NEW: Channels for Android TV

In the SDK, last channel is 229. Maybe that’s what you need?

https://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/KeyEvent.html#KEYCODE_LAST_CHANNEL

Dang it. Signed up for the DVR service since the Live TV app seems to be pretty good for FireTV (good enough to maybe replace Plex Live TV/DVR which I am currently using (they been promising a grid guide for months and your app communicates more directly with less overhead so channel changes are much faster)).

Did notice a audio kinda skip 2 secs after tuning to new channel, I will get more information on this if it is actually a thing and post here details on what is happening.

I know I get the first month of DVR free but any idea when the DVR part for FireTV will be developed again? (only ask since I signed up just today to test it with the app)

By the way: how large is the buffer for pausing live tv (on firetv)?

Perhaps I’m not thinking about this right, but I’ll give it a shot:

  1. “Normal” Shield remote commands (e.g. D-Pad, select, back, home, etc) come from either a Shield remote, a Harmony BT Shield Device or via the Shield IR codeset --> I’d think there’s nothing for you to do differently with any of these commands than you are already doing.

  2. Any other commands are provided via standard Keyboard input, which is recognized natively by the Shield (don’t know the api behind that, sorry, I’m not a programmer). I can hook up a BT keyboard or use FLIRC to simulate a standard keyboard input and the Shield will recognize these as normal keyboard keystrokes. Others have used this approach to access Kodi commands, and get access to things that aren’t part of the Shield remote. Independent of using a FLIRC to simulate a keyboard, people have created Harmony Shield Activities by adding 2 devices to the activity (same principle):

Device 1) Shield device profile - gives you basic d-pad stuff, play pause etc as described that’s available for IR or via BT
Device 2) Windows PC Keyboard - gives you the ability to use any keyboard input you want.

https://forums.geforce.com/default/topic/842945/shield-tv/tips-for-setting-up-your-logitech-harmony-for-use-with-shield-android-tv/post/4938903/#4938903

So, I’d think what Channels would need to do is just be able to accept standard keyboard input that could trigger some of this additional functionality (e.g accept number key input, etc). This all worked natively in live channels once I paired a BT keyboard or could provide keyboard input (simulated via FLRIC), and works in Kodi too (e.g. I have a button on my remote that is mapped have flirc send an “i” keypress to bring that up). Perhaps I made it sounds more complicated than it is.

Lastly, perhaps the keyboard input approach would function cross platform (e.g. AppleTV) as TVOS allows connection of BT Keyboard as well.

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Bug Report:

My tv had been off for about 8 hours. When i started Channels it started with the last channel I was on, however when i hit the back button to go to guide to see what was on the guide data did not populate. I hit back again and choose guide and still dint populate. I hit back again choose On now that populated, so i hit back again choose guide and now it populated.

Bug Report:

When tuning channels (all 5 network ones at least) the app will tune right away however then after .5 to 1.0 seconds it will stutter. On some channels it will repeat this after another .5 to 1.0 sec but not on all. I assume this has to do with the time-shift recording based upon my reading upon why Plex takes 6 seconds to tune channels vs Hdhomerun taking 3 seconds. Plex just says “tuning channels” while it gets the recording going and doesnt show the channel until it is already recording. Again just an assumption since I am unsure how Channels or HDHomerun handles the runing while recording.

This issue is specific to the FireTV and has been fixed in the latest beta.

I currently have 1.0.0-beta how do i get the newest beta release or update my app on firetv?

The app should update automatically. The version number has not been changed.

ok , sorry I assumed that a new beta would have higher version such as 1.0.1 or something - ill test it out sunday afternoon. Any feedback to offer on the guide issue?

I also have observed this, however, the only part of the guide that isn’t populated is the part that is on the screen. if you just scroll down the guide to higher or lower channels, you’ll see that the program data is there for them, and then if you scroll back to the channels that were missing data before, then the data has been filled in. It’s almost like the guide screen doesn’t fetch the latest data automatically and display it and you have to do some other action to trigger that fetch.

Potential bug, but probably need more data to say. During the super bowl last night, I observed brief freezes of the TV feed,. The timeline graphic would pop up and then the image would resume within 1 second, often accompanied with a pixelated image that would clear. This happened a few times during the game and then again while my wife was watching a show right after. I observed this on multiple TVs, so wasn’t limited to one of my nVidia shields.

My entire network is Cat5E connected and I’ve been able to stream everything I can throw at it.

Any suggestions how to diagnose? Does Channels have a log I could review (or send to you guys)?

After watching tv (many shows on both firetv) I noticed that the app will suddenly and by itself (remote on table) show the timeline screen and after that the audio will go out of sync. Changing channels will put audio back in sync, but i have had the app show the timeline again after channel change and the new channel will go out of audio sync.

The audio sync issues on the FireTV has been fixed.

I do want to say this for all of us. You do great work and are very very responsive to bugs - THANKS FOR YOUR HARD WORK!

Btw - my sister is willing to also be a beta tester (she lives in another state and currently uses HDHomeRun for live and dvr so might come across different issues. Is there room for more firetv beta testers, if so what link should I give her to get started with?

Sorry but the beta program is now over.

The apps are available for purchase on the Amazon and Google Play stores: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.getchannels.app
https://www.amazon.com/gp/mas/dl/android?p=com.getchannels.app

If you’ve been enjoying the app, please leave a review on the store.

Where should we post bugs or feature improvements at going forward?

Something I have been trying to figure out is there season and episode information available in app like are available in Channels DVR I dont see them that or the shows I checked do not have them (such as news).

I’ve created a new Android TV and Fire TV section on the main forum.

No this is currently not shown.

My wife had asked if there was a discount for beta testers, I told I did not know but usually and would ask.

Sorry we are not able to offer discounts.

All good, app is worth it, bought it today. Keep me up to date about when you need tester for the DVR feature addition please

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