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[OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV

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  [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> - 2014-04-02 18:44 +0100
    Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV polygonum <rmoudndgers@vrod.co.uk> - 2014-04-02 19:55 +0100
      Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV <address_is@invalid.invalid> - 2014-04-03 05:28 +0000
        Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> - 2014-04-03 08:12 +0100
          Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV RS Wood <rswood@therandymon.com> - 2014-04-04 21:55 +0000
            Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV RS Wood <rswood@therandymon.com> - 2014-04-04 21:58 +0000
              Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV "dennis@home" <dennis@killspam.kicks-ass.net> - 2014-04-04 23:12 +0100
                Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV "Dave Liquorice" <allsortsnotthisbit@howhill.com> - 2014-04-05 16:46 +0000
            Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> - 2014-04-05 08:10 +0100
              Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2014-04-05 10:23 +0000
    Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV "dennis@home" <dennis@killspam.kicks-ass.net> - 2014-04-03 11:20 +0100
      Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk (Andrew Gabriel) - 2014-04-03 12:44 +0000
        Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV "dennis@home" <dennis@killspam.kicks-ass.net> - 2014-04-03 16:12 +0100
        Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2014-04-03 20:53 +0000
          Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> - 2014-04-06 18:58 +0000
            Re: [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV Marek Novotny <marek.novotny@hushmail.com> - 2014-04-06 14:19 -0500

#2216 — [OT for uk.d-i-y] Android version of Apple TV

Is there a really decent one that people would recommend?

My WII is getting a bit long in the tooth playing Netflix content and 
it's Youtube and iPlayer apps are a bit rubbish.

Given how well my phone works, I'd like to replace the WII with an 
Android set-top unit.

However there are *many* and I find it impossible to decide if any of 
them are actually decent and reliable.

I could be persuaded to go AppleTV if that is truly better?

What I'm after is Netflix (running through unblock-us, but I handle that 
in my local DNS server so should not be a problem), Youtube, iPlayer, 
ideally some other channels' versions of iPlayer.

Remote operation from an Android phone would be cute but not essential.

WIFI definatelt, wired network nice to have.

Cheers!

Tim

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#2218

On 02/04/2014 18:44, Tim Watts wrote:
> Is there a really decent one that people would recommend?
>
> My WII is getting a bit long in the tooth playing Netflix content and
> it's Youtube and iPlayer apps are a bit rubbish.
>
> Given how well my phone works, I'd like to replace the WII with an
> Android set-top unit.
>
> However there are *many* and I find it impossible to decide if any of
> them are actually decent and reliable.
>
> I could be persuaded to go AppleTV if that is truly better?
>
> What I'm after is Netflix (running through unblock-us, but I handle that
> in my local DNS server so should not be a problem), Youtube, iPlayer,
> ideally some other channels' versions of iPlayer.
>
> Remote operation from an Android phone would be cute but not essential.
>
> WIFI definatelt, wired network nice to have.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Tim

Want similar! Must work in conjunction with Virgin cable. If it could 
use an external drive (USB stick, SSD or real disc) to also allow 
recording, all the better. Ideally controllable from any computer - PC, 
Mac, iPad, iPhone or anything Android.

Lack of UK watch-again on Apple TV is a killer.

-- 
Rod

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#2229

polygonum <rmoudndgers@vrod.co.uk> wrote:
> On 02/04/2014 18:44, Tim Watts wrote:
>> Is there a really decent one that people would recommend?
>> 
>> My WII is getting a bit long in the tooth playing Netflix content and
>> it's Youtube and iPlayer apps are a bit rubbish.
>> 
>> Given how well my phone works, I'd like to replace the WII with an
>> Android set-top unit.
>> 
>> However there are *many* and I find it impossible to decide if any of
>> them are actually decent and reliable.
>> 
>> I could be persuaded to go AppleTV if that is truly better?
>> 
>> What I'm after is Netflix (running through unblock-us, but I handle that
>> in my local DNS server so should not be a problem), Youtube, iPlayer,
>> ideally some other channels' versions of iPlayer.
>> 
>> Remote operation from an Android phone would be cute but not essential.
>> 
>> WIFI definatelt, wired network nice to have.
>> 
>> Cheers!
>> 
>> Tim
> 
> Want similar! Must work in conjunction with Virgin cable. If it could use
> an external drive (USB stick, SSD or real disc) to also allow recording,
> all the better. Ideally controllable from any computer - PC, Mac, iPad,
> iPhone or anything Android.
> 
> Lack of UK watch-again on Apple TV is a killer.


Chromecast?  Start iplayer/YouTube/Netflix stuff on your phone then send to
the TV.  I use Bubble UPNP to send videos from my dlna nas to the TV.

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#2230

On 03/04/14 06:28, address_is@invalid.invalid wrote:

>
> Chromecast?  Start iplayer/YouTube/Netflix stuff on your phone then send to
> the TV.  I use Bubble UPNP to send videos from my dlna nas to the TV.
>

No - really needs to be stand alone.

I did consider that, but then everyone wants my phone when they want to 
watch something. Same problem with hooking up my phone via an HDMI adaptor.

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#2256

In article <j8ev0b-61o.ln1@squidward.local.dionic.net>,
 Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> wrote:

> On 03/04/14 06:28, address_is@invalid.invalid wrote:
> 
> >
> > Chromecast?  Start iplayer/YouTube/Netflix stuff on your phone then send to
> > the TV.  I use Bubble UPNP to send videos from my dlna nas to the TV.
> >
> 
> No - really needs to be stand alone.
> 
> I did consider that, but then everyone wants my phone when they want to 
> watch something. Same problem with hooking up my phone via an HDMI adaptor.

Have you looked into Roku?  Again, I'm not sure exactly what you're 
looking for, but Roku is pretty great.  I've got a NAS at home (FreeNaS 
bought from iXsystems), which offers the PlexMediaServer as a plug in.  
You put all your local content on the NAS and push it through the Roku 
to your television.  

That's all I use it for, since here in Senegal most of the good 
"channels" aren't available to me due to IP address or due to wimpy 
bandwidth.  But the Roku has a ton of channels on offer as well.  Check 
into it to see which ones you want.  Offhand I don't think the BBC 
iplayer is one of them.

I did some research before settling on the NAS+Roku with Plex solution, 
and it seems a lot of Apple TV people aren't feeling overly thrilled 
with it.

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#2257

In article 
<rswood-D69986.21553104042014@189-82-4-46.user.veloxzone.com.br>,
 RS Wood <rswood@therandymon.com> wrote:
> That's all I use it for, since here in Senegal most of the good 
> "channels" aren't available to me due to IP address or due to wimpy 
> bandwidth.  But the Roku has a ton of channels on offer as well.  Check 
> into it to see which ones you want.  Offhand I don't think the BBC 
> iplayer is one of them.

Should have checked before sending.  BBC IPlayer is one of the channels, 
so I spoke too soon.

For what it's worth, the remote is pretty cool.  Runs on two AA 
batteries, and it has a headphone jack in the side.  Insert your 
headqphones and the TV goes quiet, good for watching while someone else 
sleeps.  I'm pretty impressed.

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#2258

On 04/04/2014 22:58, RS Wood wrote:
> In article
> <rswood-D69986.21553104042014@189-82-4-46.user.veloxzone.com.br>,
>   RS Wood <rswood@therandymon.com> wrote:
>> That's all I use it for, since here in Senegal most of the good
>> "channels" aren't available to me due to IP address or due to wimpy
>> bandwidth.  But the Roku has a ton of channels on offer as well.  Check
>> into it to see which ones you want.  Offhand I don't think the BBC
>> iplayer is one of them.
>
> Should have checked before sending.  BBC IPlayer is one of the channels,
> so I spoke too soon.
>
> For what it's worth, the remote is pretty cool.  Runs on two AA
> batteries, and it has a headphone jack in the side.  Insert your
> headqphones and the TV goes quiet, good for watching while someone else
> sleeps.  I'm pretty impressed.
>

Some of the smart dvd and bluray players do net tv and iplayer and stuff 
like that.

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#2265

On Fri, 04 Apr 2014 23:12:28 +0100, dennis@home wrote:

> Some of the smart dvd and bluray players do net tv and iplayer and stuff 
> like that.

FSVO "do".  The ones I've played with have been rather basic compared
to the "real thing" on a PC. Also you'll be lucky to get more than a
couple of firmware updates from the set manufacturer before they
change models and drop support for yours after a couple of years.

-- 
Cheers
Dave.

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#2259

On 04/04/14 22:55, RS Wood wrote:
> In article <j8ev0b-61o.ln1@squidward.local.dionic.net>,
>   Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> wrote:
>
>> On 03/04/14 06:28, address_is@invalid.invalid wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Chromecast?  Start iplayer/YouTube/Netflix stuff on your phone then send to
>>> the TV.  I use Bubble UPNP to send videos from my dlna nas to the TV.
>>>
>>
>> No - really needs to be stand alone.
>>
>> I did consider that, but then everyone wants my phone when they want to
>> watch something. Same problem with hooking up my phone via an HDMI adaptor.
>
> Have you looked into Roku?

Yes - that was one that I did look at. Seemed (on paper) quite good. I 
think there was an issue of "no Netflix" once - but that's been fixed, I 
think??

> Again, I'm not sure exactly what you're
> looking for,

Apple TV in Android format would be the simplest description. Settop 
box, WIFI (and optionally wired) in, HDMI out.


> but Roku is pretty great.  I've got a NAS at home (FreeNaS
> bought from iXsystems), which offers the PlexMediaServer as a plug in.
> You put all your local content on the NAS and push it through the Roku
> to your television.
>
> That's all I use it for, since here in Senegal most of the good
> "channels" aren't available to me due to IP address or due to wimpy
> bandwidth.  But the Roku has a ton of channels on offer as well.  Check
> into it to see which ones you want.  Offhand I don't think the BBC
> iplayer is one of them.
>
> I did some research before settling on the NAS+Roku with Plex solution,
> and it seems a lot of Apple TV people aren't feeling overly thrilled
> with it.
>

Cool. Is Roko an andoid ecosystem  or does it have its own?

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#2261

Tim Watts <tw_usenet@dionic.net> Wrote in message:
>> Have you looked into Roku?
> 
> Yes - that was one that I did look at. Seemed (on paper) quite good. I 
> think there was an issue of "no Netflix" once - but that's been fixed, I 
> think??
>>
> 
> Cool. Is Roko an andoid ecosystem  or does it have its own?


Netflix is definitely on there.  They even struck a deal with Roku
 to get a dedicated button on the remote, which is annoying to
 those of us that don't have or want Netflix.  

Roku isn't Android (well, maybe it is, but it's definitely a black
 box the way TiVO was - you're not supposed to know about what's
 on the interior).  You can only install channels through the Roku
 store, and there are no channels other than the equivalent of
 television networks.  Not hard to see where they're going with
 their business model.

I thought of an alternative, though.  If what you want is really
 Android, you should buy one of those cheap android sticks sold
 everywhere now.  They run about US$45 and include wireless and
 HDMI video/audio.  You stick it on your TV, connect it to your
 wireless router, and you've got an Android box you can do
 whatever you want with - calendar/email apps, whatever.  Then for
 streaming local media you buy the Plex app or DNLS, and for stuff
 like BBC you use their own apps.  The only part of the equation
 I'm not familiar with is the remote control.  Google it and
 you'll find people who have solved this problem with bluetooth
 keyboard/remotes etc.  But since I didn't take this route I don't
 have enough experience with the solution to be able to recommend
 anything. 

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#2232

On 02/04/2014 18:44, Tim Watts wrote:
> Is there a really decent one that people would recommend?
>
> My WII is getting a bit long in the tooth playing Netflix content and
> it's Youtube and iPlayer apps are a bit rubbish.
>
> Given how well my phone works, I'd like to replace the WII with an
> Android set-top unit.
>
> However there are *many* and I find it impossible to decide if any of
> them are actually decent and reliable.
>
> I could be persuaded to go AppleTV if that is truly better?
>
> What I'm after is Netflix (running through unblock-us, but I handle that
> in my local DNS server so should not be a problem), Youtube, iPlayer,
> ideally some other channels' versions of iPlayer.
>
> Remote operation from an Android phone would be cute but not essential.
>
> WIFI definatelt, wired network nice to have.
>
> Cheers!
>
> Tim

XBMC on a RPi myself.
Controlled over the network from my android phone.

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#2235

In article <533d35d9$0$17204$c3e8da3$dd9697d2@news.astraweb.com>,
	"dennis@home" <dennis@killspam.kicks-ass.net> writes:
> On 02/04/2014 18:44, Tim Watts wrote:
>> Is there a really decent one that people would recommend?
>>
>> My WII is getting a bit long in the tooth playing Netflix content and
>> it's Youtube and iPlayer apps are a bit rubbish.
>>
>> Given how well my phone works, I'd like to replace the WII with an
>> Android set-top unit.
>>
>> However there are *many* and I find it impossible to decide if any of
>> them are actually decent and reliable.
>>
>> I could be persuaded to go AppleTV if that is truly better?
>>
>> What I'm after is Netflix (running through unblock-us, but I handle that
>> in my local DNS server so should not be a problem), Youtube, iPlayer,
>> ideally some other channels' versions of iPlayer.
>>
>> Remote operation from an Android phone would be cute but not essential.
>>
>> WIFI definatelt, wired network nice to have.
>>
>> Cheers!
>>
>> Tim
> 
> XBMC on a RPi myself.
> Controlled over the network from my android phone.

I think OpenELEC is a pre-canned distribution of this.

-- 
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

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#2237

On 03/04/2014 13:44, Andrew Gabriel wrote:

>> XBMC on a RPi myself.
>> Controlled over the network from my android phone.
>
> I think OpenELEC is a pre-canned distribution of this.
>

Yes, there are two different ones on the RPi official site, I have tried 
them both but there isn't much between them.

There is an android app to control them or you can use a web browser if 
you enable them.

You get sound over HDMI if that's any help.

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#2243

On 2014-04-03, Andrew Gabriel <andrew@cucumber.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <533d35d9$0$17204$c3e8da3$dd9697d2@news.astraweb.com>,
> 	"dennis@home" <dennis@killspam.kicks-ass.net> writes:
>> On 02/04/2014 18:44, Tim Watts wrote:
>>> Is there a really decent one that people would recommend?  My WII is
>>> getting a bit long in the tooth playing Netflix content and it's
>>> Youtube and iPlayer apps are a bit rubbish.  Given how well my phone
>>> works, I'd like to replace the WII with an Android set-top unit.
>>> However there are *many* and I find it impossible to decide if any
>>> of them are actually decent and reliable.  I could be persuaded to
>>> go AppleTV if that is truly better?  What I'm after is Netflix
>>> (running through unblock-us, but I handle that in my local DNS
>>> server so should not be a problem), Youtube, iPlayer, ideally some
>>> other channels' versions of iPlayer.  Remote operation from an
>>> Android phone would be cute but not essential.  WIFI definatelt,
>>> wired network nice to have.  Cheers!  Tim
>> 
>> XBMC on a RPi myself.
>> Controlled over the network from my android phone.
>
> I think OpenELEC is a pre-canned distribution of this.
>

Still thinking about your use case, but by coincidence, here's a new
device from Amazon that clearly hopes to compete:

Feed: The Register
Title: Amazon sets FIRE to your living room in bid to shake up TV
streaming
Author: Iain Thomson
Link:
http://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.co.uk/2014/04/02/bezos_want
s_to_set_fire_to_your_living_room_in_settopbox_shakeup/
Date: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:02:07 -0400

Promises $99 Apple-crushing gaming and media console

After months of speculation, Amazon has finally released a $99 set-top
box that'll tout TV programs, music, and games to subscribers.…

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#2276

Amazingly, this just hit OSNews:  AndroidTV.

Feed: OSNews
Title: This is Android TV
Author: Thom Holwerda
Link: http://osnews.com/story/27659/This_is_Android_TV
Date: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 15:53:13 -0400
   
According to documents obtained exclusively by The Verge, Google is
about to launch a renewed assault on your television set called Android
TV. Major video app providers are building for the platform right now.
Android TV may sound like a semantic difference - after all, Google TV
was based on Android - but it's something very different. Android TV is
no longer a crazy attempt to turn your TV into a bigger, more powerful
smartphone.  "Android TV is an entertainment interface, not a computing
platform," writes Google. "It's all about finding and enjoying content
with the least amount of friction." It will be "cinematic, fun, fluid,
and fast." What does that all mean? It means that Android TV will look
and feel a lot more like the rest of the set top boxes on the market,
including Apple TV, Amazon's Fire TV, and Roku. All these devices look
the same.  It's going to be very hard to stand out if they all have the
same services. On top of that - I'm not putting a separate box next to
my TV.  Why can't my tablet or PC act as the box? This is 2014, is it
not? If you see a separate box, they blew it.

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#2281

["Followup-To:" header set to comp.misc.]
On 2014-04-06, RS Wood <rsw@therandymon.com> wrote:
> Amazingly, this just hit OSNews:  AndroidTV.
>
> Feed: OSNews
> Title: This is Android TV
> Author: Thom Holwerda
> Link: http://osnews.com/story/27659/This_is_Android_TV
> Date: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 15:53:13 -0400
>    
> According to documents obtained exclusively by The Verge, Google is
> about to launch a renewed assault on your television set called Android
> TV. Major video app providers are building for the platform right now.
> Android TV may sound like a semantic difference - after all, Google TV
> was based on Android - but it's something very different. Android TV is
> no longer a crazy attempt to turn your TV into a bigger, more powerful
> smartphone.  "Android TV is an entertainment interface, not a computing
> platform," writes Google. "It's all about finding and enjoying content
> with the least amount of friction." It will be "cinematic, fun, fluid,
> and fast." What does that all mean? It means that Android TV will look
> and feel a lot more like the rest of the set top boxes on the market,
> including Apple TV, Amazon's Fire TV, and Roku. All these devices look
> the same.  It's going to be very hard to stand out if they all have the
> same services. On top of that - I'm not putting a separate box next to
> my TV.  Why can't my tablet or PC act as the box? This is 2014, is it
> not? If you see a separate box, they blew it.

I bought the new FireTV from Amazon. I had a Roku but like this new
platform much more. Mostly because it feel responsive. The voice search
thing really works well too. But mostly it feels like a response box. 

I did a voice search for a TV show I wanted to watch and it found it
both on Hulu and Amazon and defaulted to Hulu, I'm guessing cause it was
cheaper?? Google will hit soon I'm sure, and Apple already has their
Apple TV platform, which I bought into about 3 times and still don't
like it. 

-- 
Marek Novotny
A member of the Linux Foundation
http://www.linuxfoundation.org
git with the program

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