Android TV Beta 2.1.22+

[ebr 16169]

A new beta of the TV only app has been put up.  This beta fixes the issue with frame rate switching on the new GStreamer (actually, related to Android 14) but it also implements our new policy of making playback in this app free for normal single-family use.

As of this version, playback is free for up to 5 TVs.  No other Premiere features are included of course and any use beyond that limit will require a Premiere subscription.

Previous unlock purchases are still honored but the unlock is no longer an option going forward.

We feel this strategy brings the most value to our common users and makes it more difficult for illegal streamers to get around the device limit.

Thanks for your support.

[Jdiesel 1431]

Thanks for the quick fix @ebr

Is it safe to say that if you are an existing Premiere server license holder these changes will have no impact and this only allows for basic playback with limitation on non-premiere servers? Just to summarize. 

[ebr 16169]

16 minutes ago, Jdiesel said:

Is it safe to say that if you are an existing Premiere server license holder these changes will have no impact and this only allows for basic playback with limitation on non-premiere servers?

Exactly.

[yocker 1247]

I prefer the Emby for Android TV app my self so happy to see it getting updates but i thought you were phasing it out in favor for the standard Emby app ?

[Jdiesel 1431]

I think this move will convert a few over from the main competitor as this is how their Android TV app works as well. It will soften the barrier for entry to trying Emby on their existing hardware and will likely result in more premiere subscriptions they are settled in. On of the biggest advantages of Emby is that the Premiere features are available to all devices connected to the server versus forcing each users to have their own Premiere license or app unlock to access premium features. The standard device limit is a non-issue for personal use and there are options for people who have advanced needs.

People are leaving Plex in in droves only to find Jellyfin's lack of polish and be disappointed. Emby is the logical choice for people who are ok with financially contributing to a polished project but don't want to be force fed sponsored content and advertisements. There is a misunderstanding on what Emby offers over the other services and that is a missed opportunity. There are people out there who just want things for free and they will gaslight themselves by flying the OSS flag, you aren't going to convince them to get Emby Premiere. There is a large group of people who want to leave Plex for multiple reasons, non of which are because it costs money. They continuous overlook Emby as a viable option because they don't understand what it is. 

[neik 873]

What about ET for Android, will it get the same logic implemented?

[ebr 16169]

9 minutes ago, neik said:

What about ET for Android, will it get the same logic implemented?

If you mean the standard android app, yes it will.  Note, this is only on TV devices for it though...

[adminExitium 355]

Will this apply to the Apple ecosystem similarly too i.e. AppleTV requiring Premiere and the iPhone app continuing to work with a device/app unlock?

[CBers 7450]

Great work @ebr.

Let's keep this app alive for another few years at the very least
 

[Jdiesel 1431]

I'm not sure that this is a bug or related to the functionality of the new free playback but every time you exit the app and open it up again it shows up in the server dashboard activity as being authenticated. It's almost as if it completely signs out and forgets the device each time you exit. To be clear, I don't have to put my password in each time.

This doesn't have any impact on how I use it but I wanted to point it out in case others notice this too.

[ebr 16169]

8 hours ago, adminExitium said:

Will this apply to the Apple ecosystem similarly too

At this time this is only on the Android platform.

[ebr 16169]

23 minutes ago, Jdiesel said:

I'm not sure that this is a bug or related to the functionality of the new free playback but every time you exit the app and open it up again it shows up in the server dashboard activity as being authenticated. It's almost as if it completely signs out and forgets the device each time you exit. To be clear, I don't have to put my password in each time.

This doesn't have any impact on how I use it but I wanted to point it out in case others notice this too.

I don't believe that is new behavior.

[ZLuckyTraveler 0]

I had to factory reset my device, and reinstalled the Emby app, however I do not see any way to restore my app unlock I had purchased previously. I am signed in to the same google play store account as I had previously as well. 

It was mentioned...

Quote

Previous unlock purchases are still honored but the unlock is no longer an option going forward.

How do I restore my app unlock?

Device: Nvidia Shield TV Pro 
App: Emby for Android 3.4.20

Edited October 16, 2024 by ZLuckyTraveler

[GrimReaper 4739]

Just now, ZLuckyTraveler said:

App: Emby for Android 3.4.20

You're using Standard Android app (which currently requires active Premiere subscription for Full playback on TV devices), you can't Unlock/Restore Unlock there (only on mobile devices). You need to download Emby for AndroidTV client app. 

[ZLuckyTraveler 0]

Quote

You need to download Emby for AndroidTV client app. 

The only alternative app for Emby in the Google Play Store is "Emby for Android TV (Beta)" and it cannot even be downloaded. 

[ZLuckyTraveler 0]

I tried using full app title search as well, it is the same as well, which you can see in "Related Results" only shows "Emby for Android".

[GrimReaper 4739]

That's the one, why you can't download it - I honestly have no idea (minimum Android version?). Dev would need to revert on that one. @ebr

[ZLuckyTraveler 0]

I just did a factory reset on my device, so everything is up to date (Android 9.1.1)

[ZLuckyTraveler 0]

I had to leave the beta testing via this link (https://play.google.com/apps/testing/tv.emby.embyatv) for Google Play Store to show Stable, which will allow me to install. It's only the beta version which can't be installed in Google Play Store. So it would seem that the app is being blocked from allowing installs on Shield TV devices at the very minimum.

[ZLuckyTraveler 0]

So it looks like in order to install Beta, you first have to install stable, and then update to Beta (which is why I had to leave beta testers first to get install button). Fresh Emby app installs for Beta aren't being allowed for Android TV.

Edited October 16, 2024 by ZLuckyTraveler

[ecrispy 38]

how to I install this on my FireStick? its not in the Amazon app stores

[vdatanet 1617]

On 10/4/2024 at 8:13 AM, adminExitium said:

AppleTV requiring Premiere

I think Apple TV does not requiere Premiere for full playback.

[Neminem 1518]

Emby Premiere Feature Matrix

[KUNALHAZARD 10]

On 10/3/2024 at 3:13 AM, Jdiesel said:

I think this move will convert a few over from the main competitor as this is how their Android TV app works as well. It will soften the barrier for entry to trying Emby on their existing hardware and will likely result in more premiere subscriptions they are settled in. On of the biggest advantages of Emby is that the Premiere features are available to all devices connected to the server versus forcing each users to have their own Premiere license or app unlock to access premium features. The standard device limit is a non-issue for personal use and there are options for people who have advanced needs.

People are leaving Plex in in droves only to find Jellyfin's lack of polish and be disappointed. Emby is the logical choice for people who are ok with financially contributing to a polished project but don't want to be force fed sponsored content and advertisements. There is a misunderstanding on what Emby offers over the other services and that is a missed opportunity. There are people out there who just want things for free and they will gaslight themselves by flying the OSS flag, you aren't going to convince them to get Emby Premiere. There is a large group of people who want to leave Plex for multiple reasons, non of which are because it costs money. They continuous overlook Emby as a viable option because they don't understand what it is. 

I don't think so. Emby’s 14-day TV trial is plenty to test, but Plex remains dominant with great third-party support like Tautulli and Overseerr, dispatch launcher etc. Despite the shitstorm of watch history sharing, few people have fully switched to Jellyfin or Emby, most just ran them alongside Plex. Plex is super easy to use, unlike Jellyfin or Emby. People switch to Emby either because Jellyfin is too hard to set up or they find something Emby does better. I switched to emby for anime playback on Android, but Emby’s playback UI is annoying and at worst irritating like, why no double-tap to rewind? The more I use Emby, the more I question the devs’ choices.

[JackBowman 35]

Could someone provide a link to the apk for this beta for side loading? I can't find it in the apps or play store. Thank you!