A request to Emby - please clarify the situation with the AndroidTv app

[ecrispy 38]

Its been made clear that the ATV Emby app is no longer being developed.

I don't really like this for the obvious reason - it feels like running a phone app on my tv. All the elements, navigation, dialog boxes, the whole UX flow is not designed for a device with a remote.

I understand the devs have made the decision and that dev resources are finite. What is the plan? If the ATV app is not getting updates, in multipe topics the advice is to try the Android app instead.

Why is it still in the store and the default app installed? 99% of people will not visit forums or even know there's an alternative. 

Is the final plan going to be to use the current Android app everywhere?

My ideal solution - I'd prefer to have a unified app with a UX written in html that is responsive and can adapt to screen res and device capabilities (eg touch, remote etc). For all I know this may be the plan.

And please give an estimated timeline. Thank you.

Edited September 23, 2025 by ecrispy

[Luke 42077]

Quote

it feels like running a phone app on my tv.

HI, what exactly makes you feel this way?

[Luke 42077]

Quote

My ideal solution - I'd prefer to have a unified app with a UX written in html that is responsive and can adapt to screen res and device capabilities (eg touch, remote etc). For all I know this may be the plan.

Hi, yes this is the plan and that is what we are working towards.

[Luke 42077]

Quote

Why is it still in the store and the default app installed? 99% of people will not visit forums or even know there's an alternative. 

It's for those who are resistant to change and would like to stay on the old app. We're keeping it around as long as it is feasible.

However it does have in-app messages to encourage you to switch to the new app. Right now these are pretty subtle but will probably get more frequent over time.

[ecrispy 38]

7 hours ago, Luke said:

HI, what exactly makes you feel this way?

I've described in more detail in previous threads, but its a phone UI and doesn't fit the 10ft experience on a TV, eg the way modal dialogs are shown. Transitions between screens seem slower and with more jank. I've had both running and the ATV app seems to make better use of screen space. 

 

7 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi, yes this is the plan and that is what we are working towards.

is this going to be a 3rd app with a new design? any more news?

[Luke 42077]

Hi, it’s not a phone ui. When you’re on a phone you see the phone ui. When you’re on a TV you see the TV ui.

 What makes you think you’re seeing a phone ui?

[Guest]

On 9/23/2025 at 5:52 PM, ecrispy said:

Its been made clear that the ATV Emby app is no longer being developed.

 

Wow, my heart just sank.  I didn't realize this was official news.   

[Luke 42077]

36 minutes ago, embaaa said:

Wow, my heart just sank.  I didn't realize this was official news.   

HI, you will still be able to use it. It's not going anywhere, and if it breaks, we will keep it compatible for a while.

[EZEd 60]

@Lukeand @ebrsince the above statement is true and ATV is no longer to be upgraded and possibly supported can we go back and implement the previous capability from 2.0.33g that was requested In this thread?

It seems that based on your reply in that thread that the functionality was changed because you were making ready for the change over to Android app and it "fit the screen" better. But (1) I never saw majority consent or request for the UI to changed but it unilaterally changed and then (2) when asked for it to either go back to previous implementation or to be provided a switch mechanism for either/or functionality that was not provided either.

Please since you are not going to further develop Android TV change the functionality for audio screensaver back to that of 2.0.33g

Thank you.

[Neminem 1518]

11 hours ago, Luke said:

HI, you will still be able to use it. It's not going anywhere, and if it breaks, we will keep it compatible for a while.

I like this statement, and will hold you up on that.

I have not switched yet, trying with every update

But its still lacking proper physical remote control, like the old did.

And a lot of things on this list.

Its long.

See first page.

 

 

[Guest]

13 hours ago, Luke said:

HI, you will still be able to use it. It's not going anywhere, and if it breaks, we will keep it compatible for a while.

Well I hope so because I spent the last decade learning about peering, latency, server hosting, linux, OS tuning, nic tuning, android debloating..... for the pure sake of playing a movie file without any buffering.  

It was because of your androidTV app that I was super excited to support your company.  

This new app being pushed on us is inferior to what we paid for.  Imagine my face seeing buffering after not seeing that for many many years now.

I would legit have been ripping my hair out trying to figure out this issue if it wasn't for the fact the androidTV app works perfectly.  

 

Now I'm happy to see you are promising to keep AndroidTV around but I can't help but think I might need plan B soon.   What good is new features when basic playback doesn't work right?  Isn't that the entire point of this software?  

 

[Luke 42077]

1 minute ago, embaaa said:

Well I hope so because I spent the last decade learning about peering, latency, server hosting, linux, OS tuning, nic tuning, android debloating..... for the pure sake of playing a movie file without any buffering.  

It was because of your androidTV app that I was super excited to support your company.  

This new app being pushed on us is inferior to what we paid for.  Imagine my face seeing buffering after not seeing that for many many years now.

I would legit have been ripping my hair out trying to figure out this issue if it wasn't for the fact the androidTV app works perfectly.  

 

Now I'm happy to see you are promising to keep AndroidTV around but I can't help but think I might need plan B soon.   What good is new features when basic playback doesn't work right?  Isn't that the entire point of this software?  

 

Hi, we believe there is an issue in the latest version of exoplayer, which we are embedding, and we'll be updating that to a new version soon. This is not an issue that is specific to the user interface of one app vs. another.  I could give you an updated TV app that exhibits the same problem and then they'd be equivalent in this regard.

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, Luke said:

Hi, we believe there is an issue in the latest version of exoplayer, which we are embedding, and we'll be updating that to a new version soon. This is not an issue that is specific to the user interface of one app vs. another.  I could give you an updated TV app that exhibits the same problem and then they'd be equivalent in this regard.

Ok well thank you for acknowledging the androidTV app performs better than the android app.  

This android app has been in the works since at least 2020 now...... 

[Luke 42077]

1 minute ago, embaaa said:

Ok well thank you for acknowledging the androidTV app performs better than the android app.  

This android app has been in the works since at least 2020 now...... 

I'm just saying this is a defect in the latest version of ExoPlayer. If we gave this update to the TV app and it experienced the same issue, then it would just be a normal defect that needs looking into.

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, Luke said:

I'm just saying this is a defect in the latest version of ExoPlayer. If we gave this update to the TV app and it experienced the same issue, then it would just be a normal defect that needs looking into.

Right which is the same thing as saying the androidTV is better than the android app.  

I have a 3 year old install of AndroidTV that works perfectly.  I have a new install of AndroidTV that works perfectly. 

 

Why does your production android app have the latest version of the ExoPlayer?  Just because something is the "latest" doesn't make it production ready. 

 

[monkeyfella 14]

Two things that makes the app feel like a phone app.

 

1. It does not show the user select screen like the old android tv app.

2. When you want to exit the app and press the "back" button on the shield remote it just minimize the app, while the Android TV app actually exit so when you open it again it shows the select user dialogue window. In the new version you have to go up and select the menu and go down to exit to quit the app. And also, why is it showing me a sidebar menu when pressing the back button?

Two things that's been pointed out for a long time but no progress.

[Luke 42077]

Quote

1. It does not show the user select screen like the old android tv app.

Hi there, have you explored the option in the app called startup behavior?

[monkeyfella 14]

15 hours ago, Luke said:

Hi there, have you explored the option in the app called startup behavior?

Alright, so it finally remembers each persons password. That’s great.

 

now it’s just that menu that should be able to be disabled when i press back button on the remote.

[80srule 33]

The standard Android app lags when loading icons and when scrolling is clunky and not smooth like the ATV app is. 
im running it on the ONN 4k pro also a GX1 from Rockchip with 4gb ram 

I also don’t see how to add in the season premier screen as I have on my atv app. Can that be made possible or if it is please tell me where it’s at. 

now I do like in the android app that as I scroll my “my media” categories it shows random movies/shows from that section. Which is very cool. 
Also would be cool to have the Halloween and Christmas themes on there like the ATV. 

[ecrispy 38]

On 9/26/2025 at 12:31 PM, embaaa said:

Right which is the same thing as saying the androidTV is better than the android app.  

I have a 3 year old install of AndroidTV that works perfectly.  I have a new install of AndroidTV that works perfectly. 

 

Why does your production android app have the latest version of the ExoPlayer?  Just because something is the "latest" doesn't make it production ready. 

 

I am not an Android dev, can each app bundle its own version of ExoPlayer? if so are there better versions than the default?

[Luke 42077]

5 minutes ago, ecrispy said:

I am not an Android dev, can each app bundle its own version of ExoPlayer? if so are there better versions than the default?

Hi, they both are already bundling their own version of it.

[ecrispy 38]

Just now, Luke said:

Hi, they both are already bundling their own version of it.

in that case since you mentioned that the latest version has some bugs, can it not be reverted? sorry I don't wish to detail this discussion, probably the new one (media3) has other needed features?

[Luke 42077]

5 minutes ago, ecrispy said:

in that case since you mentioned that the latest version has some bugs, can it not be reverted? sorry I don't wish to detail this discussion, probably the new one (media3) has other needed features?

It's not that simple. Sometimes we need the updates in order to solve other problems or add other new features that users are waiting on. 

Since we last updated, they have had another significant release so we are working on incorporating that and then we'll see where this stands.

[node 1]

Wait, so should I be using the Emby for android or emby for android tv on my shield?

[Luke 42077]

1 hour ago, node said:

Wait, so should I be using the Emby for android or emby for android tv on my shield?

Whichever you prefer, but we suggest Emby for android.