My Downloader app should return to Google Play in 2 weeks, no thanks to Google

Posted by Elias Saba on — 7 Comments

After 6 days of waiting, I received a reply yesterday from Google regarding the baseless removal of my Downloader app from the Google Play Store due to a ridiculous DMCA claim from Israeli TV firms. Google, after taking its sweet time, is taking a backseat to the situation and not reinstating my app at this time. Even though the claim that the web browser in my app is somehow liable for the copyright infringement occurring on some random website that I have nothing to do with is absurd to any sane person, Google is not intervening and is giving the TV firms that filed the DMCA notice their allotted 10 business days to either file “an action that seeks a court order to restrain” my app or file “a claim of infringement with the US Copyright Office.” Meanwhile, my app will remain suspended for at least two more weeks while it continues to bleed the user base I’ve spent over 5 years serving. Read more ›

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My Downloader app was absurdly removed from the Google Play Store because the built-in browser can load a piracy website

Posted by Elias Saba on — 31 Comments

This past Friday, my Downloader app was suspended and removed from the Google Play Store due to an absurd Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaint from a law firm representing several Israel cable/satellite TV companies, including Yes TV and Hot TV. The lawyer Eran Presenti claims that because my app’s web browser is able to load some specific “copyright infringing website” (e.g., piracy website), which I have no association with, that it somehow makes my app infringe his client’s copyright. Google has rejected my appeal so now I ask for your help. Read more ›

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Amazon blocks Downloader app on the Echo Show 15 in seemingly meaningless effort to thwart sideloading

Posted by Elias Saba on — 28 Comments

Amazon has blocked my Downloader app from being installed on the Fire TV experience of the Echo Show 15, despite it initially being available and marked as a compatible app. The app continues to appear in search results on the Echo Show 15 but is now listed as unavailable. Amazon made this change the day after a method for sideloading apps on the Echo Show 15 was discovered, where my Downloader app was used as the means for transferring an APK file to the device. Blocking Downloader does absolutely nothing to thwart sideloading on the device because it’s Amazon’s own pre-installed file manager on the Echo Show 15 that performs the sideload app installation and there are still many other apps available for the Echo Show 15 that can transfer APKs to the device. Read more ›

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Downloader v1.4.3 released with GitHub compatibility fix and Browser included on Android/Google TV by default

Posted by Elias Saba on — 26 Comments

Last week, GitHub made a change to how it serves files which was incompatible with Downloader. Since many app projects are hosted on GitHub, this resulted in Downloader displaying an error that read “URL needs authorization” when trying to download files hosted by GitHub. I’ve fixed the issue in Downloader version 1.4.3 and the updated version is already live in the Amazon Appstore for Fire TV devices and the Google Play Store for Android/Google TV devices. In the past, Google absurdly would not allow Downloader to have its built-in browser included by default, even though there are plenty of stand-alone browsers already in the Google Play Store for Android/Google TV devices. I gave it another try this time and Google finally approved Downloader with the browser included, so, as of v1.4.3, the browser plugin is no longer required for Android/Google TV devices.

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Introducing the AFTVnews URL Shortener for the Downloader App

Posted by Elias Saba on — 21 Comments

I’m excited to announce the AFTVnews URL Shortener which makes using my Downloader App easier than ever. As you’d expect, entering any URL into the AFTVnews URL Shortener results in a short URL being created that points to the original URL. What makes the AFTVnews URL Shortener best for the Downloader App is that the two are integrated together so that you only need to enter the numeric code portion of the short URL to load it in the Downloader App. Read more ›

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Downloader app and Sideloading work on the 2020 Chromecast with Google TV

Posted by Elias Saba on — 4 Comments

For those wondering the new 2020 Google Chromecast with Google TV does support sideloading apps and my Downloader app. There was a small bug in Downloader that partially prevented file access on the Chromecast, due to privacy changes made in Android 10, but I’ve already fixed it and the updated version (v1.4.2) is already live in Google’s appstore. Read more ›

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Downloader app for Fire TV and Android TV now supports built-in Google Search

Posted by Elias Saba on — 12 Comments

I have just updated my Downloader app to v1.4.1 and with this update I’ve added the ability to perform a Google search directly from the URL field. Most people already know the URL they want to load when using Downloader, but those who don’t tend to first load Google and search. In those cases, this update saves you a step by not needing to load google.com first. Just enter your search term into the URL field on either the Home screen or the Browser screen of the app and hit Go to directly load a Google search in the app’s built-in browser. Read more ›

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How to sideload apps like Kodi or SPMC on the Amazon Fire TV & Stick using Downloader

Posted by Elias Saba on — 114 Comments

Last Updated: February 26, 2019

This guide will walk you through the steps of installing (a.k.a. sideloading) a 3rd-party app, like Kodi, onto any Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. This guide uses my own app, called Downloader, which is available for free from the Amazon Appstore. You do not need a computer, an external drive, a keyboard, ADB, or anything else to follow this guide. All you need is your Fire TV remote and about a minute of your time. This is currently the quickest way to sideload apps on the Fire TV or Firestick, and is easier than using ES File Explorer. Read more ›

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Downloader v1.1.7 is now live with more bug fixes for Fire TV 3 and other models

Posted by Elias Saba on — 21 Comments

Downloader version 1.1.7 is now live in the Amazon Fire TV Appstore. This version hopefully fixes the last few remaining issues that were preventing the app from not downloading certain files correctly. I’ve actually split the code into a Fire OS 5 and Fire OS 6 version temporarily so that any potential bugs that make it in while I work on Fire TV 3 compatibility don’t affect older devices. (That is what happened with the v1.1.4 update, which broke certain file downloads on older Fire TV models.) There aren’t two listings and you don’t have to do anything special to get the right version. The Fire TV will automatically download the right version from the Amazon Appstore. I’ll merge the code back together in a future update once I’m confident everything is stable.

I’m sorry if having so many updates recently has been annoying. Just as my developer and I work into the night to fix issues and push out an update, we wake up to newly reported issues and get right back into it. That has been our cycle ever since the Fire TV 3 was released. Development costs haven’t been cheap, so if you appreciate the app, please consider donating through its home screen in-app purchase buttons or by supporting me on Patreon.

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Downloader v1.1.4 is now live — Fixes issue preventing Fire TV 3 from installing APKs

Posted by Elias Saba on — 27 Comments

Version 1.1.4 of my Downloader app is now live and available for all Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, and Fire TV Edition televisions to use. The main purpose of this release is to fix an issue that was preventing owners of the new Fire TV 3 from installing APK files. If you have version 1.1.3 installed and can’t get your Fire TV to update the app, you can always uninstall it and then reinstall to get the latest version.

As Fire TV 3s began arriving yesterday, the issue with Downloader was discovered around mid-day and I had a fixed version completed and submitted that evening. If you appreciate the quick turnaround, please consider supporting the app by donating through the buttons on the app’s home screen or by supporting me on Patreon.

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