I'm very interested to see how Google navigates the 'Live TV' area of the Nexus Q home entertainment machine. Google TV hasn't exactly taken off as they had expected for a number of reasons - namely high price and buggy, hard to understand implementation. I'm hoping they've learned from their mistake with the Nexus Q.
Right now my home TV setup is comprised of a live TV server (Windows Media Center on Windows 7) and then an Xbox 360 running as a media center extender. This bring me live, HD TV with a great UI and total DVR functionality. It's decent, but a bit of a pain to launch the MCE App on the Xbox when you want to watch TV.
Google bought SageTV almost exactly 2 years ago. SageTV consisted of a media server running on a home PC which provides all DVR functionality, and then SageTV 'placeshifter' which allowed you to watch TV, including premium cable content with a Cablecard, to any of their supported platforms.
SageTV was java-based, which means it is wholly possible that Google could be writing it into the Android platforum and the Nexus Q would be a perfect 'Extender' device. I'm hoping that Google might be working on this as a large secret project so that they can dominate the home entertainment ecosystem.
To me this would be the 'holy grail' of home entertainment. A box that supports both on-demand content (YouTube, Netflix, Music) as well as Live TV.
Does anyone think this is possible? Would you use such a setup?
I think your looking more for a Google TV than the Nexus Q. It's strange to kind of have competing boxes but the Nexus Q seems just for streaming content and the ability to easily share from phone/tablet to your entire house depending on how many you have.
Why they just didn't ad some of these functions to the Google TV product I don't know.
But a nexus q as a front end working with say hdhome turner and feeding streams out Google tv.....god I want this, I love my htpc but I want something like android for the popularity
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Related
Ok so most people that have Comcast know about this app. I have seen the ipad commercial were the guy can basically use his ipad to change the dvr channels and record shows.
Does anyone know if they will be releasing the remote on the next update cause that would be another good reason not to get off the couch or go looking for your remote that your son threw 15 feet across the room.
Anybody else like the idea of using your vibrant as a remote for your tv?
I think overall its a good idea. I know the iPhone can be used with apple tv. For me, I'd rather stick with my harmony. I think eventually it will happen anyway, but for now I'm happy just to be able set a recording on my phone.
I do have a nice logitech eharmony remote I use, but I always have my phone next to me. If it could change channels with my phone, I'd definitely use the hell out of it.
Anything that you do must be through wifi/network connection. No infared which sucks, theres a whole lot you can do with that my ancient pocket pc's all had it not sure why theyve done away with it. although it might have been a contributing factor to why they were so brick like lol.
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MegaPrime33 said:
I think overall its a good idea. I know the iPhone can be used with apple tv. For me, I'd rather stick with my harmony. I think eventually it will happen anyway, but for now I'm happy just to be able set a recording on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Harmony is def the best way to go. Comcast can be configured on web too right?.. like cablevision time warner and fios. You should try it that way.. or buy a harmony off of ebay.. even controls the xbox 360.
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Well ill look into the harmony. But ive heard alot of rumors that the next update for xfinity app should give us access to the dvr part. Because if u load the app the dvr section or button is blanked out.. Can anyone confirm this might be useable with the next update? Cause thay would be awesome!
The dvr function is being rolled out to different areas at different times and you have to ask for a new dvr box. I asked at my local office (s. fla) they told me it wasn't available in my area yet. I too want the dvr function but it also brings caller ID to your tv screen.
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Xfinity apps, the truth
Actually there are 2 apps. 1 is xfinity mobile (email, tv listings, on demand clips, dvr programming, the other is the xfinity tv app. It is the one that controls your cable boxes. It does not need wifi (exept on "pads") or infared, it needs merely an active mobile internet connection. Currently the xfinity mobile app is available on the android market and xfinity tv app is available only for for i-devices (yuck!), but will be released soon for android as well. Also in the future on demand video streaming will be available through the app.
I didn't know about the second one. So, would I be able to screw with my wife and randomly change the channel while im somewhere else
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Absolutely you would. I've done it with my ipod (using the wifi at another location) and my coworker with an iphone screwed around with his parents just for fun and it was hilarious. Lol! By the way, the my DVR option is active on my Xfinity Mobile app (Android app that will not control cable boxes). It shows my scheduled recordings and allows me to set new recordings from the tv listings. I have 2 dvr's and it lists each one seperately. I have named 1 living room and the other bedroom. It's a very nice feature and works very well. The other thing that the xfinity mobile app does that I don't see mentioned. If you have Comcast phone service, it brings callerid from your home phone over to your cell. If someone calls your home phone, you will receive a callerid notification on your android phone, and you can access a call log of your home phone calls as well as listen to your home voicemail. Great technology is a *****!
Yeah, I was gonna say, I have the app and I can set shows to record without a problem. I can do it online too, but obviously this is convenient as well.
Am I the only one that cringes a little when you have to say "Xfinity"?
Here's an update on Xfinity TV app:
In February 2011 XFINITY TV app 1.0 will be released for Android. Providing all of the capability of the current application:
The XFINITY TV app offers customers more control over how they watch and control their XFINITY TV - Anytime, Anywhere, on multiple devices.
* Search for programs to watch on television or On Demand
o Scroll right to a channel or day to find the TV show you want to watch
o Browse the thousands of titles available On Demand, or filter to narrow the selection
* Select a program to watch and use a mobile device or computer like a remote
o Choose a program from the TV Listings and change the channel from your mobile device or PC
o Tune the TV to the program information screen of an On Demand program, then select Watch using your Comcast remote
* Schedule a DVR recording from a PC or mobile device – anytime, anywhere
In March/April 2011, the next version of the XFINITY TV app (1.5) will be launched for Apple device users. This release is focused on your feedback. We've heard your feedback and many of these elements are directly from the feedback from the iTunes store and our forum. Keep up the feedback, we love hearing from you!
The following features will be included in the release:
* Users will be able to create a favorites list
* Auto-Sensing Channel Mapping will automatically choose the correct channel lineup for the user based on their account information. The option to change this information will also be available
* Search by network
* Jump to channel number
* Speed scrolling
* MyTV – more information coming soon
* Sharing on Twitter and Facebook
* Recommendations – recommend a show for your friends
*
iPad users can now:
o Manage parental controls
o Manage your video playback (pause, forward, rewind)
o Have access to additional filters
o Use the Play Now option which allows for live TV streaming
+ Note: This feature is not cable box dependant and is available to all XFINITY Internet/Video customers with an iPad
o Play Now will allow you to view content directly from the XFINITY TV app on your iPad.
*
If you have an eligible Digital Video subscription (subscription must include these channels) and Internet access, you will be able to view content directly on your iPad from the following networks:
o Premium movies and TV shows from:
+ HBO
+ Showtime
+ Starz
o Free content from:
+ Encore
+ MoviePlex
o More channels and content coming soon
Hello
First post here, and my first android phone incoming.
I have always been heavily been invested in apple products, but im getting tired of them.
So now i finally made the jump, sold my ip4 and orderd a galaxy s2.
But my ht setup is kinda the way i like it now, so im gonna to ask some questions.
I have a bunch of mkvs on my pc, i do have a TV with allshare/dlna. But im wondering if its possible to use like metadata agent with scrapes all the moveis i have on my PC/network. So i can view the movie info etc on my android phone, then send the movie from my pc to my tv trough the phone, if you know what i mean.
Its kinda hard to explain, but its quite important to me.
I use plex now on my ipad 2, it scrapes from my pc and sends it from the ipad to the tv using airplay.
I guess mvideoplayer cant access movies/files on the network, i see that its metadata support, i like covers, info etc.
Sorry for all the rambling, but to summarize (since i know nothing about android).
Is there a way to stream content (which is on the pc/network) through my phone to my allshare/dlna TV, trough an app that shows metadata.
First, of all, welcome to Android.
You will not regret the move from iOS to Android.
I think this is what you are asking about. The following is from the Galaxy 2 website:
"AllShare
Show off? Why not when it’s this easy. AllShare lets the Samsung GALAXY S II link wirelessly with a TV, laptop or even audio system to play multimedia files directly from the phone. AllShare synchronizes the phone with a compatible DLNA based product. So start the streaming to the big screen in HD. That’s media convergence made simple!"
http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxys2/html/feature.html
If it's plex from plexapp.com you are using on your ipad it's available for android in the market for $4.99
I've always owned Apple products so this is a little foreign to me. I've noticed DLNA 'servers' to make non-DLNA devices like the iMac make sure of DLNA... but that just sounds like a streaming cloud service?..nothing special, no?
I know the possibilities are endless.. but i'm just curious how everyone puts the cool feature to use/applying it.
not sure what u r asking.
ngocdao said:
I've always owned Apple products so this is a little foreign to me. I've noticed DLNA 'servers' to make non-DLNA devices like the iMac make sure of DLNA... but that just sounds like a streaming cloud service?..nothing special, no?
I know the possibilities are endless.. but i'm just curious how everyone puts the cool feature to use/applying it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think I am understanding what you are asking, but I'll try to explain it. Apple has utilised streaming to devices using their own proprietary tools. This ensures that it will always work, because Apple has designed it but the problem is, not all devices support the "Apple" standard and Apple won't let all of them do such.
DLNA is a standard that allows you to share media over a network with a wide variety of devices.
A couple examples of devices that support DLNA
HDTV's (With WiFi or NIC Cards)
Google TV
Playstation 3
XBOX 360
Newer DVD and Blu-Ray Players
Windows Media Player
Boxee
Roku
There are more, but this is just an example. With the Galaxy S II I decided to do a test when trying to drain my battery and I was curious as to how much it could handle, this also can give you an idea of some potential that you can use DLNA for.
In my SGSII I have a 32GB Class 2 MicroSD card. On it I keep a selection of Music and HD Movies. From my SGSII I started up the DLNA Sever, then I started playing a movie on it. I fired up my Google TV and started streaming a HD Movie on that, then my PS3. I decided to truly push the limits and then started streaming on my Desktop, Laptop, and my Eee Pad Transformer.
In a 1 Bedroom apartment, that's overkill, but think about it like this. You go to someone's house for a party, and want to share your music. They have multiple devices in multiple rooms and you have a large varied collection. You can use your phone on their WiFi Network as the media device. Offering up different music in different rooms. That's where the value in DLNA can come from.
Hi, i think that this italian source's good. Take this guide (use Google Translate if you don't understand), it's very clear: Guide to DLNA with Android
What do u think about it?
I use DLNA to send music from my phone to my Sony TV. It does video also
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http://ausdroid.net/2012/11/17/lg-australia-nexus-4-optimus-g-and-miracast/
Yes, the article isn't about N10 per se, but it has relevant info about Miracast that would translate to N10--whenever Goog can deliver on its claim of Miracast being a 4.2 feature rather than a phone-specific feature. Salient points from the piece:
"Both the Nexus 4 and Optimus G feature Miracast. On the Nexus 4, it’s supported through Android 4.2’s Secondary Displays...On the Optimus G, it’s part of the standard OS and can be enabled with a tap on a dedicated toggle in the notification shade’s Quick Settings area.
"Josh’s demonstration included browsing a photo gallery in full-screen mode on the TV, playback of HD video (an MKV file, no less), web browsing, and a game of Angry Birds. The phone can send output to the Miracast display from an application – for example, a video – and continue to use the phone normally. Josh demoed this by playing a video on the TV while playing Angry Birds on the phone.
"Another quirk is that Miracast uses your Wifi antenna, so you can’t maintain a connection to your home network while transmitting and will instead be relying on mobile data. This is a definite drawback compared to competing systems like AirPlay, but it’s something that could be added or changed as Miracast evolves.
"Notably, the demo was performed on the Optimus G. There seem to be issues with the implementation on the Nexus 4 which should be sorted out with a software update. This seems OK, as no-one has Miracast-capable hardware at the moment."
One of the things I wondered about Miracast was how it can maintain two wifi connections with a single radio. If the above is true, then it can't, so you can't do something like streaming Netflix from online, through your device, to the TV. This would put a massive damper on Miracast's appeal if you can't access the net (via wifi) while using Mira... Hmm, may be that's why Mira isn't available on N10. It only has wifi.
Also interesting that Mira implementations are different on OptiG and N4.
ummm...
Well I can't wait for android to actually allow wifi streaming apps like 'MirrorOp Sender' apps (plenty more on the market) get root access to the 'screen image'.
That is the only issue I am having, I have successfully used the Nexus 7 as my PC monitor with 'MirrorOp Receiver' as well as actually controlling the PC (windows 7) from the nexus with the same app, however as soon as I try to connect my Nexus 7 to the Qumi projector it informs me that root access is required, and to be quite honest I am not at all interested on rooting the nexus, I believe Google should include these things on the OS as they announced they would on JellyBean 4.2... a bit disappointing it still isn't out!
I was thinking of the coolness factor of just having one device, a phone, to which you could connect an external display and have an extended desktop. I am not finding any reference to this on Android (only the MS Surface). From what I have been reading, and remember/understand (may be confused), Jelly Bean brought the ability for windowing apps. However, the apps have to be coded for the capability, unless you root your phone and installed an app that provided windowing for all apps. Also, I have not heard of the possibility of having an extended desktop in Android.
I would like to ask WHY? Why not have windowing and the ability for an extended desktop, on an external display? A bluetooth keyboard and mouse just follows. Does google have to play nice with the manufacturers that stand to loose from people only needing one device? Is there a reason I'm not thinking of? Most phones are fast enough for this these days.
At the turn of the century, I was running GPS software Deluo Routis on a Sony Vaio 505 Pentium 200Mhz laptop running Win98. The 2-D graphics were smooth even while playing mp3's through the car speakers. The mapping software showed the map clearly, and effectively gave me navigation. People have lost sight of how much you can do if you give up the bloat and bling.
Also, I am pretty confused with the merging of Android and Chrome. I never liked Java to begin with; my experience with it is in MS Windows, and it runs slow as molasses. I believe my phone would run much faster if they had not chosen Java. I understand this to be because you have an operating system running on top of another operating system. It just makes more sense to me to have less layers and run apps natively, for better performance. I thought maybe they chose Java for its level of security. Is the screening process for Google Play not foolproof enough?
I like the philosophy of Google better than Microsoft**, so if one of them is going to win, I hope it's Google. I'm hoping Google won't end up with a convoluted Android/Chrome operating system because Lawyers forced them to (the idea I get based on the latest news). I don't understand: do they want to keep their OS architecture simple, but are being forced to make the OS complex for different reasons?
**Apple doesn't even want to compete. They have never wanted to dominate, just make huge profits. Unless they break up the marriage of hardware and software, they won't win. Then again, if Samsung keeps dominating, there may not be much hardware diversity?
Oh, and my main question was: "Why not have windowing and the ability for an extended desktop?". Wouldn't that be a big deciding factor for anyone that wanted to simplify and just have one device?
Anybody? Tell me I'm crazy at least. There has to be a strategic reason, that Google does not introduce full windowing and extended desktop support.
Its coming eventually. though you could do it right now. Motorola tried something like this with their atrix lapdocks.
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E_Phather said:
Its coming eventually. though you could do it right now. Motorola tried something like this with their atrix lapdocks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you do it right now with any android device having a video port?
Well lets look at how we could achieve this with todays technology.
Input:
Bluetooth Mouse & keyboard.
Output:
Wireless display with support for older displays using something like Chromecast.
Graphical User Interface:
A secondary Launcher/Application (Which could potentially see companies like MS & Canonical developing their own UI's and Charging for them if required).
Home & Office use with one device:
Home would be the default UI, but when your device has used NFC to log into the office it would automatically enable your Office profile/UI for a certain length of time (requiring you to log back in after a set time or manual log out via another NFC tap).
This would be very useful as it would enable you to take your "desktop" environment anywhere with you and connect to any HDTV with Wireless display/Chromecast support.
Applications:
So if like me you are finding your phone to become ever more a better solution to your digital needs and you only require your desktop for apps which work better with larger displays (Videos & certain games) you will find this very useful.
Games:
Now games could become ever more better as they could be controlled using standardised control inputs (game controllers could use standardised input methods allowing you to select any compatible controller to best suit your needs) or even a driving game could allow you to see the game on a HDTV yet be controlled with the accelerometer for steering and the right of the devices touch display would be the accelerator and the left of the display would be the brakes for example.
More Business Solutions:
If you could wirelessly connect to the office display then show a powerpoint style presentation that would be great because the very device which stores the file would also be your controller to move to the next/pevious slides.
Media:
Music could possibly be stored in the cloud so when your on the move you can listen to your music as many of us do now, but when connected to a large display it could utilise the large display and speakers to show a music video too!.
Photos could be viewed on the large screen and the next one to be displayed could be select on the device (allowing the use to avoid showing anyone pictures which they don't want other to see - ie: pitcures of you and your friends whilst your parents/grandparents are in the room...).
The TV Guide:
The TV Guide would become a very interactive thing which allows you to see what is available on other TV channels without other people in the room being limited to viewing the content they are trying to watch in a small box in the corner of the display...
These are just some ideas of what is possible, but I know that you could do so much more with this and with 64-bit technology coming to many mobile devices soon that will make it so much easier for devices to process all of this data at once without any serious lag!.
I would love to see a group of developers on XDA team up on an open desktop (secondary) launcher to run alongside the users primary (phone) launcher. if there was a project like this with an open framework to develop apps for I'd be happy to start developing apps for that or separate UI's to run alongside my current (Phone/Android) apps UI's.
Edit:
Also remember that this could be utilised in other ways too eg:: connecting your device to your car and your device could deliver your navigation & music to your vehicles display whilst getting important traffic/weather news using your devices network connection!.
Isn't this exactly what the Ubuntu phone intends to do or have I got the wrong idea?
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Yes, but with Android already having a large ecosystem it would make a lot of sense to build upon that.
Chromecast is not "open" to third party apps. http://www.minyanville.com/sectors/...eeds-to-Tread-Lightly-With/8/28/2013/id/51502
Do they have a displayport version of Chromecast? *cough*
quote from: http://www.tested.com/tech/set-top-boxes/457036-testing-google-chromecast/
"Chromecast is also not a particularly good desktop mirroring option, either. It actually can't do full desktop mirroring, and instead works solely with the Chrome browser. In beta right now is Chrome tab streaming, which sends to Chromecast everything that can be rendered in a single Chrome tab, including web pages, flash embeds, and even full-screen MKV video files if you have VLC installed. I like that Chrome tab streaming works independently of what's showing on your laptop or desktop's screen--like with YouTube and Netflix, you can multi-task and switch to other tabs or windows while one tab is being streamed. The only thing that matters is the window size and screen resolution. Chromecast will automatically scale the aspect ratio of your window to fill up your TV screen, adding black bars on the sides to avoid stretching. A full-screen resolution of 1440x900 looked good on a large 1080p TV, but streaming from a 2560x1600 monitor at full-screen made the text unreadable on my 70" TV."
Wow... I thought only displayport was capable of 2560x1600 (edit: hdmi v1.3 brought this). Even if I hook it up to my 2560x1600 monitor, it won't really display anything but entertainment. Chromecast doesn't seem to be a way to have a monitor, to use your Android phone as a PC replacement.
AllCast !!!
http://www.geek.com/android/chromecast-reject-becomes-allcast-public-beta-now-available-1578674/
However, I still need to add some kind of wifi enabled device to my 30" lcd monitor (like with chromecast). Really, I don't mind a cable connection from my phone to my monitor, if that was an option. If Google continues to be closed like this, then I would go for Ubuntu phone.
Displayport:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MyDP#SlimPort
Any phones have this besides the Google Nexus 4? Actually, I'm not getting a new phone until I know what the hell will happen with Android / Chrome OS
Quote from: http://www.tested.com/tech/android/457205-mhl-vs-slimport/
"SlimPort's support for the DisplayPort standard--specifically Mobility DisplayPort--means it can output video at the same 4K resolution as MHL, though not via HDMI (yet, anyway). And here SlimPort hasn't really made good on its potential, yet; though it's based on the flexible DisplayPort standard, the only SlimPort adapters currently available are for VGA and HDMI connectors. The upshot is that you won't be plugging a Nexus 7 into a 1440p DisplayPort computer monitor anytime soon." http://www.slimportconnect.com/
Chromecast May Get Screen Mirroring With Android 4.4.1
Evidence in Android 4.4.1 indicates that screen mirroring is coming to Chromecast.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/chromecast-google-screen-mirroring-kitkat-android,25345.html
It could start with mirroring a primary display, but gradually result in mirroring something that a GPU has rendered for a secondary display.
A dock from Samsung Galaxy phones. Has USB ports, HDMI, and audio.
http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones-accessories/EDD-S20JWEGSTA
mraeryceos said:
A dock from Samsung Galaxy phones. Has USB ports, HDMI, and audio.
http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones-accessories/EDD-S20JWEGSTA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that myself with my previous Galaxy S4 (i9500), It was a great dock and when I connected my wireless KB & Mouse USB dongle & connected the HDMI to my PC monitor it was a good experience when doing things like playing GTA3 on the bigger screen (it was better than the windows version in some ways).
But the device just needed a separate home screen UI to be output to the PC screen to look perfect and to work better with the KB & Mouse input type.
It shouldn't be too difficult to make a UI that simply changes the size of some buttons to a smaller size, enabling more widgets to fit on the home screen and if they could simply force the apps to run in either windowed or full screen that would enable better multi-tasking, then the browsers would just need a small update to detect if the device is running in Desktop Mode if so, then simply zoom out of the page a little to emulate the desktop browser experience.
Just a few ideas... If Google's Android team are reading this, I would recommend that you get that dock to experiment with for future Android builds.
Especially now that OS' like Ubuntu Phone are looking at going down this road of the one device fits all computational needs.
Rather than creating a new thread I thought that it would appropriate to bring this topic back up after the recent announcements that several OEM's have made, that they will be releasing desktops with Android as their Primary/Secondary OS.
I hope that this pushes Google into creating a dedicated desktop UI in the future.