App/Support for Fire TV
Answered
I am slowly replacing all my Sonos products with Node and PowerNode 2i devices. I really enjoy the improved sound quality (particularly with Tidal). Anyway...
I can run BLUOS just fine on the Node2i connected to my primary audio/video system just fine. However, I must run the Android app on my tablet to control the Node2i. This leaves my very nice 65 inch TV screen completely blank which is unfortunate. I'ld really like to see (and control) the album and track info on the TV while the music is playing on the Node2i.
I realize I could cobble something together by using one of the apps to project my tablet display onto my TV but this seems like having to "go around the back side of the barn to get to the front door".
The primary streaming device on my home theater system is a FireTV (4K Cube). FireTV effectively runs Android and BLUOS already has an android app. It would be really nice if I could run the BLUOS control App directly on my FireTV.
I have tried sideloading the official android app on my FireTV. I can get it to load and even run but the display is pretty messed up on some of the screens. It demonstrates the ability to control the Node2i but the GUI would need some tweaking and perhaps some of the control assignments.
I will continue to run the BLUOS app from my Android tablet, but its a shame to let that nice big 65" TV screen to go to waste. It just doesn't seem like a "finished" implementation. We already have an Android app. How about optimizing a fork of that project just for FireTV?
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Official comment
Hello Edward,
This is an interesting approach. While I do not know what would encompass building a port for FireTV, I will pass this on to our Quality Assurance and BluOS Dev Lab for future consideration.
Thank you for the feedback!
Regards,
Sam R. -
So, I just downloaded and installed the 4.01 update (PC).
This thread is now 3 years old:
- Are you guys EVER going to support FireTV?
- Maybe you don't appreciate the value?
- Maybe you don't realize FireTV runs Android (which you already support)?
To port your EXISTING Android app to FireTV all you would need to do is optimize your layout for a different display resolution/ratio and add support for discrete control navigation (up, down, left, right, select, back) instead of finger/mouse control...
I've already side-loaded the existing BluOS Android app on FireTV. It functions just fine as long as you work really hard to navigate via a sliding mouse cursor (which sucks) and can put up with a less-than-optimal layout...
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as long as you work really hard to navigate via a sliding mouse cursor (which sucks)
Thanks for the feedback, and their is the crux of the problem, tvOS, Roku and FireTV are really difficult to redesign if you cannot swipe or use a keyboard. As a regular tvOS user, Search is so hard and frustrating if your phone is not handy...
We have had conversations but nothing fruitful given it is still limited.
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Its really not as hard as you might want to think.
As a Windows developer I have been doing this for years. You just set up a "tab select" order for the different "select-ables". It doesn't even displace the ability to "mouse" around - it just augments it. I'm sure Android supports similar functionality if you would only look for it.
All your back-end code ALREADY works fine on FireTV. All you need to do is rework the GUI a bit. I believe Amazon even has a developers guide for porting Android apps...
I run my BluOS audio through my Entertainment System which includes a 65 inch TV. Its a shame we can't use the graphics/interface on the TV to do this instead of requiring a phone as an accessory. At a party my screen is blank/black when it could be showing artist artwork and advertising your service.
When folks hand you really good and MEANINGFUL upgrade or enhancement ideas for your products, you should listen to them. Right now you are busy tweaking your GUI for relatively valueless changes to the layout. (I get in to 4.01, find the new location for my "button", click on it and leave...) I was hoping 4.01 added something useful/valuable. It doesn't. You could be adding a whole new (and untapped) ecosystem here for what I believe would be a relatively small development investment.
You've likely been trained by your corporate culture to answer/close/complete these types of user requests with as little investment as possible. What I don't think they have trained anyone for (IMHO) is the ability to recognize very worthwhile and profitable product suggestions...
$0.02
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