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Thought I'd post this in case anyone in the Greater Vancouver Area (Canada) might want a dock at a discount. The Metrotown Bestbuy has at least 2 more for $49.99. Might be on sale at the other Bestbuys, but I don't know. The sale price tag was printed on the 27th, and I bought it yesterday. There was no posted end date for the sale. Who knows, maybe they're trying to get rid of them.
I wasn't planning on getting one, but I wanted another adapter for work and when I saw this, I figured I could take the stock adapter to work and use this at home.
Now that I have it, I actually like it quite a lot. Besides Webtop, it has a second mode just for viewing pictures, videos, and playing music. Comes with a small remote just for that mode.
Works well with my DiNovo keyboard in webtop. Also neat that it becomes a kind of touchpad/keyboard if you don't have any input devices at hand.
And for a phone to be able to do flash over my 1080p tv and do it quite smoothly is pretty impressive to me.
I'm actually much more tempted to get the lapdock after playing with this.
you have a link? maybe its in the flyer for your area? i just checked bestbuy.ca and its listed at 99.99.
neotekz said:
you have a link? maybe its in the flyer for your area? i just checked bestbuy.ca and its listed at 99.99.
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Click to collapse
No, it's neither posted on their website or anywhere else that I saw. It was just by chance that I happened to be there. The yellow price tag on it says something like, "49.99 - 50% off original price of $99.99". This is why I don't know whether the other Bestbuys have it on sale, since it isn't posted.
Since I only saw two at the Metrotown one, if you want it, I'd suggest you go as soon as possible.
*edit*: Ha, oops, I just noticed you're in Ottawa, so obviously you're not going to go as soon as possible...
I bought 1 and there is still 1 left at this particular Best Buy (Burnaby Metrotown).
i just picked one up yesterday, the sales rep was surprised to see it on sale too. thanks maledyris
neotekz said:
i just picked one up yesterday, the sales rep was surprised to see it on sale too. thanks maledyris
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Nice! So I guess that means it's on sale across the country. I find it kind of unusual that they don't advertise it, either in the flyers or on the website.
I looked for thew playpad pro on Amazon and noticed there's another version called "PlayPad Pro for Amazon Fire TV"
Generic "for android/bluetooth" version
http://www.amazon.com/Playpad-Android-Bluetooth-PC-Mac-Linux/dp/B0092ZEINO/ref=pd_sim_vg_1
Amazon fire tv version
http://www.amazon.com/PlayPad-Pro-Amazon-Fire-TV/dp/B00J9P3KBS/ref=dp_ob_title_vg
Does anyone think there's any difference or is Nyko just trying to capitalize on having a half priced controller for the fire tv and optimizing search results for those who are looking for an alternative?
I already ordered one, but it doesn't ship until the 25th.
There is a lot more marketing info (pictures etc) on the page for the FireTV version.
denmalley said:
I looked for thew playpad pro on Amazon and noticed there's another version called "PlayPad Pro for Amazon Fire TV"
Generic "for android/bluetooth" version
http://www.amazon.com/Playpad-Android-Bluetooth-PC-Mac-Linux/dp/B0092ZEINO/ref=pd_sim_vg_1
Amazon fire tv version
http://www.amazon.com/PlayPad-Pro-Amazon-Fire-TV/dp/B00J9P3KBS/ref=dp_ob_title_vg
Does anyone think there's any difference or is Nyko just trying to capitalize on having a half priced controller for the fire tv and optimizing search results for those who are looking for an alternative?
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Click to collapse
From the reviews on amazon if you search for Fire Tv on the old version of the playpad pro, it works just fine.
if you go to the page for the old one, it says right away that there's a newer model.
they both have the same price, I don't think anyone is capitalizing on anything.
the one I ordered was the newer "firetv" one. because reasons.
but if the old one works, that's good too.
I am more than a little curious why there needs to be 2 versions. I wouldn't mind if someone bought both, cracked them open and compared the chips/pcb.
but as long as it works it's not going to bug me all that much...
krelvinaz said:
I already ordered one, but it doesn't ship until the 25th.
There is a lot more marketing info (pictures etc) on the page for the FireTV version.
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If you ordered when it said shipping on the 18 and paid for overnight, contact Amazon and they will refund the shipping.
When I ordered it, it said not shipping until the 25th. I selected normal 2 day delivery since I'm not in a big hurry
krelvinaz said:
When I ordered it, it said not shipping until the 25th. I selected normal 2 day delivery since I'm not in a big hurry
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I ordered one when it said the 18th, expected delivery is the 23rd with Prime. That's one business day extra by my calculation but I was more concerned that ALL stock was delayed a week. The rep I talked to said mine was confirmed out of a first set so they must have sold out of the first batch and are getting more a week later. Fun.
buscemi said:
I ordered one when it said the 18th, expected delivery is the 23rd with Prime. That's one business day extra by my calculation but I was more concerned that ALL stock was delayed a week. The rep I talked to said mine was confirmed out of a first set so they must have sold out of the first batch and are getting more a week later. Fun.
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LOL, I ordered when it said the 18th as well. When I got the e-mail saying they had been delayed, I was told by a CSR that nobody was getting any shipped by the 18th and that they didn't know for sure when they will ship and the 25th is a "we hope by" date. My Arrival date was supposed to be the 22nd.
kairnage said:
LOL, I ordered when it said the 18th as well. When I got the e-mail saying they had been delayed, I was told by a CSR that nobody was getting any shipped by the 18th and that they didn't know for sure when they will ship and the 25th is a "we hope by" date. My Arrival date was supposed to be the 22nd.
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Color me totally unsurprised at conflicting information from Amazon . Well at least they will typically take care of disgruntled folks fairly well in my experience. I'll likely just cancel, move on and get a wireless dongle for my XBox controllers and go wireless that way if these become vapor.
buscemi said:
Color me totally unsurprised at conflicting information from Amazon . Well at least they will typically take care of disgruntled folks fairly well in my experience. I'll likely just cancel, move on and get a wireless dongle for my XBox controllers and go wireless that way if these become vapor.
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Click to collapse
Since a few people are reporting the older version works fine I ordered a refurbished one for a backup, it should be here Monday. If the new one doesn't ship by Wednesday I'll cancel if the refurb works. It must be a jinxed week for shipping because Walmart just screwed up another order.
Amazon
The Nyko representative, responding to reviews on Amazon, is claiming the FireTV version has a firmware update. So, it sounds like the same controller with a different firmware. If the firmware is available, like the original PlayPad Pro for Android, you could upgrade an existing controller.
cdoty said:
The Nyko representative, responding to reviews on Amazon, is claiming the FireTV version has a firmware update. So, it sounds like the same controller with a different firmware. If the firmware is available, like the original PlayPad Pro for Android, you could upgrade an existing controller.
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The update is available from Nyko. you can e-mail their customer support and they usually respond withing an hour or two.
Is it the Playpad pro 100 firmware from 3/28 ?
I returned my PlayPad Pro to Amazon, bit the bullet and bought the genuine FTV controller. PlayPad Pro just behaved wonky.
hdmkv said:
I returned my PlayPad Pro to Amazon, bit the bullet and bought the genuine FTV controller. PlayPad Pro just behaved wonky.
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Ya mine seems to act weird in GTA I can't get to map menu also when the controller goes off I have to repair it to get it to behave normally. also the buttons just seem to act weird. How is your experience with the FTV controller?
ahoslc said:
Ya mine seems to act weird in GTA I can't get to map menu also when the controller goes off I have to repair it to get it to behave normally. also the buttons just seem to act weird. How is your experience with the FTV controller?
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Did you update your controller's firmware? I found that the re-pairing is an issue with the older firmware. However, once you update the firmware you may encounter lag in RetroArch.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=58533153&postcount=11
See my post for more info. I didn't mention my AFTV in that post, but I have paired the updated controller with my AFTV and it is working well. I haven't tried RetroArch on the AFTV, yet, though.
Hi Everyone,
A friend of mine was telling about the FTV and I thought I'd look into it. I currently have an ATV2 with XBMC installed. For the most part it works pretty good. Icefilms is hit and miss, but I don't use it very often. ATV2 is kinda getting slow and after reading about the FTV I want one. I was wondering if someone can sort me out.
First,
If I buy a unit from Amazon can it still be rooted? I heard there was a software update in June and wondering if it's been locked up like Apple does with their stuff?
Second,
I use a Harmony One remote and heard Flirc works with the Harmony Remote. Can anyone confirm this?
Third,
That same friend who told me bought the FTV said he watched a youtube video on the FTV with XBMC installed on it and said it ran really slow. Now the video was from April, so I'm hoping XBMC has made some big improvements so it works well with FTV.
Thanks,
Chevy
Yes
If you get a FireTV you will need to use URL blocking in your router to block the amazon URLs for updates before connecting the FireTV to your network. Then you will be able to use GeoHot's Towelroot to root it and disable the Amazon updater. You will want to look into SPMC (a modified version of XBMC with special patches for Android devices, etc.)
It general it is much better than ATV2......FLIRC works with Harmony remotes although I haven't got around to setting mine up yet.
All the necessary info is here on the forum. Just read through some of the the threads.
Since I don't wanna make a whole topic,here is something that makes Fire TV chug a little.
Try this expirimental WebGL thingy in Chrome for Android on Fire TV.
http://www.chromeexperiments.com/detail/eye-texture-raytracer/
It even makes my mouse controls lag a bit,but otherwise does a nice job considering how extreme the test is.
Edit:More things to look at on a Fire TV using Chrome or Opera browser.
http://www.threejs.org/
Thanks all. I'm going to get one. One question though, I was looking on eBay and found a bunch that were already rooted and had xbmc or spmc already installed. In the description they were saying "get them while you can as the new version is unrootable". Anyone think it's OK to buy from eBay or just go with Amazon?
Thanks,
Chevy
chevy2410 said:
Thanks all. I'm going to get one. One question though, I was looking on eBay and found a bunch that were already rooted and had xbmc or spmc already installed. In the description they were saying "get them while you can as the new version is unrootable". Anyone think it's OK to buy from eBay or just go with Amazon?
Thanks,
Chevy
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Click to collapse
Is it cheaper/more expensive? Definitely get it from amazon. That way it is fully warrantied under your name if you have any problems they will help you. I got mine from Best Buy and it had the firmware 51.1.1.0_user_511069920.. It downloaded the next update automatically which is 51.1.1.0_user_511070220 (the last rootable firmware). I even clicked "check for updates" and it never pushed the un-rootable version.
I think they sent out a limited roll out of the unrootable firmware since the according to amazon this is the same version I have.
sorry cant post the link since im a new user search google for "amazon fire tv firmware" should be the first link
I would recommend to block the updates either on the router by blocking the amazon domains or using adb and disabling the apk which updates the ftv
chevy2410 said:
Thanks all. I'm going to get one. One question though, I was looking on eBay and found a bunch that were already rooted and had xbmc or spmc already installed. In the description they were saying "get them while you can as the new version is unrootable". Anyone think it's OK to buy from eBay or just go with Amazon?
Thanks,
Chevy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was in the same boat as you couple of weeks ago, had a ATV2 got a FTV for someone else and realized how much faster and better it was so I sold my ATV for $250, and bought a FTV for myself. On top of that I bought 2 more to install xbmc and sell
Anyways, the FTV runs wicked fast with XBMC, not sure what you saw but there is a pretty good video here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G23u1TtluE
I'd say just buy one from amazon, too bad they were just on sale for $84 a few days ago and staples even had them down as low as $65 after some coupon.
The rooting is simple and fast and to disable the updates is just 1 command you type in. I wouldn't pay more for a unit that's already rooted unless I didn't know wtf I was doing.
I would recommend to block the updates either on the router by blocking the amazon domains or using adb and disabling the apk which updates the ftv
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know what the URL is for blocking the updates?
The rooting is simple and fast and to disable the updates is just 1 command you type in. I wouldn't pay more for a unit that's already rooted unless I didn't know wtf I was doing.
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Click to collapse
I'm pretty handy at rooting and so forth. I've rooted my wife and myself android phones over the last few years so this should be pretty straight forward. I think I'll just get it through Amazon, just in case I need warranty or something.
Thanks,
Chevy
chevy2410 said:
Do you know what the URL is for blocking the updates?
I'm pretty handy at rooting and so forth. I've rooted my wife and myself android phones over the last few years so this should be pretty straight forward. I think I'll just get it through Amazon, just in case I need warranty or something.
Thanks,
Chevy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are instructions here, http://www.aftvnews.com/ for taking a new box and installing without getting updates and then blocking updates.
Thanks to everyone for all the info. I bought one from Amazon and should have it on Tuesday.
Chevy
hi all,
currently live in uk and thinking of getting an aftv to replace my ageing shuttle htpc
the main use will be for xbmc but ive been reading through some posts and just want to confirm i can install this easily as rooting seems to be getting blocked.?
also, what are your thoughts about purchasing an aftv over another android box
thanks
ratski said:
hi all,
currently live in uk and thinking of getting an aftv to replace my ageing shuttle htpc
the main use will be for xbmc but ive been reading through some posts and just want to confirm i can install this easily as rooting seems to be getting blocked.?
also, what are your thoughts about purchasing an aftv over another android box
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no regrets whatsoever about purchasing my aftv, and my main use for it is xbmc/kodi as well. It plays everything I throw at it just fine. There are some limitations when playing certain rips, but the technicality of all that is beyond me and again I have yet to have any media that wouldn't play just fine.
I don't think anything is different in the UK as far as sideloading apps. Sideloading should be easily accomplished with one the community utilities here on XDA, or just by using ADB. I remember reading something a while ago about XBMC/Kodi not installing on aftv's outside the US, but I believe that has since been resolved....found it - http://www.aftvnews.com/xbmc-kodi-incompatible-with-fire-tv-software-version-51-1-40_user_514005520/.
My next htpc/android type box will most likely be a Chromebox mainly for the options to upgrade memory as well as dualboot options that are out there. I personally have no real desire for android apps on my tv, other than root specific apps. Right now aftv's are going on sale all the time, and the only reason I haven't gotten another is I picked up two Fire Sticks over the holiday and am holding out for a Chromebox build.
I am in the UK as well. XBMC works fine on it. However the UK Fire TV cannot be rooted. This means you cannot access media through the USB port. So it depends on where you store your files, the Fire TV is fine with network storage, but (without root) useless with an external drive.
It's a shame Amazon is clamping down on the fire tv's hackability. Otherwise it's a nice little box, very fast, bluetooth remote, wired network, optical audio out.
thanks for the replies.
my main use is xbmc, which definately looks like it can be sideloaded in uk without a problem so thats good news.
shame about usb media as have a few movies on my ext hard drive but i suppose nas storage is the way to go now days so maybe excuse to upgrade#
ill pick up an aftv in next few days then and look to find the latest guide for xbmc install, cheers
ratski said:
thanks for the replies.
my main use is xbmc, which definately looks like it can be sideloaded in uk without a problem so thats good news.
shame about usb media as have a few movies on my ext hard drive but i suppose nas storage is the way to go now days so maybe excuse to upgrade#
ill pick up an aftv in next few days then and look to find the latest guide for xbmc install, cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
buy it from the US. you get rootable ones here. still
have one
picked up a stick for my old man and side loaded xmbc on it he enjoys it may pick up the game controller for some android and emulator games. none of these functions need root. as for usb storage it was never really meant for that anyways it was built as a hd video player to compete with roku and chromecast it just happens to do more. i many picked it up for wwe app as well due to his smart blueray player being to old for that app.
Some people will disagree but it would have to be rootable for me to buy another one. People complain about low memory issues but I've never experience that because I can store thumbnails on external. That's really my main reason for the hdd since I play my movies & tv from a nas device.
Maybe someone who owns one can say why not but if your going to get one without root--why not save some money & buy a fire tv stick?
navigates said:
buy it from the US. you get rootable ones here. still
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Click to collapse
Not if you buy it from Amazon you wont. I just bought a second one and it shipped with the latest version of firmware.
You can probably find one at a big box store tho.
Frankly for me, the AFTV was my best purchase in a long time.
Before I got the box, i was running a massive Athlon 955 PC, watercooled, in a huge Antec case. It was still noisy, bulky (and my toddler loved poking it every chance she could get). I was running it just for XBMC, and didn't really have a good setup for accessing other content. The machine was falling apart, and while shopping for a new media PC, i ran across this box, and that it could support XBMC, along with native apps for amazon, netflix, and hulu...
Where i am getting.. a $75 (85 if you include the Nyko game pad) frankly handles XBMC better than the PC, and i don't have to do ridiculous crap to try to get Hulu and Netflix to integrate. It has played all my media perfectly, and the addition of some basic gaming is a real bonus. Keep in mind, most of the benefits are available without rooting.. you can still sideload apps, , you just cant change your launcher, etc.... If you are interested, give it a shot.
So purchased today :good:
Before I plug in and setup should I try and follow a guide to root by blocking updates or am I already screwed as from the uk (got it from a retail currys store)
It's a shame it looks like I won't be able to stream via usb but my main use is xbmc so to be honest I think I may just plug in and figure out how to side load as I'm not as clued up as some in here
MadFlava said:
Not if you buy it from Amazon you wont. I just bought a second one and it shipped with the latest version of firmware.
You can probably find one at a big box store tho.
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Click to collapse
Well it depends from where are you picking up your stock from Amazon. I'm in LA and till date I have yet to see a non rootable version come through. I just did a friends who's firetv arrived on Thursday and it was purchased on prime on Tuesday. Infact it was the sweet first version which is an easy way up. I've also seen flavors where you have to put the rom in the sdcard instead of cache and or another flavor where the version is not the first where you have to downgrade to go up. The latest version needed a chmod 777 to be added as the file copy to folder was denied.
Essentially you still get rootable ones from amazon. I suggest if you have friends in LA and or the west coast, I suggest get it shipped there and then have them ship it out to you. Just trying to help.
navigates said:
Well it depends from where are you picking up your stock from Amazon. I'm in LA and till date I have yet to see a non rootable version come through. I just did a friends who's firetv arrived on Thursday and it was purchased on prime on Tuesday. Infact it was the sweet first version which is an easy way up. I've also seen flavors where you have to put the rom in the sdcard instead of cache and or another flavor where the version is not the first where you have to downgrade to go up. The latest version needed a chmod 777 to be added as the file copy to folder was denied.
Essentially you still get rootable ones from amazon. I suggest if you have friends in LA and or the west coast, I suggest get it shipped there and then have them ship it out to you. Just trying to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad there are still a few in the system. I think at this point Id be buying them from a big box store. I have one rooted and one that cant be rooted. Thankfully the non rootable is just the kid's unit so its not THAT big a deal.
MadFlava said:
Not if you buy it from Amazon you wont. I just bought a second one and it shipped with the latest version of firmware.
You can probably find one at a big box store tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MadFlava said:
Glad there are still a few in the system. I think at this point Id be buying them from a big box store. I have one rooted and one that cant be rooted. Thankfully the non rootable is just the kid's unit so its not THAT big a deal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure which bigbox still carry's the firetv. In LA I couldn't find them at staples or bestbuy. bestbuy used to carry it when it was launched. but I agree the big box stores would most likely have the old stock. I too have one non rooted one for my parents. but I'm gonna switch them out too for the rooted one.
navigates said:
Not sure which bigbox still carry's the firetv. In LA I couldn't find them at staples or bestbuy. bestbuy used to carry it when it was launched. but I agree the big box stores would most likely have the old stock. I too have one non rooted one for my parents. but I'm gonna switch them out too for the rooted one.
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Click to collapse
Ive seen them at Best Buy and Staples but thats on the east coast.....
The BB in Culver city has loads of AFTV and the fire sticks. In NYC at the minute and 5th Ave and Astoria have AFTV but no sticks.
I picked up another one at Staples as a gift for my dad. It was rootable so Im keeping it and giving him the non rootable one. He doesnt need root and I think would prefer the simplicity of the Amazon launcher.
I ordered the 4K stick with TV remote control as a backup device to my 2nd gen Sloan box (still scared to try and root it by opening the actual box up, hell to the no. If anyone could maybe simplify or point me to a guide other than the one posted by the root OP thread, cuz that still confused me on how to do this without bricking /breaking it I’d appreciate it), but anyway, I noticed after all those Amazon prime deal sales they went out of stock until February 17th. So although it’s purchased and ordered it won’t be here for a few more weeks which makes me worried about which firmware it’ll come in as I’m guessing these new 4K sticks are being freshly made as we speak from the factory and will come with the latest firmware, right? Otherwise how else will they bring more devices to re-stock, I doubt they have older made ones layout around somewhere that they’re shipping in? Lol
I’m so pissed I didn’t order when they had prime deal as these must’ve been sitting in the warehouse for awhile on a lower and probably root-able firmware.
Also if anyone is interested in getting one I believe only the 4K stick at $49.99 will auto apply a $20 discount making it $39.99, works as of 2/10/21
G S W said:
I ordered the 4K stick with TV remote control
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Nope, I doubt that the stick is vulnerable, amaz. fixed it months ago.
Best is if you return that stick and then go for a vulnerable used/second hand one...