Develop Bugs

Apps Missing in the Market

Like a lot of people on this board i got my T-mobile Desire delivered this morning. I started downloading all my apps from the market place, and noticed some are missing. It's not just paid apps, but free ones as well. Has anyone else noticed this?
I can't find:
Record It (paid)
Battle for Mars (paid)
Tapatalk (paid or free)
and others. Can anyone else see these in the market?

I'm also noticing this but i thought it was just paid apps. Can't find abduction or what the doodle. There's also no top paid option when going through the categories

I'm not at home, typing this from the desire. Might be a good idea to try and install another version of market.apk

It just might be that these applications aren't compatible with Android 2.1 targets.

I don't think it's a compatibility issue. Why would they disable paid apps tab then? There's something fishy going on.
I can't find half of my apps, even the one I've paid for while on G1!

Karolis said:
I don't think it's a compatibility issue. Why would they disable paid apps tab then? There's something fishy going on.
I can't find half of my apps, even the one I've paid for while on G1!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those 3 apps you listed are missing from my market place but I still have the 'Top Paid' tab, I don't know why you are missing that but the applications are probably due to compatibility.

I've had this problem before on my hero with some custom roms, never found a way to fix it.
And if i remember correctly when the hero was first launched some people on orange or t-mobile where having problems with missing market apps.

National Rail for UK train enquiries is missing from the market too

I have removed content lock from my t-mobile account and now I get all tabs in the market. But I still can't see certain apps.

Something strange or I am having yet another senior moment.
I went in to Manage my applications and in there is Ringtone Trimmer, I thought I would make me some ringtones, looked for it in programmes and it is not there. I then thought it must be in Marketplace but alas no!! How can I have an application in Manage my applications and yet not have the application????

Belynda said:
Something strange or I am having yet another senior moment.
I went in to Manage my applications and in there is Ringtone Trimmer, I thought I would make me some ringtones, looked for it in programmes and it is not there. I then thought it must be in Marketplace but alas no!! How can I have an application in Manage my applications and yet not have the application????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to the music app, play a song and then try to set it as a ringtone, it will give you the trimming options.

Klaxon is version 427 from the market on my G1, but a much older 310 for the desire....
Im finding this on a few different apps and am not sure why...

I think we have run into this problem before. If I remember rightly (please feel free to correct me if not) it has to do with Google not recognising the phone correctly when you access the store. I believe this is a server sided fix that Google have to do.
Like I said, correct me if I am wrong.

I contacted T Mobile about the issue and they said google approved the rom so the issue must be with the apps / developers.
Great load of help that is. ffs!

aidanbree said:
National Rail for UK train enquiries is missing from the market too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed the same, can however install it from here: nationalrail . ktbm . com

For non-paid apps its not such a difficulty getting them from elsewhere, and installing via Astro or ADB, but for PAID apps(like klaxon) to be left with an old version - or unable to install at all - its a real pain.

Seems to be a known issue, look at the android marketplace support forum of Google, they are talking about it.
google.com/support/forum/p/Android%20Market/

looks like it will just take time for Google to register the 'fingerprint' of the Desire ROM before we get full access then.....
What a nonsense way to run the Market!

To be fair guys, the Desire isn't even supposed to be released yet.
Wait until it is officially released and if there are still market problems, then you can complain.

brummiesteven said:
To be fair guys, the Desire isn't even supposed to be released yet.
Wait until it is officially released and if there are still market problems, then you can complain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Define 'Officially' - Its available via a reputable company (TMO) and as such should be supported 100%
HTC/TMO and GOOGLE should have had this sorted before it was sent out to customers.

[UPDATED] Android Market Apps I bought for my Hero: Are they "paid for" on my Desire?

[UPDATED] Android Market Apps I bought for my Hero: Are they "paid for" on my Desire?
Updated April 18, 2010
Now I get it. See Post #6 below. Google's dragging their ass on "fingerprint" approval. They need to be SHAMED virally across the web for sheer incompetence -- or intentional malice toward purchasers of a phone that competes with their Nexus One. "Do No Evil" my ass.
========== My Original Posting =========
I bought maybe 6-7 apps for my hero -- 2 different keyboards, "Executive Assistant", some kind of alarm clock... When on my Hero, even after factory reset and resetting up my phone, when I went to MARKET and "My Downloads", those paid for apps showed up as available to install again on my Hero.
I have been using my Desire -- but thus far only for Wifi as I set it up and get acquainted with the phone. Perhaps stupidly (!) I am still using the Hero as my "phone" til I have all my apps and widgets and layouts replicated on my Desire.
Though I do not have my carrier's SIM card installed in my Desire, 90% of the device works fine, especially all wifi usages, Market downloads, email, web, etc... I did set up my Gmail account as well.
It's one's Gmail account which is your linkage to PAID FOR apps, via Google Checkout. So, I am surprised that when I select "My downloads" i don't see any indication of paid for apps.
Is this tied to a SIM card? (if so seems ridiculous)
RELATED: I can't even find BETTER KEYBOARD app in the Market now, nor "SMART KEYBOARD" ... Does the market auto-filter out apps that do not run on Android 2.1 ?
thank you

the paid apps are tied with your google account.

(no longer relevant)

From what I read, some paid and free apps should appear as soon as google finishes some signature thing related to that! so it's a matter of time.
By the way, do you see paid apps in general? For me, I always had to use Market Enabaler on the Hero to open Market to paid apps.
A temporary solution, you can use your Hero to extract the paid applications (apk files) using Root Explorer, copy them to the Desire SD card and install them using any file manager. The only limitation here is that you have to keep checking for updates on the Hero.

Re: Android Market > Apps I bought for my Hero: Are they "paid for" on my Desire?
as far as I know, and experts correct me if wrong, the ability to get access are directly connected to the sim from which you connect.
which is why market enabler used to spoof the apn's from which paid apps were available.
with no sim card you should only be able to get free apps or nothing at all.
I live in Sweden, no paid apps.
was at friends last night who has an old UK sim card, popped that in and I got access to some paid apps. but still with the limitations as previously discussed in this forum. (waiting for Google to get it straightened out)
so, yes & no, the apps are tied to your sim, cuz it tells the phone which apn/ network your phone is connecting from...
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

I just read a few other threads, with links to the official Android Market forums. First off, I have to ask some basic vocabulary:
What are "protected apps" ?
I have no idea what this means.
Second: salahag, thanks for your reply. I didn't respond initially because I didn't understand it at all. Paid apps showed up in my Hero from day 1 and that was for me October 2009. I was baffled because I had no context for even thinking "is everything that's available showing here?" because by default my brain had no reason to pose that question. I just assumed the Market worked one way, and I was seeing everything the way everyone else sees it.
I'm suddenly quite baffled by this emerging mystery now that I can't find a bunch of apps for my DESIRE. But now the mystery of "where are my paid apps that I bought on my Hero?" is solved, replaced by "why are hundreds of apps that were available on my Hero not available on my Desire?"
XDA-devs to the rescue, via another thread here about "Missing apps in the Market" linking to this posting in Android Market forums:
by nprussell - 4/8/10 (LINK to this posting at Android Market forums)
Hi all,
I'm an Android developer from the XDA forum & VillainROM.co.uk. I've primarily worked on the Hero, but I received my Desire yesterday.
I can confirm that I too am missing several apps from the market. I also have an answer to your question.
First things first, it's protected apps that are missing from the market. There are generally two reasons why apps will be missing from the market.
(1) When a new ROM/Phone is released, the manufacturer, in this case HTC, sends the build to Google, which includes a 'Fingerprint' (a unique line of text which governs its market access) in the build.prop file. Generally, it states the name of the phone and Android version in the fingerprint. With Root & system write access, this fingerprint can easily be changed... but we don't have that luxury right now.
Once Google approve the build, the fingerprint will be added to their allowed database to view protected apps on the market.
(2) The other cause for apps missing from the market in builds (such as twidroid, layar, barcode scanner etc) is that these apps require permissions to use the camera/auto focus. They are NOT protected apps. If the XML permission files are missing from system/etc/permissions, then Google Market will simply block these apps from showing.
So again... to answer your question... we'll see the protected apps as soon as either:
a) HTC chase up Google
b) Google get around to activating the fingerprint
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Un-frikkin-believable.
It's like the equivalence of a dumb low-IQ bureaucrat holding up a long line for Drivers' License renewals at the "Department of Motor Vehicles". No reason at all for the stupid delay other than some asshole letting some work order sit on his desktop til he feels like getting to it.
No wonder the author (gogol) of that other related thread recommends consumer activism or we just stand in line each time and just wait to get ****'d in the ass by beaurocratic process that sounds WAY more like Microsoft than "the smartest guys in the room" at Google -- who pride themselves on only hiring Ivy-league grads and equivalents, like from Stanford. They ought to be ridiculed out of town with this.
gogol writes: I really cannot believe Google screws this great Android platform like this. Think about the next firmware update, from Google or HTC ... We will AGAIN get this issue ... Then wait again very long. I am really mad and hate this.
If one of you guys is capable of writing a good professional article or blog regarding this issue, we could spread the voice all over the internet / twitter / facebook / blogs / news so Google could "end" or "fix" this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm game to SHAME GOOGLE into getting their f-ing act together or be ridiculed for incompetence -- everywhere we can post that message on the web. And they have the nerve to criticize APPLE for their ridiculous App Store totalitarianism?
.

xrrkrrkx said:
I live in Sweden, no paid apps. Was at friends last night who has an old UK sim card, popped that in and I got access to some paid apps. but still with the limitations as previously discussed in this forum. (waiting for Google to get it straightened out)
so, yes & no, the apps are tied to your sim, cuz it tells the phone which apn/ network your phone is connecting from...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you clarify this further. Thank you for information related to SIM card needing to be in use in order to access paid apps -- god only knows why -- it's retarded to me.
But is it correct that I have read other places that there are LOCALIZATION ISSUES? where some apps are only available to certain regions? (Like YouTube does) -- Or can you shoot that one down as rumor. I don't get this. Open source OS. Google's entire revenue model based on ads. More phones = more ad impressions = more money to Google. What possible motivation is there to block access to apps in a marketplace that I am willing to pay for -- where Google gets % of all sales, as well as transactional revenue thru Google Checkout? -- Something doesn't make sense. And usually when that's the case, SOMEONE IS BEING PROTECTED in some corporate deal.
What's the story. Is this another CARRIER-TAINTED example of holding customers hostage? If so, I can't wait til the day we can blow up that Carrier-driven model that strangles the free marketplace. They should make it or break it based on direct delivery of services at competitive pricing. I am so tired of Boardroom Protectionist Policies agreed to by major competitors, to ensure a baseline profit well above anything deserved if there was open competition. ... But I could be off on my little side rant and it has nothing to do with this issue, in which case, .... ooops. sorry

salahag said:
From what I read, some paid and free apps should appear as soon as google finishes some signature thing related to that! so it's a matter of time.
By the way, do you see paid apps in general? For me, I always had to use Market Enabaler on the Hero to open Market to paid apps.
A temporary solution, you can use your Hero to extract the paid applications (apk files) using Root Explorer, copy them to the Desire SD card and install them using any file manager. The only limitation here is that you have to keep checking for updates on the Hero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Many thanks - I never even thought to do this. Rooted my Hero, copied the apks (they're in /data/app-private) to the Desire and installed. I now have National Rail and Locale Lockscreen back again
Ta.

you can use your Hero to extract the paid applications (apk files) using Root Explorer, copy them to the Desire SD card and install them using any file manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant to ask: Is Root Explorer an app from the Market (I'll check of course), and does it only work on rooted Heroes? Mine is unrooted. But I have used Astro app many times for moving stuff from my computer to Hero, and now my Desire. So, it would just be a matter of my knowing which folder/directory to look in on my Hero to access the .apk files.
(EDIT: I see now from daern above: they're in /data/app-private ... well Astro Explorer shows me root folder and data folder but both say "directory is empty", so I am guessing unless I root my Hero i can't access this stuff... right?)
So, thanks from ME also!

Easy. Install "InstantRook.apk" on the Hero (Google for it, download directly to the device and run from Astro).
Once installed, it will announce "your device is rooted". Now fire up Root Explorer and note that you can see the /data folder. Copy the private apk files to /sdcard and away you go.
It really is as easy as that. It may stuff your Hero (it didn't affect mine in the slightest) but as I'm assuming that you're replacing it anyway, the worst it would require would be a hard-boot anyway.
Took < 5 mins

NVIDIA SHIELD Android TV Box Review Or: How I learned to dislike the Shield TV

I’d like to start off by saying some of these views are totally personal to me, and how I use these kind of boxes day to day. I have been looking at the NVIDIA Shield TV 16gb model, with the controller and remote.
The Shield TV is right at the top of list of Android TV boxes, it has the spec and the features to make it a future proof Android TV box. The Tegra X1 makes it incredibly fast and snappy. I found myself clicking around with ease, without a single stutter.
The initial setup was easy, once turned on, I did a couple of updates and was logged straight into the Shield TV home screen. This leanback launcher can only be controlled with the “dpad” on either the controller or the remote. There are various rows, including suggestions, Nvidia apps and your own downloaded apps. The suggestion row is bizarre, as I have no idea what the recommendations are based on. I can alter what sources are used (Youtube, Google TV/Movies etc), but the recommendation engine isn’t very good.
Installing apps is easy, but this may be due to the lack of apps you can download. I found very little of my daily driver apps to download, and had to resort to second or even third rate alternatives. This isn’t really NVIDIA’s fault, as this is more an issue with Android TV. Apps have to be compatible and made for the “leanback” generation. Apps like Solid Explorer, TTorrent, and Transdroid are always installed on any Android box, but I was unable to here.
There are ways around these app limitations, involving sideloading, and alternative launchers. But I just want to install an app and use it, I don’t want to have to turn around the box so it’s facing east, wait till the time includes a 9 and then chant whilst installing an APK file! This may be a slight exaggeration though.
Though I was happy to see Kodi and SPMC were compatible. Though SPMC is the only one which utilising the passthrough audio correctly. So I installed SPMC, and plugged in my external HDD and started updating. Now came another issue, I always delete the files via SPMC after watching, and set it to physically delete the file. This has worked on even the worst Android boxes, but on the Shield TV it didn’t. The app would “delete”, yet when I went back and updated, the show/movie came back. After some Googling I found this was a common problem for a lot of people.
I ended up installing one of the two FTP servers on the TV app store, and connected via FTP. Selected the file, delete, but just got back an error! This again was a widely reported issue, and I ended up having to install ES File Explorer (Ugh!) and delete the file that way. Finally I was able to do it. But this was after a couple of hours of research. That was one of the big nails in the coffin for me.
I even reported this to the NVIDIA support team, and they weren’t very helpful. I was passed around a lot, and was sent to level 2 support about 3 times, only to be told to do something I had initially told support I had done!
I am so glad I got the box with the remote, as I was getting annoying navigating around with the bulky controller. I would of liked the remote to be included, and the controller to be sold separately, though I can see why as there is the gaming element.
Now speaking of games, I was massively impressed with the SHIELD games app. There is a long list of games you can play, some for free and some have to be purchases, you check them all out here shield.nvidia.com/games/android
Playing Batman Arkham City, I didn’t notice a single bit of lag in the controls. They were quick and easy to pick up, and felt just like a console game. This alone is a great feature, and I would totally buy a lower priced box, if it just offered this feature and nothing else.
I was happy to see that the thumb sticks on the controller could act like a mouse, but only on some apps. This was my next issue, I use an app called TTorrent, as it does exactly what I want, but this cannot be navigated with the remote or the controller. So now I had to get a bluetooth mouse, which works, but I am now using 3 bloody controllers to navigate one box. Why not give the remote air mouse properties, and then everything would be great.
If they released just a console version of this, for £129 then I would probably buy it. But for what I used my Android boxes for, and how I use them, this box is just too restricted to work into my life. That’s not to say it won’t be awesome for the other 99% of the people out there, this is just my opinion.
http://droidhorizon.com/nvidia-shield-android-tv-box-review/

I cant tell you how many cuss word filled rants I've started typing in the google and nvidia feedback activities expressing many of these same feelings. Sometimes I even avoid messing with it altogether just to prevent the rage I feel about some of the implementations (or deliberate omittance of) by google who for whatever reason decided to cripple these devices with whatever nonsense ideas they have in their heads when they are making their decisions about what the "leanback" experience should be like. Maybe it makes a little sense to limit some parts of Android Auto but I cant believe what I'm seeing in my living room. Its absurd. Then I just delete it like a good end user and try to focus on the things that it does do really well. The device itself is awesome but being a tinkerer makes for a lot of frustration and it totally blows my mind seeing what I think is a perfect example of the direction I think google intends to take with the Android OS

Why root?

What exactly does root do for a firestick? I root all my phones so I know what it is but just got a firestick and wondering what root will do

Well, there are many reasons to root the Fire Tv. The main reason would be to install the google play store but there are plenty of other reasons, for example
. expanding internal storage to a external drive
. installing root apps
. changing the launcher

James_Ward01 said:
Well, there are many reasons to root the Fire Tv. The main reason would be to install the google play store but there are plenty of other reasons, for example
. expanding internal storage to a external drive
. installing root apps
. changing the launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Is there a way to manually upgrade to 5.2.1.0? Mine is older and don't want to get 5.2.2 as it isn't rootable

You might want to take a look at this thread:http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/development/prerooted-stock-images-t2882337

- to get NTFS support using Paragon (no 4GB filesize limit)
- to get smb support using Samba (and Paragon to disable SELinux at boot)
- to use screen sharing kvm apps like webkey (control your Fire TV from a PC)
- to use DNS redirects to be able to use apps like Pandora from outside the US (using adaway)
- to get the google Play store installedo
- to block ads using adaway
- to get access to apps using the xposed framework (f.e. to use Bubble UPNP as a media server to its fullest extent)
- to stop Amazon from auto updating your Fire TV and take features away with every new firmware release
- to install an adb toggle thats more convenient to use that Amazons "hidden in the developer settings" one
- to use an unmentioned shady app to strip away DRM from paid applications that won't run, even though the play store infrastructure is in place.
- to be able to do your own bash automation scripts using Terminal Shortcut Pro
- to set and fixate screen orientation to always stay in landscape mode
- to be able to use SD Maid to manage storage efficiently
- to replace the launcher
- to change keybindings for third party controllers - system wide
- to effectively use retroarch that still stores important config files in the /data/ directory instead of on /sdcard/
...
.. basically for a whole bunch of things productblogs don't like to talk about, because they need to keep the myth up, that you really only need to watch a youtube video on ESFileExplorer (don't you EVER use this app and call yourself an XDA user - http://www.xda-developers.com/es-file-explorer-a-short-story-of-a-fallen-king/ ) and a Kodi Install Wizzard (because its the EAZIEST - although entirely unsupported way to enjoy content piracy - unsupported even by pirates - because just as with adb fire - its mostly people (dare I say youtubers) keen on striping out the whole learning part, and replacing it with dependency an a guy that does nothing but repackage the work of others and get ad-dollars for your attention - attained by shouting EAZIEST a couple of times...).
(edit: I'm adding a little art installation called "Why product bloggers s*ck - to this thread at this point, mostly as an elated comic relief, but also to make a point.
http://i.imgur.com/gxma9a7.png )
Its funny to see most new business models (product bloggers, youtubers, wizard creators (its EAZIEST, with 500 roms!), obscure plugin blogs, FireTV resellers, ...) all go after one thing and one thing only -
the average consumer that doesnt know his roots from his product options before a product purchase, that thinks every technical "hack" is just there so he/she can get piracy - and who , if things turn out not as easy as it was sold to them - if a question about the benefits of rooting doesnt successfully turn into a personal "request on how I should update, because I am on - that firmware and..." within five posts of a new thread, just goes with the paid subscription model of whatever pops up in bannerads first, instead. (Plex).
So here is the deal. Talking about, why ownership of a box sold to you by Amazon - where Amazon tries to pull away features in firmware releases after the fact is important, is something I gladly do - because its talked about far less than it should be...
Helping you find out "how to best update from x to y without loosing root" in the same thread, because - who cares about the title, "I have a new problem and I wan't it to be solved" - much less entertaining of a thing in general.
Again - this is the difference between a question regarding knowledge - and mere support solicitation.
Moderators tried to prevent the second one in here with the sticky that states, that your personal questions dont go into the general forum.
But no one cares to actually go by it - because, the pinned topic actually failed to mention, that its support solicitation for basic "setup and maintenance" stuff that you shouldn't bother people with in here, because we had enough of it.
Speaking of having enough of something... The notion that "you don't need root" comes from a "as long as I can haz piracy I don't care" point of view that is provided as an actionable stance by product bloggers and youtubers that also have a vested interest that you don't leave Amazons upgrade path (regardless of where it leads), because they are in the business of acting as conduits for pr messages from the company.
The last paragraph was an explanation for why the "you don't need root" myth is still so prevelant in the Fire TV community .
Another explanation would be, that people don't care to look it up, or learn things, as long as their base needs are met. You can pick one.

harlekinwashere said:
- to get NTFS support using Paragon (no 4GB filesize limit)
- to get smb support using Samba (and Paragon to disable SELinux at boot)
- to use screen sharing kvm apps like webkey (control your Fire TV from a PC)
- to use DNS redirects to be able to use apps like Pandora from outside the US (using adaway)
- to get the google Play store installedo
- to block ads using adaway
- to get access to apps using the xposed framework (f.e. to use Bubble UPNP as a media server to its fullest extent)
- to stop Amazon from auto updating your Fire TV and take features away with every new firmware release
- to install an adb toggle thats more convenient to use that Amazons "hidden in the developer settings" one
- to use an unmentioned shady app to strip away DRM from paid applications that won't run, even though the play store infrastructure is in place.
- to be able to do your own bash automation scripts using Terminal Shortcut Pro
- to set and fixate screen orientation to always stay in landscape mode
- to be able to use SD Maid to manage storage efficiently
- to replace the launcher
- to change keybindings for third party controllers - system wide
- to effectively use retroarch that still stores important config files in the /data/ directory instead of on /sdcard/
...
.. basically for a whole bunch of things productblogs don't like to talk about, because they need to keep the myth up, that you really only need to watch a youtube video on ESFileExplorer (don't you EVER use this app and call yourself an XDA user - http://www.xda-developers.com/es-file-explorer-a-short-story-of-a-fallen-king/ ) and a Kodi Install Wizzard (because its the EAZIEST - although entirely unsupported way to enjoy content piracy - unsupported even by pirates - because just as with adb fire - its mostly people (dare I say youtubers) keen on striping out the whole learning part, and replacing it with dependency an a guy that does nothing but repackage the work of others and get ad-dollars for your attention - attained by shouting EAZIEST a couple of times...).
Its funny to see most new business models (product bloggers, youtubers, wizard creators (its EAZIEST, with 500 roms!), obscure plugin blogs, FireTV resellers, ...) all go after one thing and one thing only -
the average consumer that doesnt know his roots from his product options before a product purchase, that thinks every technical "hack" is just there so he/she can get piracy - and who , if things turn out not as easy as it was sold to them - if a question about the benefits of rooting doesnt successfully turn into a personal "request on how I should update, because I am on - that firmware and..." within five posts of a new thread, just goes with the paid subscription model of whatever pops up in bannerads first, instead. (Plex).
So here is the deal. Talking about, why ownership of a box sold to you by Amazon - where Amazon tries to pull away features in firmware releases after the fact is important, is something I gladly do - because its talked about far less than it should be...
Helping you find out "how to best update from x to y without loosing root" in the same thread, because - who cares about the title, "I have a new problem and I wan't it to be solved" - much less entertaining of a thing in general.
Again - this is the difference between a question regarding knowledge - and mere support solicitation.
Moderators tried to prevent the second one in here with the sticky that states, that your personal questions dont go into the general forum.
But no one cares to actually go by it - because, the pinned topic actually failed to mention, that its support solicitation for basic "setup and maintenance" stuff that you shouldn't bother people with in here, because we had enough of it.
Speaking of having enough of something... The notion that "you don't need root" comes from a "as long as I can haz piracy I don't care" point of view that is provided as an actionable stance by product bloggers and youtubers that also have a vested interest that you don't leave Amazons upgrade path (regardless of where it leads), because they are in the business of acting as conduits for pr messages from the company.
The last paragraph was an explanation for why the "you don't need root" myth is still so prevelant in the Fire TV community .
Another explanation would be, that people don't care to look it up, or learn things, as long as their base needs are met. You can pick one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for all the information. I'm new to a firestick my grandpa had a bunch of them with the kodi app installed just now about to plug it in and see what it's about. Not even sure if it is rooted but about to find out

Well just found out my firestick is on current update so can't root it

James_Ward01 said:
Well, there are many reasons to root the Fire Tv. The main reason would be to install the google play store but there are plenty of other reasons, for example
. expanding internal storage to a external drive
. installing root apps
. changing the launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there an actual way to install a fully (Or all Hell), even a partially working PlayStote? On a FireTV / Stick 2? Having a FireTV2, and I can tell you that Rooting it WILL NOT net you either a partially working, much less a working PlayStore, with a working Play Services behind it.

You don't need google play services (unless you do).
Most Apps that depend on them only do so for single sign on or cloud features and work without play services regardless. With some apps you can patch the google play services dependency out of them (which is what apparently blackberry users have done for years).
For mostly Google Apps you'll need it, though.
The other issue is, that the play store on the Fire TV will convert to its Android TV state and layout - which only offers you a fraction of the Playstore Apps in store, available for direct install - because google seemingly only allows vetted apps in at this point.
Now - there are newer Play Store versions out there, than the one that presumably most of us have installed, when the old tutorials made their rounds, that are supposed to work - so you could update and see if something has changed - at the risk of bricking functionality and having to start over.
What IS possible though is, to update apps you already have installed on your Fire TV through the google play store - regardless of if the apps show up in the Android TV store or not. Once installed, Google Play Store will offer you updates.
That - and the ability to use Googles Play Store liceses (paid apps) on most apps with your Fire TV, should be sufficient for most people.
You just use app2fire and apkpure (dont blame me if the site turns around and starts distributing rootkits.. ) for the rest.
For Games - and because the FIre TV has so little storage available - I normally install them on my phone first, then copy over the /android/obb/ folders using smb (Samba on the Phone, Total Commander with the LAN plugin on the FIre TV) - then install the apk, and it works as well.
Its easy enough to do those things that I'm not willing to experiment with configurations that would allow "even better" play store integration.
Its good enough as is. Imho.

James_Ward01 said:
Well, there are many reasons to root the Fire Tv. The main reason would be to install the google play store but there are plenty of other reasons, for example
. expanding internal storage to a external drive
. installing root apps
. changing the launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any directions out there for changing the launcher. It seems not possible the newer roms. Im on pre-root 5.2.1.1_R1 and not sure how to do it.

Flash xposed and necessary apks. Guide is on here somewhere. Install Rbox's xposed fire tv mods module. Enable in xposed and reboot. Sideload or download from Playstore (if installed) alt launcher. I like tvlauncher it's super clean and has Amazon home page in app format. Plus use can easily customize or create icons for clean look.

Do I need root for openvpn? (I am asking because I've ordered a Stick on Friday and it'll be here tomorrow)

harlekinwashere said:
- to get NTFS support using Paragon (no 4GB filesize limit)
- to get smb support using Samba (and Paragon to disable SELinux at boot)
- to use screen sharing kvm apps like webkey (control your Fire TV from a PC)
- to use DNS redirects to be able to use apps like Pandora from outside the US (using adaway)
- to get the google Play store installedo
- to block ads using adaway
- to get access to apps using the xposed framework (f.e. to use Bubble UPNP as a media server to its fullest extent)
- to stop Amazon from auto updating your Fire TV and take features away with every new firmware release
- to install an adb toggle thats more convenient to use that Amazons "hidden in the developer settings" one
- to use an unmentioned shady app to strip away DRM from paid applications that won't run, even though the play store infrastructure is in place.
- to be able to do your own bash automation scripts using Terminal Shortcut Pro
- to set and fixate screen orientation to always stay in landscape mode
- to be able to use SD Maid to manage storage efficiently
- to replace the launcher
- to change keybindings for third party controllers - system wide
- to effectively use retroarch that still stores important config files in the /data/ directory instead of on /sdcard/
...
.. basically for a whole bunch of things productblogs don't like to talk about, because they need to keep the myth up, that you really only need to watch a youtube video on ESFileExplorer (don't you EVER use this app and call yourself an XDA user - http://www.xda-developers.com/es-file-explorer-a-short-story-of-a-fallen-king/ ) and a Kodi Install Wizzard (because its the EAZIEST - although entirely unsupported way to enjoy content piracy - unsupported even by pirates - because just as with adb fire - its mostly people (dare I say youtubers) keen on striping out the whole learning part, and replacing it with dependency an a guy that does nothing but repackage the work of others and get ad-dollars for your attention - attained by shouting EAZIEST a couple of times...).
(edit: I'm adding a little art installation called "Why product bloggers s*ck - to this thread at this point, mostly as an elated comic relief, but also to make a point.
http://i.imgur.com/gxma9a7.png )
Its funny to see most new business models (product bloggers, youtubers, wizard creators (its EAZIEST, with 500 roms!), obscure plugin blogs, FireTV resellers, ...) all go after one thing and one thing only -
the average consumer that doesnt know his roots from his product options before a product purchase, that thinks every technical "hack" is just there so he/she can get piracy - and who , if things turn out not as easy as it was sold to them - if a question about the benefits of rooting doesnt successfully turn into a personal "request on how I should update, because I am on - that firmware and..." within five posts of a new thread, just goes with the paid subscription model of whatever pops up in bannerads first, instead. (Plex).
So here is the deal. Talking about, why ownership of a box sold to you by Amazon - where Amazon tries to pull away features in firmware releases after the fact is important, is something I gladly do - because its talked about far less than it should be...
Helping you find out "how to best update from x to y without loosing root" in the same thread, because - who cares about the title, "I have a new problem and I wan't it to be solved" - much less entertaining of a thing in general.
Again - this is the difference between a question regarding knowledge - and mere support solicitation.
Moderators tried to prevent the second one in here with the sticky that states, that your personal questions dont go into the general forum.
But no one cares to actually go by it - because, the pinned topic actually failed to mention, that its support solicitation for basic "setup and maintenance" stuff that you shouldn't bother people with in here, because we had enough of it.
Speaking of having enough of something... The notion that "you don't need root" comes from a "as long as I can haz piracy I don't care" point of view that is provided as an actionable stance by product bloggers and youtubers that also have a vested interest that you don't leave Amazons upgrade path (regardless of where it leads), because they are in the business of acting as conduits for pr messages from the company.
The last paragraph was an explanation for why the "you don't need root" myth is still so prevelant in the Fire TV community .
Another explanation would be, that people don't care to look it up, or learn things, as long as their base needs are met. You can pick one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow.. I managed to order another firetv device, wait on it being delivered from the states, root, brick and unbrick my device by the time i even begun to understand what this rant was about?
Peoples base needs I would say vary from person to person. One might be interested in learning about their system and tweaking, another may want root simply to debloat their device whereas another may not have a clue what root is.
I still don't understand this post when all someone asked who was clearly a novice, why root? Obviously they didn't know what the benefits were but suddenly became engulfed in this rewriting of the bible.

If you have noticed apps going missing on Google Play in the updates list,read this!

For anyone that is reading this,I encourage you to get Google's attention for this utter nonsense and join together to show some backlash against these changes.
I found out about this because I was neglecting to update some listed apps because the changes of the apps weren't worth the update yet.
Recently I noticed a few of the apps I know had updates to them mysteriously vanished from the updates list on my Android Shield TV Pro (2015),which is still on Nougat OTA 6.3, and I couldn't figure out what was going on for a bit.
So when I found out they were suddenly listed as incompatible on Google Play via an already installed Opera for Android web browser that I commonly use,I had to message the app developers.
One of those apps I helped brainstorm a few features for ,so I am fairly acquainted with one of the devs more than the other app developers that I also notified via e-mails.
Turns out,they have to go through some new survey/review garbage now in order to pass a test designed for the most lax Shield TV users (users that never side-load anything and never use a keyboard on it,or users who only use a small number of apps).
Sorry if this offends any users that don't do a bunch of extra things on their Shield TV,its Google messing with Android TV again which causes more extensive users to suffer.
The attached image shows what stuff every app must do in order to become "eligible" to be accessible on a Shield TV.
That means,any abandoned old app that was previously listed more-or-less or any app that the developers don't want to update to make it compatible or "eligible" or any app that the developer is too lazy to even bother with making it compatible again will be locked away from proper updates if they were previously listed on Google Play as compatible for being possible to install/update directly.
The biggest problem in all of this mess is that anyone on the Oreo update is stuck with that stubborn and extra difficult untrusted app sources change that makes it basically impossible to install many apps due to them failing to show up in the list that comes up for allowing you to install each app that you wish to side-load.
I encourage anyone that reads this to help get Google's attention for this utter nonsense and give them some backlash.