I am new to Android & would really like to us my A7 to access both online hosted Streaming Video (movies & TV shows) as well as host my DVDs on my internal network.
I had hoped to use Netflix but research on the web indicates that isn't a go on Android without newer, possibly embedded hardward based, DRM solutions. I did see a post about Amazon and RockPlayer but not really much else to go on.
Can people reply and indicate what are the best Streaming Video sites (& client being used to access those sites) for the A7? If you need to use one for movies & one for TV shows please list multiple...
Can people also reply with more insight on how they are hosting & consuming their own DVD collections? Specifically I would like to know:
What did they use to rip their DVDs?
Where do they host them (off a PC? a NAS?, etc)?
What client do they use on the Android A7 to access them?
What protocol (NFS?,CIFS?,SFTP?,etc) does the A7 use to access their DVDs?
For reference I have multiple options available to me at home inclucing RedHat Enterprise Linux & a few other flavors, Win 7, Win XP, and a central NAS device.
tv shows
for tv shows I like (tv shows stream) from the market
Playon seems to work well for me and it will let you stream Netflix and other sites kinda expensive 5amonth or 80 for a lifetime.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
When I get back from Spring Break I want to try Playon. I don't like the idea of another subscription but it seems really flexible. It might also allow me to watch Hulu through my bluray player (which stopped supporting it) so that is a big plus... Being able to centralize all of that to a central computer and shoot it to my TV, laptop, and Android A7 would be great.
The Netflix.apk is available as beta for Android. I installed on my A7 and can manage my account, queue and search. When I launch a live stream of instant movies it says can not connect to Netflix servers please try again.
My research is that they won't allow netflix to natively run on Android without some Digital Rights Management (DRM) capabilities (currently too open) built into. Some Android device makers may be releasing some newer models that allow for this and the native netflix should work for them but maybe never for us if it is a hardware based implementation...
That being said, the Netflix over playon seems to be working OK for me as I went ahead and set it up before traveling for Spring Break... Both Netfilx & hulu worked fine on my home LAN and was working OK on my hotel WIFI for a few hours but isn't for some reason right now.
I need to replace my home router so that I can take the current router with me as it turns my 3g/4g USB device into a personal portable WiFi (kinda like a geeky MIFI). Currently that router uses both my DSL & USB cellular data card together at home and I didn't have time to do that before I left and if I took it with me my home would have been down and I wouldn't be able to serve playon from home while traveling...
Tv.com also works well on these devices
Sent from my PC36100
Has anyone been able to get the BBC iPlayer working on their Ion, that's OUTSIDE of the UK?
I have tried connecting via:
Network and Wifi
I have tried:
Spoofing Network Location
Spoofing GPS Location
Spoofing both Network and GPS Location
Still get the same error, "BBC iPlayer is only availble within the UK"
Please note: I don't want to use the "BBC Radio" app. And I do not want to use Skyfire. I'm looking to get this app working straight up on this phone. Any help is greatly appreciated.
I would think you would need a IP program like xpat. I use xpat on my computer to watch live F1 races on the BBC. Would be nice to see something like that so I can watch some good programming lol.
I've also tried fooling it but to no avail.
zackspeed said:
I would think you would need a IP program like xpat. I use xpat on my computer to watch live F1 races on the BBC. Would be nice to see something like that so I can watch some good programming lol.
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I'm with you. IP routing through UK source is probably necessary.
Sent from Rooted LT28at with ICS.
I've had no trouble getting BBC iPlayer to work on my Android tablets and IPOD. However, I had to use a VPN and disable Location Services on my Samsung Droid to get it to work properly. Watching BBC Live at this moment. Hope this helps.
So I've been looking for an OnDemand type streaming service for my phone to so I can connect it via HDMI to my TV and skip the cable companies all together. I found this TmobileTV app which looks promising, but that has a monthly fee. I'm not looking for live television, just something with a program guide that can access streams from Comedy Central, ABC, Food Network, etc. These networks broadcast their own content for free on their webpage, or even have apps, but of course you have to navigate to them and install a bunch of apps if you want to use it this way. I've used a Roku before with PlayOn and it somehow aggregates all of the popular web-shows and puts them in a nice channel guide for you so you can pick and play what you want.
Does anyone know of anything like this for android? Remember, I dont care about LIVE tv, I just want a nice convenient way to watch online of streams from various broadcasters.
UPDATE: Looks like Hulu+ is the only answer.
netflix? or that doesn't have tv shows? been awhile since i used netflix
I've been scouting round looking for solutions that mean (as an expat) I can continue to use a DNS or VPN service for most things (UK TV, amazon prime etc.) while still retaining access to Netflix. No joy so far. What I'm wondering is if anybody has a way to set a specific DNS (or VPN if that works) for Netflix services, while using the default on the router for everything else?
A bit optimistic probably, but thought I'd ask ...
urbanespaceman said:
I've been scouting round looking for solutions that mean (as an expat) I can continue to use a DNS or VPN service for most things (UK TV, amazon prime etc.) while still retaining access to Netflix. No joy so far. What I'm wondering is if anybody has a way to set a specific DNS (or VPN if that works) for Netflix services, while using the default on the router for everything else?
A bit optimistic probably, but thought I'd ask ...
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Click to collapse
There are certain VPN-Services specialized in providing access to Netflix like ExpressVPN or you use a tool like NordVPN which will choose a VPN-Service for you.
Greetings
Medizinmann
As an expat, I use Unotelly's Dynamo DNS service which allows you to switch regions on the fly. By sideloading the unotelly.apk app to the Amazon fire tv, I can use the fire tv remote to easily switch from U.K content and then quickly switch back to Netflix U.S by going through the unotelly app and picking another region. Takes seconds to do this.
P.s using firestarter ( actually firestopper which is now called appstarter, but that new version isn't as functional) as a U.I overlay making it much easier for quick access to bbc iplayer, itv player, skygo, netflix, etc, and the unotelly app.
This what the unotelly app looks like within the fire tv
callanish said:
As an expat, I use Unotelly's Dynamo DNS service which allows you to switch regions on the fly. By sideloading the unotelly.apk app to the Amazon fire tv, I can use the fire tv remote to easily switch from U.K content and then quickly switch back to Netflix U.S by going through the unotelly app and picking another region. Takes seconds to do this.
P.s using firestarter ( actually firestopper which is now called appstarter, but that new version isn't as functional) as a U.I overlay making it much easier for quick access to bbc iplayer, itv player, skygo, netflix, etc, and the unotelly app.
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Thanks Callanish, for this information about unotelly!
I am aware that Netflix has started blocking all these DNS Services, to use the different Netflix regions Netflix... So I would like to know if you are fully sure that the unotelly service really works??
I am asking because, I already have tried with "Unblock-US" and also with
"Blockless" DNS Services, and unfortunately none of these two are working anymore:
https://www.blockless.com
https://www.unblock-us.com
I already have contacted "Unblock-US" and also "Blockless", to let them know that they service has been blocked and has stopped working...
However after more than 2 month, they only replied and said that they are currently working to fix the problems with Netflix, and that we could still use their service to access others sites like "HBO" and "Amazon-Prime"!
I also have found other DNS Service called "Uflix", that recommends to use a*TP-LINK MR3020 or a MR3420V2, to prevent more effectively the blocking that Netflix is implementing...
https://uflix.com.au/setup/urouter/
However, since I have not received a new TP-LINK MR3020 that I bought from Amazon, I can not test if this "Uflix" DNS Service works or not yet!
Since, I don't find in the Google Play Store the Unotely APP that you have mentioned, I would appreciate if you post the link to download the "Unotely" APP to change the Netflix Regions.
Thanks for helping!
In all honesty, from my experience, Netflix outside of your own region has become a hit and a miss. I was only using Netflix U.K from the U.S through unotelly about a week ago as well as ongoing for the last few months and have had no issues whatsoever. I just went to test Netflix U.k again right after you mentioned getting access and it's been blocked again. With my situation, I mostly use Netflix U.S, along with running all the U.K apps and kodi U.K web streams. Netflix currently seems to be in aggressive blocking mode. I'll contact unotelly and find out what the latest is. My DNS proxy address might be the cause since it's no longer on the unotelly list of servers, but still works really well for all U.K content outside of Netflix U.K. I was connected to the BBC iPlayer news channel during the referendum, and it must have been on for 12 hours without a hiccup and in HD, so it’s pretty reliable.
Netflix u.k consistency aside, I can vouch for the stability of unotelly as I've been using it for about 4 years and I've rarely had a problem. If Netflix U.K is a priority, then I don't think there's a VPN or DNS service out there that isn't going to have its temporary blackouts when connecting from a different region. Added to that, there's the hassle of waiting for them to provide a workaround for the block. If Netflix U.S is what you mostly use, and are juggling between that and streaming with all the UK apps and U.K links from kodi, I can't recommend unotelly high enough, but there’s just no guarantee that if you're anywhere outside of the U.K NetfliK U.K will be working 100% of the time even with Unotelly, which from my experience, their customer service is really on the ball with solving issues.
Anyway, I sound like I work for the damn company. Here’s an apk attachment for the unotelly app I had in a backup folder.
P.S My only reservation about going down that router road with uflix is the speed and reliability of their VPN. Erratic streaming speeds could come into play potentially causing buffering, whereas a DNS Proxy is a pass through system giving you the maximum bandwidth of your internet service rather than using a VPN which can hamstring streaming speeds, but it's your call and if it works, then forget I mentioned it.
I have been using Unotelly for years also and is still working well for everything...except Netflix which everyone of those 'DNS unblockers' are having problems with. But did you get a reply from them? There business model is now broken, i.e. Netflix region switching, they don't reply anymore, don't think they will be around much longer unfortunately...
Hill16 said:
I have been using Unotelly for years also and is still working well for everything...except Netflix which everyone of those 'DNS unblockers' are having problems with. But did you get a reply from them? There business model is now broken, i.e. Netflix region switching, they don't reply anymore, don't think they will be around much longer unfortunately...
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The only reply I got was that they were working on it, as per the notice on their website which was basically "Region Picker Status: USTest 5: Down, Other Regions: Down (We will update our region picker status as soon as we get an update from our engineers)". So, Netflix is the elephant in the room for all Proxy server or VPN providers which, in my opinion, has taken their aggressive blocking to the next level. I just don't foresee us getting any consistency here when viewing other regions without there being a cycle of blocking, waiting for it to be unblocked and expecting the worse for it to be blocked again. From a selfish perspective, I get a lot more use out of my Netflix U.S region than I ever did out of Netflix U.K viewing. It was the odd show here and there I was watching on Netflix U.K and so far, crosses fingers, all the other content coming out of the U.K continues to work without any issues. Like you, I believe that Netflix was a core reason for a lot of these proxy and vpn providers being in business in the first place. For someone like myself, there is a wealth of free content coming out of the U.K that still makes it viable for me to continue to use a proxy, but for others that subscribed to a proxy or vpn for the sole purpose of getting Netflix U.S content or other region content, I can see those customers abandoning companies like Unotelly in droves.
I do think Unotelly is still fighting the fight, but they've got a huge mountain to climb here. I just think they don't know what to tell their customers and don't really know how to provide a consistent unblocking business model with Netflix, so either they are capable of surviving without guaranteeing Netflix or like you mentioned, they'll fold due to customers abandoning them.
Hi,
I'm trying to watch Sky Sport's live TV channels (UK) via a legitimate paid for subscription on my Amazon Fire TV. However, as I'm sure many of you will know, the location settings on the Fire TV are a nightmare to turn on (which the Sky Sports app relies on for location authentication).
I've tried several topic related suggestions, including a couple that I have found on this forum, such as editing adb. I appear to have made some progress by turning on 'mock locations' as the Chrome app now allows me to turn on Google Chrome's location settings (which now places me at my neighbours house lol) but nothing has so far fixed the problem of accessing the live Sky Sports TV channels.
The app opens fine, I can log in as a subscriber and I can even play short video clips that appear on the Sky Sports app landing page. However, when I try to play one of the live Sky Sports channels a popup message appears on the foot of the screen saying 'Failed to set location settings'.
I also have the same Sky Sports app on my phone, which prompts me to turn on the phone's GPS before it will play the live TV.
Does the Amazon Fire TV have any hidden GPS/ location functionality, and if so, Is there a way to turn it on in the background settings via adb (or anywhere else)? If not, would a USB GPS receiver work as a means of confirming to the system that I am in the UK, and therefore entitled to watch the channels?
If I installed a custom ROM, would that have the ability to alter location settings that the Fire OS may not have?
Any other ideas as to how I can convince the Amazon box that I am in the UK and therefore allowed to access the live TV?
Thanks in advance