Android app doesn't play files on Firestick 4k Max

[Nabukodonosor 13]

So, I have the Amazon version app installed on my Firestick and that works fine. I wanted to try the Android version, because it is much much MUCH faster and smother when it comes to scrolling through the movies/tv shows and the home screen. I have the paid version of the amazon app, and I have the paid version on my other stick (Mi stick 4k). I don't have the Premiere subscription, I don't need it, I only play my local files, from my NAS. Why do I get this error? Why do I have to be subscribed to the Premiere to be able to play my local files?

And the second question...why can't the Amazon version be as smooth as the regular Android version?

AndroidTV and Amazon version's GUI is much nicer that Android version, but Android version is much faster and smoother. I don't know why.

[ebr 15576]

Hi.  What version of the app do you have installed that is producing that message?

How many TVs do you have connecting to your server?

[Nabukodonosor 13]

2 TVs. I will have to check about the version. I tried installing Betas, but failed. Both Google and Amazon.

[Luke 39644]

@Nabukodonosor?

[Nabukodonosor 13]

Sorry. I don't know the version, since I uninstalled it, I forgot. I tried to install the Beta, both Amazon and Google versions, both failed. I then installed the version from the amazon store, and that one works fine.

Is there a reason why the android version is much smoother than the google tv version? I prefer the android tv version and it's features, but the android version is much smoother.

[Luke 39644]

On 2/21/2025 at 1:32 PM, Nabukodonosor said:

 

Is there a reason why the android version is much smoother than the google tv version? I prefer the android tv version and it's features, but the android version is much smoother.

Hi, as users often confuse the two, it's hard to know which one you're referring to without knowing the version numbers of the two of them.

Quote

I then installed the version from the amazon store, and that one works fine.

It sounds like you're good for now though, right?

[Nabukodonosor 13]

Yeah, I'm good. And this is the version of the smoother Emby:

 

[Luke 39644]

Perfect. That is the one we suggest using.

[Nabukodonosor 13]

Well, I prefer the GUI on the other one, Emby for AndroidTV, it's much better and more user friendly. The interface is nicer, it starts and plays files much faster. This is just on top of my head, there are more things I don't like about this version. I just like that scrolling through the media collection is much smoother. I don't know why can't you make the other version this smooth?

[ebr 15576]

2 hours ago, Nabukodonosor said:

I just like that scrolling through the media collection is much smoother. I don't know why can't you make the other version this smooth?

Hi.  We actually usually see the exact opposite comment as the TV app is using the native presentation with smooth scrolling and animations but the other one is more of a "snap to position" type thing in vertical scrolling.

Can you further explain what you mean by "smoother"?

[Nabukodonosor 13]

Well, I use both apps (by use I mean have installed and tried, but use only the TV version) on 2 devices, one Fire Stick 4k Max, and other on Mi Stick 4k. On both devices I have the same experience. And yes, you're right...it's more like snap to position, but the content is loaded instantly. I will try to record it, but I don't know if it will present well on the video.

OK, I've recorded the video. I think you can without saying tell which one is smooth and which is jittering. In real life it's more noticeable.

[ebr 15576]

Honestly, I'm having a hard time telling much difference....

[Nabukodonosor 13]

Well, as I said, it's hard to notice it on video. But even on video you can see that Android TV version is having a hard time loading everything on time. I really think that is an easy one to see. Also, you can notice how smooth is the other version.

[rbjtech 4919]

I don't believe you are comparing like for like ...

With Android you are slowly scrolling, with AndroidTV you start slowly scrolling (which appears to be fine) only when you start scrolling faster does it then have to play catch up.   You don't show this faster scrolling scenerio with Android.

Both Android and AndroidTV will only cache what you see on screen(ish), it won't cache all images for that entire library.    So if you jump around, it may have to fetch new images.

I've never noticed any speed issues with AndroidTV (scrolling) but I'll compare tonight with Android to see if the caching is the same out of curiosity.