Hats off to Xiaomi for continuing to support this device - even if it did take a little time for them to get back on board.
The new update fixed the problem I previously mentioned with missing video on USB hard drives.
Hats off to Xiaomi for continuing to support this device - even if it did take a little time for them to get back on board.
admin (31-07-18)
Since embarking on the Android TV journey, I've found I am using Kodi less and less these days. Plex has my local collection covered and Netflix, Stan etc are getting used a hell of a lot more. But I've stuck with Kodi for watching IPTV - until now.
Live Channels is a built-in app on Android TV and is made by Google. It's designed to extract live TV channels from existing apps and display them in a neat recognisable EPG grid layout to give the same experience as a set top box. Just like Kodi's TV side of things. It sits hidden in the app folder and is pretty useless unless you have an app to inject sources into it. That's when TVirl comes into play. I found it the other day in the Play Store and I have to say I'm pretty impressed! TVirl handles the m3u playlist and xml EPG files and pushes it to Live Channels, essentially bringing it to life.
This means I no longer need Kodi to watch IPTV and can rely on a solid app that comes with Andoid. Now, I still like Kodi, don't get me wrong. But it's not very wife/parent friendly and takes some setting up and can run into problems. Live Channels is simple, robust, super fast to load and plays whatever is thrown at it. Highly recommend you give it a go and see for yourself.
Last edited by Smacca; 23-07-18 at 09:45 PM.
Thanks Smacca. That is far, far cleaner than using Kodi.
Could you advise what m3u and epg links you use for the Australian FTA channels? I can’t get TVirl to accept any here.
Edit: on Kodi I use the m3u8 FTA links from the Matt Huisman website, but I can’t get these to work with TVirl.
Last edited by peteramjet; 24-07-18 at 01:44 PM.
Smacca (25-07-18)
+1
Like you Smacca, I havent been using Kodi bugger all. Netflix, Stan and Foxtel Go (only subscribed for AFL but have a few channels) does just about everything, but having the FTA channels would be good.
I have the 7's via the same app as you, but cant work out how to get them in to Live Channels.
Quite a contrast to a few years back isnt it, what satellite TV
Smacca (25-07-18)
Just re-tried the m3u8 links form Matt Huisman’s site and they are working fine same with the EPG.
Yep, just about everything's covered. I too only got a Foxtel sub just for the AFL.
Do you mean the 7plus app? For some reason it's not compatible with Live Channels. Would be great if it was!
It's crazy to think how far we've come. I like the user friendliness of all this new tech. Trying to find the right satellite-based equipment that did everything was just never achievable.
The Matt Huisman playlists are the best out there. I use my own m3u playlist but mostly so I can mix in local streams from my HDHomeRun.
I should point out that the official HDHomeRun app from Play Store acts as a source for Live Channels as well.
Last edited by Smacca; 25-07-18 at 12:17 AM.
ol' boy (22-06-19)
Smacca, I now have channels going via Live Channels and have EPG, but not detailed EPG as in it lists whats on but no detailed description.
Any ideas ? Like Peteramjet, I have used Matt Huisman’s site for the source. Peter, do you have detailed EPG ?
Cheers
Nup, it’s lists the upcoming shows and times, but doesn’t give extended details.
I use private xmltv data which does have details (example of verbosity in screenshots above). PM me for access.
It's on again >
OSIRUS (19-09-18)
OTA public update released for October 2018 security patches. Apparently it is the same kernel as the new model.
Does anyone know how to call up the background apps running (minimized) so they can be cleared?
Xiaomi Mi 3
I have tried holding down all buttons on remote with no luck.
I don't think a simple reboot clears running background apps.
OT: are the streams HD, out of curiosity?
We've really been watching a good deal (more) local TV thanks to Matt's playlists - was watching Eurovision on SBS the other night and while the upper right corner of stream was watermarked with SBS HD, the quality would drop so low that you couldn't even read SBS HD. Mind you, the broadcast never dropped out but I'd put the quality at 480p, at best. I'm on a 100mb/s cable connect.
Curious mostly, but wanting to install the highest def streams as are available.
It's On again over at OZB
may Interest somebodies
ol' boy (12-06-19)
Can anyone tell me if these boxes run PLEX without issue?
From am external server
Last edited by ol' boy; 12-06-19 at 07:46 PM.
If u want to go on an expedition get a Land Rover, if u want to come home from an expedition get a Landcruiser!
ol' boy (13-06-19)
Its on again at Gearbest
Official International Version Quad-core Cortex-A53 4K H.265 VP9 Profile-2 Decoding Dual-band WiFi
Dolby DTS with Bluetooth Voice Remote Control
Coupon GBCNMIBOXHB $49.99
admin (05-11-19)
Just following up on my post last year about Live Channels and TVirl. The latter never had an auto-update feature for the EPG which was a bit of a pain. Recently they started charging a pretty unreasonable monthly fee just for the auto-update option. So I went back to Kodi TV channels for a while but have since discovered a great alternative for a great price.
Look no further than TiviMate! It looks and feels like Live Channels but has way more options. It only costs $8 per year for access to auto-updating and a swathe of other customisations. I've been using now for about a week and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a fast, reliable alternative to Kodi for live stream watching!
Search for it on the Play Store app or install it from here:
Bookmarks