Database Users

How to show photos on Nexus Player (Android TV)

I was hoping to be able to just install google photos app on nexus player and be able to show my photos from the gallery - but it's not android TV compatible.
Is there an app for showing photo galleries on nexus player?
(I know I can cast it from my phone - but I'm not too happy with the quality of the pictures when casting... I would just rather be able to show them either from a local network folder or my google photos gallery.)
Any tips?

Funny enough, it looks like there's now a native Android TV Google Photos app. This must have just been (quietly) updated. It doesn't even look finished yet. Anyway, I installed it on my NP. It doesn't show up in the apps to launch unless you have Sideload Launcher. I was able to launch it from there and sure enough, it looks just like the tablet version of Google Photos, and it's synched to my Google Photos account. I haven't been able to get it to "play" a slideshow yet (it takes forever to "sync") but I can see the previews so I'm assuming if not now, then shortly you can do so natively.
Of course, you can cast from Google Photos on a phone or tablet, but you know that

You can view photos in Kodi or Solid Explorer and both of those apps can access files from a Samba (SMB) server on your local network. If you have a wireless router such as the D-Link DIR-880L which supports this feature with external USB drives, it's easy and convenient to stream content in its original quality.

Thanks for the replies guys. I did finally use kodi for showing the pictures - I did download google photos app, but I was not going to be fidgeting with a keyboard - so it was just easier with kodi and a remote.

mickliq said:
Funny enough, it looks like there's now a native Android TV Google Photos app. This must have just been (quietly) updated. It doesn't even look finished yet. Anyway, I installed it on my NP. It doesn't show up in the apps to launch unless you have Sideload Launcher. I was able to launch it from there and sure enough, it looks just like the tablet version of Google Photos, and it's synched to my Google Photos account. I haven't been able to get it to "play" a slideshow yet (it takes forever to "sync") but I can see the previews so I'm assuming if not now, then shortly you can do so natively.
Of course, you can cast from Google Photos on a phone or tablet, but you know that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi mickliq
Can you give details about that application and the sideload launcher? I have a Sony TV with Android TV installed 5.1.1.
Thanks,
P.S. Install Sideload Launcher from Play Store then install Google Photos also, you will only be able to launch Google Photos from Sideload, testing right now.

Android TV Photo Gallery and Screensaver App
Hi all,
Just in case anyone was still looking, we've made a dedicated Android TV photo gallery app. It currently supports your Google Photos, as well as Facebook and Flickr. We're releasing local, USB and network photo support soon.
Just search in a browser for "Furnaghan Photo Gallery and Screensaver" to find it, or simply "photo gallery" on your Android TV play store. (Sorry, I'm not allowed to share links yet!)

furnaghan said:
Hi all,
Just in case anyone was still looking, we've made a dedicated Android TV photo gallery app. It currently supports your Google Photos, as well as Facebook and Flickr. We're releasing local, USB and network photo support soon.
Just search in a browser for "Furnaghan Photo Gallery and Screensaver" to find it, or simply "photo gallery" on your Android TV play store. (Sorry, I'm not allowed to share links yet!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish you the best for your app.
I tried it And Its the only one for Android tv so Thats awesome.
I dont want to be rude but can you make it free with ads?
Anyways thanks for giving us some love where it lacks

BraianV said:
I wish you the best for your app.
I tried it And Its the only one for Android tv so Thats awesome.
I dont want to be rude but can you make it free with ads?
Anyways thanks for giving us some love where it lacks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Glad you like the app. I'm afraid we'd rather prioritise a nice experience, ads just get in the way of that in our opinion -sorry!

what's the easiest way to create Google cardboard VR content.

Hi! I'm a newbie here, i was wondering if we can create 3d VR environment for google cardboard.
I've made a room environment in 3DS Max and want to present it in Cardboard VR format.

Pixel XL used as a Google Home device??

Hello guys,
I have been searching but cannot find the answer, so I guess it is not possible, yet...
The Pixel XL is more than capable of doing everything a Google Home device can do, but yet it can't. In the Google Home app on the phone, you can pair up your devices, but there is no way to say
"OK GOOGLE, turn up the volume on my TV", or whatever. Seems like it should be possible?
BTW, All Sony Android TVs (I have one) are Google Home compatible.
Mark.

I'm with you. Just installed Nest and Phillip Hues light both Home compatible and had the same thought. Let me know what you find out.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I was able to control the light on my Philips hue setup with the google assistant on my Pixel from a different room. I had to set the lights up in the google home app first, of course. As for the Sony TV, I guess mine is waiting for an update that will allow voice control. Right now it doesn't see my Sony TV as a "compatible device" when I try to add it. I can cast to my original chromecast perfectly with google home or assistant.

error747 said:
I was able to control the light on my Philips hue setup with the google assistant on my Pixel from a different room. I had to set the lights up in the google home app first, of course. As for the Sony TV, I guess mine is waiting for an update that will allow voice control. Right now it doesn't see my Sony TV as a "compatible device" when I try to add it. I can cast to my original chromecast perfectly with google home or assistant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, so maybe the same is true for me. I can chromecast to my TV but perhaps once an update comes I will be able to do more.
So are you saying that your phone can do all a Google Home device can do?
tx
Mark.

error747 said:
I was able to control the light on my Philips hue setup with the google assistant on my Pixel from a different room. I had to set the lights up in the google home app first, of course. As for the Sony TV, I guess mine is waiting for an update that will allow voice control. Right now it doesn't see my Sony TV as a "compatible device" when I try to add it. I can cast to my original chromecast perfectly with google home or assistant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My app only sees my Chromecast. Do you have the Home device also? Read you have to have device before Pixel will work as voice remote.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

As far as I can tell the assistant on the pixel can do everything GH can do. I am able to ask my assistant to set or dim the lights and it works. I have heard you can expand the control you have over your TV with a Logitech Harmony setup but I don't have one yet. The pixel plays music and casts netflix just like the GH device can do but only to my chromecast for now (c'mon Sony!). For the way I use it, it's like having another GH device in my pocket. I did receive my GH device before my pixel by a few days but I am unsure of why having GH before the pixel would make a difference.

error747 said:
As far as I can tell the assistant on the pixel can do everything GH can do. I am able to ask my assistant to set or dim the lights and it works. I have heard you can expand the control you have over your TV with a Logitech Harmony setup but I don't have one yet. The pixel plays music and casts netflix just like the GH device can do but only to my chromecast for now (c'mon Sony!). For the way I use it, it's like having another GH device in my pocket. I did receive my GH device before my pixel by a few days but I am unsure of why having GH before the pixel would make a difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
Interesting... so can you get netflix or youtube to chromecast using voice commands? What do you say? Do you have only one Chromecast in your house. I have three, and am not sure it would know what to do with a command to chromecast a movie on a specific app to a specific chromecast device, does it?

Hi
Interesting... so can you get netflix or youtube to chromecast using voice commands? What do you say? Do you have only one Chromecast in your house. I have three, and am not sure it would know what to do with a command to chromecast a movie on a specific app to a specific chromecast device, does it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes but only to my original first gen chromecast. I gave it an easy name (bedroom TV) and added the chromecast through the Google Home app. It was very easy and intuitive. After that I am able to say "Ok Google play Stranger Things on the bedroom TV" and it casts successfully. You can do the same with youtube as far as i know. I don't think auto play works but that may be because I think I have it turned off in my global netflix settings, I'll need to mess with that. I cannot do much with the Google Home while it is playing beside pause and stop. I don't really use the chromecast in my bedroom anyway since I have that TV hooked up to a PC so for me it's kind of worthless. When that Sony update comes I will be able to cast where I actually watch TV and hopefully some more control will be baked in like volume, fast forward/rewind, subtitles toggles or maybe even some tv specific controls like video modes or input selection. Only time will tell. I am also pretty excited to see what Google adds for home automation. I would love to control my tp-link dimmable light bulbs and my wemo wall switches, not to mention the Schlage smart lock I'll be installing today, all of which can be controlled by Alexa.

error747 said:
Yes but only to my original first gen chromecast. I gave it an easy name (bedroom TV) and added the chromecast through the Google Home app. It was very easy and intuitive. After that I am able to say "Ok Google play Stranger Things on the bedroom TV" and it casts successfully. You can do the same with youtube as far as i know. I don't think auto play works but that may be because I think I have it turned off in my global netflix settings, I'll need to mess with that. I cannot do much with the Google Home while it is playing beside pause and stop. I don't really use the chromecast in my bedroom anyway since I have that TV hooked up to a PC so for me it's kind of worthless. When that Sony update comes I will be able to cast where I actually watch TV and hopefully some more control will be baked in like volume, fast forward/rewind, subtitles toggles or maybe even some tv specific controls like video modes or input selection. Only time will tell. I am also pretty excited to see what Google adds for home automation. I would love to control my tp-link dimmable light bulbs and my wemo wall switches, not to mention the Schlage smart lock I'll be installing today, all of which can be controlled by Alexa.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok great, good info. I will experiment a bit tomorrow. Two of my chromecasts area also first gen, but I have never really tried giving voice command, and they are named bedroom, living room, so I should be able to do the same as you... cheers
mark

Before I got my Google Home for Christmas, I used the IFTTT app to control everything from my pixel. Location triggers pretty much suck, but all the voice triggers have so far worked 99% of the time. Not sure how it'll work with what you want for your TV, though. At least not without using something like the Harmony Hub (which I also got and have a HORRIBLE interface, lol).

I'm just not interested in the Home device yet. Have a Nest and Hue lights. I can control both with my Android Wear watch which is good enough for me. Nest app already comes Android Wear compliant. Use Hue Wear app for lights. Loving it so far.
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Nvidia Shield TV

I'm setting up a Shield TV for a friend, he wnats app like All4 and ITVHub which don't officially support Android TV, so they display in the POrtrait mode. I'd like to force them to display in landscape, I found the following thread :
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/25864385/changing-android-device-orientation-with-adb
Just wanted to confirm that there's no way of doing this via settings etc on the Shield itself. I confirmed that the apps work fine in Landscape via this app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.googlecode.eyesfree.setorientation
But I don't trust it to draw over other apps.

Bump?

[Q] Galaxy S8 + Occulus VR for PC Monitor? VR Games?

So I have an Nvidia 770 Windforce on my computer. I saw some articles that talked about using the VR with the S8 to be used as a Monitor for your PC also some options for VR ability.
Was wondering if anyone here has some good insight on what they may use for this and if its worth it? That or if I can play any VR games, movies through my PC that would display to my occulus? Thanks.

You can use Vridge and riftcat to play Oculus and vive games. If you have a Gear VR download vridge for Gear VR. Also there is a tracking system called Nolo which can give you positional and roomscale tracking. There are also other solutions like tge ps move service.

And this works great as an external monitor? Which one would work for streaming 3d movies from a pc to the gear?