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Hi!
I am developing an application which connects a Wiimote to a bluetooth enabled android phone/device.
I did this by interfacing with the native bluez bluetooth library directly, rather than via the Android API. The reason for this is that Android API doesn't support HID devices, which a Wiimote is.
A problem now is that on some devices, mostly those sold by HTC, my app simply doesn't work. After calling the hci_get_route(NULL), this function should return an id of the first bluetooth device available (most likely 0), but instead returns ERNODEV (-1) as if no bluetooth device is available.
I suspect it has something to do with our beloved HTC grossly modifying something in the libbluetooth library to make this fail to work.
Has anyone ever done this kind of bluetooth interfacing?
How could I make this work?
Rooting the phone and replacing a library or two would be fine too.
For a list of working and non-working devices, check out the 2nd post of this thread.
HTC support
I just sent a customer service message to HTC about this issue. I hope they can get back to me with a "we'll work on it" message, or something. I really want this on my incredible. I'm new to coding like this, but could you disguise the Wiimote as another kind of device?
Just a response from someone equally interested in a solution. I'm trying to set up a bluetooth keyboard (Freedom Pro) with my gsm Hero running the 1.5 based MCR 3.2. Available drivers (Freedom's own, BlueInput & KeyPro) should work with 1.5, but HTC devices, especially the Hero, seem to be lacking something that is present in most 1.5 builds.
Investigating, I find the same issue of no route to device, because there is no known device. AIUI when bluetooth is turned on hciattach is used to establish a link to the hardware. At that point an hciconfig should list the hci0 device as present but down. However I find this list remains empty at all times.
I found this for keyboards.
Since I can't post the link, it's called "KeyPro for Android"
Google "keypro android" and click the first link.
Maybe that could help. It says it works with any android device above 1.5, however, I did read that some keyboards use a different type of bluetooth profile, SPP rather than HID.
I haven't heard back form HTC yet either.
EDIT: Upon reading your post again, you have tried this. Sorry, my bad.
Thanks for looking though The Freedom Pro is switchable between spp & hid profiles, so I figured I was safe, lol. Not with HTC's butchered 1.5 bt it seems.
Did you ever try to use the most likely id 0 on an HTC device? Even though the call to get the id fails?
Maybe you could use also the Android API to synchronize if a device is present and then use the id that Android API gives you?
Just some thoughts since I would love to see that App running on my Desire with Snesoid
Edit: Double post
tobren said:
Did you ever try to use the most likely id 0 on an HTC device? Even though the call to get the id fails?
Maybe you could use also the Android API to synchronize if a device is present and then use the id that Android API gives you?
Just some thoughts since I would love to see that App running on my Desire with Snesoid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Believe it or not, I actually tried this. Unfortunately, the next command (to bind the bluetooth adapter) also fails, and of course every command after that one because the adapter is not bound.
Thanks for the idea anyway.
usb
does the wii remote have usb connectivity? could it be possible to have the communication pass through that connection rather than bluetooth? one advantage of this would be increased battery life and probably better compatibility across models.
i'm sure some people would prefer bluetooth, but i figure i'll always be using it very close to my phone so i can see the screen, so the wired option is actually a bit more attractive (considering battery performance).
i know ps3 has usb connectivity as well, you just might need an adapter (mini to micro).
rubber soul said:
does the wii remote have usb connectivity? could it be possible to have the communication pass through that connection rather than bluetooth?
[snip]
i know ps3 has usb connectivity as well, you just might need an adapter (mini to micro).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty sure the first answer is no - our wii is round at a friend's atm. However even if it was yes, you'd need more than an adapter. USB operates with one device as master & the other as slave. To allow you to connect slave devices to your phone it would need to be in host mode. Some mobile phone hardware implementations support this, however I don't know of any mainstream Android kernels which do. Even if you workaround that, you're left with the huge issue that slave devices can assume it's safe to draw power from the USB bus which could do nasty things (tm) to a lower power device like a mobile. This can be worked around via a powered hub, but it all gets very messy.
I looked into this a few months ago, hoping I'd be able to use a usb keyboard with my Hero. I ended up with a BT keyboard instead. Of course that doesn't work either but for completely different reasons, as hinted at by this thread. Hopefully a 2.1 ROM will solve that, but that's the subject of numerous other threads.
Uh, just throwing stuff out, what if you have a pc with two bluetooth adapters, it connects to the wii mote, and then broadcasts that in someway the android api can understand?
Also please actually try working on something with a rooted phone, the HTC EVO 4g is rootable, and I will make man love(no homo) if you get it working.
Either one works lol.
Using a PC as a proxy is kind of useless. If you have a wiimote connected to a PC, you might as well play games on the PC itself (there are nes/snes/sega/etc emulators for PCs too).
At this moment, rooting doesn't help with the problem either.
@1 True
@2 That sucks.
Do we think that this will/could be fixed in HTC's Froyo update for 2010 devices? Not looking for definite answers, just a ponderin'.
well if you send the null pairing code to the wiimote from the default bluetooth pairing screen.. it will fail to communicate with the wiimote too
waffles004 said:
Do we think that this will/could be fixed in HTC's Froyo update for 2010 devices? Not looking for definite answers, just a ponderin'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't it work in stock/vanilla Eclair? I thought the main problem was with Cupcake, though HTC seem to have done weird things to every stock firmware. I read that removing Sense from a 2.1 HTC ROM breaks bluetooth. Go figure. And there was I thinking Sense was a gui enhancement
I contacted HTC about their bluetooth issues and just received this response
My name is Courtney, and I would be glad to assist you today. I understand that you are unhappy with the Bluetooth connectivity on your HTC EVO. HTC is aware of the problems occurring with the EVO and Bluetooth. We are currently investigating this issue and are working on a solution. As soon as we have an update, we will inform our customers. Thank you for contacting HTC America Technical Support. If you need further assistance, please feel free to contact us via email or at 1-866-449-8358. We are open 7 days a week from 6 a.m.-1 a.m. EST. You can also check out our Community and Support pages at htc.com/us and our pages on Facebook and Twitter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I contacted HTC about this issue with my incredible and I basically got the same answer except the guy was more knowledgeable and said that other people were complaining about certain bluetooth issues. I think they know what they did and are waiting to fix it in Froyo to be easy for them. No worries though, should be comin' in a few weeks. I can't freakin' wait. I have soooooooooo much Pokemon and Mario to play.
does anyone know if this works on samsung galaxy s, i dont have my phone yet to test, but as soon as it arrives (sometime next week) i will test this.
All I can say is that my wii controller is working really well on cyanogen on my evolution now!
So, I've been playing with my Evo for the last month or two, and i've finally come to the conclusion that there are enough things that I'd have *occasional* use cases for that I can't do with the stock firmware. So, I'm thinking about rooting my phone and trying another rom.
I found the list of roms in the wiki, but as someone else pointed out, it doesn't really go into what makes the different roms different. and the pages for the individual roms don't always have the info I'm looking for.
The suggestion that was made to that user was CyanogenMod. If nobody comes up with a better suggestion, that's probably where I'll start.
So, here's what I'm looking for, in a roughly prioritized order:
1) A non-lobotomized bluetooth stack. Specifically, in addition to the profiles included in the stock rom, I'm looking for SPP and HID (for keyboards and real gamepads)
2) I know the USB controller is OTG capable. It would be really nice to be able to use it as a host port. Things I could reasonably see myself wanting to connect: HID devices, storage, and USB->serial cables.
3) Unlocked wifi tethering and wireless access point. It's not something I see a regular use case for, especially since I have a standalone USB cellmodem, but there have been times where it would have been nice. And it's bad enough that Sprint's milking me for an extra $10/month for the privilege of having a 4G capable phone. I'm not about to spend an extra $30 to pay them to unlock it for me.
4) 4G/WiMAX. Not that Sprint has any 4G towers up around me yet. *grumble* one of the store reps I talked to a while back said they'd been told by Sprint that *hopefully* we'll have some towers by the end of the year. But not to quote them on that.
5) HDMI out. This is one of those things I'd rarely use, but it'd be nice. The current firmware only supports HDMI for certain apps (slideshows, movies on the SD card, youtube) and that's okay. It'd be nice to just send all video to the HDMI port instead of (or in addition to) the LCD, but I'd be happy with what I've already got.
I know Cyanogen doesn't (yet) support 4G and HDMI and it doesn't have the Sense UI (which I'm not sure why I should care about) but if it's a good fit for the other three points, that might be a fair deal.
So, what do you all think? Is CyanogenMod a reasonable fit for me? Can you suggest anything that might fit better?
Thanks.
Personally I keep a known good nandroid backup of the stock firmware with all my applications and settings intact and a known good copy of Cyanogenmod with my stuff.
I can't bring myself to keep using the stock Evo firmware due to the bugs in the media layer (audio files restarting from the beginning whenever I pause them and leave the audio player application for an extent of time is a huge problem when most of the media you listen to are long format podcasts, oh and Last.fm can't play a song all the way through without jumping to the next one). On the other hand I do have decent 4G coverage here in the Twin Cities area which I can't utilize while using Cyanogenmod.
You may want to look into doing the same. When you need 4G or HDMI out you can load up a nandroid backup of the stock firmware and otherwise use something like Cyanogenmod. That way you have access to all the capabilities of the phone (although admittedly not in a convenient way).
I've seen mentioned in the Samsung presentation and on various websites that go over Homesync, but I still don't know what it is. Is it cloud storage from Samsung? Or does it allow you to purchase a 1TB hard drive separately from your Galaxy S4 that you keep in your Home, and then let you sync your devices with it? If it's just server-side cloud storage, are they actually offering 1TB for free for the lifespan of your device?
Thanks for any feedback.
Homesync is a device by Samsung, that is connected to your TV through HDMI. It natively runs android 4.2 and will act as a smartphone that is connected to your TV. You are able to download apps just like you would on a normal smartphone.
Homesync will be controlled using either your smartphone (the phone will acts as touchpad/keyboard) or by connecting a mouse/keyboard in one of the usb ports.
Homesync will indeed also give you the ability to backup your device contents on the built-in 1TB hard drive.
Although the device is still under development (and more specifically the software) so we have no idea where this project will lead, but it is expected to bring the Samsung Convergence Ideal to your home, allowing you to connect all sorts of Samsung devices.
more information will follow
Alright, thanks for clearing that up. Sucks that it's not technically server side cloud storage and you'll have to pay for the device separately.
Hadnt heard of this before now, sounds like the sort of thing I'd want have the given a rough idea when they think itll be released?
johnbhoy89 said:
Hadnt heard of this before now, sounds like the sort of thing I'd want have the given a rough idea when they think itll be released?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://goo.gl/kfYZ4P
I need to replace my parents 7 year old Windows PC with a new one. I was thinking of getting a Android stick instead since their uses are limited to Skype, Hangouts, Facebook, occassional browsing and YouTube. Besides, at least my mom has become pretty familiar with her Android phone.
What I have in mind is this:
Buy a monitor with HDMI port or DVI. The monitor will have built in speakers as well. Connect the stick to it.
Attach a USB hub to the stick.
Attach webcam, keyboard and mouse to the hub. Alternatively, attach keyboard and mouse to the USB ports in the monitor (if available). I don't want to use bluetooth because they will find recharging the keyboard/mouse difficult.
My questions are:
How effective this setup will be for the above mentioned purposes? The reason I ask this is because most people seem to be using Android stick primarily as a media player.
I tried hooking up two tablets to my TV, neither of them gave full screen. Will I face such problems with the stick? Do I need to look for any specific monitor resolutions or aspect ratios?
If I attach keyboard and mouse to the monitor's USB port, will it work?
Are there any sticks which will support touch screen monitors out of the box?
Will it play the sound through monitor out of the box?
In case I have to use bluetooth, can I pair both keyboard and mouse at the same time?
Do I need to shutdown the stick just like a PC or will a simple mains switch off be enough? Or can I leave it running all the time without worrying about the power consumption?
Please recommend a good stick for this purpose.
Am I overlooking something? Will I need any extra components?
I will most likely be telling them over the phone on how to set up the whole thing. So any kind of tinkering with software (like rooting or some form of modding) will not be possible.
unni_kmr said:
I need to replace my parents 7 year old Windows PC with a new one. I was thinking of getting a Android stick instead since their uses are limited to Skype, Hangouts, Facebook, occassional browsing and YouTube. Besides, at least my mom has become pretty familiar with her Android phone.
What I have in mind is this:
Buy a monitor with HDMI port or DVI. The monitor will have built in speakers as well. Connect the stick to it.
Attach a USB hub to the stick.
Attach webcam, keyboard and mouse to the hub. Alternatively, attach keyboard and mouse to the USB ports in the monitor (if available). I don't want to use bluetooth because they will find recharging the keyboard/mouse difficult.
My questions are:
How effective this setup will be for the above mentioned purposes? The reason I ask this is because most people seem to be using Android stick primarily as a media player.
I tried hooking up two tablets to my TV, neither of them gave full screen. Will I face such problems with the stick? Do I need to look for any specific monitor resolutions or aspect ratios?
If I attach keyboard and mouse to the monitor's USB port, will it work?
Are there any sticks which will support touch screen monitors out of the box?
Will it play the sound through monitor out of the box?
In case I have to use bluetooth, can I pair both keyboard and mouse at the same time?
Do I need to shutdown the stick just like a PC or will a simple mains switch off be enough? Or can I leave it running all the time without worrying about the power consumption?
Please recommend a good stick for this purpose.
Am I overlooking something? Will I need any extra components?
I will most likely be telling them over the phone on how to set up the whole thing. So any kind of tinkering with software (like rooting or some form of modding) will not be possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Minix X7, which is my first android mini pc.. here's my thoughts regarding your list:
1. If you connect the mini pc (stick or otherwise) using HDMI cable to the monitor, you will have audio through the monitor.
2. If you buy a mini pc instead of a stick, you wouldn't need an additional usb hub (see X5 or X7)
3. You will need to use a logitech webcam (at least to use stock roms on Minix)
4. For browsing, Facebook, and Skype, the X7 will handle that easily, on a wired/wireless connection
5. Full screen works fine (either 1080p or 720p)
6. I have never used a touch screen monitor, but this thread has some guidance (http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?1802-Touchscreen).. a little more involved than plug-and-play
7. The X7will pair both a keyboard and mouse via bt at once, though I would recommend using the usb ports if you are setting it up at a desk
8. My X7 almost never gets shut off. Usually just shut off the monitor and let it stay on. The power consumption is minimal, especially when not being used.
Also, as far as a recommendation, I find the X7 to be pretty good. You'd probably be ok with an X5 if they aren't planning on using it as a media center and want to save some $$$. A lot of the cheap sticks are made by manufacturers who do not provide updates or product support, but since the end of July, Minix has come out with 3 firmware updates, and another one is almost ready. (They would have released update 005 except Rockchip released an update to their code and Minix want to integrate it prior to their next release, as it improves video playback).
On the negative side, the firmware does still have occasional glitches. Although my X7 has been up for days on end, every once in a while it just freezes up, and i have to pull the power cable, plug it back in, and turn it on. Also, the X7 had some early issues with SD cards, but if you don't plan on using an SD card, that shouldn't be an issue.
If you believe an android device will do everything your parents need in a PC, I think it's a great idea. Low power consumption (4W vs the 160-220W of my HTPC), low heat, no noise, low price, and decent reliability.
One more thought, if you wish to root/update firmware, etc, get the device shipped to you, then ship it to your parents. It'll take a few more days, but you can set it up and make sure everything suits their needs prior to delivery..
Mike_77 said:
I have a Minix X7, which is my first android mini pc.. here's my thoughts regarding your list:
1. If you connect the mini pc (stick or otherwise) using HDMI cable to the monitor, you will have audio through the monitor.
2. If you buy a mini pc instead of a stick, you wouldn't need an additional usb hub (see X5 or X7)
3. You will need to use a logitech webcam (at least to use stock roms on Minix)
4. For browsing, Facebook, and Skype, the X7 will handle that easily, on a wired/wireless connection
5. Full screen works fine (either 1080p or 720p)
6. I have never used a touch screen monitor, but this thread has some guidance (http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?1802-Touchscreen).. a little more involved than plug-and-play
7. The X7will pair both a keyboard and mouse via bt at once, though I would recommend using the usb ports if you are setting it up at a desk
8. My X7 almost never gets shut off. Usually just shut off the monitor and let it stay on. The power consumption is minimal, especially when not being used.
Also, as far as a recommendation, I find the X7 to be pretty good. You'd probably be ok with an X5 if they aren't planning on using it as a media center and want to save some $$$. A lot of the cheap sticks are made by manufacturers who do not provide updates or product support, but since the end of July, Minix has come out with 3 firmware updates, and another one is almost ready. (They would have released update 005 except Rockchip released an update to their code and Minix want to integrate it prior to their next release, as it improves video playback).
On the negative side, the firmware does still have occasional glitches. Although my X7 has been up for days on end, every once in a while it just freezes up, and i have to pull the power cable, plug it back in, and turn it on. Also, the X7 had some early issues with SD cards, but if you don't plan on using an SD card, that shouldn't be an issue.
If you believe an android device will do everything your parents need in a PC, I think it's a great idea. Low power consumption (4W vs the 160-220W of my HTPC), low heat, no noise, low price, and decent reliability.
One more thought, if you wish to root/update firmware, etc, get the device shipped to you, then ship it to your parents. It'll take a few more days, but you can set it up and make sure everything suits their needs prior to delivery..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is a great wright up of x7 I love mine and agree 100 % with what you have said here. I've tried the uab sticks they don't work as well plus no heat on the x7 that thing is built well to last. I have set p.o.s. (point of sales) systems up in the past using the x5 cheap and fast browsing experience.
Good luck hope your parents are happy with what ever you end up doing.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
I have MK808b (dual core with 1GB RAM), and using it as a media center, but also as a PC for browsing INTERNET. It is connected to pc monitor with HDMI, and works perfectly in full HD resolution.
I can't find any reason not to use it as a replacement for PC, especially if you use cloud storage services.
Mike_77 said:
I have a Minix X7, which is my first android mini pc.. here's my thoughts regarding your list...
6. I have never used a touch screen monitor, but this thread has some guidance (http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?1802-Touchscreen).. a little more involved than plug-and-play
One more thought, if you wish to root/update firmware, etc, get the device shipped to you, then ship it to your parents. It'll take a few more days, but you can set it up and make sure everything suits their needs prior to delivery..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks very much for this detailed reply. Really appreciate you taking time to write all these.
I have dropped the idea of using touch screen, since they seem to be 3 times the cost of a regular monitor (in India).
Regarding the shipping, I am in US now and parents are in India. I am not exactly sure if customs will cause any problems. That's why I am thinking of ordering from eBay India itself. Only problem is eBay India seller is charging around $204, probably because this is a new device.
dincdoes.me said:
Good luck hope your parents are happy with what ever you end up doing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If this works as expected for the above purposes, I am the one who will be more happy. In the last 2 years, I have spent a lot of hours through LogMeIn remote desktop updating and maintaining the PC. Where my parents stay, there are scheduled powercuts for 1 hour per day for atleast half of the year, and power comes and goes every now and then even otherwise. This inconsistency in power was another reason that made me lean towards the mini PCs. Besides, my mom, who is the primary user of the PC, has become more familiar with Android (through her phone), and she likes playing the games a lot as well.
draskome said:
I have MK808b (dual core with 1GB RAM), and using it as a media center, but also as a PC for browsing INTERNET. It is connected to pc monitor with HDMI, and works perfectly in full HD resolution.
I can't find any reason not to use it as a replacement for PC, especially if you use cloud storage services.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What resolution is your monitor?
Cloud storage will be a problem, since the internet at my parents house is only 512 kbps.
I am thinking of getting the X7 or X5 mainly because of the software updates, since I won't need to purchase any hub and since I can use my existing Logitech C310 webcam.
I have few more questions regarding the X7:
1. How responsive is the keyboard and mouse? Can I expect a response similar to a normal Windows PC?
2. If I use a monitor that has a resolution between 720p and 1080p (something like 1360x768 for example), will the device handle it properly or will it look odd (like stretched)?
3. Will it get updated automatically? I saw one video in YouTube in which he was manually flashing it using some Windows utility. Is that the only way to update?
I have two devices.
First device is a 70 dollar single core tablet with a broken touch screen. It was to expensive to fix it so I turned it into a server.
1. it runs Servers ultimate pro running a WebDav server, PHP/MySQL server for RSS feeds and a home site for the family, ddns updater and an FTP server.
2. it is running a surveillance app that sends an email to me the moment anything moves in the camera shot.
3. runs a PocketMine-MP server
4. runs an app to auto stop and start apps dring certain times of the day.
All this is remotely accessible VIA webkey.
Second device is an iMito MX1
1. it has a 7 port hub attached.
2. a HD webcam for Skype.
3. two harddrives (a 1 TB driver for media storage and a 720GB for internal memory replacement)(more on that in a min)
4. plays netflix, red box, youtube, Vevo, crackle and XBMC... to name a few
5. has 32 games loaded up with a Logitech F710 wireless controller VIA an app for onscreen touch.
6. Logitech full sized KB and Mouse.
I use this thing for web browsing, shooting vids and pics over to it from my phone for family sharing(DLNA)
The 750gig harddrive is currently the SDCARD but the internal one(NAND). The internal NAND is no longer used and the harddrive is where the OS stores the app's file to SD and the apps extra downloads. This has allowed me to download 15 games that contain 1+gig of extra data each.
All this has replaced two PC's in my house running 24/7. My electric bill has dropped 100+ dollars a month and the house has become quieter.
Let me tell you that two PC's(one was a server and the other a media center) running at full speed just to watch a movie took 280 watts of power. My new setup only consumes 24 at peak! Plus less heat and fan noise! I changed over around a year ago and never looked back or miss my old setup.
If you plan on running one fore a PC replacement I recommend a quad core. Sometimes the browsers can get a bit poky and that is due to the slower CPU. Also Webkey a must for remote management. This one FREE app has saved me more times then I can could. It has tons of functions and features but it's best feature is the remote control. It is just like setting in front of the device but just a tad slower. It is not a perfect app but it is the only remote app that I have found to work time and time again.
unni_kmr said:
What resolution is your monitor?
Cloud storage will be a problem, since the internet at my parents house is only 512 kbps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My monitor is 24" 1080p, and it's perfectly suitable for the purpose
For the office documents, 512kbps is quite enough, but not for pics, videos....
unni_kmr said:
Thanks very much for this detailed reply. Really appreciate you taking time to write all these.
I have dropped the idea of using touch screen, since they seem to be 3 times the cost of a regular monitor (in India).
Regarding the shipping, I am in US now and parents are in India. I am not exactly sure if customs will cause any problems. That's why I am thinking of ordering from eBay India itself. Only problem is eBay India seller is charging around $204, probably because this is a new device.
What resolution is your monitor?
Cloud storage will be a problem, since the internet at my parents house is only 512 kbps.
I am thinking of getting the X7 or X5 mainly because of the software updates, since I won't need to purchase any hub and since I can use my existing Logitech C310 webcam.
I have few more questions regarding the X7:
1. How responsive is the keyboard and mouse? Can I expect a response similar to a normal Windows PC?
2. If I use a monitor that has a resolution between 720p and 1080p (something like 1360x768 for example), will the device handle it properly or will it look odd (like stretched)?
3. Will it get updated automatically? I saw one video in YouTube in which he was manually flashing it using some Windows utility. Is that the only way to update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad to share my experience. I was a bit hesitant to buy one originally, but have been more than happy with my purchase.
I bought mine from http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MINIX-NEO-X7-Android-TV-Box-RK3188-Quad-Core-Mini-PC-1-6GHz-2G-16G-WiFi/1086507000.html# shipped DHL for only $3 more, and had it delivered in 3 days to Hawaii from China.
Updates are kind of a pain until they implement OTA updates, which they say they're going to do. That's why I recommend shipping to you first, and then you can send to your parents. I understand the customs issue though.. tough decision on that one.
I use mine on a 55" 1080p tv, and the picture quality is outstanding. The picture does not looked stretched or odd any any way. I believe it will detect the correct display settings and you can set the resolution you desire in /settings/display/resolution (trying to remember exact menu it's under)
The keyboard and mouse is just as responsive as a windows pc. There are a couple of times there is a bit of lag, but that is just a function of how much stuff is running. Even when you experience lag, it isn't anything significant.
There is a working version of CWM that will allow you to flash updates like an Android phone, but you will have to use the pc utility to install CWM (available on freaktab.com) Once CWM is installed, you can package the update files into a zip that is premade other than your update files, and it'll update for you.
There is a lot more information on freaktab.com. I alternated between that and minixforums.com for a while when trying to decide which android mini pc to buy. After weeks of research, I decided the wait for the X7 was worth it, and haven't regretted my decision since.
Thanks very much for all the replies. Sorry that I didn't reply for a long time. I tried ordering Minix Neo X7 from the AliExpress link. But they rejected my payment due to security concerns (I used an US credit card and gave India adress which probably raised some red flags). Then I ordered from eBay India. Waiting for it to be shipped.
I also came across another interesting product that could have satisfied all my requirements. Its the ViewSonic VSD220. Its a touch screen monitor with speakers, web cam, USB ports and is a Android mini PC. The only down side was that a YouTube review said its processor is not upto the mark.
unni_kmr said:
Thanks very much for all the replies. Sorry that I didn't reply for a long time. I tried ordering Minix Neo X7 from the AliExpress link. But they rejected my payment due to security concerns (I used an US credit card and gave India adress which probably raised some red flags). Then I ordered from eBay India. Waiting for it to be shipped.
I also came across another interesting product that could have satisfied all my requirements. Its the ViewSonic VSD220. Its a touch screen monitor with speakers, web cam, USB ports and is a Android mini PC. The only down side was that a YouTube review said its processor is not upto the mark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you'll get better performance out of the X7. Have you read all the info, etc on minixforums.com? Also, starting with FW006, they are supporting SDCard firmware updates (theoretically, though I haven't tried it)
reddragon72 said:
I have two devices.
First device is a 70 dollar single core tablet with a broken touch screen. It was to expensive to fix it so I turned it into a server.
1. it runs Servers ultimate pro running a WebDav server, PHP/MySQL server for RSS feeds and a home site for the family, ddns updater and an FTP server.
2. it is running a surveillance app that sends an email to me the moment anything moves in the camera shot.
3. runs a PocketMine-MP server
4. runs an app to auto stop and start apps dring certain times of the day.
All this is remotely accessible VIA webkey.
Second device is an iMito MX1
1. it has a 7 port hub attached.
2. a HD webcam for Skype.
3. two harddrives (a 1 TB driver for media storage and a 720GB for internal memory replacement)(more on that in a min)
4. plays netflix, red box, youtube, Vevo, crackle and XBMC... to name a few
5. has 32 games loaded up with a Logitech F710 wireless controller VIA an app for onscreen touch.
6. Logitech full sized KB and Mouse.
I use this thing for web browsing, shooting vids and pics over to it from my phone for family sharing(DLNA)
The 750gig harddrive is currently the SDCARD but the internal one(NAND). The internal NAND is no longer used and the harddrive is where the OS stores the app's file to SD and the apps extra downloads. This has allowed me to download 15 games that contain 1+gig of extra data each.
All this has replaced two PC's in my house running 24/7. My electric bill has dropped 100+ dollars a month and the house has become quieter.
Let me tell you that two PC's(one was a server and the other a media center) running at full speed just to watch a movie took 280 watts of power. My new setup only consumes 24 at peak! Plus less heat and fan noise! I changed over around a year ago and never looked back or miss my old setup.
If you plan on running one fore a PC replacement I recommend a quad core. Sometimes the browsers can get a bit poky and that is due to the slower CPU. Also Webkey a must for remote management. This one FREE app has saved me more times then I can could. It has tons of functions and features but it's best feature is the remote control. It is just like setting in front of the device but just a tad slower. It is not a perfect app but it is the only remote app that I have found to work time and time again.
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Your guidance would be greatly appreciated. What would you reccomend for luanchers or either installing a new system on the Tronsmart T428. I just can't stand using the android with my wifi keyboard w built-in mouse. The android pop-up keyboard takes up half of my projector screen when it pops up even with null keyboard installed. When selecting a link if a similar page ops up there is no scroll bars on the right letting you know to scroll down or if ytou are still on the smae page waiting for stuff to upload. i guess I'm looking for more of an Ubuntu 10x or windows experience. Traditional keyboard and mouse vs touch screen. NOw that I think about it I bet I have to get hulu plus to watch anything on this bc it acts like a tablet.
New software updates for the Fire TV and Fire TV Stick have been rolling out since July 1st. I haven't fully analyzed them yet to uncover all the changes, but we do know that apps and games can now be marked as "Favorites" in order to bring them to the front of your app/game list. Full overview of everything that has changed to come. Let us know if you notice any changes yourself.
Fire TV version 51.1.6.0_user_516009820 - Download Link
Fire TV Stick version 54.1.2.0_user_120060220 - Download Link
Attention @rbox
Could you please check if its possible also to set sideloaded apps as favorite? THX in advance.
Still using Anroid 4.2.2 so the update is a major fail. Any updates for the Fire TV that do not run Android 4.4+ will all be failures. Sure they may fix bugs or simplify the default launcher, but til they upgrade to at least Android 4.4 aall updates wil be worthless. They can add all the featurs to the Fire TV that they want, but it will never be as good as it could be unless they ugrade to a newer version of Android. Compatibiity issues are nonsense this day in ag with Android and I am hving several comptibility issues with the Fire TV all because Amazon refuses to upgrade the Fire TV t at lest Android 4.4. A month ago when the news of fire OS 5.0 came out I predicted that the Fire TV would not be running it in ten months and I hve nine months left to prove everone wrong that said I was wrong. Wait and see, nine months from now the Fire tablets and the Fire Phone will be running FireOS 5.0, but the Fire TV will be running either 4.2.2, 4.3 or if a miracle happens it might be running Android 4.4. I love the Fire TV and I am not jumping ship, but the Fire TV can not do what it should be doing if Amazon is not going to upgrade it to Android 4.4 I do not care about root or mods, but I do care about compatibilty issues, and more and more things are becoming incompatible with Android 4.2.2 and 4.3. Come on amazon, step it up and give us what we should've already had six months ago.
Nice update! Really looking forward to the shopping feature. Wonder if this feature will go live on July 15th with "Prime day"?
Looking forward to a flashable version of this.
Calibaan said:
Could you please check if its possible also to set sideloaded apps as favorite? THX in advance.
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No, only those downloaded from their App Store can be set as favorite.
You go into either "Games" or "Apps" to pick which ones you want to favorite, which brings them to the front of the Recent list in "Home" or the other mentioned sections.
Another change is they've added in the storage bar in Applications > Manage Installed Apps, now sit at the bottom of the screen.
porkenhimer said:
Still using Anroid 4.2.2 so the update is a major fail. Any updates for the Fire TV that do not run Android 4.4+ will all be failures. <snipped>
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Seems a new Fire TV Stick may be on the way running Lollipop 5.1 - http://liliputing.com/2015/07/amazons-next-gen-fire-tv-stick-may-be-coming-soon.html
This one will likely be left in the dark forever run on 4.2.2
Well, here is something...
For the longest time, when I hooked my Fire TV Box via Optical Audio to my Pioneer Elite VSX-21 (circa 1999-2000), SPMC/Kodi set for pass through did give me Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS (and show icons for each speaker). However, with the box set for Dolby Digital over Optical when playing movies from Amazon Instant, Netflix and Plex my Pioneer would always display only Dolby ProLogic (no speaker icons, indicating 2ch audio).
It looks like the v51.1.6.0 fixed that.
Today, playing a movie via Amazon Instant, I noticed Dolby Digital led on the receiver along with icons for each speaker.. Same with Netflix.
Plex however gives me no audio when playing movies from my server, but did give me stereo audio when playing a TV show via CBS channel in Plex.
Gilly10 said:
No, only those downloaded from their App Store can be set as favorite.
You go into either "Games" or "Apps" to pick which ones you want to favorite, which brings them to the front of the Recent list in "Home" or the other mentioned sections.
Another change is they've added in the storage bar in Applications > Manage Installed Apps, now sit at the bottom of the screen.
Seems a new Fire TV Stick may be on the way running Lollipop 5.1 - http://liliputing.com/2015/07/amazons-next-gen-fire-tv-stick-may-be-coming-soon.html
This one will likely be left in the dark forever run on 4.2.2
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Seems like just wild guess, and what spoils it is that there would be zero reason to put and accelerometor in an Android stick, which tells me that its not a new fire TV stick. I am sure there will be a new Fire TV stick at some point, but the page you gave the link to is 100% not a new Fire TV stick. You shold never link people to pages with unconfirmed info.
First up, it features WiFi and Bluetooth, but no GPS, compass, accelerometer, light sensor, camera, or SIM card. You’d expect most phones, tablets or other Android devices to have at least a few of those things.
Gilly10 said:
No, only those downloaded from their App Store can be set as favorite.
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Thx, not really what I hoped for.
porkenhimer said:
Seems like just wild guess, and what spoils it is that there would be zero reason to put and accelerometor in an Android stick, which tells me that its not a new fire TV stick. I am sure there will be a new Fire TV stick at some point, but the page you gave the link to is 100% not a new Fire TV stick. You shold never link people to pages with unconfirmed info.
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Not sure what your reading but it states clearly it does NOT have an accelerometer inside, only bluetooth & wifi are ticked, certainly fits the bill of being a Fire TV Stick of some kind going off the other specs (or lack of), guess we'll just have to wait and see...
This is the page the article is about - https://gfxbench.com/device.jsp?benchmark=gfx31&os=Android&api=gl&D=Amazon+AFTS&testgroup=info
Gilly10 said:
Not sure what your reading but it states clearly it does NOT have an accelerometer inside, only bluetooth & wifi are ticked, certainly fits the bill of being a Fire TV Stick of some kind going off the other specs (or lack of), guess we'll just have to wait and see...
This is the page the article is about - https://gfxbench.com/device.jsp?benchmark=gfx31&os=Android&api=gl&D=Amazon+AFTS&testgroup=info
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The specs fit the billing for many devices. Who knows it could be a new type of device, or it could be a tablet. Til there is proof the articles are just people making wild guesses. Like I said, go back and look at all of Amazons tablets and yo will be amazed at the features some of them do not have that almost every tablet mae by other companies do. They even took the gamble of leaving cameras out the first Fire HD tablet. Amazon does strange things with their devices. They have left rear cameras of some of their tablets and said their study shows that people do not use rear cameras on their tablets then released the next tablet with a rear camera. they have left out HDMI ports saying people with tablets barely use them then for some reason released other tabets with HDMI ports. I would not rule out that the device is a tablet at all. Its very likely that it could be a budget tablet. Their newer tablets have been getting more expensive compared to their older ones so it could be a cheap tablet.
jpeg42 said:
First up, it features WiFi and Bluetooth, but no GPS, compass, accelerometer, light sensor, camera, or SIM card. You’d expect most phones, tablets or other Android devices to have at least a few of those things.
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And what would these sonsors be good for on an mediaplayer device?
GPS? I know where my TV is.
Compass? My TV doesn't change its direction so often.
Accelerometer? I hope it never falls off the wall.
Light Sensor? For a divice without display?
Camera? Would be nice for skype but better use an external one.
SIM card?
So where is the point?
Hmmmm and off topic anyway .. Sorry for that.
Zaaap72 said:
And what would these sonsors be good for on an mediaplayer device?
GPS? I know where my TV is.
Compass? My TV doesn't change its direction so often.
Accelerometer? I hope it never falls off the wall.
Light Sensor? For a divice without display?
Camera? Would be nice for skype but better use an external one.
SIM card?
So where is the point?
Hmmmm and off topic anyway .. Sorry for that.
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Yes, proof that this is likely the next generation FireTV or Stick, and not another phone or tablet from Amazon.
i've been unable to 'adb connect' to my unrooted fire tv box since around the time it received the latest update. i've rebooted several times - computer and fire tv. no luck. can anyone else confirm or deny this with their box? maybe something funky going on with my routers...
Probably you need to re-enable the ADB debugging within the FireTV System > Developer Options.
Calibaan said:
Probably you need to re-enable the ADB debugging within the FireTV System > Developer Options.
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thanks, but i already checked that. i even tried turning it off, restarting, turning it on, restarting again. still can't adb connect to my box.
Probably the IP changed. Had this one time that my router assigned another IP than the regulary IP to the AFTV.
again, thanks for trying. firetv has a static IP. it has not changed. my router shows that the firetv is connected with the IP it is supposed to have. everything on my firetv works. i can't ping the firetv from my computer but maybe that is normal. i never tried before when adb connect was working. i tried doing a port scan from computer using nmap but it doesn't see the firetv at all. i feel like i'm losing my mind.
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well, i've got adb connect working again. i told firetv to forget the network then i re-added it. this time i didn't specify IP/subnet/etc. i let it get it all from DHCP. now adb connect works. weird.