Sony have blocked the install of Kodi on Android TV

how.gareth

UrbanFret wrote: »

Do You know had you Firmware updates enabled or disabled?

No it hadn’t updated in the previous six months

how.gareth

Suckit wrote: »

There already are plenty. Better too.

Cool what are they? I’d be interested

Picked up a Sony Android TV for black Friday. At first I wasn't really concerned what OS it ran and previously I ran a Chromebox with KodiBuntu but being able to install Kodi on the TV itself proved very handy.

At the moment I can still launch it so maybe they haven't pushed out the change globally. I've turned off automatic software updates in the chance it may slow the chance of getting affected.

Looking at the Kodi forum it seems they are blocking the Kodi PACKAGE_ID, so working around it shouldn't be too hard as this can be changed. Failing that I'll hook up my KodiBunto box and forget about the android OS.

Suckit

how.gareth wrote: »

Cool what are they? I’d be interested

I suppose Formuler would be the biggest.
Then there BuzzTV, iPremium/Avov, ftatronix.com ship those here.
Xtreamz not so well known, and there are a ton of Chinese and German boxes too.

Hurrache

The high horse brigade wrote: »

All smart TVs are crap, it's a marketing gimmick. You will always get a much better experience from a separate box or dongle

That's not true at all.

McMurphy

Hurrache wrote: »

That's not true at all.

It certainly is in my experience.

The high horse brigade

Hurrache wrote: »

That's not true at all.

It is true for several reasons already mentioned:
1 the hardware is weak when compared to the experience you get on even a 50 quid fire stick
2 you are at the mercy of the TV manufacturer for updates with them having the ability to block whatever they like as we are seeing here.

Hurrache

You may have mentioned reasons, but they're invalid. You're comparing a firestick with what you're imagining incorrectly is a standard Smart TV. I've a media server in the house and 2 Smart TVs and a dumb one, 2 different OS. The media server hasn't been used in months other than to back files up.

Even when it was used, the TVs could run the client software anyway without the need for a firestick or the likes, there's simply no need for one.

To say Smart TVs are crap and a gimmick does not stand any sort of scrutiny.

Cockford Ollie

Especially Android TVs. Even if Sony left it at version 7, apps would be updated and available for it for years.

The high horse brigade

Hurrache wrote: »

You may have mentioned reasons, but they're invalid. You're comparing a firestick with what you're imagining incorrectly is a standard Smart TV. I've a media server in the house and 2 Smart TVs and a dumb one, 2 different OS. The media server hasn't been used in months other than to back files up.

Even when it was used, the TVs could run the client software anyway without the need for a firestick or the likes, there's simply no need for one.

To say Smart TVs are crap and a gimmick does not stand any sort of scrutiny.

I do believe there is a certain type of person needs a smart TV (my brother is one), but to say the experience is just as good as a dedicated box is not true. Convenient yes, just as good no.

I've an Emby server with a 90TB library I share with family and friends. I've got several users using various different smart TV's, Sony, Lg and Samsung. The apps on ALL smart TVs are painful to browse through the library when compared to the experience from a Fire Stick or MiBox. They are so slow they are constantly buffering and freezing with any high bitrate content.
The app on the LG is stuck on an older version of Emby because LG refuse to allow it to update.
I'm at the stage now where I refuse any support unless they buy an addon box for the better experience it brings.

They are all much the same for Youtube/Netflix, pretty slow to browse through the library of images, slow to start a stream, not a great experience at all. And just to note none of these are using wireless

ED E

Mr E wrote: »

??

I understand what you're saying about Sony, but what did Nintendo ever do to you?

Not me personally but how they treat youtubers and the like.

Hurrache

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Convenient yes, just as good no.

So they do what the people want them to do, so are neither gimmicky or crap.

The high horse brigade wrote: »

They are all much the same for Youtube/Netflix, pretty slow to browse through the library of images, slow to start a stream, not a great experience at all. And just to note none of these are using wireless

Both mine are on wireless, one from 2016, the other from 2018, stream instantly and there's never any pause for thumbnails.

A decent Smart TV will negate the need for a Firestick and the likes.

The high horse brigade

Sony Says it Will ‘Fix’ Kodi Problem in Next Update

https://torrentfreak.com/sony-says-it-will-fix-kodi-problem-in-next-update/

The high horse brigade

Hurrache wrote: »

Both mine are on wireless, one from 2016, the other from 2018, stream instantly and there's never any pause for thumbnails.

I'd like to know the make and model of these you recommend

Cockford Ollie

The high horse brigade wrote: »

I'd like to know the make and model of these you recommend

A fast Sony Android TV is the newest one, the AF9.

I have an AF8 which is sluggish, compared to a Shield, but fast compared to a pre Android TV Sony from 2015.

One thing about TVs playing the content is 5.1/7.1 audio getting out to your Amp. Most will only allow compressed audio over ARC. The AF9 has eARC which allows uncompressed 5.1/7.1

Stoner

the_syco wrote:

What happened the other Sony Android TV?

Upgraded to OLED, gave the older one to my godchild

Stoner

Cockford Ollie wrote:

A fast Sony Android TV is the newest one, the AF9.

I've this model. Thought the AF8 was ok too.

I'm not sure if some of the comments here are from users who've used Android TV and get that the apps are updated.

My Android TVs got great updates. With significant feature improvements.


I did not get that with other Smart TVs. I always bought boxes

sweetie

Have sony also done something to disable dns changes? Can't seem to get smartdns to work on my new Bravia kdxf8096

coldfire1x

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/01/10/whoops-sony-blocking-kodi-on-its-android-tvs-was-an-accident/

It was an accident.

The high horse brigade

coldfire1x wrote: »

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/01/10/whoops-sony-blocking-kodi-on-its-android-tvs-was-an-accident/

It was an accident.

Ahem, yeah right. Due to the way it was being blocked and bypassed this was never an accident.

UrbanFret

Custom firmware released for the infomir Mags, Works perfectly and beats the block!

how.gareth

UrbanFret wrote: »

Custom firmware released for the infomir Mags, Works perfectly and beats the block!

Downloaded automatically from their site?

UrbanFret

how.gareth wrote: »

Downloaded automatically from their site?

Infomir hardly going to release it.


Whats This?

how.gareth

UrbanFret wrote: »

Infomir hardly going to release it.


Whats This?

Sorry yeah that was a silly thing to say!
Cheers I’ll take a look, easy to do?

UrbanFret

how.gareth wrote: »

Sorry yeah that was a silly thing to say!
Cheers I’ll take a look, easy to do?

Yes put the relevant file on a usb sick and update it through the bootmenu. Turn box on.and press button with 3 lines on it centre left of remote below home button to access this menu. If unsure theres some tutorials on youtube.

how.gareth

UrbanFret wrote: »

Yes put the relevant file on a usb sick and update it through the bootmenu. Turn box on.and press button with 3 lines on it centre left of remote below home button to access this menu. If unsure theres some tutorials on youtube.

Brilliant much appreciated

UrbanFret

(Guide to flashing mag USB Method)

1)Download custom firmware
2) Connect your USB stick (use 4gb or smaller) to computer and format file system to FAT32, copy the correct image file for your mag onto the root of the USB Drive
3) On the USB drive you should now have the directory MAG250/254 this contains two files image update and bootstrap
4) Enter The MAG BIOS
(How to enter the BIOS setup (bootloader menu) MAG-250/254?)
a) Power off the MAG250/254.
b) Press and hold the «menu» button on the remote (This is the button Centre left of remote 3 parallel lines below the home button)
c) Without releasing the «menu» button Power on the MAG-250/254.
you should now be in the BIOS menu.
5) Select “Upgrade Tools”, press ok on the remote control
6) Select “USB Bootstrap”
7) Connect the USB flash drive( to rear port if available) and click OK to confirm the beginning of the update process
8) Wait for the update, STB will reboot itself.
9) You should now have the new firmware on the box.

(You can check you have the new firmware version from the inner portal under device info)

The high horse brigade

Mag box support should have it's own thread

UrbanFret

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Mag box support should have it's own thread

Well this happens to be were we have been discussing it. If you're a mod im sure you can move the posts referencing the mags.

how.gareth

The high horse brigade wrote: »

Mag box support should have it's own thread

Yep sorry I kinda dragged it off course but thought your thread was dead anyway? Like they haven’t blocked kodi so problem solved I think