New Freeview SmartVU streaming device: Chromecast, 4K HDR, Android TV

Forums › Freeview (DVB-T/DVB-S) › New Freeview SmartVU streaming device: Chromecast, 4K HDR, Android TV

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# 2343115 24-Oct-2019 16:02

mattwnz:

Theh smartvu has chromecast built in, so you are paying $40 extra, and you don't need to use another device to use it for many of the features. It also has ondemand built in, so it will be better in terms of features.

Thanks! Yeah it certainly looks that way on paper so that's definitely the way I'm leaning - was interested in first hand experiences before pulling the trigger :) Particularly how it compares to a plain chromecast (any performance differences, etc? Is it basically identical hardware for the chromecast bit? ) and also how plex performs on it (if it's good I might look at one for myself too)

mattwnz

15214 posts

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# 2343158 24-Oct-2019 16:47

sidefx:

mattwnz:

Theh smartvu has chromecast built in, so you are paying $40 extra, and you don't need to use another device to use it for many of the features. It also has ondemand built in, so it will be better in terms of features.

Thanks! Yeah it certainly looks that way on paper so that's definitely the way I'm leaning - was interested in first hand experiences before pulling the trigger :) Particularly how it compares to a plain chromecast (any performance differences, etc? Is it basically identical hardware for the chromecast bit? ) and also how plex performs on it (if it's good I might look at one for myself too)

I find it as good as a chromecast, for chromecast itself. But the freeview part is hit and miss and buggy. For example, when I first got it, the main channel buttons in the menu worked fine. But these stopped working some months ago, and the only way to get freeview working, is using the freeview button on the remote, rather than the buttons on the homescreen. Applied all the most recent app and device updates and that didn't fix it, but guessing it is software related. Also it doesn't have much storage built in, so you can't download a whole lot of android apps onto it, and you can't add more storage. Works ok for youtube, and netflix, using the apps, but a bit laggy. But for $40 extra and if you don't have a smart tv, I suppose it is worth it

askelon

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# 2343160 24-Oct-2019 16:48

sidefx:

Thanks! Yeah it certainly looks that way on paper so that's definitely the way I'm leaning - was interested in first hand experiences before pulling the trigger :) Particularly how it compares to a plain chromecast (any performance differences, etc? Is it basically identical hardware for the chromecast bit? ) and also how plex performs on it (if it's good I might look at one for myself too)

I didnt like Plex on mine at all - whilst everything played perfectly fine I found the interface very laggy and jittery (this was with the latest few releases of the client, older ones worked fine). I also tried emby before deciding on jellyfin - which works fantastic with no issues at all.

As for casting, everything I was casting before already has an app so Ive never had to use its casting. I guess it should work fine though!

freakalad

225 posts

Master Geek

# 2343425 25-Oct-2019 11:03

bought one to have a crack at it. want/needed something that I can have a play at Android TV & this looks pretty decent bang-for-buck.

Looks OK so far, but a few things bugging at me:

* Unsure re software 'pedigree' - ie. where can I find ROM/image & what exactly is this (discontinued? alibaba) thing phoning home. A port scan & basic traffic analysis show this thing to be about as noisy as you'd expect, but I'll monitor it a bit, probably do some traffic dumps later.
* interface & remote is a little too simple for my liking, but is quite responsive & meets my needs OK. unable to use the standard AndroidTV remote (by google) on it.
* lacks basic Android functionality, such as app/task-switching, skip, etc. used ButtonMapper to address that, but fails to auto-load after boot.
* Netflix & Plex work fine, loaded Kodi but have little need to use it atm.
* Spotify & Google music play fine, but controls are lacking. Would've liked ability to load 'desktop widgets' as on a phone
* CEC works fine to turn telly on & off, but not much else. Would've preferred other way round - control device using TV remote
* unable to remap buttons on remote - i.e. freeview to launch Plex or Kodi or VLC, since I don't really watch broadcast TV loaded with ads
* radio remote is nice, since IR line-of-sight is a PITA sometimes
* unable to install Sky NEON, Go, etc - sideloaded vers fail to launch - and don't like the idea of creating a login for freeview. I get the impression this was done intentionally to throw weight behind the VFTV.
* chromecast works just fine, but would be extra-cool if this functioned as a universal casting device, including MiraCast, AirPlay, DLNA, etc, etc

Overall I'm satisfied with it for the price, but wish I could dig deeper into it.

FLOSS'er

nzkc

717 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2343426 25-Oct-2019 11:06

A few of your gripes seem to be that you don't have Android, but Android TV, on the device. And so some things you are used to on your phone simply aren't (and wont be) there by design.

I think Google intentionally keeps the Android TV interface clean and lean.

freitasm

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Geekzone

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# 2343509 25-Oct-2019 13:59

There's a different use case between Android and Android TV and not all developers created apps that work well on a landscape, remote control device such as TV sets.

My technology disclosure | Digital Transformation | Enterprise Content Management | Customer Relationship Management | Data Insights, Business Intelligence and Advanced Analytics

mattwnz

15214 posts

Uber Geek

# 2343520 25-Oct-2019 14:30

Anyone else have trouble with this thing not working properly. It is hit an miss whether any of the apps work, including freeview. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Often I just get a blank screen with freeview these days. Initially it worked fine. Mine also seems to be stuck trying to do so android update if I go into the app updates page. I am considering returning it as it is too flaky, but I have been trying really hard to like it and get it working properly.

disillusioned

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

# 2343543 25-Oct-2019 15:15

mattwnz:
Anyone else have trouble with this thing not working properly. It is hit an miss whether any of the apps work, including freeview. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Often I just get a blank screen with freeview these days. Initially it worked fine. Mine also seems to be stuck trying to do so android update if I go into the app updates page. I am considering returning it as it is too flaky, but I have been trying really hard to like it and get it working properly.

Freeview app giving me a blank screen has been happening a bit, I think I solved it last time by turning the device off and on again. I did have overheating as an issue and buggy WiFi (probably caused by the overheating). When I emailed DishTV about this they said it wasn't a known or common issue and may be a defective unit.

However things normally go fine now, I think a previous software update helped plus setting it to not stay on all the time. Chromecast with TVNZ is still buggy last I checked though.

heavenlywild

3664 posts

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# 2343728 26-Oct-2019 09:08

Hi team, is the rugby between NZ and Eng available on this device tonight?

nzkc

717 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2343730 26-Oct-2019 09:17

If you have a Spark Sport subscription: Yes
Or you can watch on TV1 (so Freeview app too)

sdavisnz

757 posts

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# 2343735 26-Oct-2019 09:38

One person supports this post

No, won't be avail on freeview app.

No streaming rights.

Voice gives context

eracode

3880 posts

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# 2343739 26-Oct-2019 10:04

sdavisnz: No, won't be avail on freeview app.

No streaming rights.

So that means also not on TVNZ via Vodafone TV?

What about TVNZ via Sky satellite?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

nzkc

717 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 2343741 26-Oct-2019 10:06

It's not available tvnz on demand. I think it's available through the Freeview app to stream live. There's nothing on TVNZ or Freeview websites that says it's not being streamed.

If it's not being streamed; what are they showing instead? They're certainly advertising the game on the guides

eracode

3880 posts

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# 2343748 26-Oct-2019 10:09

nzkc: It's not available tvnz on demand. I think it's available through the Freeview app to stream live. There's nothing on TVNZ or Freeview websites that says it's not being streamed.

If it's not being streamed; what are they showing instead? They're certainly advertising the game on the guides

That makes more sense.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

sdavisnz

757 posts

Ultimate Geek

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# 2343749 26-Oct-2019 10:09

Just a blank banner saying it's not streaming.

None of the pool games were avail via the freeview app.

Voice gives context

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