Android TV / Fire TV Home Settings changes not persisting

[TonkaTuff 9]

Hi everyone.

I recently set up a new Android TV device for my parents and discovered and issue which I'm able to re-produce across the three Andriod TV / Fire TV client devices I use.

This will be a little difficult to articulate, so please bear with me.

When I make some changes to the 'Allow items from the following libraries to appear in latest and next up' list in the 'Home Settings' menu, the changes do not persist. I.e. they appear reverted when I exit then re-enter the 'Home Settings' screen.

I say some because toggling the setting for some of the libraries does persist but toggling it for others does not persist. I'm not certain of the difference but it appears as though libraries that have previously been enabled (ticked) in the list can be successfully toggled on and off but libraries that were not previously enabled (not ticked), at the time I discovered the issue, can't be toggled on or off.

Making the setting change in the screen initially appears to work - the tick appears or is removed as the OK button is clicked; but when I exit the settings screen the home screen appearance does not match the settings and when I re-enter the Home Setting screen, the changes I've made have reverted.

I have reproduced the issue across three Android TV / Fire TV client devices: A 2019 Shield TV 'tube' version, a Sony Google TV, and a Fire TV HD. The problem is also re-producible with different users defined in my server configuration, including a user with access to all libraries (my primary user).

Environment info

• Server OS: Windows Server 2012 R2
• Server version: 4.7.11.0
• Client version (Shield TV): 2.0.83g
• Client version (Fire TV): 2.0.79a
• Client version (Sony Google TV): Not recorded

Here's a screenshot of the settings screen I'm referring to:

Thanks very much for your help.

Edited December 28, 2022 by TonkaTuff
Added tags

[ebr 16171]

Hi.  Can you try sideloading our standard android app on the same device and see how that compares?

https://emby.media/emby-for-android.html

Thanks.

 

[TonkaTuff 9]

3 hours ago, ebr said:

Can you try sideloading our standard android app on the same device and see how that compares?

Hi @ebr. Thanks for your response.
I tested sideloading the standard Android app on my Fire TV device.
The layout of the Home Settings screen is quite different but it behaves as expected. I.e. I can't re-produce the issue on the standard Android app.

This should be a viable workaround but I'd prefer to use the Android TV / Fire TV app on my parents' TV because, IMO, it's simpler and easier for the non-technically-minded folk to navigate.

Edited December 29, 2022 by TonkaTuff
grammer

[ebr 16171]

14 hours ago, TonkaTuff said:

IMO, it's simpler and easier for the non-technically-minded folk to navigate

Hi.  Can you be specific as to why?

Thanks.

[TonkaTuff 9]

22 hours ago, TonkaTuff said:

IMO, it's simpler and easier for the non-technically-minded folk to navigate.

8 hours ago, ebr said:

Can you be specific as to why?

I feel like that's getting a bit off-topic for this thread. I'll summarise below but can I suggest you consider creating a dedicated post thread or channel for discussing differences between Android client versions (apologies if this already exists)? That you're suggested the side-load option and your interest in users' opinions about the differences suggests to me that you might be considering consolidating the two, which I think merits consideration and discussion.

Top reasons I think the Android TV / Fire TV is simpler and easier for non-technically-minded users

• Simple installation from app store
• Fewer buttons and menus
• Fewer options in menus
• Fewer settings
• Navigation optimised for remote control navigation over touch

For my own use, the standard Android client works better, even on TV, because it gives me access to more features. But for my elderly parents, the simplified Android TV / Fire TV interfaces seems to have less potential for getting lost in the settings.

Cheers!

[ebr 16171]

15 hours ago, TonkaTuff said:

can I suggest you consider creating a dedicated post thread or channel for discussing differences between Android client versions

 

Thanks for the feedback.