Related
Fire TV software update version 51.1.5.3_user_515040320 and Fire TV Stick software update version 54.1.1.3_user_110045520 are starting to roll out now. Let us know if you get them and if you notice any changes.
Interestingly, Amazon pulled all 3 versions of 51.1.5.0's source code form their source code page. They've never done that before.
Any word on if they will restore ALT+TAB functionality?
Is it still Android 4.2.2? I am hoping they give us at least Android 4.4 soon. The system is still great, but the compatability issues with apps is getting old. Android 4.4 seems to be the requirement for more and more apps. There have been several apps that I was able to use before that now require Android 4.4. It seems like Amazon is making Android 4.2 their base for the Fire TV, but I hope thats not the case.
FireTV Stick, first impressions:
- Took 3-4 minutes to download
- Took 4-5 minutes to install and reboot
- No obvious difference on the Home screen (were there already Editor's Picks and Recently Watched sections in Movies and in TV?)
- When in the Games section, saw a popup ad in the upper right corner of the screen, I don't remember that from before
- The Recent row still shows my sideloaded and synced Kodi, SPMC and Curnchyroll, but still does not show other sideloaded apps
- Remote Mouse on my iPhone still works
- Ookla Speedtest app showed 18Mbps download, which is in the right range for my inconsistent router (I've seen as low as 2Mbps and as high as 52Mbps before)
- Seems to respond a little faster to remote button presses, but that might be wishful thinking
No big, obvious changes that I can find.
My Fire TV took the update yesterday I cant really see any difference so far. I still have all my apps working off external storage. Kodi and other sideloaded app still on my recent tab.
Looks like this update is just bug fixes. For anyone (e.g., @rbox ) interested, I've captured and added the URL download links for both the new Fire TV and Fire tV Stick updates to AFTVnews.com/software
AFTVnews.com said:
Looks like this update is just bug fixes. For anyone (e.g., @rbox ) interested, I've captured and added the URL download links for both the new Fire TV and Fire tV Stick updates to AFTVnews.com/software
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's obscure, but all three Five Nights At Freddy's games sideloaded stopped working on the last update as soon as you move the mouse. I'm wondering if this one fixes that problem.
For me at least, I can longer add Kodi and SPMC to Recent Menu after I uninstall and reinstall/buy app/deregister firetv/register.
Am I the only one? If so, that's enough for me to stay locked in to the old version.
notreally said:
For me at least, I can longer add Kodi and SPMC to Recent Menu after I uninstall and reinstall/buy app/deregister firetv/register.
Am I the only one? If so, that's enough for me to stay locked in to the old version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Infact I just added kodi to the recents yesterday and it worked. Here are a few tips that may be overlooked.
Delete the app and readd it. Also ensure you are using helix. not the isengard or the nightlies. I'm not sure but I couldn't get kodi to the recents with the isengards.
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-rest...loaded-app-to-the-recent-list-on-the-fire-tv/
By the way the good change I saw was that now the project from windows 8.1 to the firetv works. I use the extend desktop resolution and lower the extended resolution. So far no issues.
navigates said:
Infact I just added kodi to the recents yesterday and it worked. Here are a few tips that may be overlooked.
Delete the app and readd it. Also ensure you are using helix. not the isengard or the nightlies. I'm not sure but I couldn't get kodi to the recents with the isengards.
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-rest...loaded-app-to-the-recent-list-on-the-fire-tv/
By the way the good change I saw was that now the project from windows 8.1 to the firetv works. I use the extend desktop resolution and lower the extended resolution. So far no issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you elaborate on how you get project to work on Fire TV. I have a Microsoft Surface with 8.1 and it won't even see the Fire TV. Even when I have the fire tv in Mirroring Mode in Display settings.
dk1keith said:
Can you elaborate on how you get project to work on Fire TV. I have a Microsoft Surface with 8.1 and it won't even see the Fire TV. Even when I have the fire tv in Mirroring Mode in Display settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Search for devices and add the amazon firetv to the devices list. It should successfully get added if you have windows 8.1
2. then slide into the charms bar, then click on devices and then project and select extend or duplicate
Let us know how it goes.
Im just mentioning this on the off chance someone hasnt already thought of it and it may not even be possible anyway. If a dev ported the shield tablet firmware to the shield tv then maybe we could have full access to the library of games the tablet offers with gamepad functionality already built in. If not is there a way we can trick the playstore into thinking the shield tv is a shield tablet and let you install the tablet modified games to check if they work without any mods. NOVA 3 anyone.....
Actually you can install applications on a Rooted Device. But the problem is the Shield Controller.
I tried installing apps but i was unable to control it. I believe it may require some configuration
I would like this as well. There are many touch only games. I use Droidmote and like it(love it) but in my family I am the only one that takes time to load the server and click start, load the client, set the gamepadtotouch/touchpad, load profile, connect the client to 127.0.0.1, set the keyboard to droidmoteime then play the game I picked. Then if I choose another game reload a profile, if I have it. Then play the game.
Most of the time I just say forget it and only play controller enabled games. Sometimes I just want to play a game and move on.
It would be nice if the process was more automated. I am not sure if the tablet OS makes the process easier but it would be nice to see if it would work.
I have researched loading the tablet firmware some but I am hesitant to try it since I have the 500GB STV and do not want to wait 2 hours between firmware loads to try it out. One day I may purchase the 16GB to play around with. Maybe I will find a good used one on CL and give it a whirl.
ive tried usuing market helper to spoof android to android shield tablet and download NOVA 3 but did not work, and i have tried the custom roms with full android not 'android tv' support and i can use sixaxis bluetooth wirless with my ps3 pad but the right analog stick wont move correctly even when configured yet every other control i am able to map successfully. i dont know what to try next....
So I know that Hulu will be releasing a new version of their app for the Fire TV that supports live TV (looks like the private beta for it may be starting today), but I've been wanting to watch live shows on the television that I have my Fire TV (2nd gen) hooked up to. Originally, I was hoping that it would be as easy as hooking up a wireless mouse and then side loading the Hulu app from my phone. I had done this already with my Nexus Player using an OTG cable and a Logitech wireless mouse. After I side loaded the Hulu 3.2.0.240243 apk, it loaded fine and I signed into my account, but unfortunately, after about 5-10 second I received an error that my location could not be determined. After some searching, I realized this is because the Fire TV doesn't have Google Play Services and therefore location services cannot be detected by apps such as Hulu.
Assumptions:
Download the apps below to your phone to then transfer them to your Fire TV. If you want to download them directly to the Fire TV or a computer, that will work as well but you'll need to copy them over to your Fire TV on your own since my instructions only cover Phone to Fire TV using ES File Explorer and having it open on both while they are connected to the same network.
Some basic ADB commands are going to be necessary, I'll give the step by step, but you'll need to be familiar with ADB over WiFi to connect to your Fire TV with the correct IP address.
Although the risk of damaging/bricking your Fire TV should be nearly impossible based on the instructions below, I am not responsible for any issues that you may encounter. Please proceed at your own risk.
Here are the steps that I took to get everything working and I assume this would probably work for other apps that Google location services to work as well.
Go into the Settings -> Device -> Developer Options and enable both ADB Debugging and Installing from Unknown Sources
Download the following 5 files (to your phone if you want to follow my instructions below, but you could do them to your computer or direct to the Fire TV if you'd prefer), I got them all from ApkMirror - Note the Google apps are all for Android version 5.1 since Fire OS 5.2.4.1 is on my Fire TV.
com.google.android.gsf.login_5.1-1743759-22_minAPI21(nodpi)
com.google.android.gsf_5.1-1743759-22_minAPI22(nodpi)
com.google.android.gms_11.0.56_(238-156935310)-11056238_minAPI21(armeabi-v7a)(480dpi)
com.android.vending_7.8.74.P-all_0_FP_157113528-80787400_minAPI14(armeabi-v7a)(240,320,480dpi)
com.hulu.plus_3.2.0.230243-230243_minAPI21(armeabi,armeabi-v7a,x86)(nodpi)
Download ES File Explorer from the Amazon app store on your Fire TV.
I then used ES File Explorer on both my Fire TV and my phone to transfer those 5 files from my phone to the Fire TV. I found this to be a lot easier than trying to download the files directly onto the Fire TV itself.
Next I installed the 5 files through ES File Explorer in the order they are listed above. The order probably doesn't matter, but I didn't test them in another order.
(Maybe Optional?) I long pressed the home button and then went to my apps and tried to open the Play Store. After 20 seconds or so, it timed out and returned to the home screen. I tried opening it again and after another long delay, I received a message that the version wasn't compatible with my device. I just clicked ok to exit out of it and then left it alone.
Download Fake GPS (available in the play store, but since it won't open on the Fire TV, google search for com.fakegps.mock version 3.610). I downloaded it from ApkHere to my phone.
Again, I used ES File Explorer to transfer the apk from my phone to the Fire TV.
Install the Fake GPS apk file through ES File Explorer.
On your computer, open a command prompt window and type the following lines to enable mock locations on your Fire TV.
adb connect <Fire TV IP Address>
adb shell
settings get secure mock_location <-- verify that the response to this is 0 which will indicate that mock location services are currently turned off
settings put secure mock_location 1
settings get secure mock_location <-- verify that the response to this is now 1 which will indicate that mock location services are turned on
You can now close that command prompt and then launch the Fake GPS app on the Fire TV.
Using my wireless mouse, I clicked on the search button and entered my local zip code. Once the mapped zoomed and and I adjusted it a little bit, I then clicked the button to activate the fake GPS.
Open Hulu and enter your username and password. It should now detect the fake GPS location and load without issues.
Hopefully Hulu will release the Fire TV compatible apk soon, but in the mean time, if you are impatient like I am, this should get you up and running.
Great guide! I've been trying for awhile actually to get mock locations working on the firetv.
My Fire Stick arrived today (3/27/2018), and after getting Kodi installed, the next thing on my To Do list was getting PIA working. First I tried getting it setup through my router, but the speed was incredibly slow through the OpenVPN configuration on my router.
After reading on a rather old thread that someone got PIA working, I decided to give it a shot, and with a little tweaking, I got it working.
1. You need to have Downloader installed for the first step. I've uploaded the PIA apk to my private server. Here's the link:
Code:
http://bit.ly/2Gd1DIB
2. After Downloader does its thing, install the apk. Just a note, the first time I tried to install, it failed. After the second time, it successfully installed.
3. PIA won't show up on your list of installed applications, but it's there, and there's a way to open it. You'll need to download ES File Explorer, which will let you open 3rd party apps that have been installed, but don't appear in the Fire TV GUI.
4. For configuring PIA properly, at the very least you'll need a mouse connected to your Fire Stick. For the record, USB will work, provided you have a USB OTG adapter like this one. I'm sure bluetooth works too. Based on my personal testing with the various PIA servers, the Midwest and Western servers seemed to be the quickest.
5. Using the mouse to navigate the PIA app, you'll need to enter your login information. After that, select your preferred region, and in the settings, enable the "connect on boot" option.
That's it!
pastorbennett said:
My Fire Stick arrived today (3/27/2018), and after getting Kodi installed, the next thing on my To Do list was getting PIA working. First I tried getting it setup through my router, but the speed was incredibly slow through the OpenVPN configuration on my router.
After reading on a rather old thread that someone got PIA working, I decided to give it a shot, and with a little tweaking, I got it working.
1. You need to have Downloader installed for the first step. I've uploaded the PIA apk to my private server. Here's the link:
Code:
http://bit.ly/2Gd1DIB
2. After Downloader does its thing, install the apk. Just a note, the first time I tried to install, it failed. After the second time, it successfully installed.
3. PIA won't show up on your list of installed applications, but it's there, and there's a way to open it. You'll need to download ES File Explorer, which will let you open 3rd party apps that have been installed, but don't appear in the Fire TV GUI.
4. For configuring PIA properly, at the very least you'll need a mouse connected to your Fire Stick. For the record, USB will work, provided you have a USB OTG adapter like this one. I'm sure bluetooth works too. Based on my personal testing with the various PIA servers, the Midwest and Western servers seemed to be the quickest.
5. Using the mouse to navigate the PIA app, you'll need to enter your login information. After that, select your preferred region, and in the settings, enable the "connect on boot" option.
That's it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking of getting PIA VPN. have you noticed any slowdown in internet speed or bandwith when streaming?
thanks for the info
dk1keith said:
My Fire Stick arrived today (3/27/2018), and after getting Kodi installed, the next thing on my To Do list was getting PIA working. First I tried getting it setup through my router, but the speed was incredibly slow through the OpenVPN configuration on my router.
After reading on a rather old thread that someone got PIA working, I decided to give it a shot, and with a little tweaking, I got it working.
1. You need to have Downloader installed for the first step. I've uploaded the PIA apk to my private server. Here's the link:
I was thinking of getting PIA VPN. have you noticed any slowdown in internet speed or bandwith when streaming?
thanks for the info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been running pia vpn since I got my Firestick a couple years ago and have not noticed any streaming issues. I dump out on a Swiss server because streaming and downloading of copyrighted material is fine as long as it is personal use for now but the Netherlands was good but they are cracking down. Gave up on Kodi and run Terriaum tv as the addons are useless. Working on setting up a Nuc i3 with Debian os and doing a split tunnel vpn and reverse proxy for a Usenet/Torrent downloader as they are really cracking down on these streaming APKs. So far it has been a pain due to learning Linux, setting up a headless server, screwing with iptables, router and revere proxy bs.
dk1keith said:
I was thinking of getting PIA VPN. have you noticed any slowdown in internet speed or bandwith when streaming?
thanks for the info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will be slightly slower than your ISP's normal bandwidth speed, but that's true of every VPN. Using the PIA app on my MacBook, I've had speeds up to 40 Mbps, which is more than adequate for streaming.
Having used PIA now for going on a third year, it's been very reliable, and the cost is very reasonable.
Hey yall!..im very new to this whole vpn thing and really kind of computer stupid..lol...but i read all the time about getting a vpn to protect your privacy and all..so i purchasd PIA for my firestick..my question is how do i know if its working?.any help at at all would bd greatly appreciated..ty in advance!
Easy PIA fire stick installation.
I read the instructions for the previous installation of PIA on the fire stick and feel those are a bit cumbersome. The process from my perspective also adds unnecessary
applications to the fire stick.
What I've done as an alternative is install apps2fire on my phone and then any application I want installed on the fire stick can be installed.
1) Application gets installed on my phone. (TEA tv, PIA...)
2) Open up Apps2fire and put in the IP of the fire stick.
3) In Apps2Fire select the application you want installed on the fire stick.
4) Select install and give it a few minutes
5) Go to applications in the Fire Stick menu and open up the app and configure.
Have fun
PIA for fire.
Much easier way to install PIA on a fire device. Use the Downloader App, and use bit.ly/Piafire, and your done. It doesn’t work on fire sticks.
PIA
dk1keith said:
I was thinking of getting PIA VPN. have you noticed any slowdown in internet speed or bandwith when streaming?
thanks for the info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been using PIA on my home PC for a while and it works great, but on the FireTV, I have major issues with streaming for some reason. Apps like popcorn time and such will pull a fast streaming speed the first min or two but then it will literally drop to 0kb/sec and continue to yoyo up and down, making any streaming unwatchable. I have no such issues using it on my PC.
This is on a 2nd gen fire stick and 2nd gen FireTV (Gaming edition)
And there's a much easier way to install it on your fire TV. Just download the Apps2Fire app to you phone or tablet and it will push any app installed on that device to your fire TV. I've installed a ton of apps this way to my FireTV's and it takes like 2 mins without wasting time with that crappy downloader app.
han
I am having a problem with my Fire Tablet, I think it started when I disabled some of the amazon apps (but can't remember)
Every time I am opening a webpage outside the browser, it asks me what app i want to open that with. If I select then Firefox and click on always, it does not remember it.
This dialog pops up every single time. This is getting annoying.
I am using the Nova Launcher by default, if this helps somehow.
Any clues what I need to re-activate or how I can make my tablet remember Firefox as default web brower?
Your inputs are highly welcomed.
Thank you