TVNZ OnDemand Android TV App

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nzkc

1571 posts

Uber Geek

#248781 9-Apr-2019 19:37

Got an email from TVNZ about their new Android TV app. Available here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.tvnz.ondemand.tv&rdid=nz.co.tvnz.ondemand.tv

Was able to install on my Mi Box.

Good on ya TVNZ!

Off topic: Wasnt sure if this or the Android forum was the best/correct one. Please move if needed.

mdav056

607 posts

Ultimate Geek

Subscriber

#2213915 9-Apr-2019 21:34

We used this tonight from an android tablet via chromecast, to catch up with Victoria, and it worked a treat. Ads seemed to be shortened from "live" TV too. Just wish we could fast forward!

Yeah, good on you, TVNZ.

gml

rb99

3422 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2214277 10-Apr-2019 10:37

Also got the email and tried it on the Shield. Anyone finding you can't choose a different season other than the one it defaults too. e.g. tried The Big Bang Theory and it would not move to Season 9 (well it did but almost invisibly) and it wouldn't list the Series 9 episodes.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

Toastiewarm

57 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#2214640 10-Apr-2019 21:03

Haha, I was just about to post the same issue! I thought it must just be me,

Same setup with the Shield as well, weird and rather tedious, I was hopeful for a good app as the rest seems to work well, hopefully there will be an update to fix it soon

nzkc

1571 posts

Uber Geek

#2214653 10-Apr-2019 21:10

Hah....hadnt spotted that. But yep - same issue on my Mi Box too.

rb99

3422 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2214825 11-Apr-2019 09:52

Just tried sending feedback to TVNZ. No idea if it was sent. Pressed send and it just disappeared, no thanks for your message or anything. Oh well, hoping is free.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

rb99

peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#2214892 11-Apr-2019 10:47

You can select different seasons on the Shield using a wireless mouse and also with the Shield mobile app in mouse mode.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

ripdog

548 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#2214985 11-Apr-2019 12:42

Whoever are doing TVNZ's app development are making numerous basic mistakes, and obviously have bit off much more than they can chew. The fact that they ignored the standard android TV text field APIs in favor of *writing their own god damn virtual keyboard* is utterly astounding. I could have simply copypasted my login from bitwarden on my phone, but nooo - they broke that functionality through their incompetance and forced me to log in via clicking around a *alphabetical* virtual keyboard. They couldn't even get that right, what with the cursor resetting to the top left when I switch between capitals and normal case.

More of an issue though is how utterly broken and worthless their normal android app is, and has been for years - most of all since chromecast functionality was added. I've had it claim to be playing on chromecast (and thus not working) when it wasn't even on wifi. I've had it claim to send the selected video to chromecast without the chromecast receiving anything. I've frequently had the playback position on phone and cc desync. I frequently have to switch views in the app to get it to update visibility of the chromecast button.

Much easier is just to install kodi and the tvnz addons - they actually work, and don't require login! All it takes is a single competent programmer to get this stuff to work. It's not hard!

Equinox IT

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BlakJak

1275 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2217105 14-Apr-2019 21:24

ripdog:
Whoever are doing TVNZ's app development are making numerous basic mistakes, and obviously have bit off much more than they can chew. The fact that they ignored the standard android TV text field APIs in favor of *writing their own god damn virtual keyboard* is utterly astounding. I could have simply copypasted my login from bitwarden on my phone, but nooo - they broke that functionality through their incompetance and forced me to log in via clicking around a *alphabetical* virtual keyboard. They couldn't even get that right, what with the cursor resetting to the top left when I switch between capitals and normal case.

More of an issue though is how utterly broken and worthless their normal android app is, and has been for years - most of all since chromecast functionality was added. I've had it claim to be playing on chromecast (and thus not working) when it wasn't even on wifi. I've had it claim to send the selected video to chromecast without the chromecast receiving anything. I've frequently had the playback position on phone and cc desync. I frequently have to switch views in the app to get it to update visibility of the chromecast button.

Much easier is just to install kodi and the tvnz addons - they actually work, and don't require login! All it takes is a single competent programmer to get this stuff to work. It's not hard!

Well that's depressing. This sort of crap will keep me from being inclined to try it out.

No signature to see here, move along...

openmedia

3324 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2217134 14-Apr-2019 23:54

Can some please grab the APK for testing on other devices?

I want to try it out on my FireTV but as TVNZ don't officially publish in the Amazon APK store (I've asked) we can't get it.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

openmedia

3324 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2223482 25-Apr-2019 09:56

Well thanks to Mr Huisman I've not got the latest APK and had a play on my 2nd Gen FireTV Stick.

Overall usability and playback quality have been good, even though I'm currently on somewhat average hotel wifi.

I'm surprised at the UI as it doesn't work like some of the other FireTV / Android TV Apps and I keep exiting the program by accidient.

It would be great to get some feedback on current video stream quality, and some options under settings rather than FAQ links.

Overall a good start and I'd like to see a similar APK from TV3.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

pristle

158 posts

Master Geek

Subscriber

#2228830 1-May-2019 15:51

I've found the experience a little hit & miss. Right now, more miss.

Often a title would load and then not play, forcing a restart of the phone/tablet, the Samsung TV and ChromeCast. To be fair, I experienced this with Lightbox too. Meanwhile the missus has retired to read a book in the bedroom. Only a promise of popcorn or Whittaker's will work to coax her out.

One little bug I've not been able to quite suss out yet though, is the failure for the app to stop thinking it's ChromeCasting. TV etc are off. I'm no longer on the same network, yet when a title loads, when you press 'play' it tells me it's "Connected to ChromeCast".