Event: https://events.google.com/io2015/
Let's discuss about Android TV news from Google I/O.
To get it to work I had to sideload Firefox Browser. (otherwise it won't let you go to the web login screen). My first attempt failed, but I did a factory reset, sideloaded Team Viewer then ES File Manager, Firefox then finally the XDA PS4 Remote Play apk and it worked! Runs great too. Used the PS4 controller plugged right into the Forge TV.
I posted this on the XDA forums as well: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=61013361&postcount=721
So a while back I posted here about an experiment I'm doing. I was trying to get my HTPC (a PC currently running Lubuntu and Kodi) to boot Android x86, and once it did I was going to try and flash the Leanback Gapps from the Nexus Player CM release. Well at the time, it didn't work because Android 5.* for PC didn't have graphic drivers working so it would be painfully slow. Now however, they've integrated MESA (an open source driver graphics driver alternative), so I was able to give my idea a go, and...
Almost there!
I got it up and running and even got GAPPS installed! When I rebooted, I was greeted with the setup menu, however to my dismay - no Leanback Launcher (though I suspect it may have been due to the method I used to flash GAPPS, which is just copy over all the files), and also video playback currently doesn't work (which I understand is a problem with all builds at the moment), but the cast receiver works (and receives casts - just can't play them because of the video playback issue) and I'm betting that with a little tweaking (or perhaps precompiling the build with the leanback gapps already baked inside) I can get all the software features (including leanback launcher) to work! For now we just have to wait for Android 5.* to mature well enough to fix video playback, but the future is promising!
I'll keep you posted with whatever I manage to come up with in the future.
Sony just did an unboxing showing their new 65-inch Android TV and on the front of the box it says VUDU is on there.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYDUlbBI5Aw
Do you guys think this might be available for a normal install (without sideloading) or are they gonna pull an Amazon on us?
Regardless of all the flak that this little console has received over the past few days, I still believe that it is an amazing piece of hardware for an incredibly low price. I agree with everyone else that it did not launch with some of the killer apps that we were hoping for, but most early adopters should know that this is "par for the course" (Remember when Chromecast came out, and only supported Google Play?) Anyways, I'm here today to outline the step that I took to get any app I wanted loaded onto the Forge. This should allow you to load Netflix, Emulators, File Managers for ROMs and videos, and even pirated apps if you're into that kind of thing.
Step one:
Follow the directions on the Razer website! http://developer.razerzone.com/forge-tv/developer-setup/ I'm not going to copy everything from their website, but I will outline some notes:
Switching the USB Port no longer requires an app, and can be toggled from inside the settings menu. If you have never messed around with Android before, you can enable the "developer options" by going to the about section in the settings page and clicking the build number several times until it prompts you that you are now a developer. After power cycling your Forge, there should now be a developer page in the settings. Inside that you will enable "USB Debugging" under the debugging tab. There is also a tab called "Razer Tools" with the first option being Device Mode. This will change the USB port from a controller port to a data port, so PLEASE HAVE A BLUETOOTH CONTROLLER, OR PHONE SYNCED. Otherwise you will get stuck. Congratulations! That's everything that you needed to do on the Forge!
Step two:
The fun part! You will need a USB A to A cable which you can order from Amazon for cheap, or head to your local electronics store. I got one at a local Frys Electronics for $4.99. Use this cable to attach the Forge to your PC while it's in "device Mode".
Head on over to https://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html#Other and download the Android SDK. After installing you will need to run the SDK Manager.exe and download the Google USB drivers near the bottom of the list. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\tools and run "android.bat" This will generate the neccessary file you need at C:\Users(YourNameHere).android\adb_usb.ini Open this file and paste in the following number at the bottom and save it.
0x1532
Follow the instructions on the Razer website for installing the Driver for the Forge, which should be pretty simple. It involves opening your device manager and right clicking the ForgeTV. Update driver manually when asked, and pick Google ADB or Android ADB device from the list.
Step three:
Now is the time to pretend that you are a sweet hacker! Grab the latest ES File Explorer from APK Mirror here Load up a command prompt, and enter the following commands without quotes:
"cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools"
"adb devices" (If you see a device, then you're good!)
"adb install C:\users(YourNameHere)\Downloads\ESFileExplorer.apk" (Change the last part to wherever you downloaded and named the APK)
If everything went successfully, you should now have ES File Explorer installed under the apps page in your ForgeTV's settings. You can switch the device mode back, so you can use controllers again. I recommended ESFile Explorer because it has a cloud storage tab that allows you to link up a Google Drive, DropBox, or several other methods of transferring files. From here, you can transfer whatever you want to the Forge, and install apps from APKMirror. If you are looking for Netflix, [it's this one] (http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/netflix-inc/netflix/netflix-3-12-0-build-4529-android-apk-download/)
I apologize if there are any mistakes or confusing instructions here, as I'm hastily typing this up while I'm at work. Please let me know if I should clarify anything, or if you are having trouble and I would be glad to help!
