HEVC sputter/frame drop issue FIXED. Android TV app being EOL'd?

[troyhough 61]

Ok so I have been having an issue where HEVC 265 files would drop/skip/sputter randomly with my onn 4K streaming boxes and onn 4K Pro box on my Samsung 75" 4K TV using the Android TV app. If I reboot the boxes, playback seemed to be good for a little while then the problem would redevelop over a short amount of time. Been fighting this issue for months, if not years. Tried changing every setting imaginable on the onn box, TV, and Emby Android TV app trying to come up with a solution to no avail. Used different HDMI cables and didn't help.

What did I do to solve the problem? I installed the Emby for Android app on my Android TV devices. Voila no more frame drop, spit, sputter with HEVC files. HURRAY!!!

Maybe @softworkz@Lukecould explain why this issue would happen on the Android TV app but not on the plain Android app. Also maybe they are moving to have an all-in-one app (phase out Android TV) instead of having to support 2 separate apps going forward???

[GrimReaper 4739]

4 minutes ago, troyhough said:

Also maybe they are moving to have an all-in-one app (phase out Android TV) instead of having to support 2 separate apps going forward???

That has been going on for few years now, with more focus being put on it lately/recently and AndroidTV client app being basically in maintenance-mode only for some time now.

 

[troyhough 61]

4 minutes ago, GrimReaper said:

That has been going on for few years now, with more focus being put on it lately/recently and AndroidTV client app being basically in maintenance-mode only for some time now.

 

So is it recommended to remove the Android TV app from all devices and just roll with the regular Android app?

I tried using the Android app a couple times over the last few years and there was always a problem that I noticed right away so reverted back to ATV. I have not had any issues with it this time around so far...

[GrimReaper 4739]

1 minute ago, troyhough said:

So is it recommended to remove the Android TV app from all devices and just roll with the regular Android app?

You can still use either, though installing/running Standard Android app comes up more and more as a solution for troubleshooting issues and is generally regarded as a way forward.

[ebr 16169]

1 hour ago, troyhough said:

Maybe @softworkz@Lukecould explain why this issue would happen on the Android TV app but not on the plain Android app

The standard app is using a more current version of the underlying Google player.

[troyhough 61]

13 minutes ago, ebr said:

The standard app is using a more current version of the underlying Google player.

Would that cause hiccups with HEVC playback in some environments? Can you update the player on the ATV app?

Thanks @ebr

[rbjtech 5284]

On 12/02/2025 at 21:35, troyhough said:

 Can you update the player on the ATV app?

 

That would seem obvious right ?

But no - Emby appear to want the transition from AndroidTV to Android to be as bumpy as possible.

Personally I don't get it - the 'official' Emby version you get on the Play Store on an AndroidTV supported device, is the AndroidTV Emby version.   You then get a less than optimal/older  version with issues (easily solveable by them by updating the core player inline with their other version) - you then visit the forum with the issues (if they are lucky, most would jump to JF at this point..), and they tell you to search for the 'other' version.   It then works (with some missing functionality etc) - having wasted your time and theirs in the process.

Either sunset the AndroidTV version (give a date) AND in the remaining time,  properly maintain it as it is a fully supported version.

I think people would be far happier with that apprach, then 'hanging on' to a version that is clearly not being supported (despite still being the best version out there .. but that's another story..)