Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- android:miboxs [2023/05/13 15:53] – [Sideloaded Apps] Bernard Condrau
+++ android:miboxs [2023/05/13 16:14] (current) – Bernard Condrau
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K (AndroidTV 9) with Kodi and Netflix ======
+====== Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K ======
 The [[https://www.mi.com/global/mi-box-s|Xiaomi Mi Box S 4K]] is an inexpensive Android TV box. It's hardware is not as powerful as the [[android:km9|Mecool KM9 Pro Deluxe]] with a similar price tag, but what sets it apart is that the Mi Box S is a Netflix approved device, which allows to stream Netflix in full HD or 4K. This Box is excellent, runs fast and stable, and features a Bluetooth Voice enabled Remote. It cannot be controlled with an IR remote and it does not have an Ethernet port. Read [[#harmony_remote|Harmony Remote]] and [[#network_access|Network Access]] how to deal with these limitations. Read [[android:km9|Mecool KM9 Pro (AndroidTV 9) with Kodi and Netflix]] for installation and setup instructions of the Meecool box.
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
   * [[https://www.logitech.com/en-ch/products/harmony/harmony-companion.915-000240.html?crid=60|Logitech Harmony Companion]] (aka //Harmony//) which controls TV, Amp, and media player.
   * [[https://www.logitech.com/en-ch/product/wireless-touch-keyboard-k400-plus?crid=27|Logitech K400+ Keyboard]] (aka //Keyboard//) which allows comfortable text imput.
-  * USB 2.0 hub with Ethernet from [[https://www.ugreen.com/collections/usb-hub|UGREEN]] for the Xiaomi Mi Box S, which allows stable 100 Mbps up- and download speed.
+  * USB 2.0 hub with Ethernet from [[https://www.ugreen.com/collections/usb-hub|UGREEN]] for the Xiaomi Mi Box S, which allows stable 100 Mbps up- and download speeds over an Ethernet cable. This device also adds 3 USB connectors.
 ===== Setup =====
@@ Line 28: / Line 27: @@
   * Install [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=sg.hbo.hbogo&hl=en&gl=US|HBO Go]]
   * Install [[android:firefox|Firefox for TV]]
-  * Optionally install [[android:tvgames|Android TV Games]]
+  * Optionally install [[android:tvgames|Android TV Games]]. To install games you will USB stick to extend the limited device memory of the Xiaomi Mi Box S. Select one with USB 3.0 or 3.1 specification and decent transfer speed, which will allow faster memory read/write speeds even though the Xiaomi has only USB 2.0 built in. Move the games to the extended device memory, but no other apps, doing so allows you to disconnect the USB stick when you don't need it for game play.
   * Consider to install useful apps like [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.fx&hl=en&gl=US|FX File Explorer]], [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc&hl=en&gl=US|VLC for Android]], [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.haystack.android&hl=en&gl=US|Haystack News]], [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.analiti.fastest.android&hl=en&gl=US|Analiti Speed Test WiFi Analyzer]] and [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spycorp.tvmemorycleaner&hl=en&gl=US|TV Memory Cleaner]]
   * You can disable (force stop) unused apps in //Settings -> Apps// to save memory
@@ Line 34: / Line 33: @@
-===== Install from Google Play Store =====
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.finalwire.aida64&hl=en&gl=US|AIDA64]]
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.analiti.fastest.android&hl=en&gl=US|Analiti]] Speed Test WiFi Analyzer
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ca.dstudio.atvlauncher.pro&hl=en&gl=US|ATV Launcher Pro]]
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=flar2.homebutton&hl=en&gl=US|Button Mapper]]
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.fx&hl=en&gl=US|FX File Explorer]]
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.haystack.android&hl=en&gl=US|Haystack News]]
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.xbmc.kodi&hl=en&gl=US|Kodi]] (follow the [[media:kodi|Kodi guide]])
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.linecorp.linetv&hl=en&gl=US|LINE TV]]
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.blinkt.openvpn&hl=en&gl=US|OpenVPN for Android]] (follow the [[deb9:openvpn|Debian OpenVPN]] install guide)
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.spycorp.tvmemorycleaner&hl=en&gl=US|TV Memory Cleaner]]
-  * [[https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc&hl=en&gl=US|VLC for Android]]
-==== Swiss Play Store ====
-  * [[https://zattoo.com/int/|Zattoo TV]], must be installed from Swiss app store over VPN (geoblocked) or when located in Switzerland
-  * Download the latest version of the apk file from [[https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/zattoo-europa-ag/zattoo-tv-streaming-android-tv/zattoo-tv-streaming-android-tv-2-2045-0-release/zattoo-tv-streaming-android-tv-2-2045-0-android-apk-download/|APKMirror]] to avoid changing twice the app store
-  * Run the Zattoo app over VPN (geoblocked) or when located in Switzerland
-===== Install from apk file =====
-  * {{ :android:org.mozilla.tv.firefox_4.7.1-41970208_minapi22_armeabi-v7a_x86_nodpi_apkmirror.com.apk.zip |Firefox for TV 4.7.1}} downloaded from [[https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/mozilla/firefox-android-tv/firefox-android-tv-4-7-1-release/firefox-android-tv-4-7-1-android-apk-download/|APKMirror]], or {{ :android:com.mozilla.tv.firefox_4.7.1-41970208_minapi22_armeabi-v7a_x86_nodpi_atv_apkmirror.com.apk.zip |Firefox for TV 4.7.1 with modified tile icon}}.
-  * {{ :android:sshelper_v13.2_apkpure.com.apk.zip |SSHelper 13.2}} from [[https://apkpure.com/sshelper/com.arachnoid.sshelper|Apkpure]] (will not work in Android 10+)
-  * Download and install [[https://web.u-playtv.com/webapp/|U-Play]] TV app (Thailand), must be run over VPN (geoblocked) or when located in Thailand. Select link "Try new app" which is Android TV compatible.
-===== Optional install from apk file =====
-These apps are listed for reference and not needed for a regular TV Box install.
-  * {{ :android:aptoidetv-5.1.2.apk.zip |Aptoide TV 5.1.2}} app store from [[http://m.aptoide.com/installer-aptoide-tv?lang=en|Aptoide TV]]
-  * {{ :android:keyevent_display_v1.0.26_apkpure.com.apk.zip |KeyEvent Display 1.0.26}} from [[https://apkpure.com/keyevent-display/aws.apps.keyeventdisplay|Apkpure]]
-  * {{ :android:disk_speed_performance_test_v1.0.2_apkpure.com.apk.zip |Disk Speed / Performance Test}} from [[https://apkpure.com/disk-speed-performance-test/us.hipxel.performance.disk.speed.test|Apkpure]] to test the speed of a USB drive vs internal storage
-  * {{ :android:storage_analyzer_disk_usage_v4.1.0.9_apkpure.com.apk.zip |Storage Analyzer & Disk Usage 4.1.0.9}} from [[https://apkpure.com/storage-analyzer-disk-usage/com.mobile_infographics_tools.mydrive/versions|Apkpure]]
-  * {{ :android:smbsync2_v2.47_apkpure.com.apk.zip |SMBSync2}} from [[https://apkpure.com/smbsync2/com.sentaroh.android.SMBSync2|Apkpure]] to automate copying Kodi Databases or other folders between your file server and the Box. You can establish configs which copy Kodi Databases from samba shares to USB and vice versa.
-  * {{ :android:lan_drive_samba_server_client_v8.0_apkpure.com.apk.zip |LAN drive - SAMBA Server & Client}} from [[https://apkpure.com/lan-drive-samba-server-client/fr.webrox.landrive|Apkpure]]
-===== ATV Launcher Pro Setup =====
-  - Align apps on the second level home screen.
-  - Change to 7 rows to align size of banners.
-  - Create folder //System// and move all apps which should only be used by the system admin into it. Color: 25, 255, 255, 255.
-  - Create folder //TV// and move all TV apps into it. Color: 0, 0, 100, 255.
-  - Create folder //Media// and move all media apps and Kodi into it. Color: 210, 160, 140, 255.
-  - Create folder //Games// and move all game apps into it. Color: 40, 255, 255, 255.
-  - Create folder //Unused// and move unused apps into it. Color: 0, 215, 200, 255.
-===== Button Mapper Setup =====
-To improve usability and user experience of the system remap some of the keys of the Logitech Harmony Remote and the Logitech Keyboard. Note that the Mi Box S bluetooth remote is compatible with the NVIDIA Shield remote, which we will use when setting up the Harmony Remote.
-  - Enable USB debugging in //Settings --> Device Preferences --> Developer options// and select //Revoke USB debugging authorizations//
-  - Open **Button Mapper** App on your device and select //+ Add Buttons//. Press any button, for example the keyboard "F10" key we will remap later, and select the added key with the remote. Now select //Customize// and try to assign an //Action// or an //Advanced// command. Button Mapper will now take you through downloading a setup program for Windows or Mac. This setup program also includes adb.exe, which can be used to enable the necessary permissions on the device.
-  - You can enable the permissions with a USB connection:
-    - connect the Box with a USB-A to USB-A cable to your computer
-    - confirm the connection to the computer on the device
-    - run "ButtonMapperSetup.exe" on your computer and check the textbox to make sure the device is connected
-    - click "Grant WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission" and Exit
-  - If the USB connection does not work, or if the box is not near your computer, run the commands manually:
-    - make sure the Box is connected to the same network as your computer. If you are connecting to a box where the ethernet connection is established through a USB to Ethernet hub (like the Xiaomi Mi Box) make sure to connect through wifi, as the bridge will not work once you enable USB debugging to connect with adb.
-    - open a shell (Command Prompt) on your computer and change to the folder "tools" inside the "ButtonMapperSetup" install folder
-    - enter the following commands within the shell<code>adb connect <IP address>
-adb shell pm grant flar2.homebutton android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
-adb disconnect
-exit</code>
-    - you might need to confirm the connection to the computer on the device after the adb connect command
-    - you might get an error message "error: more than one device/emulator" if an Android emulator such as BlueStacks is installed on your computer
-    - either terminate the emulator (or other device), or issue the following commands to list the devices connected and find and specify the model number in the shell command<code>adb connect <IP address>
-adb devices -l
-adb -s model:MIBOX4 shell pm grant flar2.homebutton android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
-adb disconnect
-exit</code>
-    - remember to connect to the Mi Box S through wireless, as the USB hub with Ethernet cannot be used when "Developper Options" are activ
-    - you might need to reboot the box when reconnecting a USB to Ethernet hub
-  - Disable USB debugging in //Settings --> Device Preferences --> Developer options//
-  - The Box does not need to be rooted, but you will need the Pro version of the app which costs $2 in the app store.
-  - Firefox TV is supported on Fire TV only, but runs without problems on Android TV 9. It requires a "menu" key to pin websites (bookmarks), which is not available on the Box Remote or the Keyboard. Map the "menu" key (keycode: 82) to the NVIDIA Shield's "mute" button (see [[#harmony_remote|Harmony Remote]] below), and to the Keyboard's "F10" key. This allows to invoke "menu" through the Harmony Remote's "menu" button, and through the Keyboard's "F10" key.
-  - The "menu" key is now also available in other apps such as Kodi and is equivalent to a long press of the OK button on the Box Remote and the Harmony Remote (long press of the OK button is not recognized in the Firefox TV app).
-  - Map the "screenshot" action to the double pressed "F10" key for the Keyboard, which allows to take a screenshot when pressing F10 twice. Helpful for creating a user manual for your family members.
-  - Map the "power-dialog" action to the long pressed NVIDIA Shield's "record" button, which allows to invoke the power dialog for rebooting the shield device.
-===== Firefox for TV Setup =====
-Firefox for TV is available in the US app store for Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV stick. Since the Fire TV OS is based on Android the app will run on any Android platform, but needs a few keyboard tweaks for proper operation, which are explained in the previous section [[#button_mapper_setup|Button Mapper Setup]]. In addition I recommend to change the Android TV tile icon and the pinned web sites to your liking.
-  - Install [[https://qwertycube.com/apk-editor-studio/|APK Editor Studio]] or [[android:studio|Android Studio]]. APK Editor Studio is easier to use but more limited than Android Studio, it's sufficient to implement the suggested changes for Firefox TV.
-  - With APK Editor Studio, open the Firefox TV apk.
-  - Click "Application Icon" and replace the built-in icon with a nicer one for Android TV ({{ :android:firefoxtv.jpg?linkonly|Firefox TV}}).
-  - Click "Open Contents", then find folder "assets\bundled\". File "bundled_tiles.json" contains the url definitions, which you can freely modify. Besides my favorite urls I use a "bookmark" url which I can later modify without changing the json file, for example:<code>[
-    {
-        "id": "bookmarks",
-        "url": "https://www.condrau.com/bookmarks.html",
-        "title": "Bookmarks",
-        "img": "tile_bookmarks.png"
-    },
-    {
-        "id": "bco",
-        "url": "https://www.condrau.com/",
-        "title": "Bernard Condrau",
-        "img": "tile_bco.png"
-    }
-]</code>
-  - Place matching png files with resolution 388x216px in the same folder as the json file, which Firefox TV will pick up to display the tiles.
-  - Click "Save APK" in APK Editor Studio to create your apk with customized pinned tiles.
-  - If you have Firefox TV already installed, uninstall it. APK Editor Studio creates a file with a different signature, which cannot be installed as long as an app with the same name is already installed. Put the new apk on a USB stick and install it with "FX File Explorer".
-==== Links ====
-  * [[https://stackoverflow.com/questions/48231953/how-firefox-creates-the-website-tiles-in-new-tab|How Firefox creates the website tiles in New Tab?]]
-  * [[https://webmasters.stackexchange.com/questions/111355/how-to-make-a-large-icon-appear-in-firefoxs-new-tab-top-sites|How to make a large icon appear in Firefox's new tab Top Sites?]]
-  * [[https://qwertycube.com/apk-editor-studio/|APK Editor Studio]]
-===== Games =====
-  * [[android:tvgames|Android TV Games]]
-  * To install games you will USB stick to extend the limited device memory of the Xiaomi Mi Box S. Select one with USB 3.0 or 3.1 specification and decent transfer speed, which will allow faster memory read/write speeds even though the Xiaomi has only USB 2.0 built in. Move the games to the extended device memory, but no other apps, doing so allows you to disconnect the USB stick when you don't need it for game play.
-===== Network Access =====
-The Xiaomi Mi Box S does not have an Ethernet port, which I prefer to be able to access my internal LAN without exposure to WIFI. Android on the Mi Box S will recognize a USB to Ethernet converter, I use a USB hub with Ethernet from [[https://www.ugreen.com/collections/usb-hub|UGREEN]], USB 2.0 is sufficient. This not only adds the network port, but also 3 USB connectors so you don't need to unplug the adapter when plugging in a USB stick. Disable WIFI on the Mi Box S.
-===== Links =====
-  * [[https://www.androidsage.com/2020/12/08/xiaomi-mi-box-s-4k-gets-new-stable-android-9-pie-system-update/|Xiaomi Mi Box S/4K Gets New Stable Android 9 Pie System Update With Build 3139 Featuring Critical Bug Fixes]]
-  * [[https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/forums/shield-tv/9/272444/shield-tv-will-not-pair-with-harmony-hub/?topicPage=2|Shield TV will not pair with Harmony Hub
-]]

Differences

Know How