Channels 7.0 for Android?

Channels Android TV
#21

I agree with all the complaints about Android not being up to date, I have the same feelings. But when you have been told up front on this forum that this is an Apple first environment, is it really a big deal to spend $50 or so for a 2nd gen ATV 4K and get the full experience? It just isn't unless you are utterly opposed to anything Apple, or you have all your TV HDMI ports tied up.

This is the exact reason I bought mine before I moved to Florida almost 3 years ago, knowing that I was going to have to switch from TiVo to channels.

For those that don't like the ATV remote (I hate it), there are plenty of TiVo remotes that can be programmed to work with it. I use an old Slide and it works great.

#22

@GTFan, if I was told I would have to invest in ATV devices to get access to Channels capabilities, I absolutely would do it (I've invested in XBox's for the sole purpose of connecting to my WTV Server back in the day). However, there is a difference between an "Apple First Environment" and an "Apple Exclusive Feature Environemnt". As I said, I'm not opposed to Apple being the early adopter for development, but when features have no indication that they will see the light of day on Android platforms (see download feature.....multiple years and still no indication it will be ported over).

I could go on and on and am truly not trying to create a flame war on this topic. I just like to continue to remind the devs that at least some of their paying customers who otherwise appreciate all that they do for us, would like to see these "new and innovative" features being added to the other platforms that they otherwise still support and several of us still use.

1 Like
#23

I agree, but I just don't think they either have the capability or the care about Android. And as others have said it is a very fractured environment compared to Apple. It is what it is, been that way for a very long time.

Remember that they hired that gal earlier this year I think to handle Android and I don't think she lasted very long.

1 Like
#24

Unfortunately without any feedback from the Devs, we are just speculating. I don't think they are intentionally ignoring Android, but absent any updates, it leads to speculation and/or frustration. I'll try and refrain from further debate as I don't mean to keep this thread at the top of the latest topics. Let's just say my opinion on this probably will pop up from time to time. :wink:

#25

'gets up from the corner to leave..' I'm sure it's really hard to find somebody who knows how to dev android, then teach them all the DVR specific logic, vocabulary, protocols, FCC....
lets make this a call to action and find a member of the community that can dev, and mesh with our fearless leaders :slight_smile:

unfortunately my coding days ended not long after POTS (plain old telephone system)

#26

Regardless of what we believe, the facts are what they are. Android sucks compared to Apple.

I stand by what I said before, you can rightfully bitch about the situation and then accept that it's not going to change and pay the price by getting an ATV.

Or you can accept an inferior experience. Your choice. Not going to change either way.

1 Like
#27

Supporting Android and iOS is common and not that difficult. It's a choice. In this case, it seems to be about the capability of the devs, in that it's not what they are good at.

At this point with the Android version being YEARS behind, why bother? TVE is coming to an end leaving FAST channels and HDHR as sources. The value of Channels DVR has fallen drastically due to DRM and other protection schemes from providers. It's all going to stop working at some point.

The Docker containers and other workarounds to hopefully get channels is a job, so you have to enjoy the work (as I do), but I'm on Android and the product sucks on Android -- Not worth it long term.

In reality, Channels DVR is going to become a media player if it stays in business.

#28

You know, I disagree with the value falling drastically.
Cheap HDMI encoders work really, really well. I think that's the future for bypassing DRM channels. I managed to get two LinkPi devices working with four cheap Android TV boxes and I have all of my YouTube TV and Philo channels going with four tuners at once in Channels right now. I think if you're using software like this you're probably an enthusiast anyway with a home lab setup. If you weren't an enthusiast, you'd just be using the stock YouTube TV, Philo, DirecTV or a cable box.

I do agree though that Android should be supported better as someone who had to plunk down and swallow his pride and buy an Apple TV just to get Channels working properly because my Shield just was not compatible at all. It just didn't work. Both of my Shields just would drop frames and stutter and I think it has more to do with Nvidia than Channels because other Google TV devices worked just fine. It was disappointing though to have to buy an Apple product.

Unfortunately, beyond the Shield, the closest device is really an Apple TV. There's just nothing comparable in terms of power and codec support for my Plex server. At least with the Apple TV, everything gets re-encoded to LPCM, so there's really no perceptible quality loss, considering I don't have a true Atmos setup.

1 Like
#29

I would switch to the ATV4K today if it supported all of my favorite apps. Unfortunately, Apple's draconian rules limit a lot of ad-blocking apps and for me that is a deal breaker.

#30

I would switch to the ATV4K today if it supported all of my favorite apps.

I would switch immediately if I could change the color scheme of the Channels UI only on an ATV4K device.

1 Like
#31

What does this have to do with channels? Use the ATV for channels, use what you want for anything else. Yeah I know not optimal but it is what it is. It's not switching, its using the best device for the best app.

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#32

Why not use multiple devices? Three little letters; WAF :wink:

2 Likes
#33

I do find it strange to have no comments from the devs, one way or the other. As a full android house, having just the download offline capability for android would be a huge plus. They have an android client, so someone had to know how to code for android, so it is possible. Buying an ipad (let alone one with enough storage for a few months of shows), just to have a standard interface with commercial skip is a real expensivenpain.

We take shows we record in the winter with us for the summer while traveling and having to run comskip in order to strip commercials and then use VLC for the players does not lend itself to the WAF while away from home!

#34

The silence speaks volumes. As a subscriber for many years, I find it disappointing.

3 Likes
#35

IMO, the Android platform is such a mess lately I don't blame the devs for avoiding it. Google has to get their sh** together and make sense of Android TV, Google TV, and whatever they come up with next to further confuse the user base. If you do purchase one of these devices you can count on it having less ram than it needs and likely the Android version will be several versions behind the latest and "greatest". It's also anybody's guess about which features or apps will end up in the Google Graveyard, never to be seen again.

It's no Wonder Amazon is ditching Android for their streaming devices. Last I heard they were going to become a variation of Linux? Doesn't matter to me, I avoid Amazon at all costs.

#36

Amazon is ditching Android to gain full control of advertisements and tracking. They are not doing anything to make their product "better".

#37

I kind of understand avoiding Android TV upgrades at the moment. The Apple TV app upgrades took weeks of fine tuning and still may need some more updating to get it where they want it to be. Adding another big change and having to support it at the same time would be a nightmare for the devs.

#38

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