Develop Bugs

Anyone know if Cheapcast works?

It would great to sideload the cheapcast app in order to turn the FTV into a remote Google Play Music streamer, and also to send the occasional youtube video over without having to manually search for something with the remote.

floepie said:
It would great to sideload the cheapcast app in order to turn the FTV into a remote Google Play Music streamer, and also to send the occasional youtube video over without having to manually search for something with the remote.
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Click to collapse
Cheapcast is pretty much broken since after Google released Chromecast SDK. The Allcast app by koush is supposed to be compatible with FTV.

adfurgerson said:
Cheapcast is pretty much broken since after Google released Chromecast SDK. The Allcast app by koush is supposed to be compatible with FTV.
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Click to collapse
Allcast by koush is already on the Amazon app store, you can install it directly from the fire tv without side loading it, is under entertainment category.

2fastkuztoms said:
Allcast by koush is already on the Amazon app store, you can install it directly from the fire tv without side loading it, is under entertainment category.
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Click to collapse
If you look in playstore it lists ftv as compatible along with chromecast, xbox360, roku , appletv, etc. which would seem to indicate ftv can be used to receive content from another device. Side loading cheapcast would be done in order to receive on ftv also, but OP doesn't mention what device they want to send from.

adfurgerson said:
If you look in playstore it lists ftv as compatible along with chromecast, xbox360, roku , appletv, etc. which would seem to indicate ftv can be used to receive content from another device. Side loading cheapcast would be done in order to receive on ftv also, but OP doesn't mention what device they want to send from.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in the same boat as OP and this thread seems to be going off the rails.
The reason we want CheapCast to work on FireTV is so that we can mirror tabs from a Windows or Mac laptop onto the Fire TV. AllCast does not help here at all.
The question is can you install CheapCast on FireTV and use it to mirror a Chrome tab to the Fire TV from your laptop.

Well, I was hoping that Cheapcast could be run as a service in the background on the FTV to listen for casting requests from the various Android compatible apps just like the CC does. Essentially, it would allow the FTV to become an AppleTV in the iOS world, so that if you send something to the FTV, it would immediately stop whatever it was playing and directly play that which was casted (youtube vids, play music, etc.).

Thats fine but if you had of read the first reply, Cheapcast is practically dead! Google updated the sdk and since then cheapcast has had limited uses, there's a few apps still using the old sdk but as soon as they are updated they will no longer work as well. If chrome tabs are still working they wont for much longer.
The developers own post on the matter

floepie said:
Well, I was hoping that Cheapcast could be run as a service in the background on the FTV to listen for casting requests from the various Android compatible apps just like the CC does. Essentially, it would allow the FTV to become an AppleTV in the iOS world, so that if you send something to the FTV, it would immediately stop whatever it was playing and directly play that which was casted (youtube vids, play music, etc.).
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Click to collapse
This may be worth a look.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waxrain.airplayer&hl=en

adfurgerson said:
This may be worth a look.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.waxrain.airplayer&hl=en
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Click to collapse
Nope, that won't solve the problem. We want to emulate a Chromecast dongle. This way we can still use the Chromecast features from our phones/tablets.

Chinpokomon said:
Nope, that won't solve the problem. We want to emulate a Chromecast dongle. This way we can still use the Chromecast features from our phones/tablets.
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Yep I read that wrong. How bout this?
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/05/1...sic-pictures-and-video-to-any-android-device/

adfurgerson said:
Yep I read that wrong. How bout this?
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/05/1...sic-pictures-and-video-to-any-android-device/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. That's the same problem. With FireTV, you can't use Google services. So there isn't a way to use Play Music, or download apps from the Play Store, or stream movies from Play Movies and TV. Cheapcast looked like a was an app that looked like a Chromecast dongle, so in theory you could install the app on FireTV and have the best of both worlds.

Another 6 months went by, any update? Just got the fire tv stick, it's so cool, runs kodi perfectly. Would be good to have Cheapcast or similar running to imitate a Chromecast...

Apple TV Mirroring?

I'm glad I got my Amazon Fire TV, it's working out really well, especially for XBMC.
However, one key thing I'm missing now (since I sold my Apple TV) is the ability to Airplay Mirror. I was looking for an alternative in reading some of the posts we have so far. I came across someone successfully using Air Receiver, but I wasn't able to get access to the APK.
At any rate, if anyone has any thing they've done to successfully get an Airplay Mirror alternative to work, I'd love to hear about it. Thanks.

I believe some people are using AllCast. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems to be working fine.
I'm looking for something similar but will allow multiple people on the network to send YouTube videos into a queue on the FireTV from their phones. This is all I use the Chromecast for now and I'm trying to eliminate the need for the Chromecast.
Edit: Apparently AllCast does YouTube queuing like the Chromecast. Sweet.

AirPlay DLNA
Search Airplay/dlna on the google app store
That should do it for you. I was looking for the same thing.
A review of it on the Ouya here:
w w w .s-config.com/airplay-ouya/
Can't post links, too new...

jlaw904 said:
I believe some people are using AllCast. I haven't tried it yet, but it seems to be working fine.
I'm looking for something similar but will allow multiple people on the network to send YouTube videos into a queue on the FireTV from their phones. This is all I use the Chromecast for now and I'm trying to eliminate the need for the Chromecast.
Edit: Apparently AllCast does YouTube queuing like the Chromecast. Sweet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way to currently cast a chrome browser tab or the computer screen to it like you can with Chromecast. I need that ability and still use the Chromecast for it. Otherwise, I would have removed the Chromecast and just gone with the FireTV. I currently have both.

I see that allcast could work, but it doesn't support mirroring which is really what I'm after.
Spelvin, I can try what you've suggested. I'm not sure how to get the apk to the fire tv though, I can't get apk's off my phone, I'm not rooted. Guess I'll have to root.

darken801 said:
Spelvin, I can try what you've suggested. I'm not sure how to get the apk to the fire tv though, I can't get apk's off my phone, I'm not rooted. Guess I'll have to root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/

Airplay.DLNA!!!!!
Spelvin said:
Search Airplay/dlna on the google app store
That should do it for you. I was looking for the same thing.
A review of it on the Ouya here:
w w w .s-config.com/airplay-ouya/
Can't post links, too new...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WORKS!!! :good::good::good:
Audio and video!!! :laugh::good::laugh::good:
Even when I press the power button and turn the screen off on my iPhone. Audio playback to my Pioneer receiver stops when I do that!

[Q] Possible to stream from PC?

Hey guys,
I feel like there is an answer to this question, but, I promise I did search (followed the cardinal rule for forum posting)! Is it possible to hack/mod the amazon fire tv to stream content from your desktop to your TV over the network? This is the only feature I feel is missing and would be awesome if this little beat could do so.
Thanks for any help guys.

event67 said:
Hey guys,
I feel like there is an answer to this question, but, I promise I did search (followed the cardinal rule for forum posting)! Is ti possible to hack/mod the amazon fire tv to stream content from your desktop to your TV over the network? This is the only feature I feel is missing and would be awesome if this little beat could do so.
Thanks for any help guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure but there probably is a casting apk that will work somewhere. Check AllShare, AllCast, etc. for a casting app/receiver that includes desktop capability. You will have to install it with ADB on the Fire TV.
Why would you want to do this? IMO, there are plenty of easier ways to do this. for personal videos, upload to youtube, just set your channel as private. For website based streaming, you could load Firefox browser apk. For movies and TV shows, use xbmc.
Maybe with a little more info on what you want to stream, will help find an answer.

byrdcfmma said:
I'm not sure but there probably is a casting apk that will work somewhere. Check AllShare, AllCast, etc. for a casting app/receiver that includes desktop capability. You will have to install it with ADB on the Fire TV.
Why would you want to do this? IMO, there are plenty of easier ways to do this. for personal videos, upload to youtube, just set your channel as private. For website based streaming, you could load Firefox browser apk. For movies and TV shows, use xbmc.
Maybe with a little more info on what you want to stream, will help find an answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mainly want to stream VLC files (downloaded TV episodes and movies) from my desktop pc to my TV in my room. I just want an easy way to do this and if you could point me towards a guide that will allow me to do this.

..

JJ-KwiK said:
Use plex man.
Go to plex.tv on your PC. Download the plex media server for your PC. On your firetv, download the plex apk. It can also be sideloaded if you already purchased it somewhere else. That's all you need.
I use plex to stream pictures and home videos without a problem.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay sweet ill have to try that when I get home. I don't need to mod the device then, I can just download it in the app store?

..

JJ-KwiK said:
Yisir...
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Click to collapse
Worked perfectly! Thanks man! I do have one more question for you though as you seem pretty active on these forums. What would be the point to mod your fire TV? As in what do people gain from doing so, free games?

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JJ-KwiK said:
You can already sideload any apk without the need to root the device. Although, this isn't the site to talk about that. Root also isn't available as of yet for this device.
I'm looking forward to root for a few reasons.
- Ability to use apps that require root. Ex. an app that can power off your device, so it's not always in standby.
- Ability to change the launcher without the need for Llama.
- Ability to install apps that are currently confirmed as not incompatible.
- Overclock it, to make it run faster.
- Remove Preinstalled Crapware, that can't be uninstalled otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for everything JJ, truly appreciate it.

JJ-KwiK said:
Use plex man.
Go to plex.tv on your PC. Download the plex media server for your PC. On your firetv, download the plex apk. It can also be sideloaded if you already purchased it somewhere else. That's all you need.
I use plex to stream pictures and home videos without a problem.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got my AFT yesterday, I have PlexPass, please explain to this newbie how to add it, please and thank you.
sondray

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I don't think that was the right answer
Why do u need some unknown third party software to just play videos from PC?
Plex?
What da?
Turn on Windowx file sharing on PC.
Connect from any Android using Dice Player or File Manager HD+MX Player.
:laugh:

bravomail said:
Why do u need some unknown third party software to just play videos from PC?
Plex?
What da?
Turn on Windowx file sharing on PC.
Connect from any Android using Dice Player or File Manager HD+MX Player.
:laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Plex is far from unknown, and makes playing videos, movies, music, and photos from your PC stupid easy. That's why.

How well does XBMC work on Fire TV

Any problems with it? Is it buggy in any way? I'm looking for a cheap xbmc device but a raspberry pi is too much work.

I am using it and it works amazing well for me. Before I had pivos xios, ouya, MINIX neo x7 and they all their own issues. Finally for TV gives best of all of them. Only con is you have to tinker a bit but it's not too hard.

heyredy141 said:
I am using it and it works amazing well for me. Before I had pivos xios, ouya, MINIX neo x7 and they all their own issues. Finally for TV gives best of all of them. Only con is you have to tinker a bit but it's not too hard.
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Click to collapse
No bugs at all? If I am using XBMC, will I be able to access Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant Video? Also, is it easy to unroot and factory reset?

HenryTheUnicorn said:
No bugs at all? If I am using XBMC, will I be able to access Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Instant Video? Also, is it easy to unroot and factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't go wrong. You don't need to root to install it. See the XBMC wiki or FireTV News. (I can't post urls.)

urls
XBMC Wiki: http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Amazon_Fire_TV
FireTVNews: http://www.firetvnews.com/tag/guide/

jmerrilljr2 said:
You can't go wrong. You don't need to root to install it. See the XBMC wiki or FireTV News. (I can't post urls.)
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Click to collapse
you don't need root, but it would help alot. How well does XBMC work for you?

I would say I works near perfectly for me
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

collindv said:
I would say I works near perfectly for me
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Near perfect? What problems do you have? And I hear that MPEG2 isnt supported, should I be concerned about that?

HenryTheUnicorn said:
you don't need root, but it would help alot. How well does XBMC work for you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No flaws. I'm rooted but root is really not relevant to running XBMC. For years I ran Plex on a MacMini. This is way better. Just to start -- DTS pass-thru.
Sideloading is really easy. So is uninstalling. I can't see a down side here.

HenryTheUnicorn said:
you don't need root, but it would help alot. How well does XBMC work for you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jmerrilljr2 said:
You can't go wrong. You don't need to root to install it. See the XBMC wiki or FireTV News. (I can't post urls.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is all true. However, to get the best possible XBMC experience on the KFTV will require root and to setup an XBMC Launcher (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2790392). This launcher replaces the KFTV launcher while still providing access to it and Amazon Prime. It's literally the best of both worlds.

mjbxx said:
This is all true. However, to get the best possible XBMC experience on the KFTV will require root and to setup an XBMC Launcher (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2790392). This launcher replaces the KFTV launcher while still providing access to it and Amazon Prime. It's literally the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the links. How do I do a factory reset or unroot my device just incase I decide to return it?

HenryTheUnicorn said:
Thank you for the links. How do I do a factory reset or unroot my device just incase I decide to return it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fire TV News (link in a prior post) has guides for all your issues. I would also recommend downloading ADBFire which you can find in the Fire TV Themes and Apps subforum of this forum

Hi.
I've rooted my AFTV and installet XBMC. It works good, but I have some problems.
1) IPTV PVR SIMPLE addon not working. When I whant to play any channel it freezes and can't go back to menu. Only reset helps.
2) Some kind of shifting in rewind when making step forward or backward fo 30 sec. Very long time of buffering.
3) Sleep mode in XBMC not working properly. It reboots AFTV every time, but no sleep.
4) And the biggest problem in Audio. When I use Direct output with ac3, dts, etc the video playback begins to slow.

Madline said:
Hi.
I've rooted my AFTV and installet XBMC. It works good, but I have some problems.
1) IPTV PVR SIMPLE addon not working. When I whant to play any channel it freezes and can't go back to menu. Only reset helps.
2) Some kind of shifting in rewind when making step forward or backward fo 30 sec. Very long time of buffering.
3) Sleep mode in XBMC not working properly. It reboots AFTV every time, but no sleep.
4) And the biggest problem in Audio. When I use Direct output with ac3, dts, etc the video playback begins to slow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. So if I don't use this addon, it won't affect me?
2. What do you mean?
3. Does this fix your problem? http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Amazon_Fire_TV#Sleep_while_XBMC_is_Open_.28Requires_root.29
4. Is there a way for audio and video playback to run smooth without this problem?

HenryTheUnicorn said:
1. So if I don't use this addon, it won't affect me?
2. What do you mean?
3. Does this fix your problem?
4. Is there a way for audio and video playback to run smooth without this problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. May be You know any other way to play IPTV playlist without installing additional server soft (such as Tvheadend)? On my HTPC I use "PVR IPTV Simple Client" and it works perfect. On AFTV it stucks.
2. Fast-forward causes everything to look choppy. I think I should edit advancedsettings.xml
3. I made all steps by this wiki. I've installed this Android Screensaver and it worked normally till today. Now my AFTV every minute reboots instead of sleep mode.
4. Yes. In standart settings it works. Without enable passthrough. But this is not acceptable for me.

Madline said:
1. May be You know any other way to play IPTV playlist without installing additional server soft (such as Tvheadend)? On my HTPC I use "PVR IPTV Simple Client" and it works perfect. On AFTV it stucks.
2. Fast-forward causes everything to look choppy. I think I should edit advancedsettings.xml
3. I made all steps by this wiki. I've installed this Android Screensaver and it worked normally till today. Now my AFTV every minute reboots instead of sleep mode.
4. Yes. In standart settings it works. Without enable passthrough. But this is not acceptable for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Darn. What should I get? Amazon Fire TV or Raspberry Pi?

HenryTheUnicorn said:
Darn. What should I get? Amazon Fire TV or Raspberry Pi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fire TV and do not look back. Besides, you have a 30 day return period throught Amazon. Try it out and see if you like it. You have absolutely nothing to lose doing so.

HenryTheUnicorn said:
Darn. What should I get? Amazon Fire TV or Raspberry Pi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had a raspberry pi with raspbmc for over a year. I bought the firetv two weeks ago. While I enjoyed tinkering around with the pi and tweaking it to get the best experience for xbmc, the fire tv is much better. It's just so much more powerful and as a result everything is very smooth, menus, video playback - all of it. In addition, you have the added benefit of having access to netflix and amazon prime which you will not get on raspbmc. Now I have to turn on one less device when I want to watch netflix. Finally, it seems like there are some devs working on unlocking the bootloader - so I would imagine that custom roms can't be far off. So if those things sound good to you, I would highly recommend the FTV.

jmerrilljr2 said:
No flaws. I'm rooted but root is really not relevant to running XBMC. For years I ran Plex on a MacMini. This is way better. Just to start -- DTS pass-thru.
Sideloading is really easy. So is uninstalling. I can't see a down side here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DTS pass-thru is something that I was banging my head against the wall to make it work, then I just saw "advanced settings" on the left bottom of menu just to find out that you need to activate this to have access to audio pass-thru. Then it worked flawlessly.

Spmc
You guys should look into SPMC for an alternative solution to xbmc. Its the same app but custom made that was designed for Ouya.works better on Amzon Fire Tv

Any Ted Talks fans?

Can't side load it from the Play Store. Without root, too many Google dependencies. Won't install from Amazon App store. Not FTV compatible. (?!?)
Can it be installed without root? How?

wellersl said:
Can't side load it from the Play Store. Without root, too many Google dependencies. Won't install from Amazon App store. Not FTV compatible. (?!?)
Can it be installed without root? How?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its right there on the addons in the main repo on xbmc. I use it all the time. works well. I didn't know its in the play store. but the xbmc/kodi repo version works well.

navigates said:
Its right there on the addons in the main repo on xbmc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That'll have to do. It's just not as spouse-friendly as turning on the FTV and seeing the TED logo...

wellersl said:
That'll have to do. It's just not as spouse-friendly as turning on the FTV and seeing the TED logo...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, but are you sure the ted app on google play is amazon remote friendly? Most aren't and to top it off you still won't see the ted logo on the home screen unless you do a sacrificial app and use llama profiles and change the icon. xbmc ted works well. You can boot to xbmc and have the ted icon on the home screen. unless there is an official amazon version, there is mostly no guarantee the keymaps would work. I'm struggling mapping the keys of dishworld for use with the firetv.

navigates said:
Agreed, but are you sure the ted app on google play is amazon remote friendly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just like the TED app on Amazon, I'm sure it's not FTV friendly.
navigates said:
I'm struggling mapping the keys of dishworld for use with the firetv.
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Click to collapse
Can't say it will make things any easier, but I have a FLIRC on the way. Have you considered one of those?

wellersl said:
Just like the TED app on Amazon, I'm sure it's not FTV friendly.
Can't say it will make things any easier, but I have a FLIRC on the way. Have you considered one of those?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do have FLIRC lying around at home somewhere. I had gotten it for my NUC and at that time FLIRC was not usable. I also have simple remotes form the WD Player. I went through hops to get WD to sell me those remotes because I wanted to use them with flirc. Now Flirc with the remotes is sitting in the box at home.
I don't see the need for flirc except I could use my bose lifestyle to control the firetv.