DIRECTV NOW app for Shield TV?

[johnq54]

Hi all,

**This is regarding the DirecTV NOW service that just launched 11/30, not the normal satellite DirecTV**

At launch, no app for Android TV yet, just on mobile and tablets. I tried the following sideload methods:

Sideload mobile Android apk
-Only air cursor works and video will not stream. Eventually force closes

Sideload Fire TV stick apk
-wont let you sign in without Amazon app store

A lot of you here are a lot smarter than I am. Any ideas to try? It's a shame they didn't support Android TV at launch.

 

[rosworth]

Does anyone have a gen 2 Fire TV device?

 

[mattvandoes]

Ok, so I was able to extract the Fire TV .apk file and sideload onto my Nvidia Shield TV. I was able to open it and navigate using the standard Shield remote. The only issue I am having is playing live TV content. Sometimes it loaded fine and other times it gives me an error and telling me to Refresh the content. Seems to be very buggy for Android TV. Here is a link to the extracted .apk file. I would like to see what you guys get trying this out.

uploadfiles.io/52771#.WEGhSyGy1_U.email

 

[saulin78]

Anyone knows if this works under any US VPN outside of USA?

I guess I will try modding this app later to try to make it work on the Shield. Or try the one posted here but I know the IOS app on my iPhone I just can't make it work behind a US VPN, it detects that I'm not in USA with any US VPN connection I try. It gets the info from Location Services.

 

[johnq54]

Anyone knows if this works under any US VPN outside of USA?

I guess I will try modding this app later to try to make it work on the Shield. Or try the one posted here but I know the IOS app on my iPhone I just can't make it work behind a US VPN, it detects that I'm not in USA with any US VPN connection I try. It gets the info from Location Services.

If a VPN doesn't work, I'm not sure. The app wouldn't stream on my phone because it was rooted. I removed root and voila, streamed fine. So unfortunately that takes some options off the table.

 

[GuestK00344]

..

 

[johnq54]

I modified the apk to remove any Amazon Appstore checks for someone else. I don't in the US, so I can't test if it's working. Here's the apk if anyone is interested.

https://mega.nz/#!2ponECAL!VyyXMwZ36g13MBiD7jeX3VbV3_8mriYaDK3hBhbr5mk

I just tested. I can confirm it no longer asks for Amazon credentials, but it won't let you stream. The app works perfectly, and will even start streaming for a split second, then you get an error 40.

They must do some sort of device check only when attempting to stream because this is the same exact way it behaved when I tried it on my rooted phone (my shield is not rooted).

 

[Markolc]

I can also confirm that it no longer prompts you about the missing Amazon app store. Streaming remains unchanged from the original ported app however, I can only get about 15-25 channels to stream reliably, with the overall majority showing error 40 after working for just a split second. (All the ESPN and Disney channel's seem to stream fine).

 

[montajd]

I modified the apk to remove any Amazon Appstore checks for someone else. I don't in the US, so I can't test if it's working. Here's the apk if anyone is interested.

https://mega.nz/#!2ponECAL!VyyXMwZ36g13MBiD7jeX3VbV3_8mriYaDK3hBhbr5mk

Hey man, can you remove the check for the updated one that just came out?
http://www.mediafire.com/file/d5ds6cie7x57hst/DirecTV.Now.AFTV2.apk

 

[johnq54]

Hey man, can you remove the check for the updated one that just came out?
http://www.mediafire.com/file/d5ds6cie7x57hst/DirecTV.Now.AFTV2.apk

This ^^^. They required GPS to stream and that requirement has been removed in the new version. Could very well have been what was tripping us up

 

[GuestK00344]

..

 

[Markolc]

Thanks for modding the app again. The good news is that you don't have to modify it for lean back, it already appears in the launcher after installation.

The bad news is it still only streams a small handful of the channels, so the newer version of the app didn't solve any of the issues of trying to use it on the shield.

The app functions so well that I am hopeful that they will reach a deal to get the official app to Android TV sooner rather than later. Here's hoping that they can integrate it into the Live Channels app, which is probably what the hold up is.

 

[GuestK00344]

..

 

[saulin78]

JJ-KwiK which tool or which commands are You using to decompile and recompile the apk?

I keep getting an error when recompiling with apktool after I made my modifications with Notepad++

I usually don't have issues with other apps. That's why I'd like to know what you are using to decompile, recompile and sign the apk

I think we can remove 3 checks if we bypass these checks. If anyone wants to do these and also remove the Amazon Store Check from the latest FireTV version maybe we can get a working version for the Shield.

in ---> \smali\com\comscore\applications\AppStartMeasurement.smali

    invoke-static {}, Lcom/comscore/utils/RootDetector;->isDeviceRooted()Z

    move-result v1

    if-eqz v1, :cond_1

In ---> \smali\com\insidesecure\drmagent\v2\internal\DRMAgentNativeBridge.smali
    invoke-static {}, Lcom/comscore/utils/RootDetector;->a()Z

    move-result v1

    if-eqz v1, :cond_1

In ---> \smali\com\comscore\analytics\Census.smali
    invoke-virtual {v1}, Lcom/comscore/analytics/Core;->isSecure()Z

    move-result v0

    if-eqz v0, :cond_2

In ---> smali\com\comscore\analytics\comScore.smali
    invoke-virtual {p0}, Lcom/comscore/analytics/Core;->isSecure()Z

    move-result v0

    if-eqz v0, :cond_1

In ---> \smali\com\comscore\utils\OfflineMeasurementsCache.smali
    invoke-virtual {v0}, Lcom/comscore/analytics/Core;->isSecure()Z

    move-result v0

    if-eqz v0, :cond_5

There is also the check that throws an error if outside USA even behind a VPN. But I'd like to know if bypassing these checks help

This is what I get with apktool when recompiling

C:\Users\Vero>C:\apk2tv1.1\apktool b C:\apk2tv1.1\temp
I: Using Apktool 2.2.0
I: Checking whether sources has changed...
I: Smaling smali folder into classes.dex...
I: Checking whether sources has changed...
I: Smaling smali_classes2 folder into classes2.dex...
I: Checking whether sources has changed...
I: Smaling smali_classes3 folder into classes3.dex...
I: Checking whether resources has changed...
I: Building resources...
W: C:\apk2tv1.1\temp\res\layout\preference_list_fragment.xml:4: error: Error: Re
source is not public. (at 'id' with value '@android:id/menu').
W:
W: C:\apk2tv1.1\temp\res\layout\preference_widget_switch.xml:2: error: Error: Re
source is not public. (at 'id' with value '@android:id/right_icon').
W:
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.androlib.Androl
ibException: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec (exit code = 1): [C:\User
s\Vero\AppData\Local\Temp\brut_util_Jar_8423560757252002085.tmp, p, --forced-pac
kage-id, 127, --min-sdk-version, 19, --target-sdk-version, 24, --version-code, 1
0002106, --version-name, 1.0.0.2106, -F, C:\Users\Vero\AppData\Local\Temp\APKTOO
L8970358793249648231.tmp, -0, arsc, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl150_pr_ce
rt, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl150_pr_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_
authentec_opl150_wm_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl150_wm_privatekey,
-0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_pr_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec
_opl2000_pr_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_wm_cert, -0, res
/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_wm_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_
opl400_pr_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl400_pr_privatekey, -0, res/ra
w/quickplay_authentec_opl400_wm_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl400_wm_
privatekey, -0, arsc, -I, C:\Users\Vero\AppData\Local\apktool\framework\1.apk, -
S, C:\apk2tv1.1\temp\res, -M, C:\apk2tv1.1\temp\AndroidManifest.xml]
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResourcesFull(Androlib.java:473)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResources(Androlib.java:407)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:306)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:263)
        at brut.apktool.Main.cmdBuild(Main.java:224)
        at brut.apktool.Main.main(Main.java:84)
Caused by: brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.common.BrutException: could not
 exec (exit code = 1): [C:\Users\Vero\AppData\Local\Temp\brut_util_Jar_842356075
7252002085.tmp, p, --forced-package-id, 127, --min-sdk-version, 19, --target-sdk
-version, 24, --version-code, 10002106, --version-name, 1.0.0.2106, -F, C:\Users
\Vero\AppData\Local\Temp\APKTOOL8970358793249648231.tmp, -0, arsc, -0, res/raw/q
uickplay_authentec_opl150_pr_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl150_pr_pri
vatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl150_wm_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_a
uthentec_opl150_wm_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_pr_cert,
-0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_pr_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_aut
hentec_opl2000_wm_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_wm_privatekey, -
0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl400_pr_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_o
pl400_pr_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl400_wm_cert, -0, res/raw
/quickplay_authentec_opl400_wm_privatekey, -0, arsc, -I, C:\Users\Vero\AppData\L
ocal\apktool\framework\1.apk, -S, C:\apk2tv1.1\temp\res, -M, C:\apk2tv1.1\temp\A
ndroidManifest.xml]
        at brut.androlib.res.AndrolibResources.aaptPackage(AndrolibResources.jav
a:439)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResourcesFull(Androlib.java:459)
        ... 5 more
Caused by: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec (exit code = 1): [C:\Users\
Vero\AppData\Local\Temp\brut_util_Jar_8423560757252002085.tmp, p, --forced-packa
ge-id, 127, --min-sdk-version, 19, --target-sdk-version, 24, --version-code, 100
02106, --version-name, 1.0.0.2106, -F, C:\Users\Vero\AppData\Local\Temp\APKTOOL8
970358793249648231.tmp, -0, arsc, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl150_pr_cert
, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl150_pr_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_au
thentec_opl150_wm_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl150_wm_privatekey, -0
, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_pr_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_o
pl2000_pr_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_wm_cert, -0, res/r
aw/quickplay_authentec_opl2000_wm_privatekey, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_op
l400_pr_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl400_pr_privatekey, -0, res/raw/
quickplay_authentec_opl400_wm_cert, -0, res/raw/quickplay_authentec_opl400_wm_pr
ivatekey, -0, arsc, -I, C:\Users\Vero\AppData\Local\apktool\framework\1.apk, -S,
 C:\apk2tv1.1\temp\res, -M, C:\apk2tv1.1\temp\AndroidManifest.xml]
        at brut.util.OS.exec(OS.java:95)
        at brut.androlib.res.AndrolibResources.aaptPackage(AndrolibResources.jav
a:433)
        ... 6 more

Basically if we can patch the app to let it know that the device is secure and not rooted it might work. This is how I patched the AT&T U-Verse app and I can stream with it on the Nvidia Shield Android TV

 

[GuestK00344]

..

 

[saulin78]

Thanks JJ-KwiK. With that tool and Dex Manager. I was able to do the modifications and recompile the apk. However. I'm still getting error 40. It's still failing the security check

 

[bkai]

At least we can Google Cast until an official app is released or hacked proper. Would be nice to cast over mobile data though and not use up ISP data.

 

[demi9od]

Is there any word on an official release for an Android TV version of DTV Now? I got the free Apple TV 4 deal but much prefer my Mi Box.

 

[jerflash]

ya i got the free apple tv coming which i know would work well but i really would like to have this on my shield tv sooner than later! Thanks for the work i know i tried for a log time to get amazon videos on the shield

 

[mad212]

https://plus.google.com/+IsraelOliverJr414515/posts/KUURHCPHySi

Haven't tried it yet but feedback says it's working on all channels with no buffering.

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