Database Users

Media capabilities?

It would be nice to use this for Netflix and Youtube. I also want to stream video files from my PC to the Ouya via PS3 Media Server or something similar. I imagine Netflix and Youtube will be easy, but what about streaming from the PC?

I'm interested too, though more of what kind of media it's able to play. My camera takes 'AVCHD 2.0' video, which is 1080p/60, which is 1080p video at 60 frames per second at a bitrate of about 28mbps.
I'm wondering if the OUYA would be capable of playing this. The PS3 apparently isn't, since it stutters when I tried to play the video's in it. It would be nice if the OUYA could, but I have my doubts.

Wouldn't worry about media playback or streaming.
http://xbmc.org/natethomas/2012/08/07/xbmc-and-ouya-oh-yeah/

XBMC is the #1 reason I got the OUYA

The Tegra 3 devices I have used have all been able to play 1080p video wirelessly, though not through SMB.
I use serviio on the host PCs and bubble upnp on the devices. With bubble upnp you won't even have to touch the OUYA controls. You can browse videos through your phone and will push the video to the OUYA.
Using the OUYA as a dedicated media player is the number one reason I want one.
RE 1080p/60: I would probably say no, but have not tested it.

xFaultx said:
XBMC is the #1 reason I got the OUYA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
ouya will be perfect for this

The main issue with OUYA is that all existing android apps will have to be reworked to support controller/remote input
I dont think the Touch pad on the controller is going to cut it. The creator of the Mupen64 emulator sent me this:
"While originally this was planned as a separate port, having looked at the ODK more closely I've discovered that it can be pipelined inside a single APK. So the Google Play version will in fact include the OUYA port (it is now technically an expansion of the project rather than a port).
That said, there are quite a unique requirements when developing for the OUYA compared to vanilla Android. The most immediate are the lack of a touch screen for menu interfaces such as button mapping (touchpad workaround being awkward and slow), lack of Home and Back buttons on the controllers (OUYA simulating Back with a non-standard keycode), lack of a standard Android action bar and menu overflow button, and serious graphics overscan to name the big ones). Had I not purchased a devkit and actually looked into optimizing the app for the OUYA at all, the Google Play version would certainly not have worked well on the OUYA because of these problems. The most serious concerns would have been no way to access the in-game menu options for things like save-state or load-state, extremely tedious mapping the controllers, and borders of the screen being cut off."

I go with the above. You can extract an APK and install on Ouya and will more than likely run. The issue is more, will Ouya input controllers allow one to move around the system or within the apps. Maybe trying something like Sixaxias Controller app and controller may give some indication.
As for the rest, it'll be about the apps. I don't thin PS3Server will work since that is DNLA, and I don't believe Ouya is going to have DNLA. But something like XBMC or Plex should work for media distribution. For direct media playback, If you can find a way to navigate, something like Mobo Player, BS Player, or VLC Android should work.

---------- Post added at 01:17 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:13 AM ----------
[/COLOR]
DrROBschiz said:
The main issue with OUYA is that all existing android apps will have to be reworked to support controller/remote input
I dont think the Touch pad on the controller is going to cut it. The creator of the Mupen64 emulator sent me this:
"While originally this was planned as a separate port, having looked at the ODK more closely I've discovered that it can be pipelined inside a single APK. So the Google Play version will in fact include the OUYA port (it is now technically an expansion of the project rather than a port).
That said, there are quite a unique requirements when developing for the OUYA compared to vanilla Android. The most immediate are the lack of a touch screen for menu interfaces such as button mapping (touchpad workaround being awkward and slow), lack of Home and Back buttons on the controllers (OUYA simulating Back with a non-standard keycode), lack of a standard Android action bar and menu overflow button, and serious graphics overscan to name the big ones). Had I not purchased a devkit and actually looked into optimizing the app for the OUYA at all, the Google Play version would certainly not have worked well on the OUYA because of these problems. The most serious concerns would have been no way to access the in-game menu options for things like save-state or load-state, extremely tedious mapping the controllers, and borders of the screen being cut off."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lovekeiiy said:
I go with the above. You can extract an APK and install on Ouya and will more than likely run. The issue is more, will Ouya input controllers allow one to move around the system or within the apps. Maybe trying something like Sixaxias Controller app and controller may give some indication.
As for the rest, it'll be about the apps. I don't thin PS3Server will work since that is DNLA, and I don't believe Ouya is going to have DNLA. But something like XBMC or Plex should work for media distribution. For direct media playback, If you can find a way to navigate, something like Mobo Player, BS Player, or VLC Android should work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My bro has an xperia play, and he can use the controls to select and move around. I think that's how its going to work. When you connect a controller to your droid you can still move around using the controls some apps don't work but allot do with the controller or you can you use certain apps to "force" it to work. Plus it has a usb 2.0 port so you can use a mouse to operate it and if you want to connect more i have good feeling a usb modular hub like this one will do the job:
http://www.amazon.com/Black-4-Port-High-Speed-USB/dp/B002FFT8Z6/ref=pd_sim_sbs_e_3
Give it a launcher and it lives

Many other software can read any media file ( MxPlayer, Vplayer ... )
Envoyé depuis mon Transformer TF101 avec Tapatalk

DrROBschiz said:
The main issue with OUYA is that all existing android apps will have to be reworked to support controller/remote input
I dont think the Touch pad on the controller is going to cut it. The creator of the Mupen64 emulator sent me this:
"While originally this was planned as a separate port, having looked at the ODK more closely I've discovered that it can be pipelined inside a single APK. So the Google Play version will in fact include the OUYA port (it is now technically an expansion of the project rather than a port).
That said, there are quite a unique requirements when developing for the OUYA compared to vanilla Android. The most immediate are the lack of a touch screen for menu interfaces such as button mapping (touchpad workaround being awkward and slow), lack of Home and Back buttons on the controllers (OUYA simulating Back with a non-standard keycode), lack of a standard Android action bar and menu overflow button, and serious graphics overscan to name the big ones). Had I not purchased a devkit and actually looked into optimizing the app for the OUYA at all, the Google Play version would certainly not have worked well on the OUYA because of these problems. The most serious concerns would have been no way to access the in-game menu options for things like save-state or load-state, extremely tedious mapping the controllers, and borders of the screen being cut off."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would rather a few specialised apps that are developed specifically for this device over a lot of android apps "retooled" to make them work. That's why I bought this over an android initial pc.

Seems like the best thread to ask in.
Have had a look around, but can't find a definitive answer so apologise if it has been asked.
What is the story with up-scaling the android games? People now have 50-60 inch TVs, so will games just look sad on these big panels? What resolutions can we expect? 4k?

Darknessborn said:
What is the story with up-scaling the android games? People now have 50-60 inch TVs, so will games just look sad on these big panels? What resolutions can we expect? 4k?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The games will all run at 1920x1080, native resolution for any HDTV. 50" or 60" doesn't change that.
4K is 2+ years away from being affordable and even longer away from being mainstream.

mancur said:
The games will all run at 1920x1080, native resolution for any HDTV. 50" or 60" doesn't change that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, but expect to notice more minor details/flaws in the big screen.
Sent from my YP-G70 using xda app-developers app

I am getting an OUYA specifically for the XBMC capability. I am currently using a soft modded original XBOX to do this for my kids tv but would like something with an HDMI output and this fits the bill. The gaming and other apps are just an added bonus.

they haven't really said anything on the upscaling.
But I don't think it's going to be as bad as you think. Some of the games are designed for newer mobiles devices which has higher resolution screens them selves; they're just only a couple inches big. New mobiles phones have 720p displays, and tablets have 1080p. So, games may already be designed for those displays. They're just not going to super detailed because developers were making games on the screens for ten inches or smaller.
The games designed for Ouya I expect to look better since they're designed for significantly larger displays.
Just don't expect a game designed for low resolution desplays such as 4080x320 to look that great, even if they're is upscaling.

xFaultx said:
XBMC is the #1 reason I got the OUYA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A port of Ubuntu TV to OUYA could be a nice catch.

Ouy(meh)
I got my Ouya yesterday. Like many of you, I backed the kickstarter to have a game console where I can play old NES SNES roms and watch and stream movies. As of this date I don't think the console is ready for prime time. In my two days of using it here are my pros and cons:
Pros
Able to play old games
Ability to stream music and videos
Small and quiet
Great value
Excellent customer support. Every time I write them an email they reply within 24hr or less
Cons
Unable to power unit on/off via the controller like the PS3/XBOX360
Limited launch apps and games
(currently) Does not support USB storage/expansion. EDIT 5/14/13: figured out how to access usb stick by installing ES File Explorer or Total Commander
Choppy frame rate while watching MP4 videos (via XBMC). Unbearable streaming of MKV files
Cumbersome method of sideloading apps (if you're not familiar with adb). EDIT 5/14/13: load apps/files by connecting the Ouya directly to my mac and installing Android File Transfer on my mac. I then loaded ES File Explorer and Total commander and I am able to create an FTP or LAN network with those apps to transfer files wirelessly.
Controller sticks and it feels really cheap. EDIT 5/14/13: I connected my PS3 controller so I no longer have to use the Ouya's cheap remote. It even works wirelessly.
Like all new technology I believe it will get better with time but I don't think it would ever handle MKV files smoothly

oreste191 said:
Cons
Choppy frame rate while watching MP4 videos (via XBMC). Unbearable streaming of MKV files
Like all new technology I believe it will get better with time but I don't think it would ever handle MKV files smoothly
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oreste, are you using the libstagefright Android version of XBMC? Because from your description it doesn't sound like it.
XBMC has an alpha build that enables hardware acceleration on Android.
Try the Gotham Alpha 2 build from April 3rd. http://mirrors.xbmc.org/test-builds/android/
It should decode 1080p mkv files smoothly. It works very well on my Nexus 7, which is running a slower version of the Tegra 3 chip that powers the Ouya.
Let us know your results.
Cheers

mancur said:
Oreste, are you using the libstagefright Android version of XBMC? Because from your description it doesn't sound like it.
XBMC has an alpha build that enables hardware acceleration on Android.
Try the Gotham Alpha 2 build from April 3rd. http://mirrors.xbmc.org/test-builds/android/
It should decode 1080p mkv files smoothly. It works very well on my Nexus 7, which is running a slower version of the Tegra 3 chip that powers the Ouya.
Let us know your results.
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am just using the stable build listed on xbmc.org/download. I just clicked on the Android download link. The file name is xbmc-12.2-Frodo-armeabi-v7a.apk but I will give that a try now. Should I uninstall the current apk or just override?
On a side note, I am using a PS3 controller wirelessly with the Ouya, so I am slowly liking the system more and more. I'll report back in a few after I update xbmc.

Streaming Mac Games to NVIDIA Shield, without NVIDIA GPU... Challenge completed.

Hey YouTube, In this video I will show you guys COD4 streaming on my NVIDIA shield without an NVIDIA GPU or Windows operating system. I used Splashtop 2 and GameKeyboard, both of which are available on the Google Play store for free. I have changed my controller mapping since filming this video, and I will show those to you in a later video. Sorry for not having 1080p, My export got messed up so I could only get 720p. Thanks for watching! I have at this point created an almost perfect mapping for the controls, which allows really awesome controller support. Also,this trick needs no root, as you are mapping hardkeys to specific letters rather than mapping physical keys to touchscreen controls. Hope you enjoy it! www[DOT]youtube[DOT]com/watch?v=kiCleXTRNqY

hackery21 said:
Hey YouTube, In this video I will show you guys COD4 streaming on my NVIDIA shield without an NVIDIA GPU or Windows operating system. I used Splashtop 2 and GameKeyboard, both of which are available on the Google Play store for free. I have changed my controller mapping since filming this video, and I will show those to you in a later video. Sorry for not having 1080p, My export got messed up so I could only get 720p. Thanks for watching! I have at this point created an almost perfect mapping for the controls, which allows really awesome controller support. Also,this trick needs no root, as you are mapping hardkeys to specific letters rather than mapping physical keys to touchscreen controls. Hope you enjoy it! www[DOT]youtube[DOT]com/watch?v=kiCleXTRNqY
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coo! is Splashtop 2 a subscription based app or Free? Client itself is free, right? i had purchased Splashtop HD for my N7, but Play store says it's not compatible with my Shield

Splashtop 2 is free. It is available on the Google Play store and is compatible with the shield. If you are not able to get it from the Google Play store, I am sure you can get it online somewhere(the .apk). If you need any help with it, you can send me a pm or just leave a reply to this post. I hope you are able to get it working!

[Q] Local Streaming/Plex & Alternatives

Hey guys, I just pulled the trigger and bought a Nexus Player, currently im a kernel developer for the Nexus 4/5/7, will be checking into optimizing it and adding some features, but first I got a question. I know plex only works with plex pass customers, can you sideload the plex app? Looking to save some money, already bought the plex app for android and have an insanely large collection running on a Plex media server, is there any DLNA apps that are Android TV Sexy as an alternative? Getting mine in next week, can't wait
Thanks
defcon

Yes you can side load it with sideload launcher. But as far as the sexiness I would imagine its less than stellar. I've noticed most apps run great that are side loaded but the screen resolution for the apps are not optimized for the player. Meaning some apps will cut off the sides or top of the screen.
However on the plus side...
The plexpass app for the player looks and functions beautifully.
Super easy and fast to navigate.
I was very impressed with the plexpass app.
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

defconoi said:
Hey guys, I just pulled the trigger and bought a Nexus Player, currently im a kernel developer for the Nexus 4/5/7, will be checking into optimizing it and adding some features, but first I got a question. I know plex only works with plex pass customers, can you sideload the plex app? Looking to save some money, already bought the plex app for android and have an insanely large collection running on a Plex media server, is there any DLNA apps that are Android TV Sexy as an alternative? Getting mine in next week, can't wait
Thanks
defcon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he said. The sideload version *works*, but the official version is so much better. SIdeload one doesn't show on homescreen, no 5.1 surround, no display of movies on home screen, no searchability. Official does 5.1 passthrough, can be searched from the menu, and is aesthetically perfect for the Nexus Player.
Historically, plex pass-only features make their way to the regular app after a month or two. In this case, at least for me, I am absolutely fine with paying $4 or $8 for such an amazing UI. Oh, and it does all kinds of neat category sections when browsing - "Top movies by Ivan Reitman" or "Top unwatched Comedy" if you watch a lot of comedies. It's almost netflix-like...but even better looking.
Also, if you're gonna use it...get a USB NIC adapter. Even over AC, HD streaming is laggy. Having a solid LAN connection will always trump wifi in my mind.

digitalhigh said:
What he said. The sideload version *works*, but the official version is so much better. SIdeload one doesn't show on homescreen, no 5.1 surround, no display of movies on home screen, no searchability. Official does 5.1 passthrough, can be searched from the menu, and is aesthetically perfect for the Nexus Player.
Historically, plex pass-only features make their way to the regular app after a month or two. In this case, at least for me, I am absolutely fine with paying $4 or $8 for such an amazing UI. Oh, and it does all kinds of neat category sections when browsing - "Top movies by Ivan Reitman" or "Top unwatched Comedy" if you watch a lot of comedies. It's almost netflix-like...but even better looking.
Also, if you're gonna use it...get a USB NIC adapter. Even over AC, HD streaming is laggy. Having a solid LAN connection will always trump wifi in my mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you recommend a NIC adapter? I bought one on Amazon and it doesn't work with the Nexus Player. It's supposed to be pretty much automatic once connected, right?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KBZF20W/ref=pe_385040_121528360_TE_dp_1

defconoi said:
Hey guys, I just pulled the trigger and bought a Nexus Player, currently im a kernel developer for the Nexus 4/5/7, will be checking into optimizing it and adding some features, but first I got a question. I know plex only works with plex pass customers, can you sideload the plex app? Looking to save some money, already bought the plex app for android and have an insanely large collection running on a Plex media server, is there any DLNA apps that are Android TV Sexy as an alternative? Getting mine in next week, can't wait
Thanks
defcon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree with the others... I sideloaded and bought the plex pass.. IMHO, not worth the extra money... Sideloaded version works just fine.. I personally dont need the bells and whistles of searching for movies or seeing suggestions from the home screen.
You can easily see the app via Sideload Launcher... Plex works perfectly on both the sideloaded and the plex pass version.

defconoi said:
Hey guys, I just pulled the trigger and bought a Nexus Player, currently im a kernel developer for the Nexus 4/5/7, will be checking into optimizing it and adding some features, but first I got a question. I know plex only works with plex pass customers, can you sideload the plex app? Looking to save some money, already bought the plex app for android and have an insanely large collection running on a Plex media server, is there any DLNA apps that are Android TV Sexy as an alternative? Getting mine in next week, can't wait
Thanks
defcon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I side loaded Plex for android but it pretty much unusable for me. Any of my files with DTS audio will not play with sound when forcing direct play (no transcoding). Basically audio pass through for all 5.1 formats is broke.
Kodi/xbmc works as it supposed to but that is not how I want my player to function I feel like I'm booting into another os to play my media. I want the full integration with the launcher and search. Kodi does not do this.
Lastly I have a HD homerun prime that will stream my Comcast cable to my network devices. They are working on a app but from what I have been reading there is no MPEG2 hardware decoding. Seems Asus or google didn't license the codec. Huge fail for me and has got me contemplating on retuning it. A question for you could this codec be added with a custom kernel or rom? Or is this entirely at the mercy of Asus or google? If this won't be implemented im sending it back.
I love the player interface because of it simplicity my family immediately picked it up and figured it out unlike my kodi/xbmc setups. So if I can get the updated interface Plex app with out paying a monthly subscription and mpeg2 hardware decoding support I will purchase one for every TV. Until then this device isn't cutting it for me.
Guys with Plex pass....is direct play and audio pass through for DTS working for you?

WhiteWidows said:
I side loaded Plex for android but it pretty much unusable for me. Any of my files with DTS audio will not play with sound when forcing direct play (no transcoding). Basically audio pass through for all 5.1 formats is broke.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you install Plex For Android, I recommend changing the layout to tv rather than mobile, then set the Device Media Profile to "External Player." If you pair that with a good video player app, you can play almost anything (even with dts) stutter-free without needing to transcode. I use MX Player with the x86 version of DTS custom codec, and all hardware decoding options enabled; works perfectly so far. Hopefully the officially supported Plex app will re-add some of these features in time; I don't understand why the ui was completely changed and most of the advanced features/options removed to "best support" the Nexus Player, when the ui of Plex For Android is working lightning fast with no major issues so far.

Ok audio passthrough works for both dts and dd?
What about direct playable video codecs? Is it like chromecast x264 only or does it support other codecs as well. I wish it played video as good as on my Samsung. Then it's a good option to our bedroom TV.
Skickat från min GT-I9505 via Tapatalk

MX Player? I have it working, but no 5.1 options.. I used the custom codec, and can play DTS, etc - but its all 2.0 - Are there no 5.1 pass through options that work? Does anything besides Netflix and Google Play even have any kind of 5.1 support?

biosystemics said:
If you install Plex For Android, I recommend changing the layout to tv rather than mobile, then set the Device Media Profile to "External Player." If you pair that with a good video player app, you can play almost anything (even with dts) stutter-free without needing to transcode. I use MX Player with the x86 version of DTS custom codec, and all hardware decoding options enabled; works perfectly so far. Hopefully the officially supported Plex app will re-add some of these features in time; I don't understand why the ui was completely changed and most of the advanced features/options removed to "best support" the Nexus Player, when the ui of Plex For Android is working lightning fast with no major issues so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didnt know the tv layout setting existed, thanks for that suggestion!
I have a plex server and I havent been able to get 5.1 to work with plex on the NP at all yet. Things I have tried:
-Plex for Android app
-Plex for Android app + MX Player as external player, with the custom codec pack
-Plex for PlexPass Users
XBMC Gotham does work like a charm for 5.1 audio. I connected it up to my media share, enabled Passthrough and Dolby Digital (AC3) capable receiver (Settings -Advanced Settings Level- > System > Audio)
I was not using any addons, btw.
I still have not tried XBMC Helix.
I prefer Plex's Interface and the Plex Server over XBMC's setup... So has anyone else figured out 5.1 audio for Plex on the Nexus Player? For me it really is not that big of an issue, the NP will be the entertainment box for the kid's tv (no surround system) upstairs, so I dont really require 5.1 audio... but I would still like it to work, and would consider it for my main system if it did.
---------- Post added at 12:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:10 AM ----------
d2globalinc said:
MX Player? I have it working, but no 5.1 options.. I used the custom codec, and can play DTS, etc - but its all 2.0 - Are there no 5.1 pass through options that work? Does anything besides Netflix and Google Play even have any kind of 5.1 support?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sideloaded XBMC, with passthrough enabled in settings

ok just got the NP all hooked up, its badass, much better than roku/samsung smart bluray, I sideloaded plex but pulled the trigger on one month of plexpass, I hope they make it free/integrate it into the android app but I have a feeling they will change for the nexus player app seperately or require plexpass for good... Its really nice for now though. Sideloaded Kodi and that works great too.

Does sideload launcher show the sideloaded Plex app?
For some reason that is the only app that doesnt show in the sideload launcher for me.

psychicsword said:
Does sideload launcher show the sideloaded Plex app?
For some reason that is the only app that doesnt show in the sideload launcher for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope gotta launch it from app settings

defconoi said:
ok just got the NP all hooked up, its badass, much better than roku/samsung smart bluray, I sideloaded plex but pulled the trigger on one month of plexpass, I hope they make it free/integrate it into the android app but I have a feeling they will change for the nexus player app seperately or require plexpass for good... Its really nice for now though. Sideloaded Kodi and that works great too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you like it, as do I, I love the interface and voice search capabilities, but as everyone is saying its not a finished product. All I want to work right now is Plex 5.1 audio with no trans-coding, and MPEG2 hardware decoding. Then it will be perfect for my living room.
I see you said your a kernel dev, well im looking for some collaborators to get mpeg2 hw decoding working on this device. I opened a dev thread and have been trying to build ffmpeg into android x86 hoping this will enable it. So far my builds have been failing. If you can help me out drop me a pm.
Ive been going off this documentation.
https://software.intel.com/en-us/android/blogs/2013/12/06/building-ffmpeg-for-android-on-x86
Also have you herd any chatter on anyone working on a custom recover for the NP?

I have been using Kodi (formerly known as XBMC) and it works like a charm. I'm running the latest beta 2 version, so I experience a crash or two from time to time, but other than that it works wonderfully. 720p content scales up very nicely to my hd screen (even 480p). I have no issues streaming 1080p content from my NAS to the box. I have a 802.11ac network, and I have not tested it with a n network, though.

[Q] Is the Nexus Player right for me ?

Hi fellows,
I currently own an Xbox 360 and a Rasperry Pi running OpenElec. The Xbox 360 is used for games and Netflix while OpenElec is running Kodi to play the local media on my NAS. I am looking to replace my RPi with a device that will be able to have the following features :
- Kodi. I tried Plex and didn't like it.
- Netflix (Because my X360 is really noisy and pisses me off)
- Google Play Music
- Google Play Movies (for Renting and already owned)
- Spotify
- Small mobile games
- Can use my phone to remote control
- Chromecast feature to cast my computer screen
I think that the Nexus Player can handle all that, however I wonder how good and stable is the NP at accomplishing these tasks. I am very familiar with Android (been using it for over 4 years on my phones) and I am tech-savvy. I would like however a simple and stable solution where my wife and kids can play with the device easily. I was able to achieve that easiness and stability with OpenElec, but I am looking for a device that will be able to be much more than just a Kodi player.
I think the direct competitor to the NP is the Roku. Roku cannot run Kodi, but has the Google Play Music and Movies available. However, I have seen numerous issues about renting movies through Google Movies not working on Roku. Has anyone ever rented a movie on Google Play Movies on the NP and had issues ? Is this service stable ? Renting through Google Play Movies is cheaper than my local TV provider, so I'm thinking about making the switch to Google. Or any other suggestions than Google Play Movies ? Netflix Canada selection really sucks.
I'm not looking to spend more money than a Nexus Player. The NVidia Shield TV is out of the question and the Amazon Fire TV does not seem to be available in Canada. The Roku and the NP are my 2 viable options as far as I know. I like Android, so the NP looks very interesting. However I wouldn't want to buy the NP to find out that it cannot do everything I want it to do.
Thanks for any input !
Neo.

The Nexus Player will handle almost everything in your list.
* Kodi works quite well on the Nexus Player. It can be downloaded directly from Google Play which means it will automatically update and won't require sideloading APKs.
* Netflix comes preinstalled on this device and generally works fine as long as your Nexus Player has Android v5.1.1 build LMY48J installed. You might want to adjust your TV's aspect ratio modes while watching movies if the black bars from widescreen content bother you. I don't use the app very often so perhaps other users can comment on things like surround sound support.
* Google Play Music comes preinstalled on this device and is linked to your account like the rest of the apps from Google. The only issue I see with it is that the on-screen album cover doesn't move around like it does when you cast from the app but the Nexus Player's "Daydream" screen saver mode cycles through different images after a few minutes without user interaction. Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) will support Bluetooth audio streaming which means you can pair the Nexus Player with a sound bar and play music that way.
* Google Play Movies comes preinstalled and seems to work fine. It probably is the most convenient option to rent or purchase movies or TV shows on this device. I don't use this service enough to say much about it but the free movies I have in my account are synced and easily accessible. As with Netflix, you may want to adjust your TV's aspect ratio during playback.
* Spotify is the only thing in your list that doesn't work well on the Nexus Player. You can try sideloading the app but it may not be easy to use with a remote. The developers of Spotify don't support casting either, as far as I'm aware.
* You can download Android TV games from the Google Play Store and some of them will be playable with the remote but others will require a gamepad. You can either use a separate Bluetooth gamepad or root your Nexus Player and pair a PS3 or PS4 controller with it using the paid Sixaxis Controller app.
* Yes, you can use your phone to control the Nexus Player with the free Android TV Remote Control app from Google. It is rather basic, though, compared to a paid root app combination like DroidMote Server & Droidmote Client which is definitely more versatile. If you're willing to buy a Flirc infrared USB dongle for about $24 USD, you can even use a universal remote to control the Nexus Player. I have one and it works very well after being programmed for convenient usage with my Philips SRP5107 universal remote.
* Casting to the Nexus Player generally works well but there may be a few apps which work better with an actual Chromecast. I prefer casting to the Nexus Player because it supports 5 GHz wireless AC while the Chromecast only supports 2.4 GHz wireless N.
I've never used a Roku device but the Nexus Player provides great value for the price and you can do a lot with it (especially if it's rooted). As for the limited content selection of Netflix Canada, you can use a smart DNS service such as UnoTelly to "change your region" and access content that's licensed for other countries. UnoTelly even offers a free trial and up to 3 free months of service if you mention them positively on social media. In conclusion, let's answer your question. Is the Nexus Player right for you? I certainly think so.

spookyneo said:
Hi fellows,
I currently own an Xbox 360 and a Rasperry Pi running OpenElec. The Xbox 360 is used for games and Netflix while OpenElec is running Kodi to play the local media on my NAS. I am looking to replace my RPi with a device that will be able to have the following features :
- Kodi. I tried Plex and didn't like it.
- Netflix (Because my X360 is really noisy and pisses me off)
- Google Play Music
- Google Play Movies (for Renting and already owned)
- Spotify
- Small mobile games
- Can use my phone to remote control
- Chromecast feature to cast my computer screen
I think that the Nexus Player can handle all that, however I wonder how good and stable is the NP at accomplishing these tasks. I am very familiar with Android (been using it for over 4 years on my phones) and I am tech-savvy. I would like however a simple and stable solution where my wife and kids can play with the device easily. I was able to achieve that easiness and stability with OpenElec, but I am looking for a device that will be able to be much more than just a Kodi player.
I think the direct competitor to the NP is the Roku. Roku cannot run Kodi, but has the Google Play Music and Movies available. However, I have seen numerous issues about renting movies through Google Movies not working on Roku. Has anyone ever rented a movie on Google Play Movies on the NP and had issues ? Is this service stable ? Renting through Google Play Movies is cheaper than my local TV provider, so I'm thinking about making the switch to Google. Or any other suggestions than Google Play Movies ? Netflix Canada selection really sucks.
I'm not looking to spend more money than a Nexus Player. The NVidia Shield TV is out of the question and the Amazon Fire TV does not seem to be available in Canada. The Roku and the NP are my 2 viable options as far as I know. I like Android, so the NP looks very interesting. However I wouldn't want to buy the NP to find out that it cannot do everything I want it to do.
Thanks for any input !
Neo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
would agree with all answers above, only thing that I'll add is that its a shame the community isn't larger or more active.
BUt with the addition of a couple of additional peripherals can also be considerably more user friendly.

New to XDA and the Shield!

Hi everyone, just got done setting up my new Shield TV with Kodi to stream media files from my unRaid NAS! I purchased the Shield because my old WDTV Live was dying and there did not appear to be many options for media boxes that could stream network content without transcoding with Plex or similar. My unRaid server uses a very old Atom CPU and doesn't have the horsepower to transcode 720p video or above.
Setting up Kodi was pretty easy, although it wasn't able to install it from the Play store. I had to go the route of loading the APK from a USB stick. All of my networked media seems to play flawlessly!
So now onto my question, what is everyone using their Shield for? I've got mine in the bedroom and I'm curious to see what else I can do with it. Out of all my Android games (I have a lot because I've gone through 3 android phones and 2 android tablets) only Wayward Souls was available for Android TV. I some experience with PS1 and SNES emulators from my tablet, but it seems the Shield is much more capable.
My general household includes 2 android phones, an android tablet, a gaming PC with an nvidia graphics card, the unraid server, and an HTPC in the living room. Solid AC Wifi connection between the Shield and the rest of the network.
Throw some ideas at me - what else should I do with the Shield?

Welcome.
I'm using my Shield as a main media center hooked up to my TV in the living room.
I do some android gaming sometimes, but there aren't enough titles i like (hoping this will change)
once nop releases the NTFS and samba kernel, i'm planning to use it as a NAS with a 2.5" usb 3.0 hdd connected to it.

RetroboxTV is pretty sweet for game emulation.
We use our Shield as our primary media device. It does everything we want minus native WatchESPN. We have an hdhomerun prime that we use with the Live Channels app for live TV.
We have a 2 TB external HDD hooked up with movies and TV shows that we watch through Kodi.
What else are you looking for?
Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk

Get sideload launcher, it will give you a wider range of apps you can run. You can also install amazon underground (first download and install the Chrome .apk to browse to it). IMO, ES file explorer provides a lot of the network search functions that I used to use Kodi for, so that removes some software layers. MXPLayer seems to be the most capable video player I've tested.

Mount as fileshare
xd4d3v said:
Welcome.
I'm using my Shield as a main media center hooked up to my TV in the living room.
I do some android gaming sometimes, but there aren't enough titles i like (hoping this will change)
once nop releases the NTFS and samba kernel, i'm planning to use it as a NAS with a 2.5" usb 3.0 hdd connected to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey can you help me out? I cannot figure out how to mount a network share into the filesystem.. ive tried using cifsmanager and tutorials but to no avail. can you please help?

just ordered my Shield TV
Relatively new here, roamed forums and maybe posted once or twice. Just ordered my NVidia shield tv and cant wait to get my hands on it! One question that I have yet to get a concrete answer to is can you run amazon prime video on it? Currently have an AFTV second gen and love it but always wanted more power out of it. Think im good with the shield tv but I do need to have prime video. Can someone give me a concrete answer? I've read through tons of threads out there and seems some people say you can while I've read others who say its a no go. HELP PLEASE!!!
P.S. thank you in advance!!!!

v-ince said:
Relatively new here, roamed forums and maybe posted once or twice. Just ordered my NVidia shield tv and cant wait to get my hands on it! One question that I have yet to get a concrete answer to is can you run amazon prime video on it? Currently have an AFTV second gen and love it but always wanted more power out of it. Think im good with the shield tv but I do need to have prime video. Can someone give me a concrete answer? I've read through tons of threads out there and seems some people say you can while I've read others who say its a no go. HELP PLEASE!!!
P.S. thank you in advance!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You CAN run prime video. However, the current workaround will not give you you 1080p (or 4K). You'll be limited to 720p. http://forum.xda-developers.com/shield-tv/development/amazon-prime-video-demand-android-tv-t3278778

OK everyone so I've been using my Shield for a bit now and here are my quick thoughts. I haven't rooted or installed ROMs or done anything else. The most complicated thing I've done is put APKs on a flash drive and clicked "OK" in ES File Explorer to install them. I've also had to use a computer with the Play store to install a few games/apps.
1) ES File Explorer is OK but the user interface is very difficult to navigate (not intuitive)
2) Getting a PS1 and SNES emulator up and running were easy
3) Netflix, PBS, and CBS Sports are the only native video streaming apps I can get to work because I have Comcast/Xfinity and they hate Android TV. However, CBS Sports is only clips, not full programming, I find that pretty useless.
4) HBO Go and Showtime Anytime work with built in app casting functionality from my Android phone
5) Fox Sports Go works by casting my phone through Android (not within the app)
6) There are very few games in the Play store that seem to support Shield TV. So far I've only got Wayward Souls and Reaper.
Questions:
1) I've got Retro Arch and Arc Browser installed because I read about them a lot. However, I can't figure out what to actually do with either of those apps.
2) What other Android/play store games?
3) What other video streaming services (I have Comcast/Xfinity)
4) What emulator next? I'm thinking PSP would be good... anything else?
5) Any other apps or cool uses I should look at?

u.of.ipod said:
OK everyone so I've been using my Shield for a bit now and here are my quick thoughts. I haven't rooted or installed ROMs or done anything else. The most complicated thing I've done is put APKs on a flash drive and clicked "OK" in ES File Explorer to install them. I've also had to use a computer with the Play store to install a few games/apps.
1) ES File Explorer is OK but the user interface is very difficult to navigate (not intuitive)
2) Getting a PS1 and SNES emulator up and running were easy
3) Netflix, PBS, and CBS Sports are the only native video streaming apps I can get to work because I have Comcast/Xfinity and they hate Android TV. However, CBS Sports is only clips, not full programming, I find that pretty useless.
4) HBO Go and Showtime Anytime work with built in app casting functionality from my Android phone
5) Fox Sports Go works by casting my phone through Android (not within the app)
6) There are very few games in the Play store that seem to support Shield TV. So far I've only got Wayward Souls and Reaper.
Questions:
1) I've got Retro Arch and Arc Browser installed because I read about them a lot. However, I can't figure out what to actually do with either of those apps.
2) What other Android/play store games?
3) What other video streaming services (I have Comcast/Xfinity)
4) What emulator next? I'm thinking PSP would be good... anything else?
5) Any other apps or cool uses I should look at?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) There is a touchpad on the bottom of the game controller. It's hidden, but if you run your finger over the gray area above the volume control it should respond as a mouse pointer. That should help you navigate some apps easier.
2) Implosion (play store), Sonic CD & Goat Simulator (Chrome.apk -> Amazon underground -> amazon Apps), and some of the more ambitious MMO like War Thunder and Vendetta should work well.
3) HBOGo should work from your phone by casting, as will a lot of other video apps. FoxNow, WatchESPN, NBC, xfinity TV Go are some others I've tested successfully.
4)
5) sideload launcher if you don't already have it. Kodi is good for live TV from external devices (i.e. HDHomeRun Connect), but I've always found its navigation to be more complicated than it needs to be.