If you missed yesterday’s live stream, here’s the latest AFTVnewscast episode. Thanks to everyone who viewed live and who participated by asking questions.
The AFTVnewscast is usually streamed live on Fridays at 1:30pm PT. I had to stream this episode last Thursday due to my schedual this week. Sorry it’s out a day later than usual. You can watch all episodes on YouTube, subscribe via RSS, subscribe via iTunes, listen via TuneIn, Stitcher, or download the MP3 directly. Read on for the show notes and links.
Show Notes & Links
Overview of Fire TV & Fire TV Stick software update 5.0.5 changes
Amazon launches add-on subscription service for TV networks and media collections
Summary of all new Amazon Prime Video add-on subscriptions with prices and content count
Who’s to blame for the Fire TV’s lack of Netflix voice search integration?
Amazon Fire TV gains native Prime Add-On Subscription support with latest update
How to Cancel an Amazon Prime Video Add-On Subscription
Overview of Fire OS 5 software update changes for the Fire TV Stick
Everything you need to know about the Fire OS 5 update for the 1st-gen Fire TV and Fire TV Stick
Fire OS 5 on the Amazon Fire TV 1 and Fire TV Stick can be Rooted
How to block software updates on the Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick
Chip in to buy Rbox a Fire TV Stick if you’d like
The current state of Fire TV & Fire TV Stick rooting
How to Root the Amazon Fire TV 2
New voice remote for Amazon Fire TV & Fire TV Stick available for pre-order
New Fire TV and Fire TV Stick Voice Remote on Amazon
All Amazon Fire TV bundles are currently on sale
Get a $5 credit for reloading your Amazon Gift Card Balance with $100
Check if you qualify for the $5 free credit
App Deal: Weather Friend down from $0.99 to FREE
App Deal: Toy Story – Smash It! down from $1.99 to $0.99
Toy Story: Smash It game on Amazon
App Deal: DuckTales Remastered down from $9.99 to $4.99
DuckTales: Remastered game on Amazon
App Deal: Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse down from $9.99 to $4.99
Castle of Illusion starring Mickey Mouse game on Amazon
German Fire TV gets a new dedicated South Park app
How to install Geographically Restricted Apps from Amazon
Ultimate Sideloading Guide for Amazon Fire TV & Fire TV Stick
How to change the Wallpaper on a rooted Amazon Fire TV
Amazon reportedly considering its own live TV service
Nyko Cygnus Game Controller Review
Amazon Fire TV Game Controller
Amazon Fire TV Design and User Experience Guidelines
Granting apps access to write on external storage
Amazon will reportedly release a portable version of the Echo in coming weeks
How to unroot a Fire TV and switch back to stock updates From Amazon
Get the AFTVnewscast on YouTube, iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, and via RSS Feed
@AFTVnews
AFTVnews
Why should I root a perfectly working device? Can someone give me any benefits rooting it?
Vortex, while the ftv could be a perfect device, you might want to root it to make it a dedicated device for running only Kodi or Openelec. It would be faster ’cause while the non-rooted ftv would run Kodi, there’s the ftv software running in the background, thus slowing down Kodi. I wouldn’t exaggerate if I say at least two third of ftv owners run Kodi.
A.B, Kodi is running perfectly on aftv without rooting. I find more headache with it. Are there any other reasons to root?
I totally agree with you see my fire tv running smoothly without rooting friend A.B. I explain something that does not leave me very clear whether or not worth doing can better explain to the person or another here that we would help make the roooting? thanks
My AFTV2 works fine without rooting. I think the rationale for rooting held true for the AFTV1 because of the noticeable speed improvements. But the AFTV2 is very fast. Moreover, rooting and installing apps from non-Amazon sites exposes it to significant security risks. Yes, there are those who claim that they only download from legit sites – to them I say, even Apple got tricked when malware ended up in the IOS store. So unless you are a cybersecurity guy with plenty of time on hand to verify the authenticity of every app you install … I say, don’t bother … spend that time watching CuriosityStream … it will make you smarter. LOL.
There is no speed benefit to rooting. Rooting allows me to do a few things: 1) install xposed and remove banner ads, sections of the home menu I don’t like. 2) Boot right into the application I chose (Kodi). 3) Have Kodi tweaks to allow screen saver, reboot, power off etc.
I don’t really get how it is a headache. It is literally just following a couple instructions. That all said, if you don’t feel any need for it, don’t do it.
https://www.mysonicwall.com/sonicalert/searchresults.aspx?ev=article&id=751
Do you have plan to unlock the bootloader for Fire TV stick?
and will you build a CyanogenMod android firmware for it？
Ad blocking, Service disabling, inapp purchase cracking, OS slimming, Wallpaper changes, full root access, among many other things are why I root/jailbreak.
I use an anti-virus on the FireTV to check every app (including apps that auto-update in the middle of the night). The anti-virus app is native to the AFTV2 … I downloaded from Amazon store. While the AFTV2 may not any sensitive information worth stealing … the device resides on the same network as all your other devices. If a network sniffing malware gets installed on your AFTV2, it can scoop data from across the network.
Ironically that anti-virus app is likely more of a malware than anything else you could possibly have installed on your fire tv.
That’s “AVG Anti-virus”. The same folks who make the desktop version.
Elias – my question about size of cover art was based on comparisons with cover art size on Apple TV. I have never felt that the Apple UI was too small to read and I have seen any reviews that consider it a con. So as it stands, AFTV only shows four tiles at a time with only left-right navigation … whereas ATV shows around 20 tiles at a time with left-right-top-down navigation. So for someone like me … with 90 titles in their watchlist, the AFTV approach becomes a major PITA.
Since rooting mine, I managed to replace the amazon launcher with my own code, and added voice search into KODI :D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpgKci_gJYY
Hey I have a question.
I have the unrooted FireTV 1st gen on 5.0.5 and have blocked updates.
I am waiting for RBOXs TWRP and pre rooted ROM.
As far as I understand it, the Root with Kingroot is not Bootloader unlocked. So is it possible after Rooting my FireTV with Kingroot and installing TWRP to downgrade on a pre rooted Rom to unlock the Bootloader?
And then update back to 5.0.5 with unlocked bootloader?
Is this possible?