Apps NAStify Player, my app to play your videos stored in any server!

[DebbieFL33]

DebbieFL33:

Still confused about your DRM Channels. Is it ONLY the Premium Channels like Starz, HBO, Showtime etc. And all the other channels do not have DRM? I mean like Hallmark and Lifetime and maybe CNN and the other Cable News Channels like Fox News? If so, then DRM should not be a problem for you, right? I access all Premium Content outside of my Cable Provider via iTunes Purchase (HBO Now, Showtime - to the Go Versions).

DRM for our area is structured in "Tiers": Starz(SD&HD), Encore(SD&HD), MGM HD (1) are DRM on Preferred HD (see below) and then the Premium Channel(s): HBO, Showtime, $ by each provider or package like 3 for $$.

We have to subscribe to the HD Preferred Tier (costs addt $8-10/mo/acct (not outlet), in order to view/record all the other HD channels on that tier that are DRM free, like Science, NatGeo, Smithsonian, Disney, even TCM (in some areas) and several other non premium HD movie type channels.

All other SD and HD, like CNN, Fox (News&Business) &other Cable are included (&DRM free) on Digital Starter. Broadcast HD is Limited Basic.

So now in reverse order of flat monthly cost: Basic, Starter, Preferred (inc above 3 providers with DRM), Premier. (& 4 packages (repack of some of the channels in the different tiers) at a flat additional, like Family, Economy, etc.) and then of course + $ fee for Premium: HBO, Showtime, or packages, etc. Starz, is not considered a "Premium", it's an odd ball, we have it included in our tier price, but a neighbor may order Starter + Starz.

Newcomers receive a 6 page, tiny lettered, quad fold out channel line up that lists all of this in excrutiating detail. So, I don't blame you for being confused, everyone here is mystified. You have to be a rocket scientist to subscribe. And then there are all the equiment charges (same type of if this, then that) and the HD technology fee(s), included in some and + in others. Our HOA participation further complicates at all of these levels. Very few of our Comcast bills over the last 5 years have been correct.

To close, the only DRM channels on Comcast in this area: Starz(s), Encore(s), MGM, and traditional Premium. DRM is a problem for HAF (male equivalent to WAF) because he is a big movie buff. Currently, he tries to schedule around the Starz(s), Encore(s) and MGM & tries to watch (live), as he isn't enamoured with On Demand viewing. A definite 1st World problem.

 

[d21mike]

DebbieFL33:

Thanks for the details. My business partner just moved into your area. Near Naples. I an not sure exactly where but he can walk to a marina. He also has Comcast so probably same as you. I have been telling him about all of this but he is really not interested in making life complicated so he would not get a HDHomeRun Device. But he did get the new Apple TV and he has Netflix and maybe Hulu.

With HBO Now, Showtime (which has Live TV) and maybe StarZ coming soon (now on Amazon Prime) wouldn't that be an option to get closer to dropping the Comcast STB's. My wife made the switch and has not really complained (much). She really hated switching between HDMI Input. What sold her was getting rid of the OTA Antenna in our Master Bathroom TV which she likes to watch. Now with the Apple TV she gets everything that is on every TV in the house. All TV's now just have the Apple TV. So only 1 UI to deal with. And also only 1 remote for each TV.

 

[DebbieFL33]

DebbieFL33:

Thanks for the details. My business partner just moved into your area. Near Naples.

Aha, now I understand. I thought you and your wife were thinking of moving here. If your partner thinks that HDHR/ATV4 will complicate his life, boy does he have a surprise coming with Comcast (CC), unless he has lots of money to "waste" and gets the primo, "Premier" package with lots of STBs.

With multiple TVs, for 5 years, I have consistently refused to pay CC for any satellite STBs, saved low $1000's. Most solutions have been somewhat complicated starting with Sony PVR, jailbreaking and progressing to our current status, very similar to your solution. The HAF (especially channel surfing) has impeded us from saving more.

As of now, CC does offer Digital DTAs, much cheaper, if not free (depends), for slightly limited device vs full featured STB. Also, hopefully, he can utilize the Comcast "Xfinity TV" (ios) app (depends on his exact location), which finally landed in my area, just as the ATV 4 was introduced. I've been pestering CC since 3 months after April 2010 (ipad 1 debut) for this 2010 announced app. Full functionality of STB on an ios device. Heaven comes 5 years late.

By the way, on a personal note, I was born and raised in Santa Monica.

For your Fox problem, have you tried Fox25 (out of Boston) on ATV? I haven't as we have all without DRM. Dont know how much content is live vs video spots.

 

[a.coward]

@DesertDog : could you check with new beta (1.2.2 build 2) if it improves things ? If not then I have to make some changes in the SMB/CIFS library ...

For others with 100 items limit issue, please check if it's ok with 1.2.2 build 2 and tell me !

Finally for the ones with HDHomeRun playback issue, could you long tap on a file that is not playing and take a picture of debug info shown on screen ? You can also try to play items but there is no guarantee it'll work until I get requested debug informations !

Attached are three images of the debug info. Unfortunately, it looks like some text got cut off on the screen.

mpeg2 = mpeg2 native stream advertized
h264 = h264 encoded stream advertized
both = both mpeg2 and h264 streams are advertized

 

[tgwaste]

Seems there is a bug where I am unable to delete the last item in a folder. Results in a crash. Using newest beta

 

[DesertDog]

@DesertDog : could you check with new beta (1.2.2 build 2) if it improves things ? If not then I have to make some changes in the SMB/CIFS library ...

Finally for the ones with HDHomeRun playback issue, could you long tap on a file that is not playing and take a picture of debug info shown on screen ? You can also try to play items but there is no guarantee it'll work until I get requested debug informations !

Still getting the same thing with SMB.

For HDHomeRun, I'm getting the info as a.coward. I'll post pictures if it's needed but I figured it was redundant since it is the same stream info.

 

[Sylver78]

@a.coward : thanks for the information, it changes a lot regarding what I thought was the problem ... I'll make another change to be able to show all the media content provided by the device ...
@tgwaste : I don't think I've changed anything related to file delete in latest beta build ... Could you tell me more about the problem (used protocol, does it crash, is there an error message, ...) ?
@DesertDog : Ok I'll make a change in the protocol management code ... Could you tell me what your server is ?
You have no need to post any pictures regarding the HDHomeRun thing, you're right a.coward's pictures are enough

 

[d21mike]

For your Fox problem, have you tried Fox25 (out of Boston) on ATV? I haven't as we have all without DRM. Dont know how much content is live vs video spots.

Thanks for all the details for Comcast. One of my sons is also on Comcast in Madera, CA. He will be here for the holidays and maybe his area is the same as FL.

Regarding Fox. I get Fox 11. Our local Fox Channel. Just not Fox Businnes and Fox News on the high cable channels (617,618) here. Also, no Fox Sports (cable high number) but I don't watch sports normally. Fox News is where you would see Bill O'Reilly if that is something you like and I do. But gave up Bill for now. I can watch him on iPad App and AirPlay if needed. I also got the latest iPad Pro which is pretty nice for watching TV. Hoping the Channels App comes out with a iOS version but not a high priority for me. I have a lot of iPad Apps for watching TV.

Not sure if you got the Channrls App $15. If not, we really like it and use it all the time on all of our TV's. More expensive then most but well worth it. Especially if you have multiple ATV 4's.

 

[DebbieFL33]

Seems there is a bug where I am unable to delete the last item in a folder. Results in a crash. Using newest beta

I was able to delete the last item in folder without crash. Deleted file, folder still remains, Open folder, "No files in this folder".

Using 1.2.2(2)

 

[Sylver78]

@tgwaste : I didn't noticed you said that it crashed, I should get a crash report that will tell me more about the root cause of the crash !

 

[DebbieFL33]

HDHR 100 Channel limit is gone. I have all 370 channels with excellent streaming.

Music Channels, nice extra: As the NAStify channel list contains the HDHR five letter descriptor on the listing, I can identify which music channel to tune in. Can't see this on some other players.

As pause, FF, Rew functions for live tv is tricky and probably a low priority, could you possibly change one function. Currently, if you pause, the stream locks and will not resume upon selecting play, feels non fluid. At least, when selecting play, restart the stream at now current point without user having to exit and reselect the channel.

.................For those of us who can't seem to retrain ourselves to NOT pause live streaming.................

All current functions for me are very stable. Great Work!

 

[DesertDog]

@DesertDog : Ok I'll make a change in the protocol management code ... Could you tell me what your server is ?
You have no need to post any pictures regarding the HDHomeRun thing, you're right a.coward's pictures are enough

It's a mac mini running El Cap. So SMBX for the actual SMB server software. I haven't switched it out for Samba or anything else.

 

[tgwaste]

@tgwaste : I don't think I've changed anything related to file delete in latest beta build ... Could you tell me more about the problem (used protocol, does it crash, is there an error message, ...) ?

SMB, complete crash, no error. Can be easily recreated. Make a folder with one item. Try to delete the item in the folder.

 

[d21mike]

SMB, complete crash, no error. Can be easily recreated. Make a folder with one item. Try to delete the item in the folder.

FYI... I had the same problem until it was fixed in the prior beta. Have not seen this since then. Most of my folders only have 1 item in them.

SORRY.... This is wrong. I had not tested with the most recent build. 1.2.2 (2) which now crashes again.

 

[tgwaste]

FYI... I had the same problem until it was fixed in the prior beta. Have not seen this since then. Most of my folders only have 1 item in them.

have you tested it with the current build?

 

[d21mike]

have you tested it with the current build?

Oh no. I assumed I did but I had not. So sorry. I just did and it crashed just like before.

 

[Sylver78]

I got some crash reports, I've updated some code and I'll send the beta soon ! It should only happen in "line" view ! And And I'm not able to have this bug on my device

 

[d21mike]

I got some crash reports, I've updated some code and I'll send the beta soon ! It should only happen in "line" view ! And And I'm not able to have this bug on my device

Ah. So maybe I did and maybe I did not do this in current build. But I did just switch back from Grid View to Line View. I just tested in Grid View and no crash.

 

[Sylver78]

It's a mac mini running El Cap. So SMBX for the actual SMB server software. I haven't switched it out for Samba or anything else.

OK, I don't have this problem with Yosemite, but I have a test macbook running el Capitan, I'll make some tests with it tomorrow ! Are you running 10.11.1 or 10.11.2 ?

 

[Sylver78]

1.2.2 build 5 is ready and should fix delete crash ...
For people with HDHR stream playback issues, please long tap on a stream file and after the crash, restart the app ! It should provide me some more detailed info ...

 

[tgwaste]

1.2.2 build 5 is ready and should fix delete crash ...
For people with HDHR stream playback issues, please long tap on a stream file and after the crash, restart the app ! It should provide me some more detailed info ...

delete crash is still happening

 

[Sylver78]

I'll wait for crash report then ... Make sure to restart the app after the crash !

 

[a.coward]

1.2.2 build 5 is ready and should fix delete crash ...
For people with HDHR stream playback issues, please long tap on a stream file and after the crash, restart the app ! It should provide me some more detailed info ...

Smart idea about purposely crashing the app to send a crash report. Reminds me of a buddy of mine who would purposely throw an exception in Java just to get a traceback of the method calls while debugging.

 

[DesertDog]

OK, I don't have this problem with Yosemite, but I have a test macbook running el Capitan, I'll make some tests with it tomorrow ! Are you running 10.11.1 or 10.11.2 ?

It's running 10.11.2. Did you make a change though? The build that was just posted is now working correctly. So whatever you did in this build shook out my issue.

My HDHomeRun is still acting the same as the last builds just incase you touched that yet.

 

[Sylver78]

@DesertDog I did change absolutely nothing in SMB/CIFS parts of the app
Regarding HDHomeRun, if you have problems playing streams, please long tap on a file not playing and restart the app after the crash !