Ability to view the guide without stopping current playback would be cool.
Also perhaps, a start on boot for the dvr server on Shield
You can achieve this in two ways:
- Quick Guide: press down while viewing to see either your favorites, or all channels, in a scrolling list of the currently airing program, and the image/title of the next upcoming program on that channel.
- Android supports a picture-in-picture mode, and so does Channels: when viewing press the "P" key on your keyboard, or use a program/remote to send the "P" key—the Android TV app for Android and Apple devices works for this—and the currently playing program will be reduced to a small window, and you can navigate your Android system, including the grid guide. (If you select the same program to watch as what is currently playing, or exit PiP mode, the currently playing video will pause; just press play again to return to normal.)
I believe this is a limitation/restriction of Android, not something Channels can "fix".
1 Like
There is an APP that can do this Google "Launch on boot"
Ok so I used button mapper to map the Netflix button to send the 'P' command and it does indeed put it immediately into pip with the guide already up. Thanks for that. It doesn't work for live channels, but perhaps that needs a lowercase p, I don't see the corresponding key code for the lowercase 'p'
Ok, so using button mapper, on a shield, remap the Netflix button like this. Long press opens Channels, single press sends key code 44, double click sends key code 67.
Then you'll have the long press for channels, single press to shrink down to the guide and double press for last channel.
I tried this app, unfortunately it didn't work properly for me.
UPDATE: move the DVR Server to internal storage, and it will auto-start and enable itself.
I am brand new to Channels and have a lot to learn. I cannot get Channels to work with launch on boot. Could you be a little more specific about what change you made and where to get Channels to launch? Thank you
You know, it's a really weird coincidence that you posted this, because just this morning I was working on that on my Chromecast. On my SHIELD, when my automation brings it out of sleep, and turns on the TV, it picks up on the channel I was last watching, live. This is what you are trying to achieve?
My original post however was about starting the DVR server on boot, not the app. Having the DVR server stored on the 16gb internal storage enables it to auto start.
Please be more specific about your setup, it's a SHIELD, Chromecast, etc? The auto start stuff is in the DVR settings, but it also sounds like you want the app to autolaunch when powering on the device, or from an automation?
More information please.
Thanks for replying. As I mentioned, I am new to all this. I am running CDVR on a firestick since it was given to me. I was attempting to use LOD to automatically open CDVR when I power up my tv. Reading some info, I see there is a lag from the amazon home screen to CDVR launch. However, it does seem to work, just not what I expected. There is plenty of time to scroll and click on CDVR app. Just trying to simplify for my wife.
Completely understandable. I don't think you're going to be able to reduce the lag aside from cleaning up the firestick perhaps. Remove unnecessary apps, disable the apps you don't wan't but can't remove, etc. I think the lag is probably just because of the underpowered nature of a firestick.
How do you power it off? Exit the app first, then power it off? Try powering it off during a watching session, and power it back on after some time, and see if it goes straight back into channels. Just grasping at straws here, I rid the house of any firesticks.
1 Like