though XBMC does fine) - BUT if you replace your HDMI with OPTICAL Netflix and amazon prime will pass through DD5.1
** Bug or did they just do it for a laugh - I think the latter :¬)
P.S. My mini keyboard works just fine too :¬)
Rii 2.4GHz Wireless Mini PC Keyboard Touchpad V2 Black
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004FSFYG8/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for those helpful tips. I was looking for a way to have xbmc on the home screen. Just to clarify...I can install llama without being rooted? If so, do you have a direct link to llama? I know I can probably find it if I look around, but with such helpful tips, some provided links to the apps that you're mentioned will make it even more helpful.

wouldn't SPMC be better? i heard you can set it as the default launcher

DEREKTROTTER said:
wouldn't SPMC be better? i heard you can set it as the default launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have NON rootable Firetv's so as far as I know there is NO way to do anything clever
"Love to find I am wrong :¬):¬) "
So I think you need llama or you can actualy use "Air Buddy" as I said above :¬)
I am finally happy with side loading these 2 things
1) xbmc-13.2-Gotham-armeabi-v7a.apk
2) com.kebab.Llama.apk
****UPDATE - I had a look at SPMC and...
Amazon store says! - Non-compatible device
If you continue with this purchase, you may be purchasing an app that doesn't work with your device.
so its on the store but you cant install it on fire tv and it has to be sideloaded like Xbmc version I listed :¬(
also I have read it has 5.1 pass through issues.
:¬(

Time Warner TWC TV App - Info on Solutions for AFTV

Starting this thread to hopefully gather some steam for getting the TWC TV app working via sideload on the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick.
I've tried loading the most recent hacked version for Android, which was suppose to ignore the ADB request and also let you use the app away from home. It DOES sideload, but immediately alerts you that it's out of date. Then it takes you to the Amazon App store, and shows you the updated version of the app, but then says it's not compatible with the device.
I wondered if the version available for the Kindle Fire tablets is more compatible, but can't find the apk anywhere to test it.
I've also read it IS possible to sideload (not sure of what version) but requires root in order to use a keyboard/mouse (or emulator). That info was prior to the stick being offered AND the Fire TV Remote app being available. So I wonder if there's a way to use the keyboard option in the remote app instead of a USB mouse/keyboard IF we could get a working version of the app sideloaded at all?
Feel free to comment with other obstacles/possibilities/experiences. All the info I've found via MANY searches so far relating to this app and the AFTV specifically is spread among MANY different pages and threads - so I'm hoping we can at least aggregate that info here and save fellow AFTV users some trouble. Thanks in advance!

itbedave said:
Starting this thread to hopefully gather some steam for getting the TWC TV app working via sideload on the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick.
I've tried loading the most recent hacked version for Android, which was suppose to ignore the ADB request and also let you use the app away from home. It DOES sideload, but immediately alerts you that it's out of date. Then it takes you to the Amazon App store, and shows you the updated version of the app, but then says it's not compatible with the device.
I wondered if the version available for the Kindle Fire tablets is more compatible, but can't find the apk anywhere to test it.
I've also read it IS possible to sideload (not sure of what version) but requires root in order to use a keyboard/mouse (or emulator). That info was prior to the stick being offered AND the Fire TV Remote app being available. So I wonder if there's a way to use the keyboard option in the remote app instead of a USB mouse/keyboard IF we could get a working version of the app sideloaded at all?
Feel free to comment with other obstacles/possibilities/experiences. All the info I've found via MANY searches so far relating to this app and the AFTV specifically is spread among MANY different pages and threads - so I'm hoping we can at least aggregate that info here and save fellow AFTV users some trouble. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd love to be able to sideload the time warner app, if you get any info about this let me know.

is the latest version 3.6.6.6 . I just installed via aptoide market store and it goes to login screen no probs. I have aptoide installed on my fire tv

Latest version works for me after side loading. I use an air mouse for navigation.

bradwatson said:
Latest version works for me after side loading. I use an air mouse for navigation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is the air mouse an app or a real mouse? trying to figure out how to navigate.

xQuestx said:
is the air mouse an app or a real mouse? trying to figure out how to navigate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
F10 mele pro remote.

xQuestx said:
is the air mouse an app or a real mouse? trying to figure out how to navigate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey XQuest, would you mind elaboratinhg a bit on the integration with the FireTV, particularly with the TWC app? Also since you have it working, does the twc app output in dolby digital? thanks for your help

Buy this Airmouse, it works perfectly and is my primary remote now. Works perfect with the Twc app just that I also can't get the away from home to work.
http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=261674186045&alt=web
Sent from Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3

Thanks for the suggestion, awesome. Do you know if the twc app on fire tv will put out dolby digital?

ok so side loading works and app runs so far. im using the wukong remote app. its pretty awesome. I figured out how to get around and play on demand content, but live tv is another story, i can't seem to get the channels to scroll, i can click on the last channel on the bottom and it switches to that channel and then repeat to move the list until i get to the channel i want, but i cant scroll the list to get to the channel i want. any ideas?

jrosaly said:
ok so side loading works and app runs so far. im using the wukong remote app. its pretty awesome. I figured out how to get around and play on demand content, but live tv is another story, i can't seem to get the channels to scroll, i can click on the last channel on the bottom and it switches to that channel and then repeat to move the list until i get to the channel i want, but i cant scroll the list to get to the channel i want. any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would like to know how to get scrolling to work also. I wish TWC would get this app working for Fire TV. If it can work for Roku, it shouldn't be that much for them to make it work on the Fire TV. The channels that show on the one page stream great.

You can scroll using a remote. That has mouse and a left click button.

Wukong remote's mouse or trackpad function does not behave the same as using an actual mouse (don't know about the remotes/keyboard/trackpad combos). When you use wukong, it shows an actual mouse pointer (traditional style), when you use an actual mouse, a yellowish circle shows up and it allows you to click and drag, best way I can describe it is that it mimics a finger tip.
It would be cool if wukong emulated this mode, but I don't know how to reach out to the developer, since its pretty obvious he's a native asian language speaker. I will say that the festure that allows you to launch any app on your firetv directly from the wukong app is awesome. My room mate thinks I'm crazy having 3 or 4 different devices to control my fire tv

anyone care to kinda give me a little bit of training as to how to remove all the checks like vpn, adb, etc. I had a working version which I could use over vpn, but now everytime I launch the app it tells me that I have to upgrade to continue. I imagine you have to decompile the code and modify code, which even though I'm not a programmer, I feel pretty confortable doing with my college programming classes. Any help or pointers is appreciated. Or if someone has the latest working version even better. Thanks.

Will the fire tv work for me? v. kodi/xbmc

I apologize if this subject has been beat to death, but I need to have some questions answered before I purchase the firetv. I currently have an old zotac mag ion htpc that I have been running xbmc on for at least 3 years. Works great for all my movies/music (I have a synology server). I am contemplating 'upgrading' to a fire tv because I'm getting sick of not being able to easily use watchespn, primetv, etc apps 'through xbmc'. And the ion htpc does not like streaming through windows/browser...
The fire tv will give me a nice option to watch youtube, watchespn, primetv, etc and still have xbmc as an 'app' so I can do what I normally use it for - my local content.
I have read through some of the guides and everything seems pretty easy. However:
1. Will I need to root or use sbmc instead of kodi? I understand the newer versions of fire tv are un-rootable from the factory. I would actually prefer not to root and have to use 'cracked' firmware updates.
2. I understand you cannot load from a usb stick with the newer firmware. Is this an issue with repositories, etc that you might download on your laptop from a browser? Or can you download from a browser, extract all in the firetv? That was one advantage of using my current htpc since it is running windows 7 - also a hassle because I never learned the easy way of getting the bluecop repo and others to work without a lot of fiddling.
3. Follow on with question 2 - Occasionally, I need to download subtitles for my local movies. IIRC I would just download the .srt file and place it in the movie directory (in my synology)...and then I could just pick it up with xbmc. I assume all this works just fine because xbmc is xbmc whether it is running on an android platform (fire tv) or windows/htpc as a program.
4. Will there be any issues connecting to my synology? Both the fire tv and the synology are hard wired with ethernet to my router.
5. Google music. Is this app available and easily accessible without rooting? I very occasionally run it on my current htpc - again since it is a hassle because I'd run it through the browser/windows.
Thanks

1. No, you don't need root to install any version of XBMC/Kodi, and that includes SPMC.
2. To install add-ons/repositories that can't be added from XBMC/Kodi itself all you need to do is download it to a PC/NAS (to a shared folder) then use Install from zip in XBMC/Kodi.
3. Don't know as I don't require subtitles, but any that works on you current setup should work on XBMC/Kodi on the AFTV. With the exception of being able to use an attached USB drive or doing something like HD audio pass-through XBMC/Kodi will be no different than it is on any other system.
4. Shouldn't, you can always have issues when it comes to networked devices, but generally speaking No.
5. No, you can not install Google services without rooting. There may be some work around for that, but I couldn't say. Just switch over to Amazon music service.

Great thanks for the replies! Looks like the only hangup is the Google integration... Which is not something I truly use often now.

jeep364 said:
Great thanks for the replies! Looks like the only hangup is the Google integration... Which is not something I truly use often now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you might want to look at the All Cast receiver app on fire tv see http://www.androidpolice.com/tags/allcast-google-music/ or see here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqhWaIFcmpU

jeep364 said:
I apologize if this subject has been beat to death, but I need to have some questions answered before I purchase the firetv. I currently have an old zotac mag ion htpc that I have been running xbmc on for at least 3 years. Works great for all my movies/music (I have a synology server). I am contemplating 'upgrading' to a fire tv because I'm getting sick of not being able to easily use watchespn, primetv, etc apps 'through xbmc'. And the ion htpc does not like streaming through windows/browser...
The fire tv will give me a nice option to watch youtube, watchespn, primetv, etc and still have xbmc as an 'app' so I can do what I normally use it for - my local content.
I have read through some of the guides and everything seems pretty easy. However:
1. Will I need to root or use sbmc instead of kodi? I understand the newer versions of fire tv are un-rootable from the factory. I would actually prefer not to root and have to use 'cracked' firmware updates.
2. I understand you cannot load from a usb stick with the newer firmware. Is this an issue with repositories, etc that you might download on your laptop from a browser? Or can you download from a browser, extract all in the firetv? That was one advantage of using my current htpc since it is running windows 7 - also a hassle because I never learned the easy way of getting the bluecop repo and others to work without a lot of fiddling.
3. Follow on with question 2 - Occasionally, I need to download subtitles for my local movies. IIRC I would just download the .srt file and place it in the movie directory (in my synology)...and then I could just pick it up with xbmc. I assume all this works just fine because xbmc is xbmc whether it is running on an android platform (fire tv) or windows/htpc as a program.
4. Will there be any issues connecting to my synology? Both the fire tv and the synology are hard wired with ethernet to my router.
5. Google music. Is this app available and easily accessible without rooting? I very occasionally run it on my current htpc - again since it is a hassle because I'd run it through the browser/windows.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My answers based on using a Fire TV Stick....
1. No root needed to install SPMC or XMBC apk's. Just enable the settings for 3rd party apps and side load them. I've loaded both SPMC and XBMC Gotham
2. No Idea. I haven't tired any add-ons. And the FTVS has a micro usb port used for power, so I haven't tired connecting a drive to it.
3. SRT files work fine for me. I've got a Windows Server box with file shares, I've added that to XMBC and SPMC, the MKV of the movie and the SRT are in the same folder. The subtitles show fine.
4. If your Synology is setup to connect to standard windows file shares or SMB file shares, you're fine.
5. I have not tried. I don't use it much, even on my android phones. I use Rhapsody which isn't available on my FTVS, and I haven't tried sideloading it yet.

jeep364 said:
1. Will I need to root or use sbmc instead of kodi? I understand the newer versions of fire tv are un-rootable from the factory. I would actually prefer not to root and have to use 'cracked' firmware updates.
2. I understand you cannot load from a usb stick with the newer firmware. Is this an issue with repositories, etc that you might download on your laptop from a browser? Or can you download from a browser, extract all in the firetv? That was one advantage of using my current htpc since it is running windows 7 - also a hassle because I never learned the easy way of getting the bluecop repo and others to work without a lot of fiddling.
3. Follow on with question 2 - Occasionally, I need to download subtitles for my local movies. IIRC I would just download the .srt file and place it in the movie directory (in my synology)...and then I could just pick it up with xbmc. I assume all this works just fine because xbmc is xbmc whether it is running on an android platform (fire tv) or windows/htpc as a program.
4. Will there be any issues connecting to my synology? Both the fire tv and the synology are hard wired with ethernet to my router.
5. Google music. Is this app available and easily accessible without rooting? I very occasionally run it on my current htpc - again since it is a hassle because I'd run it through the browser/windows.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. has been answered already
2. Has been answered aready
3. Subtitles work fine, and i own a synbology 1812+ that works great. Make sure you allow full access to the NFS shares since xbmc requires read/write to the shares. If you purchase the fire PM if you need help with the shares.
4. If this is a Must i would get the Nexus Player. Fire gives you Amazon Services, Nexus Player gets you Google services.... which honestly i use google services a ton more.

mejdam said:
1. has been answered already
2. Has been answered aready
3. Subtitles work fine, and i own a synbology 1812+ that works great. Make sure you allow full access to the NFS shares since xbmc requires read/write to the shares. If you purchase the fire PM if you need help with the shares.
4. If this is a Must i would get the Nexus Player. Fire gives you Amazon Services, Nexus Player gets you Google services.... which honestly i use google services a ton more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. I looked into the nexus player, looks too simple for my uses. No ether net port, weak app support.
With the fire TV maturing over the past few months it definitely seems the way to go. In fact I ordered one yesterday after briefly considering the roku 3. I think the ease of use of the apps, watch espn and others combined with xbmc should fit my needs nicely. I will definitely pm if I run into any sharing issues.
I assume everyone is running xbmc 12.1 Gotham or is there a newer version?

jeep364 said:
I assume everyone is running xbmc 12.1 Gotham or is there a newer version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The current stable release can be found in the Kodi Downloads, of which Gotham 13.2 is the current version with Helix on the horizon. You might want to consider using SPMC 13.3.3 as the Kodi developer @Koying maintains this Android specific version which contains fixes not to be found on Gotham 13.2. And it works great on the Fire TV.

Just received my fire tv and will be setting it up when I get a chance.
Just looking at the guide: http://kodi.wiki/view/Amazon_Fire_TV
When they talk about 'host' they just mean the computer or whatever you are using to transfer the 'packages' to the fire tv correct? My host doesn't have to be on 100% of the time, just when installing the android sdk, etc?

Applications List for working apk files on Fire TV

Hey All,
I thought this would be a useful thread where we could list all the working apps that have been side-loaded via adb and also via other methods like aftv side loader etc ,
So the following apps work for me using a wireless keyboard and trackpad mouse.
TVCatchup
TVMC
BT Sport
4OD
ITV Player
Uno Telly
ChromeBeta
Please contribute to the list I will update this list when ive installed and tested more apps.

herohonda777 said:
I thought this would be a useful thread where we could list all the working apps that have been side-loaded via adb and also via other methods like aftv side loader etc ,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not against the idea. Others have done it. What I think would be *most* helpful is if we would CLEARLY differentiate between rooted and non-rooted. I personally have wasted a fair amount of time because I had to hit that speed bump first and then turn around.
On my box-stock Fire TV, I side-loaded:
adobe.flashplayer.apk
com.altusapps.firedtvlauncher-1.1.0.apk
ES_File_Explorer_3.1.2.apk
Firefox_28.0.1.apk
MacroDroid_com.arlosoft.macrodroid_3.1.4_314.apk
xbmc-13.2-Gotham-armeabi-v7a.apk

wellersl said:
I'm not against the idea. Others have done it. What I think would be *most* helpful is if we would CLEARLY differentiate between rooted and non-rooted. I personally have wasted a fair amount of time because I had to hit that speed bump first and then turn around.
On my box-stock Fire TV, I side-loaded:
adobe.flashplayer.apk
com.altusapps.firedtvlauncher-1.1.0.apk
ES_File_Explorer_3.1.2.apk
Firefox_28.0.1.apk
MacroDroid_com.arlosoft.macrodroid_3.1.4_314.apk
xbmc-13.2-Gotham-armeabi-v7a.apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats a sweet list!
I got Dolphin Browser to work but the biggest one I got Working the PS4 Remote play app -
Side Loaded Dolphin Browser and then loaded up the PS4 remote app hooked up the PS4 Controller directin to the AFT and connected the remote play - No Lag issues at all playing FIFA 15 on my other screen in the house now!
Also tested Firefox.apk this will open the browser but will just close after I search something in Google! not sure why it wont work

herohonda777 said:
Also tested Firefox.apk this will open the browser but will just close after I search something in Google! not sure why it wont work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odd. Unless its butting heads with Dolphin?
This version of Firefox? http://www.mediafire.com/download/rq57ptp5dbj0gsr/Firefox_28.0.1.apk

Ok to add apk's for the Fire TV stick?
If so:
BS Player 1.22.176
ES File Explorer 3.2.4.1
Both working great on my Fire stick.

Jacksmyname said:
Ok to add apk's for the Fire TV stick?
If so:
BS Player 1.22.176
ES File Explorer 3.2.4.1
Both working great on my Fire stick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have any issues with BS Player closing in the middle of a movie? I've had this happen a couple times.

VivianC said:
Do you have any issues with BS Player closing in the middle of a movie? I've had this happen a couple times.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not yet, but I'll post back here if I do. I've been using it for several years on a 10" Samsung Galaxy Tab with no issues. Not even a single hiccup that I can recall.

Mizuu works very well with the stock remote. To play a file it is easiest to press the play button on the remote since the play button on the in the interface does show highlighting for selection.

goodhur said:
Mizuu works very well with the stock remote. To play a file it is easiest to press the play button on the remote since the play button on the in the interface does show highlighting for selection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am having trouble getting Mizuu to see my files. I can connect to my NAS as a source, but it's not finding movies. I have them sorted in individual folders to work well with XBMC. Not sure if that's an issue or not. It's no big deal because I do use XBMC, but a second option is always nice. Other than the library issue, Mizuu works wonderfully.

xm41907 said:
I am having trouble getting Mizuu to see my files. I can connect to my NAS as a source, but it's not finding movies. I have them sorted in individual folders to work well with XBMC. Not sure if that's an issue or not. It's no big deal because I do use XBMC, but a second option is always nice. Other than the library issue, Mizuu works wonderfully.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It takes a long time to go through the update(scan). I was thinking it didn't work at first. It seems like it does nothing for like 5 minutes then the movies begin appearing. Under settings>identification & search enable the sub-folder search. This app works only on wifi for scanning UPNP (great for the stick), the box on ethernet won't find dlna (however I think if you just do wifi to do DLNA scanning the plug back ethernet it still works). Manual entry of SMB works on the box and stick.

Some of the unique APKs I have side loaded on my AFS
Vulkano Player 5.1.261-connects to my Hava Platinum cable box streamer
Viki 3.0 - the GoogleTV version ripped from my Logitech Revue
Dramafever 01.00.09- also the GoogleTV version ripped from my Logitech Revue

The Sony PS4 Remote Play port works (as does the Sony DS4 controller out the box without any rooting required):
RemotePlayPortV0.7.3.apk

With the Ps4 remote play what I find is after I launch a game or app it will basically crash!
Any ideas why this could be ?
Also using the opera beta browser on this and it's a brilliant browser for the fire tv!
Side loaded also shoebox which isn't great think I will stick with tvmc.

herohonda777 said:
With the Ps4 remote play what I find is after I launch a game or app it will basically crash!
Any ideas why this could be ?
Also using the opera beta browser on this and it's a brilliant browser for the fire tv!
Side loaded also shoebox which isn't great think I will stick with tvmc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like one of two things:
1. You're not using the latest version of the app
2. you've not paired the DS4 directly with the Amazon Fire TV BEFORE you've tried to launch the app

..