XBMC control question

redjoe100 · Oct 31, 2014

Hi there, I'm trying to choose the correct Droidbox, please can you help?...
I currently have XBMC running on a Raspberry pi (Rspbmc), im controlling it with a system on my iPad called Demopad using IP commands (I think). I'm finding that the PI isn't very stable and sometimes does boot up. Now it's completely dead.

So I'd like to try a Droidbox running XBMC to stream all my movies from my windows home server but I want to make sure...

Will I still be able to control XBMC from Dempad (if I change the settings of course)?
Can I control the Android device from Demopad or will I need to use a wireless keyboard?
Can I get the Droidbox to open XMBC on boot so I don't have to open the app from Android?

Any help would be great on the best model, I don't need the camera.

Many thanks

ChrisM · Oct 31, 2014

Dempad and XBMC - Can you provide a link to dempad please? I couldn't find anything that wasn't German (dem Pad), and definitely not XBMC related. It may be they don't rank well on the searches I ran in google.
Dempad and Android - See above, sorry, not sure
XBMC on boot up - Yes, definitely, see this thread - Startup Manager (Free)

In terms of other remotes, XBMC do have an official & free iPad-based XBMC remote control - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/official-xbmc-remote/id520480364?mt=8

Which model - I'd go with the M8, as you'll not need to buy a new one, should you purchase an UltraHD/4K display anytime soon. The X7 Ultimate and M6 devices are OK, but with the greater CPU clockspeed and number of cores and processing power with the GPU, the M8 makes sense over all.

[edit]
Sorry, I was looking at the second query so Googled dempad. I now see it is demopad, I'll check for you now.

redjoe100 · Oct 31, 2014

Thank you, yea its Demopad www.demopad.com. When I set up Demopad with XBMC on my pi, I used this TUT

"Before you program the DemoPad software to work with XBMC you must make some small modifications to the setup of the XBMC system. First, go to the network tab in system settings and turn on "Allow Control of XBMC via UPnP" and "Allow Control of XBMC via HTTP". After you have turned these on select a port for the HTTP address (We suggest 8082 but any is fine)."

Hopefully thats helpful?

Thanks

ChrisM · Oct 31, 2014

OK, so from the lack of reply to your thread there - http://www.demopad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5668&p=7501&hilit=xbmc#p7501 and the general tone of http://www.demopad.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5632&p=7447&hilit=xbmc#p7447 it sounds as though it should be possible, but perhaps they've not got an XBMC module written for Demopad yet. It might be worth going through all 10 or so pages of http://www.demopad.com/forum/search...posts&sk=t&sd=d&st=0&ch=300&t=0&submit=Search

Check out the ipad app I linked to, you may be more than happy with that. I know the Android one is very good.

[edit]
Ah, you've posted back since I started writing this. XBMC on an Android device is controllable. The systems to do this should be the same whether the client device is a PC, pi or Android device. Check the settings they mention above, and see if it works. Fingers crossed for you.

redjoe100 · Oct 31, 2014

Great, I'll order the M8, give it a try and report back. I've seen the XBMC control app but all my other home automation and entertainment control is within Demopad so I'd like to keep it all in one place.
Do you know if I can get XBMC to start up when the Droidbox starts so I dont have to select the XBMC app first?
Also can the Droidbox XBMC app play different video file types, mp4, avi, xvid etc?

Thanks again

Joe

NotACustomer · Oct 31, 2014

XBMC on boot up - Yes, definitely, see this thread - Startup Manager (Free)

Yes, you definitely can have XBMC start automatically.
XBMC can play a lot of different types of video. Even if it struggles, you can set it to use something like MX Player (installed on our devices as well) as an external player if you need to.

redjoe100 · Oct 31, 2014

Great, how do I get it to auto start please?
Does the M8 really struggle, it suggests playing 1080 and 4K content?

ChrisM · Nov 3, 2014

@redjoe100 Re auto start, have you read the thread I linked to? Install the app linked to on your device, open it, and follow the steps mentioned in the thread.
The M8 will be fine with 1080p content. It should also be great with 4K (UltraHD) content, but (personally) I can only go off it's reputation and specification, as I don't have a 4K display.

redjoe100 · Nov 4, 2014

Hi there, I received my T8 DB yesterday (there were no M8's in stock). I can confirm that its possible to control via Demopad just as you can control via the XBMC android app - this is great!
On the Driodbox home screen I now have a problem, whilst I have internet connectivity for browsing the web and streaming YouTube vids etc I cant seem to get a connection for the Playstore, I've signed in with my usual credentials and its even picked up my profile picture but it says "no connection" - any ideas what this could be? This means I cant download the Startup Manger app

Also the supplied remote control is not much good for some controls, is there an Android app for the phone that's better?

Thank you

ChrisM · Nov 4, 2014

Re the Play Store, make sure the device has the exact date and time set correctly ( Android Settings, scroll down, look for a date/time related entry. If you see a colourful menu when you open Settings, click on the far right tab, then More/Advanced Settings first. )
After that, if the Play Store still won't open, head back to Settings, then Apps, scroll to the far right and down to Google Play Store/Play Store and click on it. Click Force Stop. Now click on Clear Cache (if available) and then Clear Data (again, if available). Try opening the Play Store app again.

redjoe100 · Nov 4, 2014

Great, I'll try that when I get home. Also the device thinks i'm in shanghai but I'm in the UK, can I change that too?

Can you supply any advice about the remote control app? Thanks again

ChrisM · Nov 4, 2014

That particular launcher is hardcoded to Chinese cities.
If you'd like news/weather widgets for the UK, I'd recommend installing the Go Launcher EX launcher or Next Launcher 3D Shell Lite launcher (see https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gau.go.launcherex&hl=en_GB and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gtp.nextlauncher.trial&hl=en respectively) as you'll then be able to position any Android widget, be it news or weather on your homescreen.

redjoe100 · Nov 4, 2014

Hi, I still cant get the play store to work. My email appears at the top right of the play store page but still "no connection" in the centre of the screen.
All my contacts have synced and when I opened the browser it asked to auto sign in, all my bookmarks etc show so it has some association with my account. I looked in the account section of the android settings and next to my email it says "sync error" I tried clearing the data and cache for the play store and then signing back in but no joy, I then did a factory reset and signed back in but still not working. Its really frustrating not being able to download any apps, can you help? Thanks

ChrisM · Nov 5, 2014

I'll e-mail you the APK for the latest version of the Play Store. If that doesn't work, let me know.

[edit]
Sent. It will come from [email protected] - I used the same e-mail address as you used to register at this forum.

[edit 2]
Just a quick check, you did look at your device's date and time, yes?

Adam · Nov 8, 2014

I'm having the same problem. I have checked time and date and they are correct. I've tried to navigate through setting to Play Store, but it's not showing there. Any advice would be great. Thanks

ChrisM · Nov 10, 2014

Can you e-mail us please ( [email protected] ) with the info mentioned here - http://droidboxforums.com/threads/what-to-include-if-you-need-to-e-mail-us.364/ including a link to your post - http://www.droidboxforums.com/posts/2162 . We may have a fix that involves replacing a file on your device.

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