Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Olympia5776 on 20 September 2022, 22:08:48
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Do any of you use a Firestick (or the equivalents Roku,Xiaomi Firecube etc...) streaming media player .
If so can you,by means of an app ,get live streaming of free to air TV stations including BBC and ITV ?
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Yes we use a firestick to watch on demand uk Tv ( iplayer and ch4 and very occasionally itv)
We don't stream live tv as we have 907 service in HD for the principle channels. Picture quality is superb. I am not much impressed with internet tv but only have 10 meg 4G. You might have a better experience with your super fast internet. Tvmucho? Have a search on British expats uk tv for threads. It is a well trodden pat!
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We have a few Firesticks, which can do streaming via the channel's normal app like iPlayer, ITV Hub, My5 etc. Not all the Freeview channels seem to have apps, and not all apps seem to have the option of streaming live broadcasts. In addition, I think iPlayer might be geo-locked by IP.
Particularly on the lower end and older Firesticks, some apps are a bit sluggish - even powering on the Firestick at the wall can take several minutes before it becomes usable.
Much like a Smart TV, you install a (usually free) app from the Amazon Fire store, and once installed, you select this app from the Firestick's home page, so iPlayer for BBC, ITV Hub for ITV etc. I've not had it yet on Firesticks, but imagine like Smart TVs, there comes a time when the apps become incompatible with older devices and stop working.
In my recent experiences, Roku is every bit as sluggish as the original Firesticks, although that was a NowTV one, so might be that Uncle Rupert sends out the oldest, cheapest shite he can ;D
I have issues with Wifi where I live (long story), so I find with the Firesticks that I have to buy an HDMI extension cable to lift the Firestick above the TV in some rooms, in order to get a solid Wifi connection, else the TV shields the signal a bit.
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Have a look at Monster app. Can be loaded on a firestick.
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I have to ask, as someone not really into these kind of things, but.........
With Smart TV's, especially those with Freeview Play, why would a Firestick be required now? :( :(
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I have to ask, as someone not really into these kind of things, but.........
With Smart TV's, especially those with Freeview Play, why would a Firestick be required now? :( :(
A firestick turns a non smart tv into a smart tv...
HOWEVER, most smart TVs are not supported for long, and the apps tend to fall out of date quickly and stop working. Or start to run sluggishly. Thats if you are lucky enough for the app to appear on your brand's app store in the first place. For example, Kodi is a popular app used by a lot of people because of what it allows you to do through various configurations and plugins. Yet, despite the fact that Kodi itself is perfectly legal and legitimate, it rarely appears in Smart TV app stores because of what it allows you to do less legally.
I have a Samsung N95 Smart TV. Reasonably modern and current. But the choice of app is a little limited from Samsung's store for Tizen OS TVs, and the apps run like an absolute sack of shite unless the TV has been one a few minutes. Mind you, a Firestick from turning on to being usable is hardly "speedy" ;D
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I have to ask, as someone not really into these kind of things, but.........
With Smart TV's, especially those with Freeview Play, why would a Firestick be required now? :( :(
A firestick turns a non smart tv into a smart tv...
HOWEVER, most smart TVs are not supported for long, and the apps tend to fall out of date quickly and stop working. Or start to run sluggishly. Thats if you are lucky enough for the app to appear on your brand's app store in the first place. For example, Kodi is a popular app used by a lot of people because of what it allows you to do through various configurations and plugins. Yet, despite the fact that Kodi itself is perfectly legal and legitimate, it rarely appears in Smart TV app stores because of what it allows you to do less legally.
I have a Samsung N95 Smart TV. Reasonably modern and current. But the choice of app is a little limited from Samsung's store for Tizen OS TVs, and the apps run like an absolute sack of shite unless the TV has been one a few minutes. Mind you, a Firestick from turning on to being usable is hardly "speedy" ;D
Going on from that TB, as a new owner of a smart t/v, does your criteria for apps apply to Iplayer, ITV hub, all4, my5 etc?
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I have to ask, as someone not really into these kind of things, but.........
With Smart TV's, especially those with Freeview Play, why would a Firestick be required now? :( :(
A firestick turns a non smart tv into a smart tv...
HOWEVER, most smart TVs are not supported for long, and the apps tend to fall out of date quickly and stop working. Or start to run sluggishly. Thats if you are lucky enough for the app to appear on your brand's app store in the first place. For example, Kodi is a popular app used by a lot of people because of what it allows you to do through various configurations and plugins. Yet, despite the fact that Kodi itself is perfectly legal and legitimate, it rarely appears in Smart TV app stores because of what it allows you to do less legally.
I have a Samsung N95 Smart TV. Reasonably modern and current. But the choice of app is a little limited from Samsung's store for Tizen OS TVs, and the apps run like an absolute sack of shite unless the TV has been one a few minutes. Mind you, a Firestick from turning on to being usable is hardly "speedy" ;D
Going on from that TB, as a new owner of a smart t/v, does your criteria for apps apply to Iplayer, ITV hub, all4, my5 etc?
Catchup services are apps, so yes.
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I have to ask, as someone not really into these kind of things, but.........
With Smart TV's, especially those with Freeview Play, why would a Firestick be required now? :( :(
A firestick turns a non smart tv into a smart tv...
HOWEVER, most smart TVs are not supported for long, and the apps tend to fall out of date quickly and stop working. Or start to run sluggishly. Thats if you are lucky enough for the app to appear on your brand's app store in the first place. For example, Kodi is a popular app used by a lot of people because of what it allows you to do through various configurations and plugins. Yet, despite the fact that Kodi itself is perfectly legal and legitimate, it rarely appears in Smart TV app stores because of what it allows you to do less legally.
I have a Samsung N95 Smart TV. Reasonably modern and current. But the choice of app is a little limited from Samsung's store for Tizen OS TVs, and the apps run like an absolute sack of shite unless the TV has been one a few minutes. Mind you, a Firestick from turning on to being usable is hardly "speedy" ;D
Going on from that TB, as a new owner of a smart t/v, does your criteria for apps apply to Iplayer, ITV hub, all4, my5 etc?
Catchup services are apps, so yes.
Thanks for the info. :y
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I have to ask, as someone not really into these kind of things, but.........
With Smart TV's, especially those with Freeview Play, why would a Firestick be required now? :( :(
A firestick turns a non smart tv into a smart tv...
HOWEVER, most smart TVs are not supported for long, and the apps tend to fall out of date quickly and stop working. Or start to run sluggishly. Thats if you are lucky enough for the app to appear on your brand's app store in the first place. For example, Kodi is a popular app used by a lot of people because of what it allows you to do through various configurations and plugins. Yet, despite the fact that Kodi itself is perfectly legal and legitimate, it rarely appears in Smart TV app stores because of what it allows you to do less legally.
I have a Samsung N95 Smart TV. Reasonably modern and current. But the choice of app is a little limited from Samsung's store for Tizen OS TVs, and the apps run like an absolute sack of shite unless the TV has been one a few minutes. Mind you, a Firestick from turning on to being usable is hardly "speedy" ;D
Ah, thanks TB :y :y
I must say I have Panasonic televisions with Freeview play and I can receive in all 30 apps, from Netflix, Youtube, Britbox, Chili, and more including the main catch-up channels which is all I require. Since the Smart tv's came out I have found the apps are always there and never fade on Panasonic sets. ;)
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The fires tic has hundreds and hundreds of apps, as do most smart TV sets now. 30 sounds a bit stingy, but as long as it covers what you need.
Like everything else they do, Panasonic were late to the party, so it could be they haven't actually improved their systems since launch, so the app developers haven't had to keep their Panasonic apps updated. Or simply the app developers are doing the honourable thing and ignoring Panasonic, plausible given the low app count....
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Britflix.tw would give you access to a world of television.
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Britflix.tw would give you access to a world of sh!t television.
Fixed that Varche. ;) ;D
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How true! ;D
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i only use mine to watch youtube so have an activated nowtv box from car boot.
this word (activated ) has caught me out a couple of times when buying them.
if you get a NEW one then you have to register it,put in you bank details to even get it to come on.
i have heard that a firestick doesnt need this.just to watch youtube only. can anyone confirm this.please.
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I get youtube on my smart TV without any separate sign in. I just click on the app and up it comes ;)
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fire stick is linked to your amazon account, so if you buy/rent anything from within the fire stick, its charged to your amazon account.
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I get youtube on my smart TV without any separate sign in. I just click on the app and up it comes ;)
Most Smart TV YouTube apps will ask you to log in with your google account the first time its used (then remember it). This is same for iPlayer, ITV Hub etc....
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I get youtube on my smart TV without any separate sign in. I just click on the app and up it comes ;)
Most Smart TV YouTube apps will ask you to log in with your google account the first time its used (then remember it). This is same for iPlayer, ITV Hub etc....
Yes I signed in originally to the apps, but that is it. No payment details or anything else but my email address if I remember correctly ;)
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I get youtube on my smart TV without any separate sign in. I just click on the app and up it comes ;)
Most Smart TV YouTube apps will ask you to log in with your google account the first time its used (then remember it). This is same for iPlayer, ITV Hub etc....
Yes I signed in originally to the apps, but that is it. No payment details or anything else but my email address if I remember correctly ;)
iPlayer etc are free, so no payments attached. Youtube does have an ad-free option via subscription, which if applied to your account, the app should honour. If you installed Amazon Prime video or Netflix etc, again, the app would honour your subscription, and charge your account for rented or purchase options (although all content on Netflix is included in subscription IIRC).
So, like your TV, the fire stick does not ask for any banking details, but does ask to be linked to your Amazon account (it is, after all, an Amazon device). Apps, again like your TV, will need to be logged into in order to work, and you may be charged for using services in the same way.
The NowTV Roku box is the same setup, but needs to be linked to your Sky/Now account, if you don't have one, it will run you through creating an account, which includes payment details (as Nowtv is a subscription service)
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Alternatively you can just login using other people login details for free. :-X ;D
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I get youtube on my smart TV without any separate sign in. I just click on the app and up it comes ;)
Most Smart TV YouTube apps will ask you to log in with your google account the first time its used (then remember it). This is same for iPlayer, ITV Hub etc....
Yes I signed in originally to the apps, but that is it. No payment details or anything else but my email address if I remember correctly ;)
iPlayer etc are free, so no payments attached. Youtube does have an ad-free option via subscription, which if applied to your account, the app should honour. If you installed Amazon Prime video or Netflix etc, again, the app would honour your subscription, and charge your account for rented or purchase options (although all content on Netflix is included in subscription IIRC).
So, like your TV, the fire stick does not ask for any banking details, but does ask to be linked to your Amazon account (it is, after all, an Amazon device). Apps, again like your TV, will need to be logged into in order to work, and you may be charged for using services in the same way.
The NowTV Roku box is the same setup, but needs to be linked to your Sky/Now account, if you don't have one, it will run you through creating an account, which includes payment details (as Nowtv is a subscription service)
Thanks TB :y
I have learnt from all that :y :y
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Alternatively you can just login using other people login details for free. :-X ;D
Mickey or Minnie.Mouse @disney.com is well used for the Heathrow wifi :-X
Alternatively, your least favourite MP.
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Go onto Google, look up, "side loading a Firestick" you can then load anything onto it. :y
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Go onto Google, look up, "side loading a Firestick" you can then load anything onto it. :y
IME, many non optimised apps for the firestick can be very sluggish, both to load and when running (although the newer 4k firesticks are faster). If you want to go down that route, I'd recommend a £30 android box for under the telly, as they tend to run better, but is obviously more DIY to set up.