Atv4 vs fire tv

Dev Community Apps & Creations
21

Does the ftv have theme audio using the plex client when viewing a episode list? How is it speed wise compared to the atv3? Im also interested in a video of how this running plex as well as maybe showtime anytime if you use it. Nm found a video of some of it:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPiXHTGY3SU


Once the atv4 is released, i wanna see a video comparison. Then I will figure out my next step. Looks pretty snappy so far :smiley:

22

Seems like you found your answers. My 2 cents is I really like the FireTV. It's really snappy, interface is nice, has Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, ShowTime (thought not for Comcast it seems) and Pandora. 

I do like the fact I don't need to maintain PlexConnect.

My big question is if it has IR or can I use some kind of USB IR. I need to integrate it with my Harmony remote. I just haven't checked, it's probably been answered somewhere.

If it does I see this replacing my ATV3's at my house and my mom's and selling them.

Josh

23

Seems like you found your answers. My 2 cents is I really like the FireTV. It's really snappy, interface is nice, has Amazon Prime Video, ESPN, ShowTime (thought not for Comcast it seems) and Pandora.

I do like the fact I don't need to maintain PlexConnect.

My big question is if it has IR or can I use some kind of USB IR. I need to integrate it with my Harmony remote. I just haven't checked, it's probably been answered somewhere.

If it does I see this replacing my ATV3's at my house and my mom's and selling them.

Josh

Could you still post a more extensive video accessing local library, tv shows and showtime anytime? Is there theme audio with tv shows?
24

It does play Theme Audio with TV shows. I can't access ShowTime Anytime without credentials that aren't Comcast because it doesn't support it for some reason as a provider. 

Local Library? Through Plex or through a file explorer like system? 

25

Nice! I have directv does showtime anytime work with directv? 

Plex APP - Local Library

26

Here is an article that looks at some hands on experience with the FireTV. Sounds like voice search is fairly limited (only works in Amazon apps and doesn't search free content).

http://www.macrumors.com/2014/04/04/amazon-fire-tv-reviews/

27

That’s a shame. It would be cool to search plex content with it :frowning:

28

Amazon has always been just as bad as Apple when it comes to creating a closed environment. Kindle anyone? The reason Plex is there is that they know that few people will buy a device that doesn’t let them access their own media on their home network, some way or another.

29

thanks everyone for the info.  i would def wait to see what atv4 has to offer.  

30

Found another video:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdKy3Fuv24s


I found the answer to the remote issue so far this all I have found:


You can use your Kindle Fire HDX as a remote, but nothing else yet.

31

iFixit.com tore the thing apart. I don't see any mention of IR remote capabilities in their teardown.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Amazon+Fire+TV+Teardown/23856

32

I have no interest in the Amazon Fire TV for myself, but I'm glad they made it fast. The Amazon Fire TV and the Roku provide much needed competition to the Apple TV. Hopefully, it'll light a fire under Apple's ass so that the next Apple TV will outperform the competition and finally come with an app store.

33

Hopefully, it'll light a fire under Apple's ass so that the next Apple TV will outperform the competition and finally come with an app store.

That pun was delicious.

34

Ya this is hard for me what to pick. No ir is a tough one for me. I’m gonna wait till the apple conference in June and see what the Atv4 brings then I will go from there. This will be my make it or break it for aTV at that point. Being a old home theater tech I really can’t believe they wouldn’t have ir capabilities. I mainly use a harmony link to control all my ir devices in my room. I despise multiple remotes badly. It’s really a shame because if this had ir I would probably go for it right now. I hope apple opens their eyes finally but being as the general public isn’t smart, I would assume they would just stick with the only double the memory capacity scheme and if it doesn’t come with at least a dual core by this point unlike the firetv’s quad core I might live with a extra remote. Assuming the appletv 4 only will have 1gb of memory compared to the fire tv’s 2gb capacity just doesn’t help apple either. If this thing gets rooted and gets xbmc I will probably for sure jump ship since that has vast content that I’m sure this device will be able to handle as well. Plus you can’t jailbreak apple tv3 so I would assume atv4 is going to be nothing but worse when it comes to security. Especially if there is no plex client or plexconnect capability they can take the 4 and go shove it. Nothing will beat a mac in the bedroom since it does it all but that’s a hard sale as well due to the cost. I found another pre atv4 review:

http://time.com/49323/amazon-fire-tv-vs-apple-tv-vs-roku/


Well I won’t link to it but it looks like it’s already been rooted. It’s in a early stage but wow that was fast. :smiley:

35

I found the answer to the remote issue so far this all I have found:

You can use your Kindle Fire HDX as a remote, but nothing else yet.

Actually, my flirc appears to be working when plugged into the usb port. I just need to figure out what a few things a mapped to (probably plug in a keyboard and start hitting keys) so i can add a couple of the extra button functions. So far the basic nav and select and menu are working.

36

Step 1 xbmc on fire tv:

http://www.geek.com/android/side-loading-apps-on-to-the-amazon-fire-tv-1590288/


Or

  1. Install the Android SDK onto your computer. This contains the ADB tool. I think the starting point to download and install is here: https://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/index.html
  2. Follow these instructions to connect ADB to your Amazon Fire TV: https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/asb/connect-adb.html
  3. Follow these instructions to install the XBMC app onto the Fire TV (using the ADB tool): https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/asb/app-install.html


    You can download the XBMC APK file in the standard downloads area.
    http://mirrors.xbmc.org/nightlies/android/arm/xbmc-20140331-5e9c7c5-Gotham-armeabi-v7a.apk


    Or stable
    http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/android/


    to get XBMC to show up on the launch menu couldn’t you just decompile the app and edit the manifest? android-apktool: https://code.google.com/p/android-apktool/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3PK-hT7Jvk


    Step 2 ir capability of some sort :smiley:


    Xbmc remote or plex remote via ios could work for now
flirc looks promising let me know if it works out for you thanks for the tip :smiley: (should work nicely with the harmony link ir blaster or I can hot glue a ir flasher on the flirc worst case from one of my harmony link ir output ports)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThjOmpwKgh8


    Step 3:


    Airplay (if you need it) should work with xbmc once a more stable version is released.


    Side note someone has loaded these side apps on it:


    Firefox

    Remote. Media Center TV

    ES File Explorer

    MX Player

    AirReceiver

    HBO GO
37

As posted in the other fire tv threads, hdmi cec appears to work with the fire tv so you should be able to control it using your tv remote over hdmi (or any other remote you currently have programmed to work with your tv).

38

Awesome! Thank you so much.

39

Step 1 xbmc on fire tv:

http://www.geek.com/android/side-loading-apps-on-to-the-amazon-fire-tv-1590288/

Or

1. Install the Android SDK onto your computer. This contains the ADB tool. I think the starting point to download and install is here: https://developer.android.com/sdk/installing/index.html
2. Follow these instructions to connect ADB to your Amazon Fire TV: https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/asb/connect-adb.html
3. Follow these instructions to install the XBMC app onto the Fire TV (using the ADB tool): https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/asb/app-install.html

You can download the XBMC APK file in the standard downloads area.
http://mirrors.xbmc.org/nightlies/android/arm/xbmc-20140331-5e9c7c5-Gotham-armeabi-v7a.apk

Or stable
http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/android/

to get XBMC to show up on the launch menu couldn't you just decompile the app and edit the manifest? android-apktool: https://code.google.com/p/android-apktool/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3PK-hT7Jvk

Step 2 ir capability of some sort :D

Xbmc remote or plex remote via ios could work for now......flirc looks promising let me know if it works out for you thanks for the tip :D (should work nicely with the harmony link ir blaster or I can hot glue a ir flasher on the flirc worst case from one of my harmony link ir output ports)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThjOmpwKgh8

Step 3:

Airplay (if you need it) should work with xbmc once a more stable version is released.

Side note someone has loaded these side apps on it:

Firefox
Remote. Media Center TV
ES File Explorer
MX Player
AirReceiver
HBO GO


Same deal as Vizio costar then.
40

Why doesn’t one just side load Dropbox app then have an apk folder in Dropbox.