Topic: Gizmo and Samsung on 4.2.2 and above - anyone looking at issue? (Read 4252 times)

jmone · « **on:** November 13, 2013, 02:09:21 am »

There are a heap of posts regarding the Gizmo issue with Samsung devices on 4.2.2 and above failing. Given the popularity of these devices and the rollout of these upgrades to Andriod, is anyone looking at the issue? It would also help to post a sticky on the Andriod thread on the status of this.
Thanks
Nathan

Hendrik · « **Reply #1 on:** November 13, 2013, 02:51:20 am »

You even posted in the same thread where I said we're looking into solutions here.

jmone · « **Reply #2 on:** November 13, 2013, 04:40:00 am »

Woops - that will teach me to pay more attention and not skim read!

jmone · « **Reply #3 on:** November 13, 2013, 04:40:59 am »

If you need any testing done let me know!

jmone · « **Reply #4 on:** November 13, 2013, 05:16:34 am »

Well this is confusing. I just upgraded my Galaxy Note 2 8" to 4.2.2 (via side load as it is rooted and on a custom recovery) and Gizmo works fine.....

Hendrik · « **Reply #5 on:** November 13, 2013, 05:41:51 am »

Its not strictly tied to the Android version, more to the customizations Samsung did.
My Galaxy Tab 10.1 fails with Android 4.0, but works with Android 3.1 (which it originally shipped with)

IIRC, the Galaxy S3 works with all Android versions. My S2 certainly works, although I'm not sure what version it was updated to, 4.2 maybe?

Sadly the only ideas i have left involve implementing new (more fancy) streaming solutions, which would take quite a bit of effort, which may not happen very soon from my end.

JimH · « **Reply #6 on:** November 13, 2013, 09:20:34 am »

It may be the video player that is the difference, not just the OS version.

Hendrik · « **Reply #7 on:** November 13, 2013, 09:53:06 am »

Thats technically part of the OS. You can't replace it - at least not the MediaPlayer API that powers the playback, the frontend app can be different of course.
However a manufacturer can customize it, and some do.

Matt · « **Reply #8 on:** November 13, 2013, 06:33:21 pm »

Nexus 5 came today, running Android 4.4.

As expected, video in Gizmo works fine on it.

jmone · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2013, 01:58:17 am »

Gizmo is fine on a Nexus 7 2013 with 4.4 as well

jmone · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2013, 04:42:45 am »

Got the LG G2 (it is 4.2.2) and Gizmo drops video playback after a couple of seconds. Any progress?

Hendrik · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2013, 05:26:53 am »

Why would you buy a LG G2 when you could instead get a Nexus 5, which is based on the same model, has the up-to-date firmware, and is probably even cheaper? ?

glynor · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2013, 06:15:04 am »

Quote from: Hendrik on December 05, 2013, 05:26:53 am

Why would you buy a LG G2 when you could instead get a Nexus 5, which is based on the same model, has the up-to-date firmware, and is probably even cheaper? ?

+1

jmone · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2013, 01:49:58 pm »

Simple, the sub model of the LG G2 we get in Australia is one of the few handsets that works on 2300 MHz TD-LTE (Band 40) and one of the cities I work in (with the carrier I'm using) only supports this variant of 4G.

If Band 40 was supported in all handsets, I'd have stayed with the Note Series as I like the Screen Size, Card Slot, Removable Batteries etc (and I've even gotten used to the TouchWiz UI). Neither the Nexus 5 or LG G2 has these features but at least I will keep most of my screen size at 5.2".

Some Reviewers like the LG better than the Nexus (http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/galaxy-s4-vs-lg-g2-vs-htc-one-vs-moto-x-the-best-android-phone/) though most bitterly dislike what LG have done/messed up on the G2 software front.....But never fear, the LG will be flashed like all my previous phones (the HW is pretty solid).

jmone · « **Reply #14 on:** December 11, 2013, 05:12:33 am »

FYI - Just used the G2 on a plane with Wifi streaming and it worked perfectly with Video.

AudibleSounds · « **Reply #15 on:** December 11, 2013, 10:55:45 pm »

After testing and playing around with several phones with this issue, I stumbled upon the probable cause. Nothing to get excited about, because the issue was posted earlier, it is the software on the phone. Once rooted and a new rom, with android version 4.3 installed, Gizmo works flawlessly. On my daughters phone, gizmo worked fine. After an update, gizmo stopped working and would only play a few seconds of a movie and then stop. Also got a connection to the server error. I honestly believe it is the software that comes with the updates or is installed on the newer phones. As stated above, the Nexus 5 works fine; no bloatware there. I am going to continue to dig and see what I can find out and possibly bring the true issue to lite.
Just my two cents.

JimH · « **Reply #16 on:** December 12, 2013, 07:07:18 am »

Quote from: AudibleSounds on December 11, 2013, 10:55:45 pm

After testing and playing around with several phones with this issue, I stumbled upon the probable cause. Nothing to get excited about, because the issue was posted earlier, it is the software on the phone. Once rooted and a new rom, with android version 4.3 installed, Gizmo works flawlessly. On my daughters phone, gizmo worked fine. After an update, gizmo stopped working and would only play a few seconds of a movie and then stop. Also got a connection to the server error. I honestly believe it is the software that comes with the updates or is installed on the newer phones. As stated above, the Nexus 5 works fine; no bloatware there. I am going to continue to dig and see what I can find out and possibly bring the true issue to lite.
Just my two cents.

Thanks for digging into this. I don't think Samsung knows about it. Please let us know what you learn.

Installing other video players might have an effect.

forbigd · « **Reply #17 on:** December 12, 2013, 07:19:39 am »

If it helps troubleshooting, PLEX works fine doing the very same thing. I can go through my shows, pick one and it streams fine to my S4 running 4.3. So if the thought was that it was the players fault, Plex proves the player (hardware) is ok. Gizmo must ask for something different from the phone.

Don

JimH · « **Reply #18 on:** December 12, 2013, 09:03:22 am »

Plex may be using an internal player, not the one that comes with Android.

forbigd · « **Reply #19 on:** December 12, 2013, 10:22:16 am »

Could be, it is 4.99 where Gizmo is free.
Just trying to help those that really need it. I don't (the streaming part), but I support folks who do.

Interesting. Not to go too off topic, but MC19 uses it own player, right? It is that feature alone that makes it so desirable for my Music Jukebox, MC plays everything, and resizes the ancient ones to full 16x9 perfectly. Others like Monkey or Jockey rely on Windows to play the video, and I get postage stamp size vids often. There are no controls for size like MC has.

Back on topic, You need someone to write a player portion for Gizmo, and then charge 4.99 for it also. Another revenue stream!!

I know folks who would pay for it instantly. I would just because I like to show that feature off. But to do all that for a few S4 owners? Sounds like not worth the effort. Maybe the fancy shiny new player would do things to add enough value for all? I like to dream. Next year we will all have S5s and they will break some other piece.

I love MC and Gizmo (I use Gizmo to control the main player to queue up the next TV show ahead of time so there is no dead time while a show is picked.) I have thought it might be the touch screen interface I am looking for for my Video Jukebox. Pick tunes from the tablet, and see the list in theater view now playing. I'll have to try that.

Anyway I have had a lot of posts this morning, and I want the MC team to know that they have the greatest product out there, and my comments are me only trying to help. I hope they don't come off negative. I have the best intentions.

Don

forbigd · « **Reply #20 on:** December 24, 2013, 10:15:21 am »

Sadly the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition has the same problems as the S4. Videos play a frame or two and stop, returning to the previous screen allowing you to try it again..

. Plex streams fine. The Note has all the latest stuff and is blazingly fast. I guess Samsung is going to be more of a problem for Gizmo in the future. I would be glad to help test if needed.

Thanks
Don

Hendrik · « **Reply #21 on:** December 24, 2013, 01:25:37 pm »

Its not forgotten, and I have a few ideas to try next year. And if need be, we may even investigate our own player, however I would prefer this as a last resort, since its a lot of effort and may even use more battery.

justsomeguy · « **Reply #22 on:** December 25, 2013, 03:46:27 pm »

I have an S4 as well and have never been able to play video with gizmo either. My phone got the 4.3 update a few weeks ago but same problem, no video. That is until last night. Unfortunately my fix is not something most are probably going to do, but I decided to flash the latest CyanogenMod 11 nightly build yesterday. After gizmo worked perfectly. So samsung is obviously doing something "special" in their software.

If there are any tests or anything I can do to help let me know. I'm not sure if being on a custom rom with the S4 could help troubleshoot the problem or not?

Hendrik · « **Reply #23 on:** December 25, 2013, 04:17:43 pm »

We already know that flashing a custom ROM will solve the issue, which just proves the point that its something in Samsungs software (and some other vendors as well).
Luckily I have a old Samsung tablet which has the same issue with the 4.0 Android, so i can test against that, and hopefully we'll find a solution - but its not been easy to gather any information about what Samsung might do differently.

jmone · « **Reply #24 on:** December 26, 2013, 06:51:49 pm »

As mentioned it is not just Sammy but my LG G2 as the same issue though I too will ne reflashing in Jan...

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Author Topic: Gizmo and Samsung on 4.2.2 and above - anyone looking at issue? (Read 4252 times)