Amazon Fire TV: Difference between revisions

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#:<code>>adb install <apk-file-name></code>
#:<code>>adb install <apk-file-name></code>
# Installation is complete when it reports the message "success"
# Installation is complete when it reports the message "success"
([b]Note:[/b] For Android you need to type in the full path.  e.g. >adb install /sdcard/Download/apk-file-name.apk)
('''Note:''' For Android you need to type in the full path.  e.g. >adb install /sdcard/Download/apk-file-name.apk)


=== Launch XBMC on the Fire TV ===
=== Launch XBMC on the Fire TV ===

Revision as of 23:08, 19 April 2014

Amazon Fire TV
Amazon Fire TV.jpg
Manufacturer Amazon.com
Released 2014-04-02 (US)
OS Fire OS 3.0 "Mojito" (Based on Android)
CPU Qualcomm Krait 300, quad-core to 1.7 Ghz
Storage 8 GB internal
RAM 2 GB RAM
Display 1080p
Graphics Qualcomm Adreno 320
Connectivity HDMI, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, Wifi (802.11n), 10/100 Ethernet, Optical audio, CEC
Dimensions 115 × 115 × 17.5 mm (4.53 × 4.53 × 0.69 in)
Amazon Fire TV ports
Home icon grey.png   ▶ Devices ▶ Android ▶ Amazon Fire TV

The Amazon Fire TV is an Android-based (Fire OS) set-top-box that contains a very powerful ARM processor (that can even handle some of the more heavy XBMC skins). Fire TV stands above some of the other Android-based offerings due to Amazon's strong product support and because it contains more remote friendly versions of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other video service clients, making it a good pairing with XBMC.

Builds

Official Builds

Gotham Beta 4 includes the patches for the Fire TV.

XBMC 13 builds for Android (ARM): http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/android/arm/

Stable builds

Frodo

Note: This build can be installed alongside the official XBMC builds, as they have different package names.

Gotham

All Fire TV patches have been added to the main Gotham code. As of April 17, 2014, Nightly builds of Gotham can now be used.

Note: Currently, only Libstagefright video acceleration is working. MediaCodec acceleration should be disabled.

Gotham and the Fire TV are still being tested and log files may be needed to help with testing. If you are unfamiliar with doing so, please take a look at the easy guide to getting a log file.

SPMC and Gotham have different signatures, so they are completely independent from each other (i.e., will be installed as separate apps). You can use adb install -r <apk-file-name> to update without losing all your settings.

Installing

General Steps

  1. Setup the ADB Utility, often done through the Android SDK. https://developer.android.com/sdk/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

Setup ADB on Your Host

Note: Your host must be connected to the same network as your Fire TV..

Windows

  1. Download and unzip the ADB Utility from http://d-h.st/TYa
  2. Find the extracted winadb folder containing adb.exe, and copy the complete folder path
  3. Add the copied path to your PATH environmental variable in Windows System Properties
  4. Follow the below instructions to complete the installation of XBMC

OS X

To be completed

Linux

To be completed

Android

The ADB utility is built into Android. However, you will need to install a Terminal Emulator app.

  1. Open Google Play Store
  2. Install Android Terminal Emulator
  3. Follow the below instructions to complete the installation of XBMC

Enable USB Debugging on the Fire TV

  1. From the Fire TV Home screen, select Settings
  2. Go to System -> Developer Options
  3. Select ADB Debugging to turn it ON
  4. Go to System -> About -> Network, and take note of the Fire TV's IP address

Install XBMC to the Fire TV

Note: If your APK file name contains spaces, make sure you put quotes around it in the adb commands. On OS X and Linux, you may need to prepend ./ to the adb commands.

  1. On your host (PC or other Android device), download your desired XBMC APK
  2. Open a Command Prompt (Windows), Terminal (OS X/Linux), or Terminal Emulator app (Android)
  3. Navigate (CD) to the directory with your XBMC APK (in Android Terminal Emulator you only need to run the adb commands)
  4. Run the following commands
    >adb kill-server
    >adb start-server
    >adb connect <ip-address-of-fire-tv>
  5. ADB is connected when it reports the message "connected to <ip-address-of-fire-tv>:<port>"
  6. Run the following command
    >adb install <apk-file-name>
  7. Installation is complete when it reports the message "success"

(Note: For Android you need to type in the full path. e.g. >adb install /sdcard/Download/apk-file-name.apk)

Launch XBMC on the Fire TV

  1. From the Fire TV Home screen, select Settings
  2. Select Applications
  3. Find and select your XBMC installation (it may be named "XBMC", "SPMC", or "XBMC on OUYA")
  4. Select Launch Application

Note: Users have reported that you can autostart XBMC after boot using an Android automation apps such as Tasker, AutomateIt, or Llama. Alternately, you can use Autopilot to autoboot to XBMC.

Bypassing Amazon Home

  1. Sideload Llama Play Store
  2. From the Fire TV Home screen, select Settings
  3. Select Applications
  4. Find and select Llama
  5. Select Launch Application
  6. You will need a USB Keyboard to complete the next steps.
  7. Create these Events (see below): http://i.imgur.com/5CVFuJu.png
  8. Using arrow/directional keys or a built-in trackpad on a USB Keyboard, select the Events tab
  9. Select the + at the bottom of the screen, next to the magnifying glass
  10. For New Event 1 (you may rename this if you want), select Add Condition, find and select Phone Reboot -> After start up
  11. Select Add Action, Llama Variable -> Variable name: type startup -> Variable value: type true
  12. Select OK, click back or esc on your remote/keyboard
  13. Create another New Event, New Event 2 (you may rename this if you want)
  14. Add Condition, Active Application, XBMC (or SPMC, XBMC for Ouya), App started or in foreground
  15. Add Action, Llama Variable -> Variable name: startup -> Variable value: false
  16. Create another New Event, New Event 3 (you may rename this if you want)
  17. Add Condition, AND, Add Condition, Active Application, KFTV Launcher, App started or in foreground, Add Condition, Llama Variable -> Variable name: startup -> Variable value: false, Press back or esc to return to New Event 3
  18. Add Action, Run Application, XBMC (or SPMC, XBMC for Ouya)
  19. Optional: Create another New Event, New Event 4 (you may rename this if you want)
  20. Add Condition, Active Application, Plex (or any other random app that shows up on the Amazon Home that you wish to choose)
  21. Add Action, Llama variable -> Variable name: startup>Variable value: false
  22. Add Action, Kill Application, Plex (or app you chose above)
  23. Add Action, Run Application, XBMC (or SPMC, XBMC for Ouya)

If you use all 4 of these main events, your Fire TV will boot up like normal and you can access Amazon's content or settings. If you manually launch XBMC from the Applications submenu, or launch Plex then a variable in Llama gets changed which allows "New Event 3" to launch XBMC when you press the Home or Mic button (these buttons load up the KFTV Launcher, the Amazon Home).

Launching Android Apps within XBMC

  • In Gotham builds, it is possible to launch Android Apps from shortcuts on the main menu.
  • It is recommended to use the Confluence skin, go to Programs, then Android Apps and favorite any applications you would like to launch from XBMC.
  • Skins like Amber allow you place custom shortcuts on the main menu to these favorite items.
  • In Frodo builds you can only launch these apps from going into Programs -> Android Apps. They will not launch when put onto the main menu.

Copying files

Copy userdata settings (optional)

Run XBMC at least once to initialize the userdata folder on the Fire TV

Copying from PC to Fire TV
Copy files to Fire TV userdata folder using adb push <local> <remote>
  • For example, to copy advancedsettings.xml from your local folder to your Fire TV XBMC userdata folder:
    >adb push advancedsettings.xml /sdcard/android/data/org.xbmc.xbmc/files/.xbmc/userdata
where org.xbmc.xbmc is replaced with your package name such as tv.ouya.xbmc (XBMC for Ouya) or com.semperpax.spmc (SPMC)
Copying files from Fire TV to PC
Copy files from Fire TV userdata folder using adb pull <remote> <local>
  • For example, to copy advancedsettings.xml from your Fire TV XBMC userdata folder to your local folder:
    >adb pull /sdcard/android/data/org.xbmc.xbmc/files/.xbmc/userdata/advancedsettings.xml

You can use adb shell to open a remote shell on the Fire TV. Use standard Linux commands such as cd and ls to navigate the file structure. Type exit to exit adb shell.

See userdata folder for more information on the contents of the userdata folder.

Update Splash Image (optional)

Run XBMC at least once to initialize the userdata folder on the Fire TV

  • If the splash image file is splash.png, you can run the following command to copy the file to Fire TV (you may need to update the folder name):
    >adb push splash.png /sdcard/Android/data/tv.ouya.xbmc/files/.xbmc/media/splash.png

Here's a splash image created by elmerohueso.

Controls

Bluetooth remote

To make the remote work with XBMC's on-screen-keyboard, go to XBMC -> Settings -> System -> Input devices and enable Remote control sends keyboard presses

Note: For slightly improved keymaps for the Fire TV remote, see Alternative keymaps for Fire TV remote.

Button Global action Fullscreen video action Amazon Fire TV remote.jpg
3 Directional pad:
  • Up
  • Down
  • Right
  • Left
Directional pad:
  • Up: Next chapter or go forward 10 minutes
  • Down: Previous chapter or go back 10 minutes
  • Right: +30 seconds
  • Left: -30 seconds
4 Select On-screen-display menu
6 Context menu Playlist
7 Fast forward Fast forward
8 Play/pause Play/pause
9 Back Back out of fullscreen video (does not stop playback)
10 Rewind Rewind


To reboot the Fire TV with the Bluetooth remote, hold Play/Pause (8) and Select (4) for 5 seconds.

CEC

People are reporting that the Amazon Fire TV has basic CEC support.

USB

USB port allows for various additional remote types, such as FLIRC, various RF dongles, etc. Most of these devices will show up as a keyboard type input.

  • Logitech DiNovo Edge keyboard works, but touch pad and media keys do not work. DiNovo Edge doesn't have a menu key.
  • MCE (IR) remote - 2nd generation works. Turn on the Fire TV after plugging in the IR receiver and it should work.
  • IOGEAR GKM561R wireless keyboard/mouse combo works (although Shift/Capslock does not in 12.x, apparently an issue addressed on Gotham)
  • FAVI Entertainment SmartStick Wireless Keyboard with Touchpad Mouse, FE02RF-BL
  • See keyboard controls for how to control XBMC using a keyboard. Additional Fire TV controls goes as followed:
Key Action
F11
or "browser search"
media key.
Voice Search (Does not send mic audio)
F12 Fire TV home screen
Esc Fire TV back button
Ctrl+Esc
or "Menu" (to the right of the Windows key on the right side)
Fire TV menu button
Alt+Tab  Recent App
Ctrl+Alt+Delete System reset


Flirc

The rewind, fast forward, and play/pause keys on the Fire TV controller operate the same as a keyboard's media keys. Use the "Media Keys" controller in the Flirc application to set these on your remote. Netflix and Pandora on the Fire TV (and possibly other apps) do pick up the other media keys such as stop. XBMC also picks up these keys.

Esc can be used as the back button. Remapping XBMC's back to Esc would be required to use one button for both commands.

 Menu (the button to the right of the Windows key on the right side on a keyboard) works as the Fire TV's menu button and does not have the issues Ctrl+Esc has. Ctrl+Esc usually results in duplicate keypresses and will sometimes act as just Esc. At this time the Flirc GUI does not have a button to map "Menu" on the "Full Keyboard" controller, but on the command line flirc_util record_api 0 101 can be used.

Basic example using a Harmony One and Flirc:

Remote button Keypress Fire TV action Global action Fullscreen video action Harmony firetv.jpg
1  Menu Menu Context menu Context menu
2 PageUp N/A Page up Page up
3 I N/A Info Info
4 ← Backspace N/A Previous menu OR Home screen Exit full screen
5 PageDown N/A Page down Page down
6 Up Up Step forward 10min OR Next chapter
7 Left Left Step back 30s
8  Enter Select Select Player controls (OSD)
9 Right Right Step forward 30s
10 Down Down Step backward 10min OR Previous chapter
11 Esc Back Back Exit full screen
12 Rewind media key Rewind Rewind Rewind
13 Play/Pause media key Play/pause Play/pause Play/pause
14 Fast forward media key Fast Forward Fast forward Fast forward
15 Previous media key Previous Previous track Step backward 30s
16 Next media key Next Next track Step forward 30s
17 Play/Pause media key Play/pause Play/pause Play/pause
18 Stop media key Stop Stop Stop


For this setup use the following keyboard.xml file.

<keymap>
	<global>
		<keyboard>
			<key id="61656">ContextMenu</key>
			<key id="61467">Back</key>
			<key id="61637">FastForward</key>
			<key id="61636">Rewind</key>
			<backspace>PreviousMenu</backspace>
		</keyboard>
	</global>
	<FullscreenVideo>
    		<keyboard>
    			<next_track>StepForward</next_track>
			<prev_track>StepBack</prev_track>
		</keyboard>
	</FullscreenVideo>
</keymap>

Also note that the Fire TV Home button is a soft key set to F12.

Other bluetooth devices

It should be possible to pair other bluetooth controllers and remotes to the Fire TV. Most of these devices will show up as a keyboard type input.

Uninstall XBMC

  1. From the Fire TV Home screen, select Settings
  2. Select Applications
  3. Find and select your XBMC installation (it may be named "XBMC", "SPMC", or "XBMC on OUYA")
  4. Select Uninstall

Alternatively, you can do the uninstall over ADB with one of the following commands. OUYA

adb uninstall tv.ouya.xbmc

SPMC

adb uninstall com.semperpax.spmc

XBMC

adb uninstall org.xbmc.xbmc

Known issues

  • Hardware video decoding is semi-working. See the #Builds section above.
  • VC-1 and MPEG2 are not hardware decoded in XBMC on the Fire TV.
  • USB cannot currently be used for drive storage.
  • The fast forward and rewind buttons on the Fire TV remote are not yet working in XBMC. However, the directional buttons do work for normal and big "steps" forward and back.
  • A static click or pop may be heard when opening a Dolby Digital file in Gotham. One workaround is to turn off NAVIGATION SOUNDS (Settings > Appearance > Skin) and KEEP AUDIO DEVICE ALIVE (Settings > System > Audio Output). NOTE: This may cause playback issues with DTS-HD or TrueHD files.

Random notes

Feel free to place various notes, tips, and links here. As this section of the wiki gets more organized, those notes will be properly sorted. Consider this like a dumping ground for when you're not sure where to put something.

  • The USB port seems to work with keyboards and mice.
  • Debug information in the Fire TV's Netflix app can be accessed by pressing Ctrl+Alt+ Shift+D.

Links