Database Users

I'm done with all Android phones and tablets not released from Google.

FYI: This is a venting post, written spur of the moment. Probably rambling from point to point without proofreading or organizing thoughts. Don't even know if it will make sense to anyone.
In my haste to, you know, have the newest version of Android running on my Transformer, I totally destroyed it and cannot get it to be recognized in any USB form on my computer. There are tons of great ROMs built by the awesome development community, but I'm just sick of having to try out multiple ROMs just to find one that works without issues. IMO, the fault is split between Google and the hardware manufacturers. Google should force manufacturers to ship phones and tablets with stock Android. It is Google's system and they should have the control to do that. The manufacturers should be ashamed of themselves for not being able to release an update to the latest OS within a few weeks of the release, jellybean, and on a tablet that was only launched in the US in April 2011. Google should be ashamed for letting these manufacturers get away with running an outdated version on a device that is completely cabable of running the newest iteration. Had an official means of updating to Jellybean been available I would not have spent so much of my time rooting and testing ROMs to make sure I have a consistent user experience.
I look at Apple; the structure and consistency they have in regards to software updates. The first gen iPad received updates until iOS 5 for two years. Then you devices that are put out by Android manufacturers, new models are frequent and in the furry to try and saturate the market with tablets, they forget about the one that came out the day before. Too many screen sizes, different processors, causes developers to shy away. For example, there has yet to be a legitimate Spotify (which I use daily), twitter, Facebook tablet app. Even the official apps they do have for "tablets" are weak in the user interface compared to iPad apps.
I know the general public will probably never care that their phone/tablet doesn't receive the newest Android update, they call their phones "droids". That's because they don't know what they are missing since the manufacturers do not care about updating the firmware and they are running terrible skinned versions of the OS. I enjoy using my Galaxy Nexus on Verizon, but even that does not get updated from Google. Google needs to reassess how they distribute the OS and to who. Maybe it needs to be a little closed and vertical. It could help.

You have a very good point on it, I couldn't agree more with it.
But regarding the distribution of Android, I think that if the OS had to be the same on every phone/tablet, there wouldn't have a reason to exist so many different devices, it would be like Apple's iOS and its devices.
What makes the platform interesting is the fact that anyone can use it and alter some elements of it, a thing that you don't have in the strict control that Apple has on iOS.
Sent from my MB525 using xda app-developers app

I agree with you in certain points - as for update procedures in general.
I am still very annoyed by the update politics of the Transformer, since the officially offered upgrades caused so
many troubles for me, as random reboots and freezing ,......
On top of it, skilled people in this forum then manage to get nice kernels and ROMs done which are just
much better in performance and stability compared to stock, that you really do wonder who the heck ASUS is hiring
I found finally a stable combo for me based on ICS but failed so far for JB.
I am at the moment testing different JB EOS and kernel combos but experience still issues.
This can become indeed kind of boring....
Your view comparing the great support of Apple on the other hand I don't share completely. It is basically the same as for their Desktop/Laptops.
It is really so much easier to only support a handfulll of devices than thousands of different combinations. Sure, you have a point that
you benefit when you choose one of their devices. But bluntly I become afraid of the growing power of Apple, since I really embrace choice.
Their are always people who prefer a certain different device because it helps their needs ( look at all the different screen sizes for Android and
then check Apple), me I prefer e.g. HW keyboard for a mobile phone.
But then I prefer as well Linux and the choice to put together your preferred OS over a non-customizable MacOSX ...
BTW: I own as well Apple devices and this is not supposed to become a flame thread, please

At the end of the day its down to us as individuals what we buy.
The reviews are not always impartial but certainly a good starting point, but i find researching any product i buy before hand a must now a days.
Great example was when i had bought my gtab - if i had read about it properly i would have know Samsung are one of the worst for updates.....but then again none of the manufacturers promise any future upgrades - maybe again we are just expecting something that we were never told we were going to get??
Never had an issue with my TF but i agree you should not have to rely on a developers site to get "improved" versions of the software - but if i had an Ipad i would have no doubt jailbroken it to improve my ipad experience aswel, just like ive done in the past with ipod touches etc. Would i get another TF - yes - im looking to get the Infinity as i still feel that the Asus TF fits my needs and is still one of the best supported tablets out there.
So the moral of the story is nothings perfect, the infos out there......we just need to be a little more astute as individuals and put the time into looking at the pros and cons before we buy. We spend the money and make the choice - not Google, Asus or Apple.:good:

ultmontra08 said:
I totally destroyed it and cannot get it to be recognized in any USB form on my computer.
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Click to collapse
That's more or less impossible unless you managed to corrupt the first few EMMC blocks that contain the apx mode code. Which you have to know what you're doing to wipe.
Boot into apx mode, install the naked apx driver, then use Easyflasher to flash back to stock

ultmontra08 said:
In my haste to, you know, have the newest version of Android running on my Transformer, I totally destroyed it and cannot get it to be recognized in any USB form on my computer. There are tons of great ROMs built by the awesome development community, but I'm just sick of having to try out multiple ROMs just to find one that works without issues
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ultmontra08 said:
I would not have spent so much of my time rooting and testing ROMs to make sure I have a consistent user experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ultmontra08 said:
I know the general public will probably never care that their phone/tablet doesn't receive the newest Android update, they call their phones "droids". That's because they don't know what they are missing
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Click to collapse
You don't need to update Android unless it's a big jump like going from Honeycomb to Ice Cream Sandwich going to all that trouble to Root, Install a custom Recovery, Install a custom ROM for a minor update like Jelly Bean is silly what could you possibly need from Jelly Bean that Ice Cream Sandwich can't already do I bet the only reason is "It's the latest" and Asus are officially going to release Jelly Bean for the Transformer.
ultmontra08 said:
There are tons of great ROMs built by the awesome development community, but I'm just sick of having to try out multiple ROMs just to find one that works without issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately if you want to use something other then the stock ROM it's a process of trial and error I tried Android Revolution HD ROM for example (popular ROM) and had problems with my Transformer not responding in sleep mode and random reboots I found that Cyanogenmod was stable for my device every device is different so the trial and error process is unavoidable.
ultmontra08 said:
IMO, the fault is split between Google and the hardware manufacturers. Google should force manufacturers to ship phones and tablets with stock Android. It is Google's system and they should have the control to do that.
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Click to collapse
ultmontra08 said:
I enjoy using my Galaxy Nexus on Verizon, but even that does not get updated from Google. Google needs to reassess how they distribute the OS and to who. Maybe it needs to be a little closed and vertical. It could help.
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Click to collapse
Google Android is licensed as an open source operating system so Google doesn't have any power to tell manufactures they can't make their own version of Android to sell with their hardware or when you receive updates that's all the manufacturer.
ultmontra08 said:
since the manufacturers do not care about updating the firmware.
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Asus have actually been great with Android updates for the Transformer just a bit slow.
ultmontra08 said:
The manufacturers should be ashamed of themselves for not being able to release an update to the latest OS within a few weeks of the release, jellybean, and on a tablet that was only launched in the US in April 2011.
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You don't understand that it takes time to develop and test a new operating system on a device the process isn't as simple as you think it is you wouldn't want to suddenly get an update from Asus and then be complaining that it's unstable would you?.
ultmontra08 said:
there has yet to be a legitimate twitter, Facebook tablet app
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If you are using a Tablet the screen is wide enough to be able to acceptably use a web browser for these tasks so you don't really need a specific App developed, it's really only necessary for Mobile due to small screens.
ultmontra08 said:
I look at Apple; the structure and consistency they have in regards to software updates. The first gen iPad received updates until iOS 5 for two years. Then you devices that are put out by Android manufacturers, new models are frequent and in the furry to try and saturate the market with tablets, they forget about the one that came out the day before. Too many screen sizes, different processors, causes developers to shy away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you prefer Apple feel free to switch but while having a range of hardware options does have it's down falls it gives you and developers more freedom and choice where as Apple will always have a small limited choice range.

Just get a Windows Phone or Windows 8 tablet. I am too, one of those who are totally sick about Android.
You know, I bought Asus Transformer TF101 right on launch and YOU HAVE NO idea how excited I am. But things started to change after using it for a day, lags, crashes, limited apps.
I've been waiting and waiting for months before ICS came, but a lot of issues are still left unresolved. Asus firmware is very prone to crashes.
I've been flashing ROM after ROM and wasted so many days on this... No way I will ever get an Android again.

LastBattle said:
Just get a Windows Phone ....
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Talk about limited apps...

Eh, the way I look at it, ill have this tablet forever and by the time its so scratched and old I can give it to my kids and I can get the latest and greatest NEXUS having learned my lesson buying non NEXUS.
Sent from my SCH-I510 using xda app-developers app

im on jb rom from team EOS, this is the only jb rom i use until now. using nova launcher makes it almost perfect buttery smooth (perfect without Widgets on the screen) .
it's easy to find good rom without having to try all of them. just read people's comment. go to last page and see how many complaints user's has.

Using the EOS build 74 with KAT 1.4 and nothing else yields a Transformer that works perfectly for me minus the GPS. I know that people with the dock have a different set of issues but honest, my TF with EOS and KAT runs better than any stock ROM. The difference is amazing. Web browsing is very very fast, I can play all my 720P videos via SMB streaming with BSplayer.
So after more than a year my TF works as I expected it to out of the box.

ultmontra08 said:
I totally destroyed it and cannot get it to be recognized in any USB form on my computer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Wheelie?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1676845

Android Revolution HD and be done with it. Why the need for the latest and greatest when you can use what works? I used to be an HTC fanboy, until I got the mytouch 4g slide. I hated that phone so much. I love Sense, but just the phone was.... eh. I'm very happy with my Galaxy S3. I feel like I should have opted for the Nexus, but I'm happy with my purchase.
I still have a G1 sitting on my dresser with a charged battery just in case I feel like rockin it oldschool. I'm an OG Android user. Been using android ever since the release of the G1. I do love vanilla android, but what Samsung did with TouchWiz is just short of amazing. I used to run MIUI on my HTC Vision, I ran it for a few hours on my S3, and had to go back to TouchWiz!!
And what was posted earlier, why are you using apps on a tablet when the browser works perfectly for all those websites? Apps are more of a phone thing, screen sizes sub-5"

The update from Honeycomb to ICS was a huge one and we got it, it was not bug free but good enough to get developers working. JB is not that big update unless you need Google Now.

wow i dont know where to start. i really dont want to turn this into an ios vs android flame war. but youre completly out of your mind. first of all you have to look at it from the carriers, hardware manf, and googles point of veiw.
now hardware manuf. , and carriers have it in their best interest to not release updates for all the previous gen devices from a year or two ago, even if they are capable of running the new versions. this way the new devices look more attractive to current and potential customers.
another thing is that you cant really compare the updates from iphone-iphone3g-iphone3gs-iphone4-iphone4s-iphone5-and probably in a couple months the iphone5s that wont do anything more exciting than the last model did. same thing with the ipads. before you know it you have a drawer full of iphones that look the same and dont really do anything different.
then you have android. approx 800,000 new android devices are activated every day. EVERY EFFIN DAY. now thats insane.
how many devices that didnt originally come with ios can now run ios better than they ran their org stock os? for example there are tons of devices that came stock with windows mobile/symbian/webos etc etc and they can now run many different versions of android.
my htc HD, my htc HD2, my hp touchpad, and those are just the ones ive owned. theres tons of others that were given new life because of android and the dev community.
another thing that doesnt make sense is how you can blame google, and the hardware manufacturers and the carriers for 3rd party apps that they have no involvement in. there are millions of developers making millions of apps for millions of devices. its not googles job to make sure they run perfectly on every device. thats the deveolpers fault if facebook app works better on one device than it does on another.
you see iphone and ipad apps dont really have that problem because all the devices are exactly the same. screen size/resolution doesnt change very much at all, and new features are a bore. "oh yay the new iphone can make face time calls over a cell connection and isnt limited to wifi anymore" so what they should have been able to do that years ago.
its also not googles or the hardware manuf. fault if you knowingly go against their waranty terms and screw up your device. thats the risk you knew was there. and its part of the learning process. things like unlocking bootloaders, building custom roms, modifying hardware, cross compiling drivers and kernels, overclocking, and overall getting he most out of your device, is not for kids.
yes the typical ios fanboy just wants to get his facebook updates and be able to locate the nearest starbucks, or genius bar, just by asking siri.
but the android dev comunity and the devices they work on are doing it right. why should you be told what you can and cant do with your device? why should you pay more for a device that only does less. why should you sleep on the sidewalk for 7 days to be first in line to get the new lame updated iphone that costs double and doesnt do double.
the hp touchpad is a great example of an awesome device that was on sale for 99-150 dollars from hp. it currently runs ICS like a champ, and will be getting JB roms that rock. i also have a tf101 asus that runs JB eos like WHOA! overclocked on both cores, awesome tegra2 chip. expandable memory, AND A NORMAL HEADPHONE PORT AND USB PORT. even a nice little hdmi port. its an old device already and it still blows he doors off any current gen ipad.
then theres the newer mk802 devices and hackberry A10 boards that will do anything a high end smartphone will do for 50 bucks and hooks right up to your tv. LETS see apple tv or roku do that.
bottom line is that you dont understand how this really works, and youre getting frustrated and giving up instead of learning and becoming better and the tech.
YOU EITHER MASTER TECHNOLOGY OR TECHNOLOGY WILL MASTER YOU!! thats all for now.
---------- Post added at 10:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:30 PM ----------
redrol said:
Using the EOS build 74 with KAT 1.4 and nothing else yields a Transformer that works perfectly for me minus the GPS. I know that people with the dock have a different set of issues but honest, my TF with EOS and KAT runs better than any stock ROM. The difference is amazing. Web browsing is very very fast, I can play all my 720P videos via SMB streaming with BSplayer.
So after more than a year my TF works as I expected it to out of the box.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah i just updated with eos jb rom today and its so much faster than the stock asus ics rom. i was really surprise, because its still got a ways to go.
---------- Post added at 11:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------
Then you devices that are put out by Android manufacturers, new models are frequent and in the furry to try and saturate the market with tablets, they forget about the one that came out the day before. Too many screen sizes, different processors, causes developers to shy away.
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just to clarify a couple of things. There's no such thing as Android Manufacturers. well i guess with the exception of googles devices that they release is as close as you could come to calling them and android manufacturer, but the rest are not Android manufacturers. and when you think about it the screen sizes are usually pretty consistent even across different hardware manuf. you had 2.8"/3.5"/3.8"/ 4.2's were common for a while. now youre seeing mini tablet/phones in the 4.7-5+ range. but there arent that many sizes to worry about development wise. same with tablets. 7"-8"-9.7"-10.1" etc etc. same with the cpu and gpu arcitecture. you got your arms, your tegras, your mali 400's, etc etc theres an android device for everyone for anything.
i also love how my buddies iphone 5 wont display netflix properly or pandora correctly on the new screen size/dimension. maybe the iphone5s ver. 2.1 will have fixed that. in a couple years.
I know the general public will probably never care that their phone/tablet doesn't receive the newest Android update, they call their phones "droids". That's because they don't know what they are missing since the manufacturers do not care about updating the firmware and they are running terrible skinned versions of the OS. I enjoy using my Galaxy Nexus on Verizon, but even that does not get updated from Google. Google needs to reassess how they distribute the OS and to who. Maybe it needs to be a little closed and vertical. It could help.
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Click to collapse
the general public doesnt care that their phones arent getting the newest rom/kernel versions although alot of them do. android seems to realease new versions as the hardware advances. they grow with the advancing power and abilities of devices. you wouldnt really expect a first generation tmobile g1 to run the latest jellybean version would you? its almost as if the hardware cannot really come out faster than the os to support it. everytime you hear of a new android version theres a whole new generation of way better spec'd devices that shortly follow. sorta opposite of apple, they release devices that are barely on par with devices that were released over 6 months ago or longer. if carriers dont want o update devices in order to entice customers to upgrade then i understand that. theyre in business to make a profit. i really dont see how restricting and limiting android would help in any way at all. thats the great thing about android. its just linux with a few things on top. and that is the nail in the coffin right there. unlimited customization and hackability.

haxin said:
YOU EITHER MASTER TECHNOLOGY OR TECHNOLOGY WILL MASTER YOU!! thats all for now.
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Click to collapse
AMEN!

Has anyone else emailed Amazon about root?

I don't think they notice the full potential their device has because people aren't speaking up about it. I think if enough people here email them, asking for them to open the device up for us, they'll see the benefits of us having root access.
I just wrote those one to them.
I sincerely hope this message is read with an open mind by those in charge of the Amazon Fire TV device. Please, PLEASE make sure this gets to the right people who can make a change.
First off, I'm a die hard fan of Amazon, especially ever since I first got my Prime account. I've had issues with orders in the past, as well as products and the Amazon team has always, ALWAYS had my back, which is why I generally do all my shopping strictly with Amazon, even if I can find it cheaper elsewhere, because I know if issue arise, Amazon has my back.
To the point!
The Amazon Fire TV is probably one of the most nifty devices for steaming that has ever come out. It dominates the Roku which I was a huge fan of. The hardware in this little thing is just downright impressive for what it is, especially with it running Android. The possibilities were endless!
So the issue? I'm speaking for hundreds of people, who all should speak up but don't have the time or will to do so.
The biggest benefit of the Fire TV is the fact stated above, it runs Android. We can do so much amazing things with an operating system as open as Android. The problem we have though, as a large community who love to tinker, such as those of us who are part of the XDA community, is you're not allowing us the full potential of the hardware.
The main reason I bought the device wasn't just because it was Amazon backed, and it ran Android, but because it had root access. With that I was able to run my emulators and play NES games and so forth from the comfort of my couch without having to lug out a computer and have the inconvenience of needing a keyboard and mouse to start it all up.
I had the convenience to put a web browser on it so I could run a wireless keyboard to it if I needed to search for something quickly online instead of going into the other room to turn my computer on or find my tablet.
The device ships with a very limited built in storage which is not very good for installing apps. Just installing Bard's Tale eats up almost the entire storage. With root access we could run external pen drives to allow extra storage.
I want you to really think about the potential your device has. You will lose NOTHING by allowing us to root. You will lose NOTHING by allowing us access to the bootloader for custom roming.
Look at Android phones right now, those that are unlocked, like the Nexus devices are among the most popular because of what we're able to do with it. People buy them SOLEY because they know they can Rom it, customize it and so forth.
People see right now that we can't get root access working again and we're losing a lot of options we once had and it's turning people off.
If people see that Amazon took it's community into mind and let us have our root access....people will respect that and buy more of your devices! It's a Win - Win!
I mean really think about it, what are you going to lose? Some people possibly bricking the device? That's their problem, not yours. Warranty is void when tinkering, plain and simple.
Right now, without root access, we're not much better off than owners of the Roku. No enthusiasts bought the Roku because all it is, is a steaming device. Us tech junkies such as myself, bought the Fire TV soley because it allowed more freedom to do more with my device.
So please, I speak for many, open up the flood gates for the community and give us an unlocked bootloader, or at least just make root access easier to acquire!
Sincerely,
An Amazon Junkie
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Click to collapse

Spykez0129 said:
I don't think they notice the full potential their device has because people aren't speaking up about it. I think if enough people here email them, asking for them to open the device up for us, they'll see the benefits of us having root access.
I just wrote those one to them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon is notorious for locking down their devices extremely hard. I doubt the Fire TV will be any different. And then you have the fact that the content providers don't really want it. Piracy and all that nonsense they like to say.

The added bonus for a rooted Fire TV is Play Store access complete with a fully functional compatibility filter.
Since I actually (re-)gained access to the Play Store,I was able to use my existing acount from my GS7 to install a paid app on my Fire TV that I once had on the GS7 without needing to buy it again.
I want an unlocked bootloader so I can get the multitasking GUI of a modern Linux Distro.
Maybe if the ARM Linux build of Dolphin with OpenGL 2.0 is found,anyone could use Freedreno to actually get it running on a Fire TV!

Id be more or less happy without root if they'd bake in A) Sideloaded apps showing on the menu and B) External storage
Its cool to be able to do other stuff but these are the deal breaks for me. The internal storage on this thing is so ridiculously small, I have no idea how it made it through Q&A. Id have paid the extra $10 for more memory if they offered it.

retroben said:
The added bonus for a rooted Fire TV is Play Store access complete with a fully functional compatibility filter.
Since I actually (re-)gained access to the Play Store,I was able to use my existing acount from my GS7 to install a paid app on my Fire TV that I once had on the GS7 without needing to buy it again.
I want an unlocked bootloader so I can get the multitasking GUI of a modern Linux Distro.
Maybe if the ARM Linux build of Dolphin with OpenGL 2.0 is found,anyone could use Freedreno to actually get it running on a Fire TV!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why on earth would Amazon support the Play Store when they have their own app store? The idea is to generate revenue, not funnel it elsewhere.

rbox said:
Amazon is notorious for locking down their devices extremely hard. I doubt the Fire TV will be any different. And then you have the fact that the content providers don't really want it. Piracy and all that nonsense they like to say.
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Click to collapse
Ya I get that but there were phone companies that said the same thing, then when people took a stand to go to phones that were unlocked, the manufacturers saw the potential. If enough people bug Amazon about it, it has the potential to make them see the benefit.

Amazon hasn't gotten as big as it is by making poor business choices (Fire phone notwithstanding). We tend to forget that the vast majority of people who buy a fireTV don't have a clue what rooting is, much less its benefits. The bottom line for Amazon is that they will make a helluva larger profit keeping their customers within their own ecosystem than any increase in FTV sales that might occur by appealing to those would prefer a box they can root.

Google Android TV platform in trouble?

I know many folks have been hoping that Google will release its own set top system.
I read an article yesterday that said Joe Britt, head of [email protected], has left Google and that the ADT-1 reference platform given out at google i/o this year may never land as a Google hardware product....
http://www.talkandroid.com/219739-a...t-lead-googles-androidhome-may-be-in-trouble/
However, also in the last day, I saw an article indicating that benchmarks had leaked on a device tthat looks like an Android set-top box, an "asus nexus player"
http://androidspin.com/2014/09/16/asus-nexus-player-android-tv-launch-device/
the device has a whopping 8 gig of internal storage - just like the fireTV...
I don't know how to align these two reports...
One thing I'll be interested in is whether one day we'll be able to rip the Amazon firmware completely out of this device and replace it with a port of the asus player software load.

roustabout said:
I know many folks have been hoping that Google will release its own set top system.
I read an article yesterday that said Joe Britt, head of [email protected], has left Google and that the ADT-1 reference platform given out at google i/o this year may never land as a Google hardware product....
http://www.talkandroid.com/219739-a...t-lead-googles-androidhome-may-be-in-trouble/
However, also in the last day, I saw an article indicating that benchmarks had leaked on a device tthat looks like an Android set-top box, an "asus nexus player"
http://androidspin.com/2014/09/16/asus-nexus-player-android-tv-launch-device/
the device has a whopping 8 gig of internal storage - just like the fireTV...
I don't know how to align these two reports...
One thing I'll be interested in is whether one day we'll be able to rip the Amazon firmware completely out of this device and replace it with a port of the asus player software load.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everyone is misinterpreting the recent article at Android Police. They should have been more clear in their article to say the ADT-1 was once supposed to be a Nexus Android TV device. It fell through because some people left. That basically sums it up. Android TV isn't going away before it even launches.
I'd also take all rumors with a grain of salt. Every other day the rumors change the specs on what the Nexus 6 will be.

I have Rokus and a FireTV. Comparing the two, there are aspects of each that I like better than the other. I see the FireTV as having the potential to be vastly superior to Roku in the long term, and with this in mind I see Android TV as being in a position to jump out in front from the start if done right. I'm not holding my breath, and I'm satisfied with my current setup, but at the same time I'm looking forward to the real life hands on reviews when Android TV boxes start shipping.
Doom and gloom rumors aside, I'm pretty confident Android TV boxes are going to be released. ADT-1 reference boxes have been shipped to manufacturers and devs. ADTV versions of apps are being developed (made remote/big screen friendly), hardware manufacturers are moving forward with both the set-top-boxs and integrated into TVs. All Google needs to do is release hardware specs for compatibility (which they have done), the SDK (which they have done), and the OS (Android L). I don't care if Google never releases their own brand of Nexus TV. It's just like Android phones and tablets, let them all compete with each other to see who comes out with the best setup. Google just needs to do what they do best, the OS.

New roms for shield tv

has anyone flashed new stock based rom by DroidMote Server / Client?
https://plus.google.com/+VideomapIt/posts/WLMsgEqw7dw

digweed4me said:
has anyone flashed new stock based rom by DroidMote Server / Client?
https://plus.google.com/+VideomapIt/posts/WLMsgEqw7dw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is a great rom overall but is not 4k/1080p friendly (as far as video playback is concerned in Youtube and Netflix) and you will lose leanback launcher functionality.

https://plus.google.com/+VideomapIt/posts/QiC1Pksvzaq
https://youtu.be/NMqz8e33oq8
With Android you can do all. With Android TV no. Now and forever because Android TV was invented for TV manufacturers that want a limited OS to better sell their services.
This is what I understand but I hope to be wrong.

zulu99 said:
https://plus.google.com/+VideomapIt/posts/QiC1Pksvzaq
https://youtu.be/NMqz8e33oq8
With Android you can do all. With Android TV no. Now and forever because Android TV was invented for TV manufacturers that want a limited OS to better sell their services.
This is what I understand but I hope to be wrong.
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Click to collapse
completly wrong.
Android TV is a full Android plus new TV features (search,recommendations,background playback). It's not limited.
It's just the launcher and the store that 'filter' apps that are not specifically optimized for a TV experience (= with a remote instead of touchscreen).
Savvy people can sideload and use any apps on Android TV.
But the goal of Google and TV manufacturers isn't to provide a system for savvy users, that would be a niche market and not worth their time & money.
They want a system anyone can use, the average user. A simple to use and consistent interface from app to app, while keeping the full power of Android behind the scene. Because nothing is more confusing for the average guy than using a 'made for touchscreen' app on a TV or using apps with different 'UI behavior' , it's the best way for him to throw away the whole thing in the trashcan
TV manufacturers don't sell services anyway, they sell TV...

kgersen said:
completly wrong.
Android TV is a full Android plus new TV features (search,recommendations,background playback). It's not limited.
It's just the launcher and the store that 'filter' apps that are not specifically optimized for a TV experience (= with a remote instead of touchscreen).
Savvy people can sideload and use any apps on Android TV.
But the goal of Google and TV manufacturers isn't to provide a system for savvy users, that would be a niche market and not worth their time & money.
They want a system anyone can use, the average user. A simple to use and consistent interface from app to app, while keeping the full power of Android behind the scene. Because nothing is more confusing for the average guy than using a 'made for touchscreen' app on a TV or using apps with different 'UI behavior' , it's the best way for him to throw away the whole thing in the trashcan
TV manufacturers don't sell services anyway, they sell TV...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is a FACT that with Android we can do all. Also specific things of Android TV. The inverse is not possible. But i'm very sorry of this
But this is not problem, the important fact is that Nvidia Shield Console have very good hardware and finally we can have a good full Android device connected to our TV.
The choice from Android TV and full Android is a reality so advanced users can have the alternative.
If it was not a question of money / forced limitations, should be more simple create a specific Launcher for TV that all can download from Google Play and specific apps more accessible with a dpad also downloadable for all from Google Play.

zulu99 said:
Is a FACT that with Android we can do all. Also specific things of Android TV. The inverse is not possible. But i'm very sorry of this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no
Android TV is Android + more features..
I don't get what you can do with Android that you can't do with Android TV.
Actually it's the contrary: you can do stuff with Android TV that you can't do with Android, for instance acting as a Chromecast (Google Cast Receiver) or displaying a video in the background of your launcher (home screen) from an app.

kgersen said:
no
Android TV is Android + more features..
I don't get what you can do with Android that you can't do with Android TV.
Actually it's the contrary: you can do stuff with Android TV that you can't do with Android, for instance acting as a Chromecast (Google Cast Receiver) or displaying a video in the background of your launcher (home screen) from an app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only one example of others million, install chrome browser and observe how it look bad at 320 dpi. Like the most negative phone of 10 years ago.
Android TV is a stripped down version of Android full of limitations.
Chromecast functionality are possible also on full Android.
Android is Android because you can install and update million of apps directly from Google Play. Android without apps is nothing. This is also the difference with Windows Phone, Ubuntu Phone and many others OS that dream the android apps ecosystem.
The actual number of Android apps in Google Play is a reality because independent developers thought that Android would have been a real open source OS, no longer thinks so after so many closures.
Apart that every single standard app is better and faster than the leanback version. Try Youtube as example to better understand. Life is too short to waste time with the directionals keys. Was already a failure on old Smart TV.
But if in the world there are people that bought an Iphone, This justifies even people who prefer Android TV
My interest is not to be right about this, i'm very happy with full Android. I'm just sharing my experience and i know Android quite well.

The thread of full Android firmware is this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/rom-t3138575
I don't understand why for this good hardware, one of the best in the Android world, we can't have a regular forum like all others devices.
Can someone explain ? please. Just for information.

@zulu99 I have a nexus player, I'm currently running CM12.1 but even on stock there was not much I couldn't do.
There is an app to allow easy use of sideloaded apps, a keyboard/trackpad combo let's you navigate without the directional keys on everything but the lean back laucher. Only thing I wasn't able to do is get the VPN working well (had to use separate VPN app, no built in VPN). I'm not saying ATV is better then Normal Android, just that you can do almost anything with a little effort. ATV is Android, same kernel and the core is built on the same code as normal Android.
Android is still very much an open ecosystem. Yes some things are locked away, but nothing as draconian as Apple or Microsoft. Even without root a lot more is possible on a system running Android then any other comparable platform (Android wear vs WatchOS, Android vs iOS, etc). I respect that you are a developer, I just think your 100% wrong in your view on ATV.
I'll be getting the Shield soon as a gaming/streaming TV console for an upcoming multi month work trip.

zulu99 said:
Only one example of others million, install chrome browser and observe how it look bad at 320 dpi. Like the most negative phone of 10 years ago.
Android TV is a stripped down version of Android full of limitations.
Chromecast functionality are possible also on full Android.
Android is Android because you can install and update million of apps directly from Google Play. Android without apps is nothing. This is also the difference with Windows Phone, Ubuntu Phone and many others OS that dream the android apps ecosystem.
The actual number of Android apps in Google Play is a reality because independent developers thought that Android would have been a real open source OS, no longer thinks so after so many closures.
Apart that every single standard app is better and faster than the leanback version. Try Youtube as example to better understand. Life is too short to waste time with the directionals keys. Was already a failure on old Smart TV.
But if in the world there are people that bought an Iphone, This justifies even people who prefer Android TV
My interest is not to be right about this, i'm very happy with full Android. I'm just sharing my experience and i know Android quite well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If Chrome looks bad on TV isn't because of the OS... You "know Android quite well" but you clearly don't know what is an OS and what is an app and where the 'frontier' between the two is.
You're confusing a lot of things and mixing things up.
Plz do show me Chromecasting Netflix for instance on what you call "full Android" (which I just call "Android").

I agree with Zulu. If you want locked down hardware and software, please go buy an Apple TV. And you also probably have no reason to go to XDA developers as this site is all about tweaking. Without root, what tweaking are you doing?
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

well said @machx1111
Leave zulu99 to his noble developing work @kgersen Some of us find this sort of stuff really useful.
I get that you don't personally find it useful but your comments seem to be borderline insulting considering the effort zulu99 has gone to. This forum really isn't the place for criticism unless it's constructive.

BenjiHansell said:
well said @machx1111
Leave zulu99 to his noble developing work @kgersen Some of us find this sort of stuff really useful.
I get that you don't personally find it useful but your comments seem to be borderline insulting considering the effort zulu99 has gone to. This forum really isn't the place for criticism unless it's constructive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wth are you talking about? did you even read our comments ?
I never said we mustn't root or do alternative ROM or that I want locked-down devices and software.
We're just talking about Android vs Android TV.
I just don't get why people waste their time porting CM or a 'smartphone/tablet/touch' version of Android to the Shield when it already has a full OS: Android TV and that NVidia already provides all the source and tools to build your own firmware for it: https://developer.nvidia.com/shield-open-source
I think they're just transposing what they had to do on smartphones and tablets because OEMs won't release the sources and tools to build your own firmware, to a new device just because it also run Android... They didn't bother looking up or asking NVidia...
Android TV is Android, if you don't like the 'TV' part just don't use it, go download the source code from NVidia and adapt/change what you don't want or add new features. If you prefer to use an UI made for touch on a TV that's your choice...hell you can even adapt Linux for Tegra for the Shield if you want Ubuntu instead of Android.
I'm all for tinkering and rooting but do it right, even more when the manufacturer can help you do so.

_Dennis_ said:
@zulu99 I have a nexus player, I'm currently running CM12.1 but even on stock there was not much I couldn't do.
There is an app to allow easy use of sideloaded apps, a keyboard/trackpad combo let's you navigate without the directional keys on everything but the lean back laucher. Only thing I wasn't able to do is get the VPN working well (had to use separate VPN app, no built in VPN). I'm not saying ATV is better then Normal Android, just that you can do almost anything with a little effort. ATV is Android, same kernel and the core is built on the same code as normal Android.
Android is still very much an open ecosystem. Yes some things are locked away, but nothing as draconian as Apple or Microsoft. Even without root a lot more is possible on a system running Android then any other comparable platform (Android wear vs WatchOS, Android vs iOS, etc). I respect that you are a developer, I just think your 100% wrong in your view on ATV.
I'll be getting the Shield soon as a gaming/streaming TV console for an upcoming multi month work trip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Lollirock firmware on Nexus Player and no cyanogenmod if you want a regular Android firmware in which you can install all from Google Play.
I respect the classic Cyanogenmod development / firmwares, but on Nexus Player the cyanogenmod firmware is just a strange hybrid. It use many parts of Android TV. Usually Cyanogenmod add things to Android, on the nexus player it remove things from Android
Not really useful. Read posts of users to better understand.
In lollirock firmware thread in the last part there are comparisons made by users.
---------- Post added at 11:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------
kgersen said:
wth are you talking about? did you even read our comments ?
I never said we mustn't root or do alternative ROM or that I want locked-down devices and software.
We're just talking about Android vs Android TV.
I just don't get why people waste their time porting CM or a 'smartphone/tablet/touch' version of Android to the Shield when it already has a full OS: Android TV and that NVidia already provides all the source and tools to build your own firmware for it: https://developer.nvidia.com/shield-open-source
I think they're just transposing what they had to do on smartphones and tablets because OEMs won't release the sources and tools to build your own firmware, to a new device just because it also run Android... They didn't bother looking up or asking NVidia...
Android TV is Android, if you don't like the 'TV' part just don't use it, go download the source code from NVidia and adapt/change what you don't want or add new features. If you prefer to use an UI made for touch on a TV that's your choice...hell you can even adapt Linux for Tegra for the Shield if you want Ubuntu instead of Android.
I'm all for tinkering and rooting but do it right, even more when the manufacturer can help you do so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About you, instead of writing things without sense, present to us your work. We will happy to test.
What are you doing for others people ?
If you like Android TV why you write here ?
Please i don't want problems with others users.
I'm already exposing myself too much.
But is necessary to demonstrate that we understand very well when things are necessary and others things are just made to protect economic interests against the fair competitive laws.
Apart all, is not most useful that you can do more things instead of be able to do just what others wants ?
Why we should remain closed in the Android TV that is a "Walled Garden". Because you don't like ?
Two things are always better than one.
p.s.
Netflix work well in full Android firmware, like google movies app and all others DRM players.
Chromecast functionality are working too.
Usually i use Chromecast functionality only if there isn't an app to do it natively inside the box. Is stupid stream with chromecast if you can have it native inside the box. But you can do all with quite all apps. also screen mirroring is possible. tested with my galaxy s6 and nexus7
All others Leanback-Only apps are working well ( 10 / 11 in total )
also xposed framework is beautiful to tweak your firmware.
When i read comments like your i'm very happy, because usually mean that the firmware works very very well
What many people not know is that in Google Plus, Facebook and also in xda forum like in others forum, users can be paid to do good reviews and support some platforms, just to make advertisement. Attention when you read.
RELY ON TESTS MADE ONLY BY YOURSELF

zulu99 said:
Use Lollirock firmware on Nexus Player and no cyanogenmod if you want a regular Android firmware in which you can install all from Google Play.
I respect the classic Cyanogenmod development / firmwares, but on Nexus Player the cyanogenmod firmware is just a strange hybrid. It use many parts of Android TV. Usually Cyanogenmod add things to Android, on the nexus player it remove things from Android
Not really useful. Read posts of users to better understand.
In lollirock firmware thread in the last part there are comparisons made by users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm enjoying the hybrid model used on CM. I get that its not for everyone, was just using it as an example.
I am able to do almost anything I could do on my phone on the TV. Does it all work perfectly? Of course not. Many apps are designed around a multi touch screen, my TV does not have a touchscreen at all. I just don't understand why you feel Android TV is more locked down then standard android. I was able to use es explorer to side load anything I wanted. Does not mean it worked (some apps are not programmed for directional keys and rely on touch input only, so they needed a mouse. Once I got that set up I can use anything fairly well. I have Amazon prime music working great for example, and I have prime videos loaded (haven't used it yet, netflix and hulu have my attention right now). This is all doable on androidTV, can't do it on my Roku, all I can get for amazon music is the non-prime stuff.
I can only think one think of one thing ATV can't do (native VPN) and one thing stock android can't do (well haven't tried sideloading the app yet) and that's receive a chrome cast stream, or send a chrome cast from one phone to tablet or whatever. Mostly the two versions seem comparable, the differences are in the stock apps (read Launcher and play store).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

_Dennis_ said:
I'm enjoying the hybrid model used on CM. I get that its not for everyone, was just using it as an example.
I am able to do almost anything I could do on my phone on the TV. Does it all work perfectly? Of course not. Many apps are designed around a multi touch screen, my TV does not have a touchscreen at all. I just don't understand why you feel Android TV is more locked down then standard android. I was able to use es explorer to side load anything I wanted. Does not mean it worked (some apps are not programmed for directional keys and rely on touch input only, so they needed a mouse. Once I got that set up I can use anything fairly well. I have Amazon prime music working great for example, and I have prime videos loaded (haven't used it yet, netflix and hulu have my attention right now). This is all doable on androidTV, can't do it on my Roku, all I can get for amazon music is the non-prime stuff.
I can only think one think of one thing ATV can't do (native VPN) and one thing stock android can't do (well haven't tried sideloading the app yet) and that's receive a chrome cast stream, or send a chrome cast from one phone to tablet or whatever. Mostly the two versions seem comparable, the differences are in the stock apps (read Launcher and play store).
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With Android we can install all apps simply from Google Play and all works better at 220 / 230 dpi. Touch-only apps are not a problem, with DroidMote i can use very well multi-touch apps and games.
You will search manually for every single apk when an update is available ? Get it from your phone, upload and reinstall. Baaaaaaaa
Good Luck
p.s.
Today i used all the day the Shield Console with full Android firmware and i can say it is Super. I installed and tested all benchmark apps, all others my preferred apps. All work super smooth and i like this hardware. I will never turn back on Android TV

zulu99 said:
With Android we can install all simply from Google Play and all works better at 220 / 230 dpi. Touch-only apps are not a problem, with DroidMote i can use very well multi-touch apps and games.
You will search manually for every single apk when an update is available ? Get it from your phone, upload and reinstall. Baaaaaaaa
Good Luck
p.s.
Today i used all the day the Shield Console with full Android firmware and i can say it is Super. I installed and tested all benchmark apps, all my preffered apps. All work super smoth and i like this hardware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not an issue inherent to Android TV, that is a function of the play store.
Don't get me wrong I'll probably try your ROM at some point. I make my own opinions, so I'm constantly trying new stuff.

_Dennis_ said:
That's not an issue inherent to Android TV, that is a function of the play store.
Don't get me wrong I'll probably try your ROM at some point. I make my own opinions, so I'm constantly trying new stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problems. we are here to discuss like good friends. I'm writing from Shield Console in a beautiful Chrome Browser at 220 dpi.
I like to discuss and hear the opinions of others.
I have only one big problem, my bad english. I'm Italian

zulu99 said:
No problems. we are here to discuss like good friends. I'm writing from Shield Console in a beautiful Chrome Browser at 220 dpi.
I like to discuss and hear the opinions of others.
I have only one big problem, my bad english. I'm Italian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its OK, I'm pretty good at understanding, my wife is Filipino and I lived in Japan for 3 years.
I may attempt to mess with some settings (I noticed a TV setting in build.prop) to see if I can get full play store use without changing much, mainly so anyone can use what ROM they want while getting access to both stores I see that as the best of both worlds.

_Dennis_ said:
I may attempt to mess with some settings (I noticed a TV setting in build.prop) to see if I can get full play store use without changing much, mainly so anyone can use what ROM they want while getting access to both stores I see that as the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a minix neo x8h+ and this box is "seen" by the play store as a leanback compatible box, but it also has access to all the android apps... so this may be a build.prop worth looking at?
I am getting an Nvidia console in a couple of weeks and would love to use leanback BUT not with the added hassle of installing and running non leanback apps.
tx Mark.

Android 5 available to Fire OS developers now

BREAKING NEWS
Get the preview as an OTA update now.
See this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/android-5-onboard-t3181226
Go get some.
https://developer.amazon.com/public...10/Announcing-the-Fire-OS-5-Developer-Preview

Any info if it can be rooted after the update?

Only for 2014 Fire HD tablets, unless you happen to have a 5.0 Fire TV image that isn't available on the Amazon developer preview page.

Claude Koch said:
Go get some.
https://developer.amazon.com/public...10/Announcing-the-Fire-OS-5-Developer-Preview
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is an extremely long way off for the Fire TV. Look at it like this, the Fire Tabets have been running KitKat for 8 months while the Fire TV is running Jellybean, so if it has been this long and the Fire TV still has not been upgraded to KitKat, how long do you think it will take to upgrade the Fire TV to Lollipop after the Fire Tablets gets upgraded to it? I'll answer for you, around a year after the Fire Tablet gets Fire OS 5 the Fire TV will get it. Now there is probably gonna be people that hate that I say that, but they are still runnning Jellybean while the Fire Tabet is running Kitkat so that should tell em that Fire OS 5 is a long tme away for the Fire TV.
To be honest, right now I would settle for Android 4.4 on my Fire TV, cause I would love to use all my apps again. Several apps that I use now require Android 4.4 so it woud be nice for Amazon to upgrade the Fire TV to Android 4.4. Whats the holdup Amazon, we need Android 4..4. Don't treat the Fire TV like a hobby.

porkenhimer said:
This is an extremely long way off for the Fire TV. Look at it like this, the Fire Tabets have been running KitKat for 8 months while the Fire TV is running Jellybean, so if it has been this long and the Fire TV still has not been upgraded to KitKat, how long do you think it will take to upgrade the Fire TV to Lollipop after the Fire Tablets gets upgraded to it? I'll answer for you, around a year after the Fire Tablet gets Fire OS 5 the Fire TV will get it. Now there is probably gonna be people that hate that I say that, but they are still runnning Jellybean while the Fire Tabet is running Kitkat so that should tell em that Fire OS 5 is a long tme away for the Fire TV.
To be honest, right now I would settle for Android 4.4 on my Fire TV, cause I would love to use all my apps again. Several apps that I use now require Android 4.4 so it woud be nice for Amazon to upgrade the Fire TV to Android 4.4. Whats the holdup Amazon, we need Android 4..4. Don't treat the Fire TV like a hobby.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't know that,
Very possible that the FireTV will get FireOS 5 this year....as Android5 makes a lot of sense for a media center device.

freezer2k said:
You don't know that,
Very possible that the FireTV will get FireOS 5 this year....as Android5 makes a lot of sense for a media center device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree its a good possibility and choices companies made in the past is not always a clear indication they'll stay consistent. When the kindle fire hd came out for most consumers (not necessarily xda members) you had fewer choices for tablets--pay a lot for a high end iPad or galaxy OR get a nice midranges device like kfhd for considerably cheaper (or buy a really crappy generic running android). Not real competition.
For settop boxes it was even worse. But of course all of that's changed and now the bar has been raised forcing apple, and maybe soon roku, to come up with something better. I also wouldn't think it logical that we'll get kk before lollipop. I have a macbook from 2010 that didn't get the mountain lion update but since then has gotten mavericks and then Yosemite. I realize it might not be exactly the same but just a thought that its not unprecedented for a company to do that.

freezer2k said:
You don't know that,
Very possible that the FireTV will get FireOS 5 this year....as Android5 makes a lot of sense for a media center device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it could get it this year, but using the past as an indicator its not likely. Android in general makes a lot of sense to use as a media center, but the Fire TV is not a media center in Amazons eyes. Not one time has Amazon described it as a media center or even used the words media center anywhere when describimg the Fire TV. We can use it as a media center, but the Fire TV has many uses. Just because you see Android 5.0 as a better version to use as a media center does not mean Amazon is going to rush it to us. Android 4.4 would aslo be better for the Fire TV, but Amazon has not even gave us that yet. Don't get mad just because you can't face facts. It is extremy clear that Amazon sets a pecking order for their devices and the Fire TV is at the bottom of the pecking order in terms of upgrades. Fire Tablet, running KitKat for 8 months, Fire Phone, running KitKat for 2 months, Fire TV, still stuck with Jellybean. That should tell you something. Look at how many updates we have gotten for the Fire TV and not one time has Amazon mentioned upgrading to KitKat, but they did release statemnts saying when KitKat was coming to the Fire Tablet and Fire Phone, which was vague, but they still released statements saying KitKat was coming to those devices. Amazon has been beyond great at giving us firmware updates for the Fire TV, but not so great when it comes to Android verson upgrades.
Based on the fire TV still running Android 4.2.2 it is not likely that it will be running Android 5.0 by the end of this year. Do you not realize that the Fire Tablet has been running KitKat for 8 months and Amazon still has not even upgraded the Fire TV to KitKat? Not only that, but Amazon released a statement saying in September of last year saying the Fire Phone would be getting KitKat early 2015 and it did not come for another 7 months. Like a wise man once said, if you wanna know whats going to happen in the future look at the past. Companies are creatures of habit just like peeople are, and you should always look at hhow they done things in th past to predict the future. I would love to be wrong about this, but based on the Fire TV not even being upgraded to Android 4.4 yet I do not see them giving us Android 5.0 anytime soon.

KLit75 said:
I agree its a good possibility and choices companies made in the past is not always a clear indication they'll stay consistent. When the kindle fire hd came out for most consumers (not necessarily xda members) you had fewer choices for tablets--pay a lot for a high end iPad or galaxy OR get a nice midranges device like kfhd for considerably cheaper (or buy a really crappy generic running android). Not real competition.
For settop boxes it was even worse. But of course all of that's changed and now the bar has been raised forcing apple, and maybe soon roku, to come up with something better. I also wouldn't think it logical that we'll get kk before lollipop. I have a macbook from 2010 that didn't get the mountain lion update but since then has gotten mavericks and then Yosemite. I realize it might not be exactly the same but just a thought that its not unprecedented for a company to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a nice response. Thanks KLit75!!

porkenhimer said:
Look at it like this, the Fire Tabets have been running KitKat for 8 months while the Fire TV is running Jellybean, so if it has been this long and the Fire TV still has not been upgraded to KitKat, how long do you think it will take to upgrade the Fire TV to Lollipop after the Fire Tablets gets upgraded to it? I'll answer for you, around a year after the Fire Tablet gets Fire OS 5 the Fire TV will get it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good points. The Fire TV is overdue an update., and they were smart to go straight to L rather than waste time on K. I also agree now that M is starting to doing the rounds, and given that L seems to be more like Lemon than Lollipop, it would be even smarter to skip it as well.
Amazon knows what it's doing.

Claude Koch;61479374
Amazon knows what it's doing.[/QUOTE said:
That quote is open to all sorts of interpretation. For over a year i thought they were fully aware of what kodi was and how a decent population of the users were buying aftv because of the fact that it could run kodi. But given recent events, I think I was dead wrong about that.
Companies like this, it appears, will combat piracy (blindly at times) but not necessarily armed with the best intel. With that in mind, whats the argument for not upgrading the os?
I think you need to find who is their main competition...and i see at least 2 of those competitors running lollipop.
That being said, amazon might not look at that as a selling point since fire os is quite a bit different than what google, nvidia, and razor uses. However, i think that argument is weak because they are in fact actively looking to upgrade. ***One more point-apple tv i think is running its own version of ios8 so theres an example of a competitor updating the os and really not changing much in the grand scheme.
In terms of history, i could state many cases occurring daily that show repetitive patterns. But corporations are a little different. Its true amazon and other large companies dont usually lose money in the long run. But how they keep profits soaring sometimes defies common sense to the average person because we arent privy to everything that happens there. I always tell people (outside of xda) that if you truly seek honesty in the media, you should read the business press. Sometimes it feels like they have their own secret club and its funny. The vast majority of americans dont look there even when they have a personal interest in the subject. My point is you might do well to study history as a means to predict whats coming. But a lot of history is well hidden. Its a very open society in terms of information available but finding that info really is a discipline that needs to be practiced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

KLit75 said:
For over a year i thought they were fully aware of what kodi was and how a decent population of the users were buying aftv because of the fact that it could run kodi. But given recent events, I think I was dead wrong about that.
Companies like this, it appears, will combat piracy (blindly at times) but not necessarily armed with the best intel. With that in mind, whats the argument for not upgrading the os?
I think you need to find who is their main competition...and i see at least 2 of those competitors running lollipop.
That being said, amazon might not look at that as a selling point since fire os is quite a bit different than what google, nvidia, and razor uses. However, i think that argument is weak because they are in fact actively looking to upgrade. ***One more point-apple tv i think is running its own version of ios8 so theres an example of a competitor updating the os and really not changing much in the grand scheme.
In terms of history, i could state many cases occurring daily that show repetitive patterns. But corporations are a little different. Its true amazon and other large companies dont usually lose money in the long run. But how they keep profits soaring sometimes defies common sense to the average person because we arent privy to everything that happens there. I always tell people (outside of xda) that if you truly seek honesty in the media, you should read the business press. Sometimes it feels like they have their own secret club and its funny. The vast majority of americans dont look there even when they have a personal interest in the subject. My point is you might do well to study history as a means to predict whats coming. But a lot of history is well hidden. Its a very open society in terms of information available but finding that info really is a discipline that needs to be practiced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can we keep this thread about Fire OS 5, please.

How did Kodi and piracy get brought into this?
Going to Android 5 makes a lot of sense for the Fire TV. For that matter, going to an Amazon'd version of Android TV makes a lot of sense. Let FTV take advantage of all the AndroidTV updates, lean-back compatible apps, live tv features...

Don't forget hopefully adding the latest Qualcomm drivers for fixing a large number of issues seen in the current ancient [email protected] ones on FireTV.
Applying the latest drivers ([email protected] or [email protected]/95) would cause a massive performance boost,killing all of the lag an many instances.
I am curious how Goat Simulator would run on the latest drivers.
It runs surprisingly well already considering how old the drivers are.

Claude Koch said:
Can we keep this thread about Fire OS 5, please.
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Making an argument/speculating as to how a company decides whether to upgrade the os is what i was attempting. If we dont do that (or something along those lines) Im not really sure where this thread goes, other than "well i hope we get lollipop." And "yeah me too."
The kodi/piracy thing was just a little insight on the thought pattern, or lack there of, of a large business. As many of you know, these meetings are done privately and so are the decisions. To me it fits, but i really have no desire to turn this into yet another war of a ridiculous amount of words so i respect your request. And will stop.
Sorry for the admittedly long post. I dont think it was as off topic as some people believe but it could've been more concise. Also, maybe not appropriate post for a tech website.

Thanks Obama.
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captainjapan said:
Thanks Obama.
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Yes. Because if youre "informed" you know hes such an enemy of large companies, such as amazon, that his political rivals agree (probably for the 1st time) he should be given fast track authority for reasons i vaguely referenced in my prior posts.
I wont preach or resort to name calling (which if you really knew me youd know id consider your last comment to be just that.)
Lets just keep it light. I hope aftv gets lollipop and when they do it wont matter to me
who's president. Not that it really mattered to me before.
One of the reasons i liked xda was because it was almost completely non-political. But for the past year ive listened to users complain about amazon's "controlled ecosystem". I guess i didnt think it was inappropriate to examine the root causes just a tiny bit. I was wrong. And to be honest Im happy to be wrong.

Wow.... I'll be honest I was just throwing a random "thanks obama" out there....

captainjapan said:
Wow.... I'll be honest I was just throwing a random "thanks obama" out there....
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Yeah. Sorry man. It was a knee jerk reaction and once again off topic. And i actually thought about it afterwards that you didnt even quote me so...yeah. What can i say but i need to lighten up and lay off the caffeine. My apologies to @captainjapan.

Since we are already waaay of topic, let me bring it semi-sorta-kinda back on topic. Any good comparisons to the other AndroidTV L based players? Things that Nexus/Razer/nVidia boxes do that FireTV has issues with but would be helped by going to Android 5? App compatibility for sure, but what else? Any clue if going to L really means going to AndroidTV under the covers?

My fire TV is rooted on an ancient firmware but bootloader locked and I'm very pleased with performance and stuff with what I do with it. I use apps for USB support, I use kodi which works wonderfully well and I use live TV apps that are excellent.
What are advantages of android TV over the current amazonified jellybean? To you people?
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