The Thing About of IPTV

Date:  Oct 4, 2015

I learned something new the past week.  And I would like to share it here.  This article is for advance users.  Means, you are capable of Google for a topic, such as How to Install XBMC, or Kodi or TVMC, and you are able to understand and execute the instructions found.  :)  If you can do so, I am sure you are about to open up a brand new world of Steaming TV entertainment.

1.  IPTV is to

         a) watch Live TV,

         b) Video On Demand,

         c) Your own collections of videos, be it Home Video, or downloaded videos,

         d) Listen to music,

         e) Watch Youtube or Vimeo,

         f) Play Games,

         g) Watch Podcast, etc on your TV. 

 

2.  IPTV is about three things.

         a) Hardware - such as Amazon FireTV, Apple TV, Xiaomi, Android TV box, Minix, ViewQwest TV2, etc etc.

         b) Software - the Apps or Apks that allows you to watch the TV shows

         c) Contents - the web site that holds all these contents

   

3.  In the past, I have posted a lot of TV boxes, a lot of Apps that you can run to watch TV.  The false impressions is China has done a pretty good job in this.  All you need is to load nice simple desktop, and run the Apps from the Desktop.  As simple as that.

 

It is easy to use.  Once you launch an app, you get to see all these wonderful shows.  Almost every apps has similar shows and setup.  However, what differentiate them is where there place their contents and how they stream it to us.

Every ISP has different IP upstreams and different ways to get to these contents.  That is why some users complaint slow and buffering all the time, cannot watch.

It has nothing to do with these contents.  It is the ISP who decided what they allow you to watch.

Always remember the basic concept… ISP who owns TV channels are afraid that you no longer subscribe to their TV channels.  So, somehow, watching IPTV is not an enjoyable experience on these ISP networks.  These ISP afraid that if users start watching IPTV it will cannibalise their TV channels revenues.  Otherwise, these super rich ISP who always earn profits in Millions or Billions, don’t tell me they can’t hire the right people or find the right solutions to solve their network problem.

The main point here is, I and some of the friends agrees that China is pretty advance in these IPTV streaming business.

We do not know what is their business model.  Or do they even have any business model, how they make money, etc etc.

But we enjoy so much.

Until the China Government started to come in to regulate these part of the business.

They start setting up a lot of rules.

All the software cannot be installed into the TV.

All the software running on the TV box cannot display on the TV without approval from the government.

It is a Cat and Mouse chasing game.

One by one, we see them (the TV apps) go down.  Then they come back up again, then, they go down.

So, what about the Western community.  We did not see any TV apps coming out from these western community such as US.

The only thing we cheered is Youtube, and Podcast.

So, I always thought that the Western world is lagging behind.

Until the last few weeks, when I start playing XBMC, Kodi & TVMC.

 

4.  What is XBMC?

XBMC stands for Xbox Media Centre.  I believe it is originally an application on Xbox which is the Media Centre to play your videos and music files.

Later, when it is open source, developers come up with various versions that can do many things.

To me when I look at it, it is like GOPHER. 

Hey, how many of you knows GOPHER?  The text base browsers.  The one like directory based navigation where you need to navigate inside to find information.  

XBMC is just like that.  I believe is a set of XMLs for people to display thumbnails, and contents, once selected, it link to the media player.

Kodi seems to be the new name for it.  So, we will use Kodi from now on.

And TVMC is a special customised version that loads all the common, and popular IPTV streaming onto Kodi.

 

5.  So, when I take a look at it, and google it.  There are tons of information out there to teach people how to customise their Kodi.  And all these developers, customised Add-Ons to easily access a certain content providers to get the video streaming.  You can watch almost everything you want.

For example, let’s say I want to watch Doctor Who latest episode, what will I do?

And the videos playback is very good.  It stream from Akamai.  The quality s at least 720p.  And it all depends on your ISP network too. 

 

6.  There are many Add-ons out there.  This is similar to the APK we found from the China Shafa App Store.  The Kodi/TVMC is like the Shafa Desktop.  The biggest different is, Kodi reads the XMLs informations and thus, it is easy to customised the Kodi Add-On contents.  As for the APK from Shafa App store, all those are APK, means software by itself.  If the developer need to change anything, they need to write the software to change it.  As for Kodi, it is a consistent platform.  All you need to do is to change the feeding information to him.  It is very simple, not so fancy too.  May need a lot of navigation clicks, but it does the same thing.  And the whole world is using it.  You can get Spanish show, you can get Korean movies, etc etc.

 

7.  As CartoonHD APK got shutdown.  This is my new way of watching English movies and TV streams.  I am still trying to understand it too.  TVMC somehow does not work on my Xiaomi, so, TVMC runs on my Amazon FireTV.  The Live TV somehow does not work on Xiaomi TVbox too, only have sound no video.  Something to do with the hardware.  But it support others Android platforms (True Android).

 

I will share more once I know more about it.  For now, I am watching all the TV series and latest movies from US on Genesis, Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer, Apple Podcast, etc.  All these add-ons available on TVMC.

 

Onion Focaccia

Onions and yeast, ah the smell of it makes me drooly

Onions and wheat never go out of season (really just have a long shelf life) nor do they go out of style. In the dead of winter a hot loaf of bread is a breath of fresh air. Focaccia is a non-bakers friend. Its just pizza dough with extra oil. You dont have to knead if you have a food processor, and I suggest having a food processor. The other nice thing about this recipe is that the dough gets better the longer you let it sit in the fridge. Which means you can make mulitple batches of the dough in advance and bake it up in a snap without much effort. Its alittle richer than your average pizza dough recipe, but dont let that stop you from making pizzas with it.

Onion Focaccia

5 cups flour
.25 oz (or 2.5 tsp) active dry yeast
2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp honey
1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup oil
1 3/4 cup warm water

4 onions
1 tsp olive oil, more for drizzeling
red pepper flakes to taste
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tblsp medium ground corn meal
salt for sprinkling

Pulse 5 cups of flour, yeast, and salt to combine in the bowl of a food processor. Mix water, oil, honey, and vinegar together. Start the food processor and add the liquids in a steady stream. Dough will clump together and bang against the bowl once all the liquids are added. Keep processing for about 45 seconds. Sometimes my food processor starts to burn out (I can smell the motor) and I give it a minute break. The dough will be sticky. Scrape it directly into a sealable container. Let sit overnight in the fridge and up to 5 days. After 5 days you can freeze the dough for up to 6 months until you are ready to use it.

Sticky dough

Chop onion into 1/8 inch thick half moons. Now is when you really get to exert your power over food. Chop and cook those onions into tasty savory caramelized oblivion. Its best to use a thick bottomed pan so you can slowly brown them rather than burning them. Onions have a lot of sugar, and do burn if you dont watch out.

From this

To that

Add the onions, with 1 tsp of olive oil, a sprinkle of salt and red pepper flakes to a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Stir to coat the onions. Cook over medium until transparent. Add the vinegar scraping bottom to pick up an browned bits. reduce heat to medium low and cook for about 30-40 more minutes until deep caramel color forms. The longer the better. The volume will greatly reduce but the flavor will get bigger. Stir often. Onions can be made 2 days in advance and kept chilled.

Dough after 3 days in the fridge is loose and bubbly

Ready to bake? Get ready to fill the house with awesome scent of onion and yeast. Grease an 11x17 rimmed baking sheet (Im using my trusty jelly roll pan) and sprinkle with corn meal. Not just any corn meal, you need to get medium/coarse corn meal. Medium corn meal also doubles as polenta in my home, and could even be passed off as grits. Im no grits expert, but I think it does fine.

Corny meal, look for medium ground

Drop the chilled focaccia dough onto the baking sheet. Stretch it with your hands into a rectangle about 1/2 inch thick, nearly the size of the pan. Make indentations with your fingers. These will be little wells for the oil to collect in.

Sprinkle with a little oil and rub to cover. Next spread the caramelized onions over the dough. No for the part that separates pizza from focaccia drizzle the dough with olive oil until well coated and pooling in areas. Finish with a sprinkle of sea salt. Let sit in a draft free area for 60 minutes to warm up the dough and allow it to get puffy. Meanwhile preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bake for 20-25 minutes light browned. You will know by the smell when its almost there. Its the best smell on earth. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Slice and serve. Great a great snack for munching on while drinking beer. I made mine for super bowl. The focaccia didnt make it to the 2nd quarter.

Gadget ViewQwest 4K TV Box TVMC

Date:  Sep 18, 2015

[update:  http://sideloadfiretv.com/sideload-apps-amazon-fire-tv-windows/ is the tutorial for Windows to side load APK using ADB platform tools, the tutorial is for Amazon FireTV but it works similar on ViewQwest 4K.  I tried to find the USB function on the ViewQwest box, I believe they turn off, and they don’t allow you to install APK via USB.]

Yesterday, I picked up the latest ViewQwest 4K box.  After playing with Xiaomi TV box & Mini, Amazon FireTV & Stick, 10moon, Tmall TV box, etc etc.  I am not sure how to do a review on this box.  

To me, it is JUST ANOTHER ANDROID TV BOX that comes with a cool remote control.

But the selling point of this Android Box is, it comes with LOGIN APP to login to ViewQwest Authentication server, and hence UNBLOCK the geo-blockage from popular US based app such as Hulu & Netflix.  

And if you are non-ViewQwest users, like SingTel, Starhub, M1 or MyRepublic, you can make use of Viewqwest FreedomVPN on this box.   But bear in mind, the quality of the movie streaming is still depend on your own ISP network.  What this box does is it unlock the geo-lock for you.  So, if your ISP has lousy network peering with the content provider, although you can access them, i.e. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, etc.  But you will still get lagging or buffering.

I don’t have SingTel or Starhub or M1 or My Republic Internet at home, so, I am not sure how well this function work.  

This blog is how to FACE LIFT the box.  HaHaHa… yeap, do plastic surgery.  hahahaha

It comes with a very cool remote control.  Yeah, a remote control that has a MOUSE PAD on top.  So basically, you now can run some of the Apps (APK) that does not support the traditional few buttons remote control.  

It looks cool.

But in reality, I think use a Bluetooth Mouse is better.  HaHaHaHa.

It comes with this UI interface.

And It SUCKS!  (Because is Android! hahahaha).

I spent almost one hour trying to figure out what to do.  And I am completely clueless.

Here are some of the problem I face.  

1)  Initially, if you just plug the HDMI cable into the HDMI port.  It does not do anything.  So, it might have some compatibility issues it seems.  But then, if you turn off the TV, and reboot the ViewQwest box, it actually connect to the HDMI and show it on TV.  

2)  Initially, I run WiFI connection.  Then, when I run some application, it complaint that the Network is not there.  Such as Netflix.  Then, I figure out I need to terminate the Netflix program.  But the Android is designed for touch screen, so with that remote control I not sure how to do it.  So, I plug in a mouse to do the job.

3)  Big time problem with USB.  I plug in a USB dongle for my mouse, then, the SOUND stop working.  Play any movie no sound.  Plug out the USB, sound resume.

4)  I plug in the USB, and I have no clue where to install third party APK from my USB thumb drive.  But then, something not work.

5)  I run Netflix, and it tells me to upgrade Google play store.  After upgrade, there are some error message here and there.

...

So, after 1 hour later, I GIVE UP.  So, I tried the following to do the FACE LIFT.  I had enough of this. 

HACKING TIME

A.  SIDE LOAD APK onto ViewQwest 4K TV Box.

[For MacOS users] Download the platform-tools-osx.zip from http://www.mediafire.com/download/yum9gn1wdx855x0/platform-tools-osx.zip.  

(Sorry, this is for MacOS users only.  For Windows users, I am sure you can google and find out how to do it on Windows.  I have not been using Windows for many many years)

Install the platform-tools on any where you like.  (for expert only)

Go to your ViewQwest 4K TV Box.  Find out the IP of the box.  For example, mine is 192.168.1.29

So, you go into the platform-tools directory and run the following command...

    ./adb connect 192.168.1.29

And this will connect your computer to the ViewQwest TV box.

I have placed some APK files here for testing...

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_2LIa_dWu8sSzJiZDJ4TU9UaFU

Copy some of these APK into the platform-tools directory.

Then, you can install these applications APK files.

  ./adb install Shafa Market.apk

  ./adb install CloudTV.apk

  ./adb install tvmc-14.2.2-helix.apk

Your applications can be installed easily onto the ViewQwest 4K box.

And all you need to do is to click “Open”.

And you have your usual Shafa Desktop running on the ViewQwest 4K TV box.  This is a much better UI.  And it is a familiar UI to all.

Turn ON the Boot Start.  So that whenever you reboot the box, it launch this Desktop UI instead of the ViewQwest one.

Every time you press the HOME button, it allows you to select the launcher.

Sometimes, this dialog box will come out.  So, makes sure you ALWAYS choose Shafa Launcher.

The user interface is simple and easy to use.

And the Interface is in ENGLISH.  Because the Android box OS is set to English language.  So, most of your Desktop app are in English.  And ViewQwest preloaded many apps for you.  So, those apps which might need to use a mouse pointer will be easily navigated using the ViewQwest Mouse Remote control.

Here is the 2nd part of the topic.  Installing TVMC.

TVMC is an application allows you to watch TV and Movies streaming.

You can get all the info from here.

http://www.tvaddons.ag/tvmc-android/

You notice earlier, I have already side loaded it on to my ViewQwest 4K box.

Click on Grant to install the App.

It is a 5-8 minutes installation...

Once install, you get this screen.  Go select Genesis.

Let’s say I want to watch a TV show.

Select Returning TV Shows as I know the show I want to watch is Season 3.

Browse thru the TV show.

Click NEXT to go next page.

I found the show I want to watch.

I found the show I want to watch.  Season 3.

Go to the episode you like to watch.

If it works, it says “Working…”.  If it does not, then, it will tell you No Streams...

Choose the streams that works.  Many for you to choose and with different quality.

And it runs.

Summary.

1.  This ViewQwest 4K TV box is just another Android Box.

2.  What do you do when you have an Android Box?  You install Shafa Market.  I use ADB to install.  This is where you going to get your apps.

3.  It comes with a cool remote control.  With a small mouse pad.

4.  It has very sucks UI (KK Launcher).  Don’t recommend average users to use it.  So, install Shafa Desktop.

5.  It has English language.  

6.  Since it comes with mouse pad remote control.  You can run those Netflix and Hulu that need mouse input.  Korean Apk too.

7.  The box allows you to login into ViewQwest Freedom VPN and unlock the Geo-locked content sites.

8.  But beware, the Internet speed to these content sides pretty much depend on your own original ISP speed.  If it is slow, you complaint to your ISP.

9.  I feel that this box is like Minix box like that.  Nothing special.

10.  Since CartoonHD, MegaboxHD all close down.  So, the best alternative is to use the Kodi’s TVMC apk to watch it.  Use the Genesis stream.

 

The Art of Speed from Playeum

Date:  Sep 24, 2015

Today is a holiday.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t do any outdoor activities because of the very unhealthy haze condition.

So, early in the morning, I read upon this new place or exhibition at the Gillman Barracks.  So, I shouted to the kids and say “Let’s go, I bring you guys to a mysterious fun place."

(Of course they do not know what is in for them later)

This is the address.  The are about 14 lots of car park space here.  it is about 100 meter before the actual place.

There is a big pink elephant outside.  So, it is easy to identify.

There is also some coffee places, and some restaurant near by.  The food so so only.

It is for all ages (kids age from 1 to 12).

$20 per kid.

You can do handy crafts. 

You can play with the Lego.

You can draw on the wall.

There is also a dark room for you to play with lights and shadow.

We were there 10am sharp.  Already a lot of people line up to get it.

By 10:30am, they actually stop people from going in because the whole place is full house.

Jay’s friend who come late, has to wait for at least 1 hour on the waiting list.

How cool can it be?

Well it is always cool when you have Lego around.

You get to build cars with Legos and wheels.

And the better you design the car, the faster it goes.

Oh yeah!  You get to roll the car down from this ramp.  

It will jump over a separations and then landed on the other ramp.  That is cool!

The 1-3 years old can play at the corner straight ahead.

The 3-6 years old can play on the right with lots of tracks.

The dark room is that room in the middle.  Later tell you want it is.

Rolls something with wheels down the track.

Or you can roll your car down on the transparent canvas into a turning wheel.  That’s cool too.

Now, we need to build some cars.

Car #1 does not work.  Flat base with 12 wheels.  

At the center, it will change the direction.  Bad design.

It was actually designed by me.  hahahahaha

Jay’s one works better.

Let’s check it out.

It is fast.  But not so stable.

Let’s increase it to three rows of wheels.

It was fun to do a trial and error.  Keep testing and rebuild it to a better one.

Actually, the original idea came from Kay Kay.  And Kay Kay explained, he learned from the Bad Piggy games on iPad.  

And I recalled.  hahahahahaha ya, they really build very weird car.  But as long as it works.

And Jay Jay adopt the same design.

And keep improving it.

Let’s check it out.

Ouch.

Let’s try again.  And please use Slo Mo to take the video.  

It is really fun!

Look at how high it jump.  And when it landed, all the top wheels got loosen.

Let’s try again!

Again and again.

He improved it at a level that it is jumping very high up in the sky.  

But the landing part still need to improve.

Every one was amaze with what Jay has build.

This is the last run.  After may be 50+ runs?

And we gave the wheels to the kid who stick his head out from the left.

Well done!  Well done!

These two girls are creative.  They can pull the car back.

Of course, this is not only for building Lego cars.

How about rolling these marbles into the speed tunnels?

Yup, you have to build the correct tunnels with transfer of energy from Potential to Kinetic.

Its all about Science.

You can build a lot of arts here too.

There are many recycle materials for the kids to build.  Some kid build a light sabre.  Very cool.

This is what I build.

Kay Kay asked if he can bring this home.

Of course I say no.  I want my art piece to be displayed here.

Kay build a rocket satellite.

Jay build his cat toy.

Don’t forget to check out the dark room.

There are a lot of fun thing you can do here.

With just the photo frame and hands. you can create all sort of lights effects.

Well done Jay!

Fun level is very high for both of them.

They enjoyed very much until want to skip lunch.

Of course we say no.

Kay Kay’s lightsaber.