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.
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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?
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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?
Today i've tried to install Win 95 on my Amazon Fire TV
I followed the instructions on this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1688353
Installed aDosBox via sideload on my Fire TV, pushed the Win 95 Image to the sdcard partition with adbFire and then mounted the image with imgmount.
See attached screenshot
No program is working, but it starts
Pretty neat...I have been using remote desktop with my fire stick and a bluetooth mouse, and it is amazing.
kinda contradictory running android and full windows at the same time, the great thing about it is you can cross platforms with copy and paste and other features.
btw, my host desktop is intel nuc running windows 8.1 pro.
I have a feeling that eventually all PCs will be dead when you can buy a $30 Remote Desktop stick and rent a Desktop Cloud machine such as OnLive Desktop.
I cannot get the TV icon to show up. Are there any guides I can follow to get iptv working on kodi with PVR? How can I get the guide?
Have you tried the Kodi Live TV and PVR/DVR Setup Guide?
http://kodi.wiki/view/PVR
thepartpricer said:
Have you tried the Kodi Live TV and PVR/DVR Setup Guide?
http://kodi.wiki/view/PVR
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went through it, but the guide is mainly targetted towards a tuner and not iptv. Is there a way to make it work with android and not a PC based solution?
I bought a used Shield TV on eBay with expiring eBay bucks. It was supposed to "work" but it was far from that. Nvidia was nice enough to send me the missing wall portion of the AC Adapter.
So having this thing for a week I was finally able to get it up and running only to find out that it boots into native Android.
Unless I can track down an APK the media remote doesn't work in it's current state. I've been able to navigate with a USB keyboard.
I've downloaded the files and am ready to return it back to the factory state but want to ask a few questions.
With Android phones rooting and getting a stock experience is important for devices that have too much bloat or no longer receive updates.
What's the benefit of having the Shield TV in this state? What am I gaining and losing?
I know I lose access to the Nvidia games and interface. I wasn't planning on buying their games but am interested in additional punch this device provides for emulation.
Would all of the emulation that Android currently supports have the same performance on a rooted Shield TV in this state as it would running the native OS?
I thought I read somewhere that the 3D acceleration doesn't kick in without the Nvidia software.
If I restore the Shield do I need to just enable apps from outside the Play store to get emulation working or does the Shield TV need to be rooted?
There is no DirecTV Now app for the Shield TV but there is the FireTV APK that people are using. I could give that a try but if I left the Shield TV in it's current state would all of the regular Android APK's work? Meaning the Android DirecTV Now app would work? I wanted to use the Shield with the HD HomeRun app for live TV/DVR and if I leave the Shield in it's current state I'm guessing I'd have to run Kodi for the HD HomeRun to function instead of being able to download the specific app that the Shield TV supports.
Then you have full android.running. Disputen that the sneller did not tell you , it is beter this wat. You now have complete Control of your device. Also GeForce now and alle other optioneel are stille available.
Check out the web for Zullu99 FULL android.
Check if the device is rooted, if so you van install droidmote server on the shield And the droidmote cliënt on your cellphone to control the shield.
All aps are possible to install. Not Just android tv apks.
Is there any replacement for the Fire TV Edition integrated Live-TV app? Handling channels there is a chore, and the program guide (EPG) is mediocre at best.
I'm especially interested in having a way to import/export the channel list so that I can edit it on a computer.
If desired I can add more details on the hardware and software used.
Some people seem to of got the Google Live Channels app working, but it wouldn't work on my Cube 2 (Fire OS 7), might be worth trying on Fire OS 6, Android version is too low to use on Fire OS 5.
This is the tutorial I saw with it for 4k stick: https://youtu.be/YV-iCa_T6dE