4OD Android app not working - help?

BenEadir

Hi all,

Mods, apologies if this should be over on the Android forum, please feel free to move it.

I have the 4OD android App installed on an Android TV box and whilst I was able to set up my account etc via the app and I can search and select programs to view none of them actually run. All I get are error messages saying the content isn't available or suggestions to restart the device. I run a VPN through the Android box connected in the UK so I can view BBC iPlayer no problem but 4OD is getting the better of me!!

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Ben

Mr E

BenThere wrote: »

Mods, apologies if this should be over on the Android forum, please feel free to move it.

OK.

thomasj

There was an update to the android app today. Did you run the update and see would it make a difference?

BenEadir

thomasj wrote: »

There was an update to the android app today. Did you run the update and see would it make a difference?

I installed it directly from the Play Store today so it should be bang up to date but I'll check.

Ben

coldfire1x

The content is geo-blocked. Meaning - available to view only in UK. It detects your IP address then blocks the content.

There are ways around it like the use of VPN.

You may try this out to see if it works.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.hola

BenEadir

coldfire1x wrote: »

The content is geo-blocked. Meaning - available to view only in UK. It detects your IP address then blocks the content.

There are ways around it like the use of VPN.]

I'm using privateinternetaccess.com VPN which works fine for US Netflix when connected to it's US servers and BBC iPlayer when connected to the UK servers but it doesn't seem to "fool" 4OD for some reason!!

Ben

irishpancake

BenThere wrote: »

I'm using privateinternetaccess.com VPN which works fine for US Netflix when connected to it's US servers and BBC iPlayer when connected to the UK servers but it doesn't seem to "fool" 4OD for some reason!!

Ben

I am using smartydns and can get some content on 4od, but it seems to be a shyte app, just looking at reviews on the Play store, ppl not using VPN or Smart DNS have oribs too.

It just gets a 2.8 score from users.


https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.channel4.ondemand

marcbrophy

Guys, 4OD works in Ireland. No need for VPN's for the most part.

Some American shows are geo-locked to the UK. In these situations, unblock-us works for me to view the content.

But if it's any other non US shows, no VPN's are necessary.

irishpancake

marcbrophy wrote: »

Guys, 4OD works in Ireland. No need for VPN's for the most part.

Some American shows are geo-locked to the UK. In these situations, unblock-us works for me to view the content.

But if it's any other non US shows, no VPN's are necessary.

Good man, thanks, see here:

http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/faq/name/can-i-watch-4od-in-another-country/id/400288839

Can I watch 4oD in another country?

Rights agreements mean that our 4oD service is only available in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, (although C4 does not always have rights for programmes in ROI). Even if you are a citizen of the UK or ROI you cannot access the service from abroad.

There is however, one exception to this, some episodes of Unreported World are available to watch internationally and you'll find them here.

It's just a shyte app so :P

But I see you are using it, the Android App??

Did the latest update improve anything for you??

BenEadir

irishpancake wrote: »

Good man, thanks, see here:

http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/faq/name/can-i-watch-4od-in-another-country/id/400288839



It's just a shyte app so :P

But I see you are using it, the Android App??

Did the latest update improve anything for you??

I only downloaded it yesterday or the day before so it should be bang up to date but I'll double check.

Ben

marcbrophy

irishpancake wrote: »

It's just a shyte app so :P

But I see you are using it, the Android App??

Did the latest update improve anything for you??

I believe the latest update added mobile data compatibility (3g/4g), before that it was just WiFi.

No, I don't think the app is the problem at all. Well at least I've never had any trouble with it!

I think it might be the VPN or DNS service you're using

My home network uses unblock-us and I've no problem with 4OD.
It used to not work correctly about a year ago, but they have since set it up to go through a UK VPN when the *channel4.com address is used.

BenThere wrote: »

I only downloaded it yesterday or the day before so it should be bang up to date but I'll double check.

Ben

It was only updated yesterday, so you may have missed the newest version

irishpancake

marcbrophy wrote: »

I believe the latest update added mobile data compatibility (3g/4g), before that it was just WiFi.

No, I don't think the app is the problem at all. Well at least I've never had any trouble with it!

I think it might be the VPN or DNS service you're using

My home network uses unblock-us and I've no problem with 4OD.
It used to not work correctly about a year ago, but they have since set it up to go through a UK VPN when the *channel4.com address is used.



It was only updated yesterday, so you may have missed the newest version

Thanks, just tried it again there, and it seems to be streaming perfectly, on my Nexus 7 2013......

SmartyDNS is enabled, but it seems I am getting the Irish 4OD service, going on the Ads, which are annoying.

(BBC iPlayer/Media player are playing, Netflix is showing US, Hulu is perfect.)

SmartyDNS costs around $28/€21 for 12 months.....pricing here:

http://www.smartydns.com/pricing/

Also, there doesn't seem to be a streaming to Chromecast/Roku/Smart TV option, will it be supported at all do you think??

But, the streaming is perfect now anyway.

I have Ver 3.0 (4361)

marcbrophy

irishpancake wrote: »

Thanks, just tried it again there, and it seems to be streaming perfectly, on my Nexus 7 2013......

SmartyDNS is enabled, but it seems I am getting the Irish 4OD service, going on the Ads, which are annoying.

(BBC iPlayer/Media player are playing, Netflix is showing US, Hulu is perfect.)

SmartyDNS costs around $28/€21 for 12 months.....pricing here:

http://www.smartydns.com/pricing/

Also, there doesn't seem to be a streaming to Chromecast/Roku/Smart TV option, will it be supported at all do you think??

But, the streaming is perfect now anyway.

I have Ver 3.0 (4361)

Your DNS then seems to be working with 4OD. Nice one

Personally, I don't see them implementing those features in the app, it doesn't appear to be their end game.
They move pretty slow with dev on apps, much like RTE and Sky.
But if you want a feature in an app, there's never any harm letting them know that you want it!

irishpancake

marcbrophy wrote: »

Your DNS then seems to be working with 4OD. Nice one

Personally, I don't see them implementing those features in the app, it doesn't appear to be their end game.
They move pretty slow with dev on apps, much like RTE and Sky.
But if you want a feature in an app, there's never any harm letting them know that you want it!

Thanks for that.

I think you can stream this stuff from Chrome Browser Tab on a PC, using the Google Cast add on/extension, but I don't know how good this is as I don't have Chromecast, I have a LG Smart TV, which o my has BBC and C5 Player Apps.

There is a browser on the TV also, and you can stream there, but its kinda clunky.

marcbrophy

irishpancake wrote: »

Thanks for that.

I think you can stream this stuff from Chrome Browser Tab on a PC, using the Google Cast add on/extension, but I don't know how good this is as I don't have Chromecast, I have a LG Smart TV, which o my has BBC and C5 Player Apps.

There is a browser on the TV also, and you can stream there, but its kinda clunky.

You can cast 4OD from chrome on desktop alright, I've tried it. It's fine.
I have a WD Live tv box also, but no 4OD app for that unfortunately, but I have a 4OD app on the PS3 which is quite good

irishpancake

marcbrophy wrote: »

You can cast 4OD from chrome on desktop alright, I've tried it. It's fine.
I have a WD Live tv box also, but no 4OD app for that unfortunately, but I have a 4OD app on the PS3 which is quite good

thanks

Is there any other Extension or Add-on, Chrome or Firefox, which allows streaming from a W7 laptop to a DLNA enabled LG Smart TV......

that would be extremely useful.

marcbrophy

irishpancake wrote: »

thanks

Is there any other Extension or Add-on, Chrome or Firefox, which allows streaming from a W7 laptop to a Dlna enabled LG Smart TV......that would be extremely useful.

You can cast to other dnla devices besides a chromcast.
Like I can send YT vids on my laptop or mobile to a ps3 or a WD box or a LG Smart Bluray player.

I'm not certain about full screen chrome browser casting to devices other than a chromecast however. I haven't seen anything myself that does it, unfortunately.

Maybe someone will come along with a suggestion!

irishpancake

marcbrophy wrote: »

You can cast to other dnla devices besides a chromcast.
Like I can send YT vids on my laptop or mobile to a ps3 or a WD box or a LG Smart Bluray player.

I'm not certain about full screen chrome browser casting to devices other than a chromecast however. I haven't seen anything myself that does it, unfortunately.

Maybe someone will come along with a suggestion!

Not with Google cast extension, to my LG Smart, which is DNLA also....

That extension is strictly Chromecast.

I regularly cast to the TV, using Plex and other media servers.

Also using a 3rd party App, like All Cast or Bubble UPnP, from Android apps like the unmentionable SB for streaming movies and shows.

The TV has built-in YT and Netflix apps already, plus BBC iPlayer, and Demand 5....so no need to cast/stream from Android or my Laptop.

There is also another Chrome Extension/Chrome App called Vget and Vget Extension, which is designed to cast/stream/download HTML5/Flash video, but it doesn't support video streams from 4OD, saying it is unsupported flash video, probably because of DRM.

marcbrophy

Nice, I'll look into those

Ben, are you still having problems with 4od or are you good?

BenEadir

marcbrophy wrote: »

Ben, are you still having problems with 4od or are you good?

Yes, still can't play anything on 4OD. I uninstalled and reinstalled the app from the Play Store but no joy I'm afraid. When I go to play something it tells me it cannot play the content or suggests I restart the device.

I did notice on the app page on the Play Store that 4OD state the following in the description of the app "We support a wide range of devices. However, we are aware that some phones and tablets currently experience problems playing 4oD, and will address this as soon as possible."

I guess my Minix X7 is not one of the supported devices :mad:

Ben

marcbrophy

^^^
Yep, also the last item of their FAQ within the app states something similar.

That certain devices are having issue, but it's known issue at least, so can only assume a fix is in the works, hopefully

irishpancake

BenThere wrote: »

Yes, still can't play anything on 4OD. I uninstalled and reinstalled the app from the Play Store but no joy I'm afraid. When I go to play something it tells me it cannot play the content or suggests I restart the device.

I did notice on the app page on the Play Store that 4OD state the following in the description of the app "We support a wide range of devices. However, we are aware that some phones and tablets currently experience problems playing 4oD, and will address this as soon as possible."

I guess my Minix X7 is not one of the supported devices :mad:

Ben

Hi Ben, have you tried 4OD on any other Android Device, or even flashed the Minix X7 with a new ROM.......

Check out this and more, from Freak Tab:

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?13436-ROM-QUICKSHOT-V3-1-by-The-Nitro-Team-for-Minix-Neo-X7

BenEadir

irishpancake wrote: »

Hi Ben, have you tried 4OD on any other Android Device, or even flashed the Minix X7 with a new ROM.......

Check out this and more, from Freak Tab:

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?13436-ROM-QUICKSHOT-V3-1-by-The-Nitro-Team-for-Minix-Neo-X7

Hey IP, hows trix?

I loaded 4OD onto my Samsung Note 2 and same craic, can't play content etc etc. :mad:

Thanks for the link to the Quickshot ROM for the X7. I'm currently running the official Minix FW10 1080p ROM which is working perfectly and as the X7 is relatively new I'm a bit reluctant to start messing about with custom ROM's but then again I said that about every single Android phone/box I've ever had and without exception they all got "upgraded" fairly soon after buying them!!

Ben

BenEadir

irishpancake wrote: »

Hi Ben, have you ...... flashed the Minix X7 with a new ROM.......

Check out this and more, from Freak Tab:

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?13436-ROM-QUICKSHOT-V3-1-by-The-Nitro-Team-for-Minix-Neo-X7

IP,

There seems to be three customs ROMS for the X7,

1 - Finless
2 - Quickshot
3 - Wasser

I spent the last 30 minutes trying to figure out the difference between them and for the life of me I can't. Wassers seems to be a tweaked version of the official Minix FW10 and both Quickshot and Finless are completely custom.

Do you know what the Pro's and Con's of each are? It looks like Quickshot might have a bigger following which I guess indicates it is the better one but popularity does not always = best.

Ben

irishpancake

BenThere wrote: »

IP,

There seems to be three customs ROMS for the X7,

1 - Finless
2 - Quickshot
3 - Wasser

I spent the last 30 minutes trying to figure out the difference between them and for the life of me I can't. Wassers seems to be a tweaked version of the official Minix FW10 and both Quickshot and Finless are completely custom.

Do you know what the Pro's and Con's of each are? It looks like Quickshot might have a bigger following which I guess indicates it is the better one but popularity does not always = best.

Ben

I honestly couldn't say Ben, I don't have a TV Box, Smart TV me.....

Sorry

corks finest

BenThere wrote: »

Hi all,

Mods, apologies if this should be over on the Android forum, please feel free to move it.

I have the 4OD android App installed on an Android TV box and whilst I was able to set up my account etc via the app and I can search and select programs to view none of them actually run. All I get are error messages saying the content isn't available or suggestions to restart the device. I run a VPN through the Android box connected in the UK so I can view BBC iPlayer no problem but 4OD is getting the better of me!!

I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Ben

hi,what i did was,look up estate agent in an area of derry city i knew,got the exact post code,and address,and downloaded app again,//////still running

corks finest

marcbrophy wrote: »

Guys, 4OD works in Ireland. No need for VPN's for the most part.

Some American shows are geo-locked to the UK. In these situations, unblock-us works for me to view the content.

But if it's any other non US shows, no VPN's are necessary.

untrue, tried to run it on my humax box,but its geo blocked,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,all of it,but have it on phone no prob,but had to go to the trouble of using a derry city address,and postalcode for same address,no prob,but still geo blocked on the humax:(

marcbrophy

corks finest wrote: »

untrue, tried to run it on my humax box,but its geo blocked,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,all of it,but have it on phone no prob,but had to go to the trouble of using a derry city address,and postalcode for same address,no prob,but still geo blocked on the humax:(

Yes, I'm lying and so are Channel 4 themselves :eek:

http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/faq/name/can-i-watch-4od-in-another-country/id/400288839

The Humax box is a device designed for freeview in the UK, it's this device that's geoblocked, not 4oD.
Use on a computer, tablet or smartphone and you'll have no trouble accessing 4oD in Ireland

_Whimsical_

4od on desktop will no longer work if you have ad blocking. Could there be a similar issue with the android app and others?

Ste-

On my nexus 5 I can run 4od with adaway. Works on my nexus 7 too but not on my transformer prime or my android stick CX919.

marcbrophy

_Whimsical_ wrote: »

4od on desktop will no longer work if you have ad blocking. Could there be a similar issue with the android app and others?

Here's a little tip I read the other day, stopped me from pulling my hair out, might help you too

If you're using Adblock Plus on desktop, "disable on this site" to get the video to play without the blocker message. You'll have to sit through the opening ads, but just mute it to preserve sanity. Then when the main program starts up, re-enable ABP and you won't have any of the commercial break ads show up during the show

BenEadir

Ste- wrote: »

On my nexus 5 I can run 4od with adaway. Works on my nexus 7 too but not on my transformer prime or my android stick CX919.

I tried everything from uninstalling and reinstalling with a fresh account using a UK post code and address to running a VPN and even a smart DNS service like unblock-us but none of them resulted in a working app on my Minix X7 media box. I'm thinking the issue is with these "Chinese"/"rooted" media boxes. If 4OD is on a rooted device or a non standard Android device perhaps it just won't play?

I can get it to play on my Samsung Note 2 which is running a stock Rom and isn't rooted no problem.

Ben

Ste-

All my devices are rooted so that doesn't matter. My suspicion is either it reads build.prop or works out the resolution for their "seelcted" devices.

If you're really stuck then the 4od add-on for xbmc afaik is back up and running.

BenEadir

Ste- wrote: »

If you're really stuck then the 4od add-on for xbmc afaik is back up and running.

Cheers, I'll try that.

Ste-

Just checked and that plug in no longer works. So it's back to using the website.

corks finest

marcbrophy wrote: »

Here's a little tip I read the other day, stopped me from pulling my hair out, might help you too

If you're using Adblock Plus on desktop, "disable on this site" to get the video to play without the blocker message. You'll have to sit through the opening ads, but just mute it to preserve sanity. Then when the main program starts up, re-enable ABP and you won't have any of the commercial break ads show up during the show

nice one

corks finest

marcbrophy wrote: »

Yes, I'm lying and so are Channel 4 themselves :eek:

http://www.channel4.com/4viewers/faq/name/can-i-watch-4od-in-another-country/id/400288839

The Humax box is a device designed for freeview in the UK, it's this device that's geoblocked, not 4oD.
Use on a computer, tablet or smartphone and you'll have no trouble accessing 4oD in Ireland

didnt mean to imply ,you were lying,,,,,,,,,,,mistake

marcbrophy

corks finest wrote: »

didnt mean to imply ,you were lying,,,,,,,,,,,mistake

Oh I know, I was only kidding in my post. Sometimes that doesn't come across with text

I was just trying to show that your set-top box is what was geo-locked, rather than 4oD itself

corks finest

marcbrophy wrote: »

Oh I know, I was only kidding in my post. Sometimes that doesn't come across with text

I was just trying to show that your set-top box is what was geo-locked, rather than 4oD itself

confusing,all:o these different set top boxes,humax is great,but not being a techhie,i expected bbc i player etc to work ,with a bit of fidgeting around ,no joy.

runswithascript

Rooted Android devices are blocked, it mentions this in the Play Store listing for 4oD.

I use Unotelly DNS and I can access it fine on a non rooted Android and on our rooted Samsung TV.

So far I have tried installing the Xprivacy Xposed framework with the modules 4oTV and Root cloak. I have also tried some root hiding apps from the play store but still receive the error 'The content is unavailable at the moment. Please try another programme' or 'Please restart the device and try again'.

If anyone gets 4oD working on rooted Android please update this thread and I will same.

corks finest

corks finest wrote: »

confusing,all:o these different set top boxes,humax is great,but not being a techhie,i expected bbc i player etc to work ,with a bit of fidgeting around ,no joy.

same here,got advised to buy an android box to get the geo blocked channels etc

Ste-

My nexus 5 & 7 both run 4od rooted.
any other device I have rooted however will not play 4od.
goes to play but it just stays on a black screen. very annoying!
haven't tried for months to get it working on these devices, root cloaking, blocking permissions adn getting it to see my device as a nexus device, still won't play ball.

corks finest

Plays on my Lumia phone,using a Derry legit postcode

corks finest

Pm me ,ill tell u how I got around it,I'm referring to 4od,not the app

runswithascript

corks finest wrote: »

same here,got advised to buy an android box to get the geo blocked channels etc

It should be made clear here, there are two different and entirely separate reasons 4oD will not work, either because the user has not set up a DNS/VPN service to make it seem like they are in the UK and get around geo-blocking, or because they are trying to run 4oD on a rooted Android device, some seem to work some do not.

What device have you been trying to use 4oD on? Have you a service set up to get around geo-blocking?

Ste- wrote: »

My nexus 5 & 7 both run 4od rooted.
any other device I have rooted however will not play 4od.
goes to play but it just stays on a black screen. very annoying!
haven't tried for months to get it working on these devices, root cloaking, blocking permissions adn getting it to see my device as a nexus device, still won't play ball.

Yes, really annoying! Our rooted Samsung Smart TV (not Android) plays 4oD fine so I feel kind of stuck with our older non-Smart TV, might end up selling and paying the extra for another Smart TV so all of the players will just work.

_Whimsical_

dusf wrote: »

It should be made clear here, there are two different and entirely separate reasons 4oD will not work, either because the user has not set up a DNS/VPN service to make it seem like they are in the UK and get around geo-blocking, or because they are trying to run 4oD on a rooted Android device, some seem to work some do not.

What device have you been trying to use 4oD on? Have you a service set up to get around geo-blocking?



Yes, really annoying! Our rooted Samsung Smart TV (not Android) plays 4oD fine so I feel kind of stuck with our older non-Smart TV, might end up selling and paying the extra for another Smart TV so all of the players will just work.

In reference to the underlined 4od plays fine in Ireland without anti-geounlocking measures, it's fully available in Ireland and the UK, location is not a reason for it not working.

4od app works perfectly for me on a rooted phone. Maybe it's a question of the apk being used ? Mine is most likely an older apk (I'm not a big updater!) .I can send someone the apk if they want to test it?
Pm me your email address if you want it, probably best one person try it and report back if it works though rather than wasting peoples time.

runswithascript

I can see from 4oDs site you are correct, 4oD is only available in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man. Decent of them to include us!

I sent you my email address. I wonder why an old APK would not force an update though, I am anxious to give this a shot.

_Whimsical_

dusf wrote: »

I can see from 4oDs site you are correct, 4oD is only available in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and Isle of Man. Decent of them to include us!

I sent you my email address. I wonder why an old APK would not force an update though, I am anxious to give this a shot.

Turns out it did not work for dusf so the apk must not be the factor at issue.

runswithascript

Thanks for your efforts _Whimsical_.

I have done much searching and although there are sparse reports of 4oD working on some devices I have only read one report of someone who initially could not use it and managed to get it working. This poster mentioned Xprivacy was the solution and I have already tried that as per my previous post. I asked for an explanation and will update here if one is received.