yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Wargzam:
What are the chances of getting an Android TV ROM put on the FireTV? Is the partial bootloader unlock that's out there enough to do this?
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dhickory:
I'm curious what would happen if the Android TV Launcher was sideloaded on the FireTV? I doubt it would be that easy, but I know it's been possible to get Google Play Store working and linked to your account and the ability to show all apps.

Maybe someone with a little more knowledge can expand on this and what else would have to be packaged together for the TV Launcher to work properly.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
My guess is it won't work because it requires lollipop stuff. I am currently working on a lollipop build. I have some time off work so maybe I'll be able to make some progress on it.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Antechris:
Android TV Launcher available (4.4 +):

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.leanbacklauncher

Someone to test ? ;)
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
Well the stock Amazon OS is 4.2.2... so...
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Antechris:
Very stupide, I was sure it was 4.4. Sorry
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] RAFAMP:
Give it a few weeks, I'm sure the AFTV will be updated to Kitkat at least.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
I highly doubt that. The kernel that Amazon is using does not have a kitkat branch. Plus they really have no reason to do that.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
CM12...
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] t3ch42:
Awesome!! Looking forward to trying it out!
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Nice... Glad I got all my FTV's with partial unlocked bootloader, latest CWM & BootMenu ready to go....
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] pbanj:
will you still be making the prerooted stock roms?
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hearnia_2K:
This is awesome!

I'd love to know how successful we expect this to be? Not trying to push or anything, of course, but I'm very curious if we have audio and video acceleration working yet? Having seen this I think I'll pick up another Fire TV, but not sure where best to buy, to have best chance of rooting it? Staples or Amazon?

I've currently got an Amazon Fire TV with your kernel boot menu installed, and would be happy to play about with some CM12 builds if it is helpful to have another users perspective. If the network does not work I have an Android compatible USB ethernet adaptor, and also wifi adaptor.

Thanks!!
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Amazon has been the best place to get rootable FTV's. Staples & BB are still sending a high number of rootable FTV's as long as folks follow AFTVNews.com guides on how to Root them without updating them.

---------- Post added at 08:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:42 PM ----------

He will probably still be making them. It just happens that the latest FW update isn't much of an update Features wise. So no rush for an update. Plus Amazon is getting trickier with the FW too. So patience is a virtue..
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] pbanj:
oh im patient i just wanted to know if he was stopping the prerooted ones or not. i wasnt asking for an eta or anything. i just know some devs stop one project when they move onto another
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
As for CM12, it is very far from something flashable. All I have right now is the boot animation and the "updating packages" dialog. Currently my main problem is that none of the required services are starting, so I have to start them manually. Even doing that, I think I'm not starting everything that is required because as it starts loading up things, it dies because storage isn't set up properly, and bypassing that it kinda just hangs starting some android services. I'll have to enable some debug in init tomorrow to see what's going on with that.

As for prerooted, I'll still be making those. To be honest, CM12 is just a fun experiment for me. I probably won't be using it much because I watch a lot of Amazon Prime, and Android TV currently doesn't support it. I didn't really hear anyone saying anything earth shattering is contained in the newest update, and I really need to spend some extra time on it to figure out what's wrong with SuperSU, so that's why I haven't released a new one yet.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] AFTVnews.com:
That's awesome. If you can pull off CyanogenMod, it'll be epic! I know it's super early in the process, but forgive me, you got me all giddy and I couldn't hold back.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
So I've gotten A LOT farther than I expected. I thought the kernel would have been a much bigger issue than it turned out to be. Anyway, right now I can get to the stock launcher and it looks like SystemUI is doing a crazy crash loop, so eventually the thing just dies. I'm going to try to get the Android TV launcher worker though. Then deal with SystemUI.

EDIT: Well I got the Android TV launcher starting... not sure what's supposed to happen with it though...
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Maybe it needs CM12 compatible GAPPS to load correctly...
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
Yeah, I was thinking it was probably related to gapps. I'm going to need to fix the crashing SystemUI first and try to get the logcat cleaned up a little before I try to debug problems with it. Luckily they have a full stock rom and proprietary binaries for the Nexus Player. But I think I'm done for the day.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Great amount of work in less then 24 hours... Congrats... We are now miles closer to an alternative Custom Rom.... :good:
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hearnia_2K:
Wow, just amazing progress. While I realize there is more to do I am certainly excited to watch the progress on this!

Again, if there is anything I can do to help support or move this activity forwards, please let me know. I'm not a developer, so can't help from that angle, but anything I can do, please let me know!

My new FireTV is now running 51.1.4.1, has Clockworkmod, and your (rbox's) boot menu installed, so thanks for that!
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] citrusfizz:
Good freaking job! I wish I knew how to do the stuff you do!
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Stevie G:
rbox for Amazon president!!!!

Nice work man, it's Awesomeness
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] n023b:
Will it work on firetv stick as well? Buying a 2nd firetv soon don't know if ill be getting the box or the stick
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hearnia_2K:
Even if it does work on the stick I would imagine that it will come slightly later, but also offer less functionality and/or performance. The stick is a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and also the USB port might not work in host mode - meaning adding things like a keyboard/mouse might be as simple, or possible. Of course, assuming bluetooth was working it may be possible to add some things that way.

If you got one today you could get a Fire TV for about $70+tax from Staples, suing the coupon on their website, combined with their sale price, which I expect ends today, though could be wrong.

Also, the only proper root for the stick is via a soldering method, and this would mean flashing the required stuff to the FireTV Stick is much less likely to be something people would do, and so with a smaller audience it'll likely get less attention.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] patt2k:
rbox I hope you get it to work.. you would make us have the best android tv box style setop ever made seriously...

all I have it is rooted for now with bunch of tweaks hopefully we can have a custom rom :)
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] acesup_11:
Great work so far!

One question will this allow us to fix the 24p/24Hz output issue ( 3:2 pulldown ) that creates judder and micro stutters and allow frame rate matching? Thanks again.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
The Stick is a completely different device and it uses a broadcom chip versus a quallcom, so it would have to be something completely different, and I don't know much about compiling for broadcom. As I've said in the past, until there is a software root for the stick, I'm not gonna mess with it.

No clue.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] acesup_11:
thanks for the quick response. I think that Android L (lollipop) can do the frame rate matching and 24p/24hz is cyanogemod 12 based on android L? Thanks again.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
Yes, 12 is L. That's the whole point of doing it.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
I didn't get much done today... but I thought I'd just leave this here for now.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] freezer2k:
Awesome progress anyway, thank you rbox!

Anyone know if refresh rate change is already supported by recent XBMC/Kodi builds on Android L?

Would be awesome if we get the FireTV working with adjustable framerate @ CM12.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jmcguire525:
Plus one hoping that 24hz along with bitstreaming HD audio can be fixed on the fire the an android L based rom, alot of people don't realize the significance of this but it is huge!
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Luxferro:
Nice work!

Android TV on the Fire TV would be really nice :D
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] e900542:
Root Required?

I just ordered a fire tv under the impression that I would still be able to root it. When I found out shortly afterwards that I couldn't, I tried to cancel my order but it had already been processed.

I am hoping to take this approach; block updates until a root or cyanogenmod is available (preferably the latter of course).

My question is, in order to install cyanogenmod, will I need root access first?
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Where did you order it from & why or how do you know it is not rootable ? Unless you are ordering a UK/GER version which have never been rootable ?

And YES... In order to be able to flash CyanoGenMod you will need Root+Partially Unlocked Bootloader+CWM+BootMenu.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] e900542:
Ordered it directly from Amazon day before yesterday, so just an assumption that it will have the updated firmware on it.

Should be able to confirm tomorrow. What would be the best way to validate without getting an update.? From the reading I have done, it appears the device will want to check for updates right away before registering, so I am thinking blocking the update servers at my router may not be a viable solution.

Just trying to get an idea before I unbox so I can return if it doesn't seem like its going to work out for me. My end game is XBMC and the ability to mount external USB storage.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
The opposite is true. Getting it from Amazon US gives you the highest chance of getting a FTV that is Rootable... So far I've yet to hear Amazon US mailing out non-rootable FireTV's. That is if you follow the right guide...

I would start here: http://www.aftvnews.com/start/

Post the first 13 digits of your serial once you get it.. We might have a better idea about it with that info. But like I said... I've yet to read about Amazon sending out a unrootable FireTV's in the states. Unless the FTV owner messes things up during root. But that is User Error. You might even be able to go into your order info to get the serial number now. Specially if you didn't order as a gift.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] freezer2k:
Which is a joke being in Europe.

In Europe we go for hardware root and endless drama just to get root :D

It's defintetly kind of fun since I love hacking.

However, it still feels a bit ridiculous. You would think they close that loophole at some point, when they already blow soft fuses via firmware updates to prevent access. But no, you can still order fully rootable DIRECTLY from Amazon....hahaha, love it.

Wondering, if you update to the .1 firmware which blows the softfuse -- this makes running CM12 impossible, correct?
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Guess they've been lazy over here. To our benefit. I do think the FireTV sales will half'd once they only have unRootable FTV's available. Once you are rooted, you need to go all in to avoid this... And wait until the all clear has been given on any new PreRooted FW.

All in means: Rooted (wtih SuperSU & BusyBox permissions + Blocked OTA Update ) + Partially Unlocked Bootloader + PreRooted FW + BootMenu + Latest PreRooted FW.

Now that RBox knows bout the eFuse issue. PreRooted FW should continue to be safe to update when given enough breathing room.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] e900542:
This is a great bit of news.

Serial number is 7090 0303 4252 XXXX

Hoping for luck so I have a nice project to do over the holiday break.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gibbshous@gmail.com:
Unjustified Dev work on Mojo might help with Amazon Fire TV

This does not work on Amazon Fire TV. Unjustified Dev has been working on the same thing for Mad Catz Mojo.

Here are the links to his XDA work on Mad Catz Mojo:

http://xdaforums.com/mad-catz-mojo/development/rom-cyanogenmod-12-mad-catz-m-o-j-o-t2976401

CyanogenMod is based on the Android Open Source Project with extra contributions from many people within the Android community

All the source code for CyanogenMod is available in the CyanogenMod Github repo. And if you would like to contribute to CyanogenMod, please visit out Gerrit Code Review. You can also view the Changelog for a full list of changes & features.

Downloads:

Unofficial CM-12 Builds

https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=21781

Google Apps for 5.0

https://s.basketbuild.com/filedl/gapps?dl=gapps-lp-20141109-signed.zip

Installation:

Download the ROM and Gapps either to the device or an external sdcard

Go into recovery ( Two ways to enter recovery)

* Quick Reboot app

* Fastboot mode ( Enter fastboot and boot the twrp recovery image)

Youtube video of Android TV on Mojo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og-GDeRhJno
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] jmcguire525:
aftvnews.com has a step by step guide for everything you are asking
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ahoslc:
Does this work on the firetv?
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] adfurgerson:
I would suggest editing your post with a very large disclaimer stating "FOR REFERENCE ONLY DO NOT FLASH TO FTV" or something similar. Never underestimate people's ability to jump in without fully reading.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Did not need the last 3 digits. You might want to delete them off you post. I took it off the quote. My best guess is that it should be Rootable. Just make sure you do follow the Start guide over at AFTVNews I linked to earlier. Fire TV & Fire TV Stick Rooting Starters Guide

I use a Utility prog that makes thing easier: Amazon FireTV Utility App v0.34
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
So I've made some progress. I fixed SystemUI crashes and got the "TvSettings" app working, so now Settings show up in the launcher. I should probably set the Device Name to something less boring. I loaded the chromecast app, and the device showed up for me on my phone, but selecting it didn't do anything, nor did it show anything in logcat. I was able to get the Youtube app loaded and surprisingly it showed up and I was able to launch it. I'm getting a ton of errors in logcat related to it, but it seemed to mostly work. I wasn't able to actually play anything, but that's more related to my unfinished port, no media works in any app yet. The one annoying thing is the screen turns off pretty quickly when idle, even though I thought I told it not to.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] ahoslc:
Getting really excited man can't wait. Would it help to try to find another dev to help you?
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
I actually am consulting with other devs.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hearnia_2K:
How helpful are donations right now? I realize it's always got some value, but I would think that's mainly something to help out on buying new devices for testing and things?

I'm really excited about Lollipop, and it's definitely progressing nicely, and I think I'd like to donate again to support the Lollipop 'project'.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
When I get an email notification saying I've gotten a donation it puts a little smile on my face. It's nice to know people care.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hearnia_2K:
That's an absolutely good enough reason! Hopefully you can get some beers or snacks to help you work!

Thanks, and Merry Christmas!
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] porkenhimer:
I've ordered 3 and all have came with

51.1.3.0_user_51301152 preinstalled. I am in Kentucky, about 35 miles from an amazon shipping plant in Lexington. Another weird thing is that before I got them I blocked the three URLs and figured I would keep it like that incase root came for that firmware, but out of the blue all three were updated today. I am guessing that they changed their update URLs. Now I have three Fire TVs that cannot be rooted, which isn't a big deal for now, but when an actual Android TV ROM comes I won't be able to use it.

A question for anyone who has knowledge on the subject, what is the possibility of the newer firmwares getting root? Just curious, not impatient. I like the Fire TV how it is, but would switch in a second for a CM ROM. I hope by the time a ROM comes I can be able to root.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Guess they are finally getting to their newer inventory... Not good.. Any chance you can post all but the 3 last digits of the serials of those FireTV's...
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Luxferro:
Guys, stop derailing the thread.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] porkenhimer:
Nobody is derailing anything. It all fits withing the realm of the thread.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Luxferro:
The thread is about Android TV on Fire TV, not about how to root or where to buy rootable devices, ect. There's plenty of other threads, and a whole Q&A sub-forum for asking those types of questions.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] porkenhimer:
Go back and read my first post a few post back. Hopefully you do, cause you will see I clearly mentioned the Android TV ROM twice in my post. The matter of rooting coincides with any ROM for the Fire TV, cause if we can't root, we cannot use any ROM besides official firmware. Its impossible to talk about any ROM for our device without talk of rooting. I guarantee when the ROM comes out several people will ask questions and all will be asked if they are rooted. Your argument is mute so let people talk about what they want, cause it all goes together. If someone was on here talking about pizza and lowriders you could have a reason to *****, but nobody is doing anything like that so get a life and worry about yourself instead of what others are doing.

Back on topic, is there any hope of root for newer firmware, cause I wanna be able to use the CM ROM if its ever released? See how that goes together? Root and ROM is like peanut butter and jelly.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Luxferro:
If you don't have root you should probably be in another thread. Sorry to come off as a ****, but most users follow this thread to hear rbox's progress on an Android TV ROM.

Rooting is a prerequisite, it should be talked about elsewhere. If I went by your logic, I could talk about how to turn on my device, or install adb drivers, or how to use my desktop PC

.. Because those are all steps the lead to putting android TV ROM on your device..sorry, but that logic is flawed.

So now I'm derailing the thread trying to teach you the basics of internet posting.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
Just a little update. I've ported over most of the apps from the Android TV. YouTube is giving me a little trouble right now, but I'll figure it out. Also still having issues with video playback, solved a few things today, but still refuses to load something. I'm at the point where I got the cool little welcome screen to pop up, but unfortunately it looks like it requires wifi to register, and I haven't set up wifi yet, so it looks like that's my next task. Also the on screen keyboard is pretty nice, but for some reason the key that works for selecting things in the launcher does not work for selecting letters in the keyboard, so I'll have to figure out the right key for that.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] meltmanti:
Thank you for your work on this Rbox. I'm very very excited about the potential for this on the FireTV hardware.

:good::laugh:
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] porkenhimer:
Lmfao you're a joke. Plain and simple.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] patt2k:
Damn dude great progress.. can't wait !
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Y314K:
Great to hear RBox... Can't wait for the next set of screenshots.... Thanks for making this your ChristMas vacation project...

Now lets get back to derailing the thread... Has anybody seen my butt scratcher... It's pretty worn out since RBox is the only one actually working on making the Android TV ROM possible.. The rest of us, we are just hoovering for info... aka just filler... Anyone ?? Bueller ??? Bueller ???
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mdpauley:
[MENTION=3991724]rbox[/MENTION], I'm not a ROM making expert but also not a novice, if I can help in anyway let me know.

mdpauley
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] t3ch42:
:laugh::laugh::laugh:

That's good.

Thanks rbox.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] 2k1197:
Picked up an Amazom Fire TV today such a shame Amazon have blocked users from installing the google play store, rooting or bootloader unlocking their device... I'm sure someone will come up with a fix soon enough though! In the meantime im glad to see that rbox is doing so well with porting android tv over to this nifty little box.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hearnia_2K:
You can sideload various things onto the FireTV easily enough, including the Play Store, and other apps. If you plan to do much with it then you should consider rooting it, if you have a rootable device, and prevent future updates.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] 2k1197:
Unfortunately my device updated to the latest efuse enabled software as soon as I connected it to the internet...to my knowledge this means I won't be able to root or bootloader unlock my AFTV anytime soon...and I'm pretty sure that to install the Google Play Store I need to be rooted?
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Fgarcor:
Yes, you needed root.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] KLit75:
You mind if I ask some questions on your post...where did you buy? USA? What store? When you say it updated did you try blocking domains and using the guide on aftvnews for initial setup and root?

In the last 24 hours I've gone from buying a more expensive android tv box (ugoos um3) and selling my rooted aftv with rbox fw to completely changing my mind. I'm gonna try and get another one today at staples hoping for rootable fw. Most of my decision is based on reading this thread last nite. I think if rbox can make this work, aftv will have no competition (at least not anywhere near this price range)
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rotor00ter:
Great job rbox, I look forward to seeing your progress on this. Very exciting stuff.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] 2k1197:
UK, Argos I did try and block the update domains however it updated anyway, I hear if I try and root it will brick my device as efuse is enabled on my software
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rbox:
Well I had some really great progress today. I got wifi working and manage to get it through all the google registration steps. Not sure how to select keys with the on screen keyboard, as the enter key does a 'next' instead of clicking on the selected key. Also have no sound and media playback is failing, and also DRM doesn't seem to be working either, but baby steps I suppose. There was another screen in between the first and second for selecting the wifi network, but I didn't get a good shot of it.
[Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dumdedumda:
All that teasing is killing our patience! :(