PuTTY riot posted:

2) I have a few blu rays with "digital copies" that are "ultraviolet". Assuming that's some sort of brand. Is there an app or thing that'll let me watch those movies on my sticks? Disney's Finding Dory let me add it to my amazon account directly and it shows up under "your movies".

quote:

I’m not positive, but it seems like the 5.2.4.0 software update, that started rolling out to Fire TVs and Fire TV Sticks just over a week ago, has been temporarily halted. It’s not uncommon for Amazon to stop distributing a software update if a serious issue is detected with the first round of devices that receive the update, and it seems like that may be the case with this latest software update.

When Amazon stops pushing out a software update due to an issue, they’ll fix the issue and begin pushing out a slightly different version of the software update. When this happens, the update’s version number usually remains the same between version, but the build number changes. This is what happened with the earlier 5.2.1.0 software update, which initially had a build number of 550144920, but was then halted and restarted with a new build number of 550145120, due to a bug that prevented the screensaver from launching.

Amazon just updated their Fire TV software version page last night to now list the new 5.2.4.0 update. However, instead of listing the build number of the update, like they’ve always done in the past, the page instead has the word “[PLACEHOLDER]” where the build number should be. This is the main reason I think the first build of 5.2.4.0 has been halted and a new build will begin rolling out in the near future. Amazon has never omitted the build number on that page, so I think they know a new build number is coming soon, but instead of waiting for the new build of 5.2.4.0 to be finalized, they updated the page with a placeholder.

Of course, I could absolutely be wrong about this, but it does seem like this updating is taking longer than usual to arrive. None of my 5 devices eligible for this update have received it yet, which is unusual for me when the update has been out for over a week. The only issue with the 5.2.4.0 that I’ve come across that might be serious enough to halt the update is an odd incompatibility with older TVs that can only display 1080i/480p.

I’d love to know in the comments below what date exactly did your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick receive the 5.2.4.0 update. It’s actually possible for devices to update to the initial 5.2.4.0 build even after it has been halted. This could happen if a device receives notice of the update during the roll out but doesn’t decide to install it until much later. Despite that, getting a quick senses of when these updates have arrived could give us a better idea of whether or not the update has been halted.

PuTTY riot posted:

2 questions

1) I have a bunch of sticks. I have an older reciever that I'm setting up with 5.1 speakers and all that. My tv has an optical out and passes DD when I'm watching QAM cable. I can't seem to get the fire tv (or my blu ray for that matter) to push DD/DTS/whatever over that same opical cable, only stereo PCM. Any way to remedy this besides buying something (regular fire tv, hdmi receiver or weird thing that splits out the audio before it gets to the TV)

thebushcommander posted:

Hmmm mine is setup in the same way with 1 optical out to a receiver from the TV and it is able to play audio from all HDMI sources/inputs.. kinda weird. Maybe a setting in your tv audio options? What kind of TV is it?

Call Me Charlie posted:

Looks like Amazon may have halted the new update.


http://www.aftvnews.com/amazon-fire-tv-software-update-5-2-4-0-possibly-halted/

PuTTY riot posted:

It plays sound, it's just not 5.1 audio. I've looked around but not much to do, especially when you turn off the tv speaker. It's an older LG

thebushcommander posted:

This didn't happen. Unless it was only a day. I bought 6 firetv sticks to give as Christmas presents and each one has been updating with the newest FireOS after setup is complete. Still haven't seen it on my Box or Stick at home though, but I haven't checked yet either.

Also so far I am not a fan of the new menu layout.

thebushcommander posted:

Go into the FireTV settings and Display/Sounds - there are different settings for Dolby Audio i.e. "Dolby Digital Plus auto" , "Off", Dolby Digital Plus over HDMI and simply Dolby Digital over HDMI... maybe try using just Dolby Digital over HDMI if your receiver is older? idk if its on the default first settings and your device for playback doesn't support Dolby Digital Plus it will default to Stereo output.

Craptacular! posted:

My understanding is that gen1 sticks will be officially forgotten about in this update. Whether they get any bugfixes etc going forward with their old interface, I don't know. It's good enough to watch Prime and watch NextPVR through Kodi, which is all we use them for, so unless it's a night and day revelation in those departments we will continue to stick with what we've got.

Harik posted:

Update's pretty damned awful. I really detest it. All the loving helpful tips that are only supposed to show up once show up constantly, they hid my apps deep in a menu, it's not as clear what's currently selected with their new navigation system... overall it's just a mess and feels like they changed poo poo just to change it.

I really REALLY hate the "down, right" navigation. Your selection is in the upper left. Can't see what's above it without going up, can't see left without going left. And gently caress the auto-play HBO ad that kicks off if you pause too long on the home screen.

"Apps" now apparently means "go buy something". Installed apps, the things you actually use, are pretty well hidden. At least holding home goes to a menu.... that shows you a dozen FREE!!!!!! apps before yours until you manually select each one and bring them to the front. Why the gently caress was it too hard to copy the "Recently used Apps" setting from the previous build? The world may never know.

I want my $40 back. If it's just an ad platform now, it should be free.

Call Me Charlie posted:

You can turn off the auto play by going Settings -> Preferences -> Featured Content -> 'Allow Video Autoplay' 'Allow Audio Autoplay' OFF. And I'm not sure what you're talking about with the rest of your complaint. Recent on the home page still behaves the same way of listing the most recently used apps. (And App Launcher just lists all the apps that are tied to your account. Highlight the app you want, hit the lines button and click 'move to front'. It will remember the order afterwards. That's also mirrored in 'Your Apps & Games' on the homepage right below recent)

Call Me Charlie posted:

Plus the App Launcher just lists all the apps that are tied to your account, it doesn't insert apps you don't own. Highlight the app you want, hit the lines button and click 'move to front'. It will remember the order afterwards. That's also mirrored in 'Your Apps & Games' on the homepage right below recent and the 'Your Apps & Games' section in the recently updated Fire TV Remote app that can remote launch apps.

bull3964 posted:

FireTV can't do HDR at all which is a pretty glaring oversight at this point. If they can't upgrade the current devices to output HDR via an update, they really need to get new devices out there. Most of Amazon's shows have HDR now and to not be able to display them on their own streaming device is silly.

Hadlock posted:

Whoa what, is this true?

Vykk.Draygo posted:

Since the update, Kodi no longer seems to show up anywhere. Is there some workaround I have to do again to get it back wherever recent apps show?

thebushcommander posted:

It might disappear from recent apps (didn't on any of my devices) but you should be able to go to Apps and open it from your installed apps list.. or go to settings, manage installed apps and launch it to bring it back. They didn't block it with the update or anything.

Harik posted:

Harik posted:

Until the next update, when it buries everything I actually use under another dozen partner offers. That's what I mean about being an ad-platform.

I figured there would be some way to turn that poo poo off but gently caress having to. There's exactly zero people in the world who want to be the target of autoplaying video, but goddamn if marketing doesn't get diamond-hard erections at the thought of being able to force ads on everyone who turns on their TV.

The supposed integration with prime is worthless since there is, again, no way to actually search by prime - you search, it gives you tons of ads for videos to pay for. It's an ad delivery device. And Kodi doesn't even work that well on it.


I don't own Netflix, HBO Now, or the other 25 partner offers that showed up before the apps I do actually own. It's not everything free, either, it's everything that's paid to show up at the top of the list... generally we call those advertisements. I've reshuffled everything, again, but they obviously have no intention of maintaining your preferences on the next update.

It's also pretty ridiculous that they didn't implement CEC and you have to buy this ridiculous looking sidecar remote (or juggle multiple remotes) to change volume. Given a choice between mediocre voice search and volume control on the one remote you use, which would you prefer? This is a question Amazon never bothered asking.

Vykk.Draygo posted:

I've launched it a couple times through Manage Installed Apps but it's not showing up anywhere

PuTTY riot posted:

The new update is Fine.

Cicero posted:

What are the pros and cons of the Fire TV stick vs the Roku stick? Googling around it looks like the main advantage with the Fire is better voice search and fewer clicks to start playing, main advantage to Roku is being a bit faster overall and more platform-agnostic searching?

edit: oh looks like you can't put Kodi onto a Roku stick. I think that makes my decision easier.

edit2: yeah fire TV stick it is

BlackMK4 posted:

I bought a Fire TV and the remote stops working as soon as you get to the home screen. Animations continue. Anyone else had this issue?

delfin posted:

I have a first-gen Fire TV Stick and recently got a Fire HD 8 for my wife for Christmas. Is there any particular synergy between these devices via Alexa beyond what the Amazon Fire TV Remote App delivers?

delfin posted:

Neat, but since the tablet itself has Alexa on it, is the only difference with the Echo/Dot/Tap that she doesn't have to push the button on the tablet? i.e. "Alexa, wikipedia Julia Roberts" instead of *hold Home button* "Alexa, wikipedia Julia Roberts" or am I missing something?