Amazon Fire TV Stick

[Trem]

The Fire TV Stick is available for Amazon Prime members for £19 rather than £35 if you pre order within the next couple of days.

It has some impressive specs and of course Kodi (XBMC) can be installed on it if you so wish. Thanks to @leggy for pointing that out to me (for the Fire TV)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=596475807&pf_rd_i=468294

 

[Deebs]

Pre-ordered. Roll on April 15th.

 

[Tilda]

How does it compare to Chromecast? Or the Google tv puck thing that is also newly avaliable for preorder?

 

[Trem]

How does it compare to Chromecast? Or the Google tv puck thing that is also newly avaliable for preorder?

Dunno mate, don't care for £19 but if you scroll down the page in the link I put in the first post there is a comparison against the Chromecast. I think the Fire Stick has at least double everything that the Chromecast has.

@Deebs - http://kodi.wiki/view/Amazon_Fire_TV_Stick

 

[Deebs]

Dunno mate but don't care for £19 but if you scroll downn the page in the link I put in the first post there is a comparison against the Chromecast. I think the Fire Stick has double everything that the Chromecast has.

@Deebs - http://kodi.wiki/view/Amazon_Fire_TV_Stick

Snap, 19 quid for a nice little toy. Roll on April 15th. Thanks for the link, will look at that later

 

[Tilda]

Fair enough @Deebs I already have a Chromecast and bought my parents a Fire TV when they launched because it could plug into an ethernet cable. This helped in their house as their wifi sucks in the lounge but they have a cable wired in.
The disadvantage of the Fire stuff afaik is that things like Plex you have to open the TV app, run plex, and then it works. What I love about the chromcast and plex is I can literally initiate everything from within the Plex android app.

 

[leggy]

Thanks for the headsup @Trem .. Just pre-ordered (tried to get 2 for myself but was limited to 1 ).

 

[Trem]

Thanks for the headsup @Trem .. Just pre-ordered (tried to get 2 for myself but was limited to 1 ).

Its why I tagged you in this thread chum

 

[leggy]

Fair enough @Deebs I already have a Chromecast and bought my parents a Fire TV when they launched because it could plug into an ethernet cable. This helped in their house as their wifi sucks in the lounge but they have a cable wired in.
The disadvantage of the Fire stuff afaik is that things like Plex you have to open the TV app, run plex, and then it works. What I love about the chromcast and plex is I can literally initiate everything from within the Plex android app.

I don't have to open the tv app. First boot of my fire TV and I can control plex from the mobile app.

 

[DaGaffer]

What's the file format support like? I used to run Plex directly off my Samsung telly, which was fine, but the menus and launching was always really slow, so I bought a Roku 3. Super quick, but then I find it just won't play certain MKVs, whereas the Samsung may be slow, but pretty much plays anything. Fire TV isn't that useful for me in Ireland, but its cheap enough to make it worth buying just for Plex, if it supports all formats. (NB. Before you mention transcoding, my NAS is a Synology with an ARM chip, so it won't do it).

 

[leggy]

What's the file format support like? I used to run Plex directly off my Samsung telly, which was fine, but the menus and launching was always really slow, so I bought a Roku 3. Super quick, but then I find it just won't play certain MKVs, whereas the Samsung may be slow, but pretty much plays anything. Fire TV isn't that useful for me in Ireland, but its cheap enough to make it worth buying just for Plex, if it supports all formats. (NB. Before you mention transcoding, my NAS is a Synology with an ARM chip, so it won't do it).

I've never had a problem with any mkv ive thrown at my fire tv. The only issue I have is with muxed subtitles. It forces plex to transcode the video in most cases. However you can set the plex app to use any video player and once I'd set it to use Kodi, I've never had a problem.

 

[Deebs]

I only ever use Kodi with SMB share to each of my NAS so not sure what Plex support is like.

 

[Trem]

Same as Deebs, Plex is not an issue to me because I won't touch it with a barge pole. Kodi (XBMC) all the way.

Edit - Yes I know I get boring banging on about Plex but I have never had any joy with it whereas with XBMC I have only ever had love. I just cannot see the attraction with Plex and perhaps if I moan long enough more people will try the totally free Kodi (yes I know Plex can be had for free but for the full package you have to pay, likewise for the Android offering). I initially got the Fire TV as a Smart box thingy for the front room which is what it was then leggy pointed out that Kodi could be put on it and I was over joyed. Hence why I immediately bought the Fire TV Stick yesterday.

 

[Deebs]

What can I say? Totally impressed by the Amazon Fire TV Stick, so I ordered the Amazon Fire TV as well, stick is now upstairs and the Fire is sat under the tv in the lounge replacing my HTPC. Gotta say the remote is simple yet brilliant.

Of course Kodi 14.2 is running without any issue streaming all my stuff from the NAS with no delay to start.

How is everyone else getting on with theirs?

 

[Trem]

I fucked up thinking Kodi could be put on the stick with any ease, it needs some skilled soldering which I can't do. There will be an easier way in time though, unless there already is and I've missed something?

They are very good and very smooth and fast and a bargain if bought at the right time

 

[Deebs]

@Trem my friend there is, I suspect you hit the same problem as me and used a program to try and sideload the apk and just looped?

Anyway, download the following and within 5 minutes Kodi will be running on your stick: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2736774

Let me know how you get on.

 

[Trem]

@Trem my friend there is, I suspect you hit the same problem as me and used a program to try and sideload the apk and just looped?

Anyway, download the following and within 5 minutes Kodi will be running on your stick: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2736774

Let me know how you get on.

Brilliant, thanks for that @Deebs but I cannot find any bloody tutorial anywhere on how to use the program. Any pointers or links on how to do it chum? I don't want to go steaming in using the memories I have of when I did the AFTV because it will end in tears.

 

[Deebs]

Steps I did:

• Download Helix 14.2 ARM apk http://mirrors.kodi.tv/releases/android/arm/kodi-14.2-Helix-armeabi-v7a.apk
• Ensure that on AFTV adb settings are on and install apps from unknown sources, System-> Developer options
• Make sure you have the IP address of the AFTV
• Start Amazon FireTV utility app
• Goto File-> Settings and put the IP address in the top box along with a name, make sure you click the radio button next to it. Also click the radio button for normal debug mode, click save and close.
• Click File->Connect and at the bottom of the app it should say connected to <name>(IP address)
• On the app screen click the select button next to uninstall 3rd party app, make sure you select the apk file for Kodi you downloaded in first step
• Above where the filename is make sure it says Sideload and install APK file (it is a dropdown)
• Click sideload 3rd party application
• A cmd prompt should open up with a title of adb install blah blah
• Wait a couple of meetings and it should say success
• On AFTV goto Settings-> Applications-> Manage installed applications, select Kodi and launch application

At the moment the home button will always take you to Amazon's launcher, to get back to Kodi just do the last step.

 

[Trem]

Thank you sweetheart I shall try shortly.

 

[caLLous]

Can you try the soldering thing first and take pictures for us?

 

[Trem]

Can you try the soldering thing first and take pictures for us?

I can solder my cock to your ear and take a picture of that if you want?

 

[Deebs]

I can solder my cock to your ear and take a picture of that if you want?

Stop fucking about and follow my instructions...

 

[Trem]

Stop fucking about and follow my instructions...

Just got to wait for the daughter to finish watching The Land Before Time

 

[Deebs]

Just got to wait for the daughter to finish watching The Land Before Time

Bloody soft Dad

 

[Trem]

Bloody soft Dad

Anythings better than Doc McStuffins mate.

 

[Deebs]

Anythings better than Doc McStuffins mate.

I am not knocking ya fella, my daughter can wrap me around her little finger and she is 21! But yeh, Land Before Time is not a bad film. Just make sure she knows Dad gets to play with the TV once the film has finished

 

[Trem]

I am not knocking ya fella, my daughter can wrap me around her little finger and she is 21! But yeh, Land Before Time is not a bad film. Just make sure she knows Dad gets to play with the TV once the film has finished

Oh god yes mate, I try to be stern with her but it never works, the same with my boy.

All done @Deebs, followed your excellent instructions and it was a doddle, I went one step further and got Kodi on the main screen so it is one click to open it rather than going through the manage installed apps process, I then changed the icon to the Kodi one. I used Llama to do that and followed the instructions here (but used Ikono instead of Classic TV) - http://sideloadfiretv.com/add-kodi-xbmc-icon-to-fire-tvs-home-screen/

My main page -

 

[Deebs]

Brilliant, not a shotgun, soldering iron or a crow insight Enjoy Kodi on your stick (ahem). I've not done the Llama bit yet, cba. All is working fine for me but will get round to doing that tomorrow maybe.

 

[MYstIC G]

There will be an easier way in time though, unless there already is and I've missed something?

It's called Plex

 

[Deebs]

It's called Plex

There is, just follow my instructions and you will have Kodi installed on your Amazon Fire TV/stick. Christ, if @Trem can do it anyone can