Basically, what are some good media apps to play videos off of a hard drive and is there some kind of file explorer app compatible with the player so that I can dork around with what files are where?
Failing that, is there some easy, fool-proof guide to make the player into a somewhat more basic android device so that I can install other apps on it? And would it mess with bluetooth settings?
I have two nexus players. I set up Kodi for playing off my MyCloud and MyBookLive external hardrives. They both play over wifi without stuttering or anything so far. I did have one file with issues but I'll consider that an anomoly for now. Kodi isn't very difficult to set up but the base look isn't appealing. I easily installed the Aeon Nox skin and I use the showcase view. So the movies/shows are in cases at the bottom of the screen and the background is tv show or movie art. I set up a separate section for kids. It wasn't difficult, just watched a youtube video or two.
There is an Archos video player that is super simple if you are ok with the layout and look of it.
I have used ES File explorer to move files. Not exactly the best layout on my screen (hard to see the cursor location) but it works.
All of these are on the nexus' app store. You can push apks to your player with es file explorer and use a special launcher to see them but I haven't had anything I need to use for that.
I haven't rooted anything since the original Droid X I had so I haven't fooled with rooting the nexus so I can't provide any info there.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Watching the NFL game now so I can't boot it up, but I can answer whatever and look at stuff after the game if needed.
Side note, it only had one weird connector (OTG) so you have to buy an adapter for anything... and you are limited to type of thing? So if you want to wire it to your router I don't think you can do any USB stuff. If you want to do usb stuff you can usually use a hub, but then no ethernet wire. That has been the only drawback I noticed. I'm thinking of wiring it because I have 2 kids always on iPads LOL. I haven't had any lag yet but I haven't had 2 shows and 2 ipads going simultaneously.