Second Thoughts:Great hardware software needs work - M.O.J.O. General
Let me start by saying I have been nothing but excited for this product. I beelined to it at E3, pre-ordered it as soon as it was available and was waiting impatiently for it to arrive in the mail. However, the product when using the Google play store self lists itself as something akin to a Google TV. What this means is roughly 90% of the apps in the store are listed as not compatible. Including for example FX File Explorer Plus while FX File Explorer works the unlock app for pro mode does not.
I have a Minix Neo X5 which does not have a touch screen and works with the Google play store without any trouble right out of the box. I can only surmise that this means for an an App to function on this device it needs to specifically have listed itself as a Google TV compatible app not just as functional without a touch screen. A much smaller cross section of devices out there.
I can understand that the Minix is a Chinese product while the Mojo is American and as such might have had more stringent requirements when trying to get Google certification to have the Google apps. However the fact that Mad Catz did not make this situation more publicly known, reach out to developers beforehand about this issue so that some of them might be able to add the allowance in their apps, include an otg port for usb debugging or even have a built in option to root the device.
So for the time being I will have to continue using my much less powerful but immensly more useable Minix device until I can get a normal device access to the Play Store. Likely via something like market helper post root. Unless Mad Catz is able to solve this problem through an update.
I'll post more updates on my thoughts of the specifics of the device as I have them.
Yes, the reason for what you're seeing is that the Play Store assumes by default that an app requires a touchscreen, unless otherwise stipulated in the manifest for the app. Being a fully certified, officially Google-approved device we have to correctly declare the features that we have in the box - something many unofficial products don't do.
We are and have been reaching out to many developers, along with Google and Nvidia for this very reason and you will see more and more apps coming/being updated that work fine on a box like M.O.J.O..
Run the M.O.J.O. icon on your homescreen or visit mojo,madcatz.com and part of our setup directions on there detail sites where you can obtain free apps that otherwise don't appear/aren't compatible on M.O.J.O.'s Play Store.
Thank you for the prompt reply. I'll look further into the details inside of the MOJO app tonight. I'm still very excited about this product but seeing nearly every app I own be placed under incompatible took me by suprise.
I've been using the mojo for a couple of days and here are my thoughts so far:
My Setup:
• Vizio 50 inch tv
• Measy RC11 air mouse
• Powered USB Hub
• Audix Powered Speakers
• Ethernet Port for internet
Competitor I'm Comparing it to is The Minix Neo X5
• Minix has an unfair advantage of not having to worry about Google Cert but still exists as a product that can be bought
▐ and used in much the same way
• I did not buy a Minix Neo X7 specifically because I was waiting for the Mojo which is much much more powerful
General thoughts so far:
• Was worried that I'd have to continue using the much less powerful Minix Neo X5 as my media center setup for awhile.
▐ But after getting my apps installed and everything setup The Mojo is working great. Very happy with the hardware.
▐ There are a few kinks though that I describe further down.
Android Devices I own for experience comparison
• Xperia Play(CM 10.1)
• Nexus 7(2012)
• Nexus 4
• Nexus 5
• Minix Neo X5
Hardware:
■ The Box:
• The startup time on this thing is kind of amazing, much faster then any of my other android devices at around 15 seconds.
▐ The Minix Neo x5 can take up to around 1-2 minutes sometimes 3.
• Super powerful, OS is extremely responsive
• Runs pretty cool
■ The Controller:
• Media buttons work great and as expected
• The mode switching is awesome. The position of the switch is a bit awkward considering how much it needs to get used.
▐ A little worried about wear and tear harming it. It gets used a lot.
• Dpad is nice and clicky
• Dpad and analog triggers recognize in nearly everything I've used so far. Can't say the same for the
▐ Xbox 360 wired or wireless.
• Not using wireless xbox controller at all completely switched
System Software: Issues
■ The bottom screen menu button bar: ▬ Fix with either root app or system update
• Can't user hide it so that's kind of annoying. On the Minix Neo X5 you can hide the soft key bar at any time for a more tv like
▐ experience. Some apps do this automatically but it would be nice to be able to hide it anytime so there isn't this giant
▐ black bar with buttons taking up a chunk of the screen
• Needs a restart shut down option. Don't like having to unplug the device to turn it off.
■ General OS: ▬ Fix with System Update
• It can't currently access more then one USB HD/Stick at once and it has trouble with USB 3.0 HDs. It picks ups that a USB
▐ 3.0 HD is plugged in but it doesn't appear user accesable. Tested same HDs that worked with Minix Neo X5.
• Audio input and output option. I have a pair of wireless usb gaming headphones that plug in through USB that I have used
▐ extensively on the Minix Neo X5. The Mojo recognizes them however since I can't choose an audio output/input they
▐ don't work.
▐ Volume and buttons work as expected.
Apps I'm using That work great no problems whatsover
• Google play music
• GMail
• FX File explorer with Plus addon to access cloud services
• Holo Launcher Pro
• Wallpaper Changer ▬ Like having my wallpaper change every few minutes
• Youtube ▬ Normal version not TV pre-installed once
• Robert Broglia Apps
• Facebook
• Facebook Messenger
• Pocketcasts
• Crazy Taxi
• Virtua Tennis ▬ Crashed during a game but was working solid otherwise
• GReader Pro
■ Apps that have problems:
• Chrome: doesn't work. Crashes on startup. Built in browser works fine but its annoying.
• Hangouts: requires update to google services. Google services won't update. Talk works fine.
• MX Player: generally works perfect but a few videos I've tried that work on the Minix Neo X5 either play perfect with no audio or
▐ play for a second then freeze
• Jet Set Radio: crashes on start of gameplay. So sad, but it supposedly is very crashy in general. Runs fine on my Nexus 7 but it
▐ would be nice to play on the TV without having to startup my pc and steam.
So far ive been using aptoide its been easier than side loading apps. Even has updates for hangouts might need to add some stores.
Thanks for the info I'll check it out.
Mad Catz Rich said:
Yes, the reason for what you're seeing is that the Play Store assumes by default that an app requires a touchscreen, unless otherwise stipulated in the manifest for the app. Being a fully certified, officially Google-approved device we have to correctly declare the features that we have in the box - something many unofficial products don't do.
We are and have been reaching out to many developers, along with Google and Nvidia for this very reason and you will see more and more apps coming/being updated that work fine on a box like M.O.J.O..
Run the M.O.J.O. icon on your homescreen or visit mojo,madcatz.com and part of our setup directions on there detail sites where you can obtain free apps that otherwise don't appear/aren't compatible on M.O.J.O.'s Play Store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I agree about that 'being certified and official' part, you could have added an option in the developers options to solve this 'limited play store' issue. It's very simple to do and has been done by other official/certified devices like the SFR Android TV set top box for instance:
see : (put h t t p : / / before ) images.frandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/box-tv-sfr-android-play-store-etendu-1000x664.jpg
it's in french because SFR is a french ISP . The option translates roughly to:
"Display more applications in the Google Play Store"
Also propose the applications that require a touchscreen
pretty simple and effective. It's in the 'by defaut hidden' developer options so it's fine for Google certification (the SFR STB is fully certified).
While you're at it, you could learn a few more tricks more this cheap STB. Google 'frandroid sfr box tv' to find the article, i can't post links here yet.
They developed the box in 6 months only with LG doing the hardware part.
While it's not a game console it packs some nice features the MOJO lacks and its software is way more polished:
- an HDMI input port to allow 'picture in picture' and live TV background (like other Google TV devices do and the XBox One does too).
- a touchpad/keyboard remote control with a push-to-talk microphone in it (Android has a lot of voice recognition features).
- an integrated DVB-T decoder for live TV
- its USB port is compatible with webcams (UVC) so it can do video chat with Google Hangouts and Skype.
and it only costs around $150, actually it's not for sale, only SFR subscribers can rent it (roughly $4 a month).
The only good thing about the MOJO is the Tegra 4 SoC, everything else is rushed and unfinished. That's what disappoints a lot of people.
While it's too late for hardware changes (except may be an optional remote controller with a mic) you really need to fix the software asap.
This device is sold at premium price and marketed as such but it just feel as 'yet another chinese Android HDMI stick/box' and behind the curtain, it seems to be the case: in the Play Store the MOJO is shown as "Foxconn International Holdings Limited Mad Catz M.O.J.O." ... it's funny, amateurish, explains a lot of things and really prove it was rushed.
kgersen said:
While I agree about that 'being certified and official' part, you could have added an option in the developers options to solve this 'limited play store' issue. It's very simple to do and has been done by other official/certified devices like the SFR Android TV set top box for instance:
see : (put h t t p : / / before ) images.frandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/box-tv-sfr-android-play-store-etendu-1000x664.jpg
it's in french because SFR is a french ISP . The option translates roughly to:
"Display more applications in the Google Play Store"
Also propose the applications that require a touchscreen
pretty simple and effective. It's in the 'by defaut hidden' developer options so it's fine for Google certification (the SFR STB is fully certified).
While you're at it, you could learn a few more tricks more this cheap STB. Google 'frandroid sfr box tv' to find the article, i can't post links here yet.
They developed the box in 6 months only with LG doing the hardware part.
While it's not a game console it packs some nice features the MOJO lacks and its software is way more polished:
- an HDMI input port to allow 'picture in picture' and live TV background (like other Google TV devices do and the XBox One does too).
- a touchpad/keyboard remote control with a push-to-talk microphone in it (Android has a lot of voice recognition features).
- an integrated DVB-T decoder for live TV
- its USB port is compatible with webcams (UVC) so it can do video chat with Google Hangouts and Skype.
and it only costs around $150, actually it's not for sale, only SFR subscribers can rent it (roughly $4 a month).
The only good thing about the MOJO is the Tegra 4 SoC, everything else is rushed and unfinished. That's what disappoints a lot of people.
While it's too late for hardware changes (except may be an optional remote controller with a mic) you really need to fix the software asap.
This device is sold at premium price and marketed as such but it just feel as 'yet another chinese Android HDMI stick/box' and behind the curtain, it seems to be the case: in the Play Store the MOJO is shown as "Foxconn International Holdings Limited Mad Catz M.O.J.O." ... it's funny, amateurish, explains a lot of things and really prove it was rushed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. I was hoping Mad Catz would step up and get it right, but no dice. This spot is just waiting for the taking.
QUOTE=kgersen;49143249]While I agree about that 'being certified and official' part, you could have added an option in the developers options to solve this 'limited play store' issue. It's very simple to do and has been done by other official/certified devices like the SFR Android TV set top box for instance:
see : (put h t t p : / / before ) images.frandroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/box-tv-sfr-android-play-store-etendu-1000x664.jpg
it's in french because SFR is a french ISP . The option translates roughly to:
"Display more applications in the Google Play Store"
Also propose the applications that require a touchscreen
pretty simple and effective. It's in the 'by defaut hidden' developer options so it's fine for Google certification (the SFR STB is fully certified).
While you're at it, you could learn a few more tricks more this cheap STB. Google 'frandroid sfr box tv' to find the article, i can't post links here yet.
They developed the box in 6 months only with LG doing the hardware part.
While it's not a game console it packs some nice features the MOJO lacks and its software is way more polished:
- an HDMI input port to allow 'picture in picture' and live TV background (like other Google TV devices do and the XBox One does too).
- a touchpad/keyboard remote control with a push-to-talk microphone in it (Android has a lot of voice recognition features).
- an integrated DVB-T decoder for live TV
- its USB port is compatible with webcams (UVC) so it can do video chat with Google Hangouts and Skype.
and it only costs around $150, actually it's not for sale, only SFR subscribers can rent it (roughly $4 a month).
The only good thing about the MOJO is the Tegra 4 SoC, everything else is rushed and unfinished. That's what disappoints a lot of people.
While it's too late for hardware changes (except may be an optional remote controller with a mic) you really need to fix the software asap.
This device is sold at premium price and marketed as such but it just feel as 'yet another chinese Android HDMI stick/box' and behind the curtain, it seems to be the case: in the Play Store the MOJO is shown as "Foxconn International Holdings Limited Mad Catz M.O.J.O." ... it's funny, amateurish, explains a lot of things and really prove it was rushed.[/QUOTE]
Yes. Unfortunately, I will have to pass. The broken software makes makes this this a glorified media player and I cannot justify the cost for a glorified media player. The only thing it has going for it in my opinion is the controller.
I was willing to overlook the Tera GPU's lack of OpenGL ES3.0 because of the Tegra game optimizations and exclusive exclusive games. But since there is no guarantee that the software will get fixed (they are working on KitKat upgrade but other than the bluetooth support we have no idea if that will fix anything like hard drive format support, google play support, etc.)
If the upgrade comes out soon I might get it. Might. If it takes too long, well, the SoC's in the mobile space are improving too quickly to make it worth it unless it drops in price. Each generation performance basically doubles either in CPU, GPU, or both. This half of the year they expect the new Tegra with much improved GPU and a big CPU speed bump.
Yes, there is always something new around the corner but standards last for a while. H.264 has been around for many years (though it has improved in capabilities most of it has been more or less stable the last few years). The new processors from Qualcomm this year are said to have H.265 hardware decoding and the new Denver Tegra is supposed to be able to decode it too (a mix of CPU and GPU decoding, so who knows what res/profiles it will manage, but at least it should be more flexible). And like I said, the Tegra GPU is currently one standard behind since it only supports OpenGL ES2.0, the bare minimum for Android right now.
If I am going to wait six months for the MOJO to be functional software-wise, then I might as well wait to see what hardware comes around. For all I know, by the time the MOJO works for more than video playback and the occasional sideloaded game, there might be a MOGA with BT4.0 support and a set-top box with better hardware (and true Play store support).
I might check back in every once in a while to see if there has been any progress, but for now... I'm out. Good luck everybody, I hope the MOJO works for you like you need it to. :fingers-crossed:
Related
Australia needs help!!!
Guys, i was about to give up on my service provider (3 hutchinson) content, until i learned this: The pack uses a few of the current 3content providers such as Scoreboard, Sports Tonight, Fox, and adds the SBS Live TV streaming which will be released close to the opening of the World Cup. Not everyone would be up streaming live TV considering the live games would be between 11pm 7am AEST, so the exclusive video highlights would cater those who can watch them the following day. What does the pack include? For $8 unlimited use, customers will be able to get access to: • Video Highlights (1-4 minutes in length) – 2006 FIFA World Cup o Match highlights from every game o Day highlights o Group highlights o End of tournament highlights • Video Highlights – 2002 FIFA World Cup o Match highlights from every game • SBS LIVE Mobile TV coverage: o Including live matches, replays, World Cup show • Live Scores; Tables; Schedule o As part of Scoreboard Click to expand... Click to collapse And so i need a few things: 1. I need to somehow make my lovely universal, appear to be one of the "approved" 3 phones, so that, it doesn't just kick me out, like it does at the moment, when i try to access certain services, and say "your device is currently not supported". 2. I need to be able to stream RTSP from within Internet explorer. I've tried downloading Real media mobile and all that.. but can't get it to budge. This is needed!!! Please guys, any advice, i'm willing to try, because with work and the time difference, some games are going to be extremely hard to watch, and this service, that 3 will offer, just sounds incredible, and i can't bare to think, that my new super phone, which is flat out amazing in everything, except it's not offical approved by 3. Even though, it's by far and away the most technically advanced 3g phone on the market![/quote]
OK 1. Has been solved. My phone is able to connect to all 3 services now, with no problems, since using Opera 8.6 mobile. For some stupid reason, i was using mini (the java version) and it was giving me a very hard time. The mobile version is much better and works a treat. However, i still can not work out, how to stream RTSP files to save my life.... anyone please!!! I may start a new thread tomorrow, based purely on RTSP streaming, as i think it's a fairly important issue, and in it's own thread may gather more attention..
any luck Did you have any luck with getting the streaming to work? I have the same problem.
Does the Mad Catz A.P.P. work for you?
" When paired with Mad Catz' downloadable configuration app, you can adjust profiles and settings to customize C.T.R.L.R for an expansive list of controller-compatible videogames." I downloaded it to my M.O.J.O. and to my phone but all I find are product info pages. It is rated 3.5 in the Play Store, and says it is on version 2.0 but the one I install from Play says it is build 20131107, and I don't think M.O.J.O. was even available then (although the A.P.P. is meant for the C.T.R.L.R., mice and headset).
P901 said: " When paired with Mad Catz' downloadable configuration app, you can adjust profiles and settings to customize C.T.R.L.R for an expansive list of controller-compatible videogames." I downloaded it to my M.O.J.O. and to my phone but all I find are product info pages. It is rated 3.5 in the Play Store, and says it is on version 2.0 but the one I install from Play says it is build 20131107, and I don't think M.O.J.O. was even available then (although the A.P.P. is meant for the C.T.R.L.R., mice and headset). Click to expand... Click to collapse Same here bud its just product info for madcatz products. I imagine this has been falsly advertised like the mojo itself, make a load of claims about what the app does but in reality its completely different to the he discription. Imagine it will always be a product app rather than having any practical purpose. If its made by the same team producing the OS Builds In fairness I've not been on the app for a long time but i would be rather surprised if it had received an update
I think they updated it, it's more of a shortcuts app then a button mapping app.. if memory servers me Edit: Has keyboard key shortcuts, I didn't use it because I got a BT mini-keyboard, I'll check next week when I'm home tho... Edit 2: nope it's a place holder app
Fire TV hands on - dismal experience with great potential
Hello guys EDIT: I have to mention that for some reason it seems Amazon has managed to bypass whatever cleverness Genesis Addon uses to give access to all the movies you want to see... so for people wanting to use FireTV as an XBMC box to watch movies (illegally) you will have big challenges. They have locked it down... so you'd have to try use proxy servers, virtual networks etc to get around that... but it is nowhere near as easy to use as a good Android TV box like the Tronsmart s89. Having used it for about two hours, I've concluded the device is great if all you want to do is to watch Amazon prime video or netflix... but to run most other android apps, it is simply an awful experience. , these are a few of my least favourite things: 1/ Apps you sideload are not visible on the home screen. It takes you 19 (NINETEEN!!!) clicks to get from HOME to the list of apps you can "manage". From there you click more to scroll down to your app of choice and click to select it then click to load it. 2/ you cannot use the remote for inputting text via voice within an app, so in XBMC if you want to enter "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", you cannot do a voice search, so all input is very clunky. 3/ if you use a usb wireless keyboard/trackpad like the Logitech k400r (superb on an android box) you are limited to what keyboard commands the amazon stranglehold will allow 4/ xbmc is not listed as a recent app. If you press HOME by mistake, it is approximately 35 (THIRTY FIVE) clicks to get back to xbmc (more if you have sideloaded more than 13 apps... which makes me hesitant to sideload any more!) Alt-TAB works on the wireless keyboard to get back to the last app, but XBMC is not listed there - as it is on generic android tv boxes. 5/ on spotify, you cannot use just the remote, pressing Down does not take you to the next song, left and right do not navigate menus etc... so you have to use another device... the Logitech k400r is great, but again, you cannot do everything with that even... down arrow does not move to next songs, there are no keyboard shortcuts to move to the next song etc. 6/ TennisTV android app does not work at all... works on all my android phones, devices, tablets. This seems to be a common theme, extremely poor app support. 7/ apps added to your apps on Amazon.co.uk online do not (mostly) show up on your device after you have "synced amazon content" . Looking for apps on the device in the amazon store is a mystery, voice search does not work... so is one expected to BROWSE the whole library with the remote to find apps you want? Wow. 7/ Go online to get apps for Fire TV and Amazon says: no TED no IMDB no Wikipedia no ES File explorer no Facebook no Ebay no Google apps of any kind, no Dolphin or Chrome, no Box, no Dropbox, no Evernote no BBC Sport, no TVCatchup... the list goes on and on... pretty dismal IMO. There is probably a LOT more, but Amazon have successfully strangled and suffocated a very nice bit of hardware. The interface is good, the fluidity is excellent... and for xbmc it is great but also censored by Amazon... but if you are used to a generic android tv box like the tronsmart vega s89, the FireTV does not come close, because what you can do with it is extremely limited. The cheap chinese android tv boxes in my lounge and bedroom are going to stay put, I cannot live with this FireTV. Buy this unit if you want a very good Amazon Prime Video / netflix box for £80... but if you want more than that, stay away. Mark.
fredphoesh said: Hello guys Having used it for about two hours, I've concluded the device is great as an XBMC-only box an/or if you watch Amazon prime video or netflix... but to run most other android apps, it is simply an awful experience. , these are a few of my least favourite things: 1/ Apps you sideload are not visible on the home screen. It takes you 19 (NINETEEN!!!) clicks to get from HOME to the list of apps you can "manage". From there you click more to scroll down to your app of choice and click to select it then click to load it. 2/ you cannot use the remote for inputting text via voice within an app, so in XBMC if you want to enter "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", you cannot do a voice search, so all input is very clunky. 3/ if you use a usb wireless keyboard/trackpad like the Logitech k400r (superb on an android box) you are limited to what keyboard commands the amazon stranglehold will allow 4/ xbmc is not listed as a recent app. If you press HOME by mistake, it is approximately 35 (THIRTY FIVE) clicks to get back to xbmc (more if you have sideloaded more than 13 apps... which makes me hesitant to sideload any more!) Alt-TAB works on the wireless keyboard to get back to the last app, but XBMC is not listed there - as it is on generic android tv boxes. 5/ on spotify, you cannot use just the remote, pressing Down does not take you to the next song, left and right do not navigate menus etc... so you have to use another device... the Logitech k400r is great, but again, you cannot do everything with that even... down arrow does not move to next songs, there are no keyboard shortcuts to move to the next song etc. 6/ TennisTV android app does not work at all... works on all my android phones, devices, tablets. This seems to be a common theme, extremely poor app support. 7/ apps added to your apps on Amazon.co.uk online do not (mostly) show up on your device after you have "synced amazon content" . Looking for apps on the device in the amazon store is a mystery, voice search does not work... so is one expected to BROWSE the whole library with the remote to find apps you want? Wow. 7/ Go online to get apps for Fire TV and Amazon says: no TED no IMDB no Wikipedia no ES File explorer no Facebook no Ebay no Google apps of any kind, no Dolphin or Chrome, no Box, no Dropbox, no Evernote no BBC Sport, no TVCatchup... the list goes on and on... pretty dismal IMO. There is probably a LOT more, but Amazon have successfully strangled and suffocated a very nice bit of hardware. The interface is good, the fluidity is excellent... and for xbmc it is great... but if you are used to a generic android tv box like the tronsmart vega s89, this does not come close, because what you can do with it is extremely limited. The cheap chinese android tv boxes in my lounge and bedroom are going to stay put, I cannot live with this FireTV. Buy this unit if you want a very good xbmc box for £80... but if you want more than that, stay away. Mark. Click to expand... Click to collapse i picked one up last night, my impressions: the UI is horrendous. ever review i read complimented the UI, but, nothing i want to use (plex) is easy to get to from the homescreen. have to scroll down, then over, etc. finding new apps, movies and tv shows is also difficult. i wish amazon allowed us to alter the homescreen to customize it to how we want it. plex on firetv, again, the ui is just... just... i don't know, i don't use on deck, or que, or whatever. i have to scroll over, then down to get to what i want. again, i wish plex gave us more opportunity to customize how our splash screen is setup. otherwise, i like the prime video on demand. this is the first time we have subscribed to an on demand stream service, having the content there, my kids like that there's spongebob and other nick shows. otherwise, our last 3 years of cord cutting has been handled through a rather extensive HTPC that i built running XBMC, sickbeard, couch potato and plex. i picked up the firetv to replace this unit because i'm tired of maintaining it.
fredphoesh said: Hello guys Having used it for about two hours, I've concluded the device is great as an XBMC-only box an/or if you watch Amazon prime video or netflix... but to run most other android apps, it is simply an awful experience. , these are a few of my least favourite things: 1/ Apps you sideload are not visible on the home screen. It takes you 19 (NINETEEN!!!) clicks to get from HOME to the list of apps you can "manage". From there you click more to scroll down to your app of choice and click to select it then click to load it. 2/ you cannot use the remote for inputting text via voice within an app, so in XBMC if you want to enter "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", you cannot do a voice search, so all input is very clunky. 3/ if you use a usb wireless keyboard/trackpad like the Logitech k400r (superb on an android box) you are limited to what keyboard commands the amazon stranglehold will allow 4/ xbmc is not listed as a recent app. If you press HOME by mistake, it is approximately 35 (THIRTY FIVE) clicks to get back to xbmc (more if you have sideloaded more than 13 apps... which makes me hesitant to sideload any more!) Alt-TAB works on the wireless keyboard to get back to the last app, but XBMC is not listed there - as it is on generic android tv boxes. 5/ on spotify, you cannot use just the remote, pressing Down does not take you to the next song, left and right do not navigate menus etc... so you have to use another device... the Logitech k400r is great, but again, you cannot do everything with that even... down arrow does not move to next songs, there are no keyboard shortcuts to move to the next song etc. 6/ TennisTV android app does not work at all... works on all my android phones, devices, tablets. This seems to be a common theme, extremely poor app support. 7/ apps added to your apps on Amazon.co.uk online do not (mostly) show up on your device after you have "synced amazon content" . Looking for apps on the device in the amazon store is a mystery, voice search does not work... so is one expected to BROWSE the whole library with the remote to find apps you want? Wow. 7/ Go online to get apps for Fire TV and Amazon says: no TED no IMDB no Wikipedia no ES File explorer no Facebook no Ebay no Google apps of any kind, no Dolphin or Chrome, no Box, no Dropbox, no Evernote no BBC Sport, no TVCatchup... the list goes on and on... pretty dismal IMO. There is probably a LOT more, but Amazon have successfully strangled and suffocated a very nice bit of hardware. The interface is good, the fluidity is excellent... and for xbmc it is great... but if you are used to a generic android tv box like the tronsmart vega s89, this does not come close, because what you can do with it is extremely limited. The cheap chinese android tv boxes in my lounge and bedroom are going to stay put, I cannot live with this FireTV. Buy this unit if you want a very good xbmc box for £80... but if you want more than that, stay away. Mark. Click to expand... Click to collapse You can use something called llama to create a shortcut to the homescreen (so to speak) of all side loaded apps and this is well documented on these forums. Got my FTV at work so will give it a go when I get home to see if the list of apps is as bad as you say and if so will just use an amazon USA account.
Has anyone tried sideloading the prime video app on one of the tron boxes? They're interesting looking boxes. As far as the UI goes: if you're able to root your system, you can set it to use xbmc as the launcher and only drop into the Amazon side when you want to watch prime video. I don't mind the UI too much, either in xbmc or from Amazon, as I have low expectations for what a UI for a TV should be. It's nice to see that if this dies, there may be other fairly competitive boxes which I can get Netflix and Prime on as well as xbmc.
roustabout said: Has anyone tried sideloading the prime video app on one of the tron boxes? They're interesting looking boxes.. Click to expand... Click to collapse Hi Actually there was a recent change by Amazon, making the Prime Video app (supposedly) work with Android, but AFAIK it has not been achieved yet. When I tried last a couple of months ago, it would look like it was going to play, then crash. See the thread on Freaktab: http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?17026-Amazon-Instant-Video Mark.
fredphoesh said: Hi Actually there was a recent change by Amazon, making the Prime Video app (supposedly) work with Android, but AFAIK it has not been achieved yet. When I tried last a couple of months ago, it would look like it was going to play, then crash. See the thread on Freaktab: http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?17026-Amazon-Instant-Video Mark. Click to expand... Click to collapse Amazon video works on my phone and tablet pretty well. I did need to sideload the app from my phone to my tablet, but once I did so it was good. I wonder if some of the issue being described in the thread above is like the one that some folks have with xbmc on the fire: XBMC won't 'let go' of the video hardware easily, so launching a video app from within the Android Apps menu of XBMC results in video not playing. I deal with it by killing XBMC once firetv launcher or netflix are running.
fredphoesh couldn*t summarize it any better. The hardware is great but the software does indeed cripple and limit the use beyong anything. This device is entirely made to only exist in the Amazon world and makes you buy Apps from their own App store and pay for instant video. Nothing else should and could be done with it flawless. See how hard the locked it. Unfortunately there are some more examples of locked down hardware in past time: Apple TV 3rd gen, Surface RT & 2 etc. Thats why I put this useless brick on ebay as long as people go crazy for it - for whatever reason I don't know. For the same money you can get a very decent Android Box without and restrictions and full root access!
sebr said: Thats why I put this useless brick on ebay as long as people go crazy for it - for whatever reason I don't know. For the same money you can get a very decent Android Box without and restrictions and full root access! Click to expand... Click to collapse The problem that a decent Android box alternative, with the possible exception being the new Android TV, is they do not get Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu type apps to go along with XBMC. This is the very reason why people are going crazy for it. It is nice to have everything I need and that Amazon provides it all in one OTT box.
Might take a bit of effort but if you set it up right the fire TV can work very well. Mine is being used not only as an XBMC box but also as my download center and NAS. Couldn't be happier with it.
Nedle said: Might take a bit of effort but if you set it up right the fire TV can work very well. Mine is being used not only as an XBMC box but also as my download center and NAS. Couldn't be happier with it. Click to expand... Click to collapse I am guessing rooted. The problems is that the folks doing the reviews now have never had the option to root. UK & GER shipped with rooting blocked.
Clearly out of the box the AFTV is not the most open/flexible experience. It is really easy to mod though. Root, install custom recovery, flash latest rooted rom, install Xposed (Fire TV Mods), alternate launcher, Google framework/play store and it's a completely different experience. It is fine to complain, or give a bad review about a stock interface, but not here. XDA is a modding/tweaking community, I don't know why you are giving a review on a stock rom's nearly out of the box interface. A bit of work and most (if not all) of your complains are moot. At least look around first to see if there are solutions to your complaints before just whining about them. :laugh:
Don't count this box out yet...now that someone has the ability to write custom kernels and we have a custom recovery I can only hope someone brings out an amazing AOSP build for the box or someone is quick to port over Android TV to it. Unfortunately I am not one of those capable of but would donate
goggles99 said: Clearly out of the box the AFTV is not the most open/flexible experience. It is really easy to mod though. Root, install custom recovery, flash latest rooted rom, install Xposed (Fire TV Mods), alternate launcher, Google framework/play store and it's a completely different experience. It is fine to complain, or give a bad review about a stock interface, but not here. XDA is a modding/tweaking community, I don't know why you are giving a review on a stock rom's nearly out of the box interface. A bit of work and most (if not all) of your complains are moot. At least look around first to see if there are solutions to your complaints before just whining about them. :laugh: Click to expand... Click to collapse Perhaps you have not read much of what's being said about the newest Firetv boxes... Unrootable and heavily censored blocking movie streaming sites on xbmc, and dismally poor app support too. As it is now, it is useful for two things only, Amazon prime video and netflix... Neither of which I want or need.
fredphoesh said: Perhaps you have not read much of what's being said about the newest Firetv boxes... Unrootable and heavily censored blocking movie streaming sites on xbmc, and dismally poor app support too. As it is now, it is useful for two things only, Amazon prime video and netflix... Neither of which I want or need. Click to expand... Click to collapse Was this confirmed outside of just one person's experience? Also, devices get updates that prevent root all the time. Often, the devs figure out a way to root them. I'm waiting on my Fire TV I ordered from eBay, hoping it's rootable. But even if not XBMC and Netflix is all I really wanted it for anyway (and not to use the crappy streaming add-ons but my own collection) If Android TV is somehow ported to the Fire, then this box will become a great device. Right now it's worth the 100 bux alone just to play around with imo.
fredphoesh said: Perhaps you have not read much of what's being said about the newest Firetv boxes... Unrootable and heavily censored blocking movie streaming sites on xbmc, and dismally poor app support too. As it is now, it is useful for two things only, Amazon prime video and netflix... Neither of which I want or need. Click to expand... Click to collapse i think your having more of an "operator error" than anything.. amazon isnt messing with xbmc. The fireTV has been working fine for everyone else for like 6 months now. if you dont like it send it backm sucks theres no root for UK people yet.. but no need to whine about it on here..
From a new UK Fire TV user - I totally agree "DISMAL EXPERIANCE" :¬( Spent a lot of money on Plex only to find it has to use fire tv sdk and so no 5.1 DD surround sound over HDMI - if you have MKV content :¬( I can sideload xbmc which works! and is the reason why it cant be on the amazon store - But I cant find a skin that is nearly as nice as plex) Blocking root is way annoying too I sideload'ed chrome and firefox and they seem to have patched it so that the remote does not work - nice one fire tv peeps (the browser in ES file manager works better - grr) Sometimes I think they try to PISS people off on purpose guess it makes them chuckle all the way to bank at least it only cost 49£ so im going to ritually destroy it and jump up and down on it till I get blisters AND also bye bye amazon prime!
Did anybody do any research before pre-ordering & before & after the German launch (around 9/16/2014) to know what to expect. The majority if not all of this "issues" where known weeks or a month ago.... And some of this are not real issues at all. Like demanding not promise features. Or "operator error" issues... There is usually a FW update shortly after a launch to deal with true issues that arise from it. So be on the lookout for one.
fredphoesh said: Perhaps you have not read much of what's being said about the newest Firetv boxes... Unrootable and heavily censored blocking movie streaming sites on xbmc, and dismally poor app support too. As it is now, it is useful for two things only, Amazon prime video and netflix... Neither of which I want or need. Click to expand... Click to collapse As far as I can see, you are the only one to have experienced this. Perhaps the dns servers for these sites are being recently blocked by your UK ISP (Your other devices may have the dns entries cached for a while). In any case, one person having this problem is not much proof of this, thus is hearsay. Why go on a long tirade when your real complaint is that you cannot obtain root? Why post a non-modded devices shortcomings on a modding site that has solutions to all but one of your problems? join one of the other "rant because I can't root" threads.
goggles99 said: Why go on a long tirade when your real complaint is that you cannot obtain root? Why post a non-modded devices shortcomings on a modding site that has solutions to all but one of your problems? join one of the other "rant because I can't root" threads. Click to expand... Click to collapse actually i dont care about root i want to have the apps I can have on my android tv working on this box. they dont it is a giant fail largely due to facist isp's in the UK and control freakery by amazon.
fredphoesh said: actually i dont care about root i want to have the apps I can have on my android tv working on this box. they dont. Click to expand... Click to collapse They do for me fredphoesh said: it is a giant fail largely due to facist isp's in the UK and control freakery by amazon. Click to expand... Click to collapse Wrong forum/web site then. This is what I have been saying all along.
Smart IR control with the Edge
Warning this is a long post grab some tea or coffee. Coming from a Note 2 the IR capabilities on a phone was a new concept for me. I played around with performing some smart control with peel and a few other apps. Nothing really fit like a professional Universal Remote branded custom programmed remote. Much like a very advanced version of Logitech Harmony. I wanted the WAF (Wife Approval Factor) . This means multiple rooms, devices, scenarios with single button clicks with a remote that changes given its room location and control type. Out Note Edge if you didn't know has an amazing wide spectrum infrared transmitter that can work with a mind blowing array of proprietary devices. Like Xbox and MCE machines to name a few. Its simply needs a powerful app to drive it with a deep code library. So I stumbled on the app in the play store called "Smart IR Remote - Anymote" . Before I go further I'll point out that I'm not affiliated with any developer and have no benefit to point this app out. I'm just a gadget junkie and a fan of great tech but I digress. This app is not on the cheep side. Its around $6 if I recall. What turned me on to it was its continuous and constant development record, the developer is interacting with users regularly and it met my minimum requirents for experiments. Setup can be as simple as a Logitech on the basic side or complex as the professional grade. It is your choice . What struck me with aww was the adaptability to create custom remotes WITH full macro or "scene" in the pro world and integrate that in to a one button. Take multiple remotes and combine buttons from all of them to one uber remote. Control WiFi devises along with it. Yup multiple pathway control. Holy cow I was so excited I finally found something to rival some of the most expensive remotes I have ever owned for $6 bucks. It is even equipped with thermostat library's along with some home control capacity. So my brain was tingling with logic layouts and control schemes. After some serious testing in my house im happy to report only one obscure devise did not have a library entry for its IR codes. One email to the Dev and he was on it. I have set up multiple rooms with a minimum of 3 scenes per room via macro and custom remote setup. My setup works like this . the default remote is the "Home remote" that has buttons labeled per room. Select the room you want to control, Master Bedroom for example and the Master bedroom remote pops up. Then just select one of the action options like "Chrome Cast" turns the TV on pauses and switches the input to the proper location. Then a Chromecast remote pops up with volume and other actions like "Watch Movie". This turns on my HTPC that basicly cone out of sleep, flips the input on the TV to whatever its on and brings up the HTPC remote with all the functions for navigation select and volume. Cool part on this particular scene is if you change it to something else you simply add the sleep option in the macro and the HTPC will go to sleep if you want to change to something else. It can get far more complex but I used this on my wife's phone that has IR and have had successful WAF ! So play have fun with the infrared on your phone. If anyone is interested I'd be happy to post some examples both simple and complex. Hope this helps someone else and be sure to give a thanks if it did . Cheers.
Reserved
Nice review just some questions, can you use the edge display? It s compatible with logitech squeezebox e logitech link in wifi? Thank you Inviato dal mio SM-N910F utilizzando Tapatalk
danilos2k said: Nice review just some questions, can you use the edge display? It s compatible with logitech squeezebox e logitech link in wifi? Thank you Inviato dal mio SM-N910F utilizzando Tapatalk Click to expand... Click to collapse The edge display is not effected. Works just like with any other app. You can add a app icon in to the edge display as a shortcut. Not app specific but handy for any apps you use regularly. As for question 2 the short answer is no. I had to lookup the Logitech Squeezebox since I don't have one. It looks like they don't have a library entry for it but I'm sending a message to the Dev team and inviting them to this forum.
Great post! I too tend to find the IR capabilitied that Samsung phones have a very cool feature. It amazes me that so many people dont even take advantage of it, but then again there are so many people that dont tske advantage or know how to use 90% of the features on their phones. I sold my friend a nice Sony LED TV a couple weeks ago and after a few hours he called me asking for the remote because the buttons on the side were a pain to deal with and he didnt have a universal remote.. I was blown away by this because not only had i sold him my Galaxy S5 over a month prior to the TV, he had the Galaxy s4 for probably a year befote the 5, and when i told him to just use his phone its better anyway he had no clue what i was talking about... Anyway, sorry to ramble. Lol Thanks again for the info.
thank you That's what keeps us, the developers, going. Seeing appreciation like yours makes me want to improve the product, makes me ashamed of the occasional bugs you probably encountered, but all things added, leads to a better product. By the way, @Cab121, make sure to make a backup of your remotes in Settings -> Backup / Restore. You seem to have put a lot of work into yourself, and only I know how many customers relied on (eventually broken) Helium backups when switching roms, cleared the app data accidentally or not knowing what they were doing, losing precious of their work. As for some of the other questions in the thread: - using the Edge - No, right now Smart IR Remote doesn't make use of the Edge feature. It's certainly something we want to add, but we have so much stuff on our platter right now that it might take a while to get on this. Have you seen AnyMote Home ? - Logitech Squeezebox - yes, that's supported over InfraRed, in our Game / Media Manager category - Logitech Link - sorry, access to that is closed. We've tried, but no luck. By the way, if anyone has any support questions (missing devices, bugs, stuff like that..) please email [email protected] - that way you have the highest (guaranteed) chances of getting a reply. Source: I'm one of the Smart IR Remote - AnyMote devs.
Double touch scroll in Droidmote reboots console with new update
Just updated to 1.3 and now when I do the double touch to scroll up or down the device reboots. Anyone else?
Because you don't have the last version of DroidMote Server from Google Play or because the update removed config files of DroidMote. I corrected this behaviour with Nvidia devices two months ago. To solve, uninstall the app from settings -> apps and reinstall the last version from Google Play. Just for information, in the old versions this problem was caused by Nvidia firmwares, not by me. In facts the same thing happened also on Shield Tablet and Shield Portable but not on all others Android devices in the world. The cause was that usually Nvidia in his firmwares modify the sourse code of Android also in the input subsystem. Nvidia modified from Android source code the part related to the two classic spots that you can have in Android when you connect a multi touch trackpad. Nvidia modified this part of Android without manage the exception. I imagine that also with an hardware multi touch trackpad the problem can be exploited. So i solved in DroidMote removing the two spots. You can still have two finger multi touch gestures related to last mouse position ( scroll, swipe, rotate, zoom and more). The only difference is that you don't see the spots ( white circles that are standard stuff of Android AOSP and not my invention). Maybe Nvidia don't take care of core functionalities of Android. I'm working on Nvidia devices in the last times, only because the Shield TV have a good hardware compared to all others full Android TV boxes in the market. But also in the past, i don't like Nvidia development. It use many proprietary things without source code released, and many additions are not well developed. Android is open source, but when you buy a Nvidia device, it become closed source. The most negative thing is that Nvidia publish also some source code just to fool developers, in facts the stock firmwares are completly different from the source code released specially for core functionalities.
Thank you for your help. I will try your suggestion.
I have uninstalled Droidmote in Shield TV and Droidmote in my note 4. Reinstalled both from Google play and still have the same issue. I assume now I have an issue with the Rom?
Just an update. I had to clear cache and data on shield tv then uninstall. Reinstall and everything is working again. Sent from my SM-N910T3 using Tapatalk