Vodafone TV retirement plan: September 2022

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Master Geek
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#2836718 22-Dec-2021 10:18

rugrat:

I feel comfortable with buying movies off Apple TV, even though they have all the control. Though I would be shocked if suddenly lose access, or have to pay to access content brought outright.

Well there's you problem right there. You don't 'buy' anything from Apple, you pay for access rights. I think Microsoft taught people that lesson a while back when they discontinued there music service back in the Zune era. Those movies you brought from Apple could disappear tomorrow should it suit Apple commercially.

ukoda

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Master Geek
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#2836784 22-Dec-2021 10:37

blackjack17:

Credit michaelmurfy

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=271771

Ok, so it looks like we are dealing with something similar to a Sagemcom DIW387 with a Broadcom BCM7271. My experience is with Chinese SoCs, I can't find a datasheet for that chip yet. I suspect Broadcom keep a tighter control on their IP and tools.

Apsattv

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#2836925 22-Dec-2021 15:20

This info was posted a while ago for some reason i copied it down..

Thinking about it , keeping it alive could be as simple as someone making an HTML5 based web Freeview player. Something that can probably be thrown together in half a day! see back in the thread where I gave some urls for a few "apps"

about voda tv

Vodafone TV runs apps in an Opera 4 browser on Linux. So apps are written in HTML5/Javascript and CSS, and yes, they do have to be written specifically for this platform.

Processor is Broadcom 7271.

The middleware provides access to the Media Player through the OIPF (Open IPTV Forum OIPF Volume 5).
•The Sagemcom Player supports SVP (Secure Video Path) and runs in a TEE (Trusted Execution Environment) within the STB SoC chipset.

•Additional streams support is available through the MSE and EME APIs
•DRM is provided through Playready v2.5
•Streams types supported are:
–Availability: HSS, DASH
–Video: H.264, H.265
–Audio: HE-AAC
•Subtitle and multi track audio support (Opera 4)
-

On VTV there are two kind of apps:
•Native apps built into the firmware itself. For example Netflix
•HTML5 apps, like Lightbox and TVNZ On Demand.

Most apps are HTML5 apps, as they are much easier and quicker to develop. In essence, the set-top box runs a browser that all HTML5 apps run in.
In other words, the apps are not ported Android apps. We currently do not have an app store. The apps are curated and deployed by Vodafone.

JoBudge

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#2839245 27-Dec-2021 20:25

Anyone else having their Vodafone TV starting to falter and pause all the time? Don't know of it is the TV or our 4G broadband. Has always run flawlessly. We are out on the Waiheke Channel, could be all the holiday makers but has been happening the last week.

cyril7

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#2839454 28-Dec-2021 08:55

If you're on 4g and it's holiday time, I would suggest congestion of the cell sector, but I could be wrong.

Cyril

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#2839455 28-Dec-2021 08:58

@JoBudge Congestion for sure!

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quickymart

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#2839458 28-Dec-2021 09:17

JoBudge: We are out on the Waiheke Channel, could be all the holiday makers but has been happening the last week.

Yep, I would say it would be congestion in the area.

Biglegs

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#2839630 28-Dec-2021 17:36

Apsattv:

I think most people saw the VTV stb as a way to get Freeview streamed in full HD over the net. In most cases it was cheaper than getting an actual Freeview antenna installed. No money is going to be invested in future Terrestrial Freeview broadcast sites and despite them talking about it for YEARS Freeview has still yet to go HD on satellite so is it any wonder that most of the takeup of the VTV stb was for Freeview?

I will take the VTV STB streams any day over the ugly SD Freeview satellite version.

I suspect our city dwelling friends underestimate what a godsend VTV was to rural located properties with good broadband but lousy low res satelite TV that pixelates and freezes everytime there is a downpour. I also have an excellent (but old) Pioneer plasma TV that has had a renewed existance as a result of the VTV. Oddly enough, the recording and backtracking features aren't particularly a game changer for us. And we have no intention of subscribing to SKY, so their solution will probably have little appeal.

Live FTA streaming + Apps in a neat and well designed box was the appeal. At least now I understand why they never bothered negotiating and including Disney+.

I have owned my VTV for well under 12 months, so will be watching and considering my consumer rights with interest.

blackjack17

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#2839650 28-Dec-2021 18:07

Biglegs:

Apsattv:

I think most people saw the VTV stb as a way to get Freeview streamed in full HD over the net. In most cases it was cheaper than getting an actual Freeview antenna installed. No money is going to be invested in future Terrestrial Freeview broadcast sites and despite them talking about it for YEARS Freeview has still yet to go HD on satellite so is it any wonder that most of the takeup of the VTV stb was for Freeview?

I will take the VTV STB streams any day over the ugly SD Freeview satellite version.

I suspect our city dwelling friends underestimate what a godsend VTV was to rural located properties with good broadband but lousy low res satelite TV that pixelates and freezes everytime there is a downpour. I also have an excellent (but old) Pioneer plasma TV that has had a renewed existance as a result of the VTV. Oddly enough, the recording and backtracking features aren't particularly a game changer for us. And we have no intention of subscribing to SKY, so their solution will probably have little appeal.

Live FTA streaming + Apps in a neat and well designed box was the appeal. At least now I understand why they never bothered negotiating and including Disney+.

I have owned my VTV for well under 12 months, so will be watching and considering my consumer rights with interest.

As a replacement try the mibox S with freeview sideloaded in (can provide details if needed, very simple)

Just set my 80 year old aunt up with one.

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Delorean

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#2839957 29-Dec-2021 13:26

@blackjack17

Can this be done on any android box (or android TV)

Please PM me some instructions :)

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Eva888

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#2839975 29-Dec-2021 14:29

Delorean: @blackjack17

Can this be done on any android box (or android TV)

Please PM me some instructions :)

I have set this up for a friend on an android box. You download Kodi from play store or sideload it from the website via a USB stick. Then install the Slyguy repository to Kodi which will give you all the NZ channels. If you add IPTV merge which is found within Kodi you will have a TV guide and ability to scroll through channels. There are plenty of guides on google.

You can buy an android box from AliExpress but I prefer to pay a little more and get one from a NZ seller as had a dud once and who bothers to send back to China. Trade me has them with Kodi already installed so you only need to add Slyguy. If your TV is android you can install Kodi to that via Play Store and then add Slyguy repository.

Nothing will match VTV in ease of use though. Kodi and the repositories need constant updating so not a simple solution for many.

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Apsattv

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#2840250 30-Dec-2021 01:44

Kodi is a bit of a bloated pig for this task. Can't you just sideload the Freeview APK? I think later versions of it were not locked to the smartvu units?

blackjack17

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#2840478 30-Dec-2021 14:28

Apsattv:

Kodi is a bit of a bloated pig for this task. Can't you just sideload the Freeview APK? I think later versions of it were not locked to the smartvu units?

Yes Kodi is not the best way of doing it on an android TV. It is way to big and slow.

You can find the unlocked APK if you google "freeview apk sideloading"

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Apsattv

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#2840579 30-Dec-2021 19:01

I wonder why noone else ever bothered to make a new "Freeview" android software. It doesn't have to be "official" and approved.

SteveC

stevec
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#2840769 31-Dec-2021 11:21

Apsattv:
I wonder why noone else ever bothered to make a new "Freeview" android software. It doesn't have to be "official" and approved.

I think the point is well made in this forum that while there are few technical hurdles to this process, making a result that is user-friendly is very difficult. VTV is a long way from perfect, but my experience, and that of others here suggests it might be the easiest interface out there at the moment.
With any luck Sky will get their new box right, and those who want to use that will get a good experience.
Steve

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