Database Users

Finally! My Amazon Fire TV is complete!

After days of tweaking my brand new Amazon Fire TV to run XBMC. It's finally complete! I just finished installing Google Play Store. I installed a Custom XBMC Gotham 3.2 build. I installed Xbmchub's addons and settings ontop of that. FiredTV launcher. I set XBMC to launch when Amazon Fire TV starts up and by hitting the home button. Custom Splash and Wallpaper backgrounds. I'm so excited!
I'm familiar with XBMC from my pc and my G-Box MX2 android box but I'm loving this new Amazon Fire TV. It took sometime to figure out some stuff because I was not used to using adb and rooting devices so it was new to me.
I might uninstall the FiredTV launch screen. Don't really need it with XBMC starting right up now without having to go through the Amazon menu>Settings>Apps>XBMC.
I was having some buffering issues with running off of wifi so I wired the box last night. Video plays great now with no buffering issues.
Thanks to everyone for all of your hard work in customizing this great little machine!

I read about some people asking about Showbox on Fire TV. I sideloaded the apk for Showbox. The app itself works fine. You need a mouse to use it. Video play isn't working too good. I'm using an external player MX Player.
The app really isn't necessary if you have good add ons for XBMC. It's pretty pointless.
I also sideloaded Vudu onto the Amazon Fire TV. Vudu works great! But only allows you to watch movies in SD quality.
I installed the Chrome Beta web browser from Google Play. This way you can download and install .apks without having to sideload them.
I'm not an expert at this stuff but just sharing my experiences.

bobbym36 said:
After days of tweaking my brand new Amazon Fire TV to run XBMC. It's finally complete! I just finished installing Google Play Store. I installed a Custom XBMC Gotham 3.2 build. I installed Xbmchub's addons and settings ontop of that. FiredTV launcher. I set XBMC to launch when Amazon Fire TV starts up and by hitting the home button. Custom Splash and Wallpaper backgrounds. I'm so excited!
I'm familiar with XBMC from my pc and my G-Box MX2 android box but I'm loving this new Amazon Fire TV. It took sometime to figure out some stuff because I was not used to using adb and rooting devices so it was new to me.
I might uninstall the FiredTV launch screen. Don't really need it with XBMC starting right up now without having to go through the Amazon menu>Settings>Apps>XBMC.
I was having some buffering issues with running off of wifi so I wired the box last night. Video plays great now with no buffering issues.
Thanks to everyone for all of your hard work in customizing this great little machine!
Click to expand...
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keep on modifying bro!!
I run tvlauncher, xbmc 13.2, airplay support, allcast installed, firefox, google play, ouya store, modded version of pandora, MLB running through a VPN in Japan so i have no local blackouts and the rest of my apps going through a vpn in europe.

mejdam said:
keep on modifying bro!!
I run tvlauncher, xbmc 13.2, airplay support, allcast installed, firefox, google play, ouya store, modded version of pandora, MLB running through a VPN in Japan so i have no local blackouts and the rest of my apps going through a vpn in europe.
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I am android noob.. which app do you use to have this preferential VPN set.. so that some apps use europe vpn while others japan?

bobbym36 said:
I sideloaded the apk for Showbox. The app itself works fine. You need a mouse to use it. Video play isn't working too good. I'm using an external player MX Player.
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I use the media player that comes bundled in with EStrongs File Explorer when SB asks which external player to use.. Works perfectly every time.

mkhopper said:
I use the media player that comes bundled in with EStrongs File Explorer when SB asks which external player to use.. Works perfectly every time.
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Ill have to try that. I want to test some emulators next when i get time.

In the midst of tweaking mine I found having moviebox on my ipad and just airplaying it solved all my content needs with nary a tweak. I don't even really need to keep root now.

Great brother...keep it going. I have a question. I am trying to get an app apk working on FireTV but not having any luck. would you know why? It works on tablets and any other android tv box, just not on firetv. let me know if you can help me in anyway. The app is on Google Playstore. It's called YuppTV. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xoom&hl=en

quick question
mejdam said:
keep on modifying bro!!
I run tvlauncher, xbmc 13.2, airplay support, allcast installed, firefox, google play, ouya store, modded version of pandora, MLB running through a VPN in Japan so i have no local blackouts and the rest of my apps going through a vpn in europe.
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Could you tell me where you got your modded version of pandora so i could put that on mine as well...

willie2409 said:
Could you tell me where you got your modded version of pandora so i could put that on mine as well...
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Even better is to put Spotify on it and then use rotation manager to make it play in the right orientation
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spydiko.rotationmanager
and the tablet metrics xposed module to make it play in tablet mode
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed/modules/27-tabletmetrics-report-screen-7-v2-2-t2596603

soulassasin187 said:
Great brother...keep it going. I have a question. I am trying to get an app apk working on FireTV but not having any luck. would you know why? It works on tablets and any other android tv box, just not on firetv. let me know if you can help me in* anyway. The app is on Google Playstore.
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Do u have google play store on your fire tv? u trief installing the .apk file? I read that some apps from the play store just arent compatible with the fire tv. Not sure whar else you can do?
I tried to install Pandora as an Xbmc add on but it wouldnt work for me. iheart radio worked fine. Spotigly is a good one.

soulassasin187 said:
Great brother...keep it going. I have a question. I am trying to get an app apk working on FireTV but not having any luck. would you know why? It works on tablets and any other android tv box, just not on firetv. let me know if you can help me in anyway. The app is on Google Playstore. It's called YuppTV. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xoom&hl=en
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Click to collapse
Righ now, It's available on Amazon AppStore
http://www.amazon.com/YuppTV-for-fireTV/dp/B00L1C3300/

Thank you. It's a new app posted on 9/8/14. But the problem is that is asks you to activate with a code and I already have a couple of devices activated so I can't activate firetv. Anyway to modify it or install the tablet apk?
Sent from my iPad with XBMC

mejdam said:
keep on modifying bro!!
I run tvlauncher, xbmc 13.2, airplay support, allcast installed, firefox, google play, ouya store, modded version of pandora, MLB running through a VPN in Japan so i have no local blackouts and the rest of my apps going through a vpn in europe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to load a modded version of Pandora a while back but I remember I had some problem with it. I don't remember if it would force close or if I couldn't get past the login screen.. Could you provide more info on what you have loaded?

Exclusive Fire TV apps on Nexus Player...Need some help experimenting.

Wondering if anyone else is experimenting with this...
I have a fire tv stick and i downloaded some apps that are exclusive to that platform. I did an ADB pull from the fire tv system and installed them on my Nexus Player.
Including the Slingplayer app and some other video apps.
Most of the apps start just fine but fail when trying to start the video. Has me thinking there is some kind of framework that the fire tv has that renders these apps useless on other android devices.
Also may have to do with the fact that it is an Intel chip inside of the Nexus player and Apps coded to work solely on the fire tv devices wont work right since they are coded from snapdragon chips
Anyone know of a way to circumvent these blocks? Any info would be helpful

I've actually been wanting to experiment with this but I don't have a FireTV stick.
I did try to pull some video apps (i.e.-History, A&E, Amazon Instant Video) from my phone. They all installed correctly but, like your issue, they crashed. Makes me think its a library thing or certain missing files as most of those apps work on Lollirock.

Hmm interesting. I don't really want to use lollirock because I really like the UI currently. I can post the Amazon apps here atleast the free ones to see what's different about them.
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

I agree with you. I actually like the ability to navigate with the remote only. The one app I wish we could find a way to make work in our factory rom is Amazon Instant. It's definitely possible because it works in lollirock.

Sorry folks, but Nexus Player is an intel atom x86 based architecture while the FireTV (and Stick) are ARM based. That means unless the .apk's ship the correct bits for both architectures, you're not going to get the Fire TV apps running on Nexus Player (for example in the case of Sling Player, there are libraries specific to ARM that are included in the .apk on the Fire TV store, but they don't include the x86 version).
I'd love this to work, but in most cases I highly doubt it will.

Redth said:
Sorry folks, but Nexus Player is an intel atom x86 based architecture while the FireTV (and Stick) are ARM based. That means unless the .apk's ship the correct bits for both architectures, you're not going to get the Fire TV apps running on Nexus Player (for example in the case of Sling Player, there are libraries specific to ARM that are included in the .apk on the Fire TV store, but they don't include the x86 version).
I'd love this to work, but in most cases I highly doubt it will.
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Redth, although x86 can be a limiting factor, you have to keep in mind that we have "houdini" translator code built into our Nexus Player. Think of houdini as an arm translator to let us run most arm apps on our device. That is why we can successfully sideload so many apps (minus the fact we have to use a keyboard & mouse to operate it). For instance, I have successfully gotten new recently released apps like the Sling TV apk to work that was originally designed for the FireTV. I also have apps like WatchESPN, & USA Network working successfully.
Also, you have to keep in mind that Amazon instant Video is also working on Lollirock, so it definitely is possible & functioning on our device. It just looks like we are missing certain libraries.

@xaudiblex then perhaps the limiting factor is the required libs that the arm built executable uses. I don't remember the exact libs from the FireTV Slingplayer apk, but there were what looked like some .so files built with c/c++ that were linked in and accessed over JNI. I'm guessing the translator can't handle those, and that may be why Slingplayer in particular doesn't work.
It's a shame, I'd love to get slingplayer working!

Redth said:
@xaudiblex then perhaps the limiting factor is the required libs that the arm built executable uses. I don't remember the exact libs from the FireTV Slingplayer apk, but there were what looked like some .so files built with c/c++ that were linked in and accessed over JNI. I'm guessing the translator can't handle those, and that may be why Slingplayer in particular doesn't work.
It's a shame, I'd love to get slingplayer working!
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Unfortunately, I had to uninstall Lollirock. If I ever get a chance, I want to check out the differences in the files between stock rom & lollirock. Maybe if we can determine what extra libraries exist that allow those extra apps to work on Lollirock, maybe can transplant those files onto our nexus player.

Where can I find the sling TV .apk from the Fire Tv? I been trying to find it via Google with no luck and I cannot get from the Amazon store because none of my devices are compatible. Thanks!

matb321 said:
Where can I find the sling TV .apk from the Fire Tv? I been trying to find it via Google with no luck and I cannot get from the Amazon store because none of my devices are compatible. Thanks!
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http://webapp.movetv.com/player/firetv/sling.apk
Works great on our nexus player too.

Great! Thank you so much! I hope it is better than the generic Android.apk I have side loaded!

matb321 said:
Great! Thank you so much! I hope it is better than the generic Android.apk I have side loaded!
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It definitely does. That is the official APK from their website. The remote actually works on it too! If you know how to decompile apks, you can add leanback code to it as well.

Did you ever get the Fire TV Slingplayer app to work? If not does it load and just crash when you try to do something? That is seriously the only thing I need for the Nexus Player for it to be perfect. I have the tablet Slingplayer app but without a mouse it is pretty much good for turning on and turning off not able to change channels with it.

flixster
anybody know where to find the fire tv flixster apk? i cant seem to find it anywhere.

For me at least, the Amazon Fire Sling TV app has worked perfectly. I had it crash on me once several days back but that was it. I have been watching it all day today without any hiccups. The quality of the video has generally been solid.

nksetr said:
anybody know where to find the fire tv flixster apk? i cant seem to find it anywhere.
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I pulled the APK from my FireTV & installed it on the Nexus Player (also tried watch ESPN since it works with remotes). The app starts up fine but it crashes anytime you try to play a video.

xaudiblex said:
I pulled the APK from my FireTV & installed it on the Nexus Player (also tried watch ESPN since it works with remotes). The app starts up fine but it crashes anytime you try to play a video.
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That's the problem with most amazon fire only video apps. There is something in the code that causes them to crash or just simply fail to play video when used on anything else. Atleast the sling.tv app works fine
Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

jerflash said:
That's the problem with most amazon fire only video apps. There is something in the code that causes them to crash or just simply fail to play video when used on anything else. Atleast the sling.tv app works fine
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I tried to compare the Fire TV APK & Google Play APK of WatchESPN (as an example) to see if there is much difference. The structure of the files are substantially different.

xaudiblex said:
For me at least, the Amazon Fire Sling TV app has worked perfectly. I had it crash on me once several days back but that was it. I have been watching it all day today without any hiccups. The quality of the video has generally been solid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you happen to have the apk that works for you?

whyteboyello said:
Do you happen to have the apk that works for you?
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After the addition of the new channels (History, H2, & etc), the FireTV apk I was using from Amazon kept on crashing. I ended up downloading the apk (downloaded from Google Play store) from my phone & sideloaded it to my Nexus Player. Remote works perfectly fine with it.

UK - On demand apps. All4, My5, ITV/STV Player

I know Android TV's like Sony have these apps, but I can't seem to find them anywhere to use on the nVidia Shield TV
Any ideas?

I don't know that the TV's actually do. It's a shame they are dragging their heels over bringing these apps to android TV. You have a couple of options really...
1) Install SPMC (or KODI). There are 3rd party add-ons for BBC and ITV, FTV guide will give you live TV channels. Kodi can be customised nicely , I've set it to auto start and use it as a homescreen for the SHIELD.
2) You can "mod" your SHIELD TV and flash an android ROM on to it. This will mean you can then use the Android apps as you're no longer on Android TV. This might be a bit too extreme for you though.

How you can make shield to auto start kodi? Could you give us some step by step please..
Thanks..

zelduy said:
How you can make shield to auto start kodi? Could you give us some step by step please..
Thanks..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.autostart&hl=en
Install that...open it. Choose which app you want to autostart and no you don't need to root the SHIELD TV. I use SPMC as it's being tailored for the SHIELD TV but you can use KODI instead

any apps on demand?

the nvidia shield tv has chromecast (now google cast) built into it, casting all4 to it from another device works better than sideloading the all4 app. that's the best way to get all4 on it, as there's no all4 kodi add-on.
you can sideload My5 if you get an apk from another device, the demand 5 kodi add-on is dead. you need to use right stick mouse emulation, as it's a touchscreen app.
you can also sideload itv hub, but the kodi add-on is better.

Mr Creosote said:
the nvidia shield tv has chromecast (now google cast) built into it, casting all4 to it from another device works better than sideloading the all4 app. that's the best way to get all4 on it, as there's no all4 kodi add-on.
you can sideload My5 if you get an apk from another device, the demand 5 kodi add-on is dead. you need to use right stick mouse emulation, as it's a touchscreen app.
you can also sideload itv hub, but the kodi add-on is better.
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Great post!
I don't personally do the casting and I use Android not Apple stuff. However I do know Kodi has Airplay compatibility. I've never tried it but maybe that will help iphone/ipad users do the same trick?
I never thought of extracting the My5 apk from my molly...thank you! I might just give that a try

I believe that you can cast from the ios version of all4 as well, yes.

if anyone has a working my5 apk please direct it this way, have not found one apk that will work, always some issue.

Slayerkodi said:
if anyone has a working my5 apk please direct it this way, have not found one apk that will work, always some issue.
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you're probably finding that it's working as best as it's going to. you can only navigate with the right stick emulating a mouse, and it doesn't work great doing that either.
I got it by installing it on my phone then using es file explorer to back it up.

I've got it but it gives error message when trying to play any video, both on my phone and shield TV

To be fair regarding apps on demand try Pluto it's linking to youtube live channels and other sources,and also actually make a playlist once in youtube live to fill with playlists of the youtube live channels you want click the + next to playlist when it's open right top of the list.That's one set of live on demand you can use which is none commercial tv oriented.But for true tv on demand get a smart tv with it built in,or a tv box which is made to have the on demand services incorporated otherwise use kodi or spmc and add on demand channels from vido addons section.

ok somehow my5 decided to work on shield （still no luck on phone） so i have bbc iplayer, itv, all4 and my5. uk catch up services sorted!!

Slayerkodi said:
ok somehow my5 decided to work on shield （still no luck on phone） so i have bbc iplayer, itv, all4 and my5. uk catch up services sorted!!
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Would you be able to post the apk's of the above apps? I'd love to be able to get the full line up of UK catchup apps in one box
Thanks!

+1
I'd like to get a copy of the APK's that work with the shield. Thanks

ok my5 i just downloaded from playstore on my phone then transferred the apk, same with 4od - if you dont have a phone or pc then just download on shield using aptoide or chrome. bbc iplayer already installed on shield but i use the kodi addon instead, itv player i installed through aptoide and it works but i use the kodi addon aswel with this one. there is actually catchup services for channels dave and really aswel as a kodi addon.

can you navigate with remote and press enter/select on these apps?

anhyone got channel 5 working?

I use the Nvidia game controller and it works on that, using the right analog as a mouse and A as the right click. Works perfect for me

My5 doesn't work on shield TV anymore since the update - just so you guys are aware.

NBCsc Gold on Shield?

Now that some of the Premier League has moved onto the NBCsn Gold app, does anyone have a version that works on the Shield TV. The std android app sideloaded doesn't work. There is the Fire stick version but that requires Amazon store authentification. It can be cast from a laptop or whatever to the shield but it would be nice to have an app on the shield.
Unfortunately, this is a stand alone app, so the Kodi version of the old NBCsn app can't be used either as a work around.

Also curious about this. Really strange that the apps are available in the Play Store, on Roku etc. but not in the Play Store for Android TV.

Hulu Live TV App

Hello all,
I searched the forums but didn't see much of anything on this.
I am looking to get Hulu live tv working on the Nvidia Shield. I side loaded the regular Hulu app but cannot access many of the menus and the audio is badly out of sync.
Has anyone gotten this to work or have an apk for the FireTV version to try?

I've tried the fire TV app on a mibox. Hulu loads, but when I tried to play something, it errors out

TrendyGuy9 said:
Hello all,
I searched the forums but didn't see much of anything on this.
I am looking to get Hulu live tv working on the Nvidia Shield. I side loaded the regular Hulu app but cannot access many of the menus and the audio is badly out of sync.
Has anyone gotten this to work or have an apk for the FireTV version to try?
Click to expand...
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I downloaded the apk from APPMIRROR. It works like the tablet and phone apps now but is buggy. Freezes sometimes. Dload it then use file explorer app to finish up the install. Open sideload app and you can view it just like tablet/phone hulu live app. FYI****U NEED THE GAME CONTROLLER ***. Regular remote is almost useless when u sideload it.

I used aptdode and it worked but I updated to 7.2 and that plus sling TV disappeared
I used aptdode and it worked but I updated to 7.2 and that plus sling TV disappeared