I was so excited when I learned that the Fire TV would play XBMC (now Kodi) that I bought two units. I followed a forum guide that I lost the link to, but the guide got me to root and mod the units, install the Xposed Framework, Google Framework and Play Store, TowelRoot, SU, etc and his modded XBMC 14.0-alpha2 apk so it was set for launcher intent, and ever since, I've been pretty happily using the boxes to just stream my mkv's from my Windows SMB shares (like the WDTV boxes did that I replaced with the AFTs) but now I can't upgrade my Kodi to the latest release, and I also can no longer run the Amazon App Store from XBMC, which means I can't the Fire TV optimized apps (Facebook, Youtube, etc). Can someone recommend a way out of this mess? I want to save my paths from xbmc, but other than that, I don't have a lot of personalization on either box to care about, so I could just factor reset and start from scratch.
My needs are:
1. Need to be able to run Kodi and update whenever available
2. Need to run the Amazon App Store
3. Need to change the boot to launch into Kodi
What's my best bet? I'm very confused about what the right direction would be.
Thanks,
Jesse
jessenj said:
I was so excited when I learned that the Fire TV would play XBMC (now Kodi) that I bought two units. I followed a forum guide that I lost the link to, but the guide got me to root and mod the units, install the Xposed Framework, Google Framework and Play Store, TowelRoot, SU, etc and his modded XBMC 14.0-alpha2 apk so it was set for launcher intent, and ever since, I've been pretty happily using the boxes to just stream my mkv's from my Windows SMB shares (like the WDTV boxes did that I replaced with the AFTs) but now I can't upgrade my Kodi to the latest release, and I also can no longer run the Amazon App Store from XBMC, which means I can't the Fire TV optimized apps (Facebook, Youtube, etc). Can someone recommend a way out of this mess? I want to save my paths from xbmc, but other than that, I don't have a lot of personalization on either box to care about, so I could just factor reset and start from scratch.
My needs are:
1. Need to be able to run Kodi and update whenever available
2. Need to run the Amazon App Store
3. Need to change the boot to launch into Kodi
What's my best bet? I'm very confused about what the right direction would be.
Thanks,
Jesse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what's your question? You said you rooted the device & installed Kodi etc on it.. Not sure why you are asking what direction to go with?
Unless your first paragraph is some sort of typo..
Follow this here if you need to root the device..
Update to latest rootable FW.
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-setup-a-new-fire-tv-without-blocking-root/
Root
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-root-the-amazon-fire-tv/
Block updates
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-block-ota-update-for-amazon-fire-tv-and-keep-root-access/
After that point, you can install the Google play store if you want, sideload Kodi apk onto the device. Use a custom launcher to load right into Kodi and bypass the default Amazon home screen. Once you do install Kodi and a launcher you can always go back to the default Amazon screen but just launching the KFTV launcher within Kodi.. So you never really lose access to it.
All that kind of info can be found here
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Amazon_Fire_TV
DHeffernan said:
So what's your question? You said you rooted the device & installed Kodi etc on it.. Not sure why you are asking what direction to go with?
Unless your first paragraph is some sort of typo..
Follow this here if you need to root the device..
Update to latest rootable FW.
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-setup-a-new-fire-tv-without-blocking-root/
Root
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-root-the-amazon-fire-tv/
Block updates
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-block-ota-update-for-amazon-fire-tv-and-keep-root-access/
After that point, you can install the Google play store if you want, sideload Kodi apk onto the device. Use a custom launcher to load right into Kodi and bypass the default Amazon home screen. Once you do install Kodi and a launcher you can always go back to the default Amazon screen but just launching the KFTV launcher within Kodi.. So you never really lose access to it.
All that kind of info can be found here
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=Amazon_Fire_TV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if I was unclear. My issue is kinda buried in my first post. When I wrote "modded XBMC 14.0-alpha2 apk so it was set for launcher intent", I"m not using a straight vanilla Kodi release, but a modded apk which appears to the unit as a launcher, and thus replaced the launcher on the unit so that it would boot straight into Kodi. What I need to do is upgrade the version of XBMC/Kodi to the latest. Should I scrub my boxes back to stock and use a different method to launch Kodi without the Amazon launcher? What is the preferred method of running Kodi as a launcher? Is there an alternative launcher replacement that I should be using instead?
Thanks and sorry for the ambiguity.
Jesse
jessenj said:
Sorry if I was unclear. My issue is kinda buried in my first post. When I wrote "modded XBMC 14.0-alpha2 apk so it was set for launcher intent", I"m not using a straight vanilla Kodi release, but a modded apk which appears to the unit as a launcher, and thus replaced the launcher on the unit so that it would boot straight into Kodi. What I need to do is upgrade the version of XBMC/Kodi to the latest. Should I scrub my boxes back to stock and use a different method to launch Kodi without the Amazon launcher? What is the preferred method of running Kodi as a launcher? Is there an alternative launcher replacement that I should be using instead?
Thanks and sorry for the ambiguity.
Jesse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just upgrade the current version you got using the below instructions. After that, just do the launcher mod from the wiki page I linked up top. No need to wipe your box, might as well maintain some of your XBMC config/setup.
For the cleanest launcher.. use Xposed and rbox module (Requires root). Which is described in the wiki page I linked.
XBMC can be upgraded through ADB without losing your settings. To do this, you must use a newer version of the package already installed on the machine.
Download the package to your machine
Make sure ADB is connected to the Fire TV
Run adb install -r <apk-file-name>
Installation is complete when it reports the message "Success"
XBMC will still go through the "first run" screen the first time it is launched but your settings will remain intact.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DHeffernan said:
Just upgrade the current version you got using the below instructions. After that, just do the launcher mod from the wiki page I linked up top. No need to wipe your box, might as well maintain some of your XBMC config/setup.
For the cleanest launcher.. use Xposed and rbox module (Requires root). Which is described in the wiki page I linked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey guy's im haveing trouple finding 14.0 apk and above can you please help...
So I side-loaded the 14.0a3 and restored KFTV Launcher. After that, I side loaded the FiredLauncher and rbox module and now it boots straight into the updated Kodi release without losing settings so I guess this is as good as its gonna get but I'm a little confused. It looks like the KFTV launcher is still launching first before the FiredLauncher, which means KFTV is still using a ton of memory before Kodi starts. Can I prevent that from happening and boot directly to Fired?
I just ordered an Amazon Fire TV with the intention to install XMBC along with add ons. What is the quickest and easiest way to get XBMC on to my AFTV? Do you recommend to root it or not? Is there a link that will show you how to do all this and install add ons?
You can sideload XMBC without root. If you can root and wish too, everything you will every need up until today is here: http://www.aftvnews.com/
I just got my Fire TV and I would like to get instructions on what softwares and tools are the ones needed to root the device and get XBMC on the device. Im new to rooting and Forgive me if you have seen this question many times.
You don't need root to install Kodi/XBMC.
http://kodi.wiki/view/Amazon_Fire_TV
http://www.aftvnews.com/
Does it limit XBMC functionality if you do not root?
My assumption is that XBMC works just like any other app on Fire TV
rush_ad said:
Does it limit XBMC functionality if you do not root?
My assumption is that XBMC works just like any other app on Fire TV
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't.
Is there any way to set up a VPN on the Fire Stick without root? Running 5.0.5 (with updates blocked), patiently (ok, not that patiently) waited for a recovery & rooted image for the Stick. I primarily use my Stick with Kodi, but I decided to hold off until I can get it behind a VPN (I use IPVanish with my other devices)? I know I can root with KingRoot, but if it's going to make Kodi crash after X amount of minutes, then what's the point?
I rooted my Fire Stick and put rbox's rom on it back when they first came available. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to completely remove all the Amazon stuff? I just want it for Kodi really. I have no interest in any of the Amazon stuff.
Thanks