Pulled the trigger on a Nexus player with BBY's price drop...few questions....

by descoladoj

Hey R/AndroidTV,

Long time GoogleTV via Logitech Revue user here. Set up the player last night and started tinkering but am hoping to get a jump start on adapting my user experience and have a few questions:

  1. Universal Keyboard Is there a way to link my Logitech Revue keyboard to the device? If not, are there any recommended universal/unifying keyboard suggestions? Ideally, I'd like to use one small keyboard to control my TV, Player and soundbar system.

The Revue was bulletproof with integrating to third party devices, but I'm not noticing any such native capabilities on AndroidTV yet.

  1. YouTube App Alternatives? Right until Google neutered the legacy YouTube API, my favorite GTV go-to app was YouTube.

The AndroidTV version is woefully inadequate compared to the legacy GTV version, and judging by the feedback on the Play Store it does not look to improve any time in the future.

Ideally I'm looking for the basic YouTube functions (like, save, history) infinite-scroll channel video list, related videos by channel (which aren't diluted based on my watch history) and easy access channel's additional content with the same infinite-scroll channel video list.

  1. HDMI Passthrough Support I know the Nexus Player only features HDMI-out, but have heard you can integrate TV live streaming via devices like HDHomeRun Prime - has anyone tried this out and is it worth it? Not looking to eat up yet another port on my TV's HDMI jacks if this is required.

  2. Amazon Instant Video Any viable workarounds or alternatives available for the Nexus player here?

  3. Popcorn Time Haven't tried this on AndroidTV yet, but was wondering if PopcornTime has a native AndroidTV-capable app? Tried it on the GTV unsuccessfully.

  4. Kodi/XBMC Used XBMC on my OG Xbox via the Splinter Cell Linux exploit and loved it - is there a good crash course I should look to for getting up to speed on the latest flavor?

  5. Game Streaming from PC I have an older i7 build with a GTX 660, any suggestions for available game streaming options?

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

ninja edit: added question #7 and typo fix.

Izacus

1.) I use Logitech's Harmony Smart Control keyboard (and the remote suite) and it works well. Bluetooth connection was a bit unstable so I've plugged in the Logitech receiver over USB and it worked out of the box. If I recall correctly, USB IR receivers should work well with Logitech products as well.

2.) Don't know of any really. I agree the app is shit though so I just use casting.

3.) No idea, don't watch live TV.

4.) No idea, not available here.

5.) People mostly prefer XBMCtorrent instead of Popcorn which integrates nicely with Kodi.

6.) Um, just download it ("Kodi") from the Play Store. :P No hacking required. If you want it to boot by default, use "XBMC Launcher" app from Play store and set Kodi as default.

venderhain

Use PlayOn for Amazon video.

Ariakkas10
  1. HDMI Passthrough Support I know the Nexus Player only features HDMI-out, but have heard you can integrate TV live streaming via devices like HDHomeRun Prime - has anyone tried this out and is it worth it? Not looking to eat up yet another port on my TV's HDMI jacks if this is required.

I have a Hdhomerun Prime cable card and there are two options for viewing on the nexus player. If your cable company broadcasts copy protected content, then you have to use the hdhomerun view app. All channels will work.

If they don't broadcast copy protected channels, you can use the "LiveTV" app and it has a better epg. Just your copy protected channels won't work.

There is no dvr solution at the moment. Only wmc has a license to play copy-once programming and since you can't get wmc on the NP you're out of luck. The makers of hdhomerun are working on a dvr tho. Optimistic estimates peg October for release(I suspect it will be later)

  1. Amazon Instant Video Any viable workarounds or alternatives available for the Nexus player here?

Nope

  1. Popcorn Time Haven't tried this on AndroidTV yet, but was wondering if PopcornTime has a native AndroidTV-capable app? Tried it on the GTV unsuccessfully.

They have a native app you can sideload.

  1. Kodi/XBMC Used XBMC on my OG Xbox via the Splinter Cell Linux exploit and loved it - is there a good crash course I should look to for getting up to speed on the latest flavor?

It's in the NP store. Just download it

industrai

7.) I actually set up Moonlight and streamed some games to my Nexus Player last night and it worked really well. I tried Ultra Street Fighter IV and actually won an online match, so the lag is not too bad imho.

TheyCallMeSuperChunk

I've heard there's an amazon instant video add-on for Modi that works

aquanutz

#7. Try Moonlight on the play store. I tested it with MGSIV a few days ago over wifi and it actually worked pretty well.