Is 4K XiaoMi TV4 really a 4K Quality TV?

21 March 2018

Introduction

Many people doubted that MiTV4 was a 4K UHD TV because many could not play downloaded YouTube 4K UHD videos smoothly on the television.  This article will explain why and how to test if MiTV4 or any TV is a 4K UHD TV.

What is a 4K UHD TV?

It tells about the picture or video quality of a TV.  The ordinary analogue TV has the lowest picture quality.  The High Definition (HD) TV (the 720p or 1080p format) has higher picture quality.  4K UHD TV has the best picture quality and it has at least twice as much resolution as HD TV.   Naturally,  4K UHD TV will demand much more broadband bandwidth or hard disk storage spaces.  It will require a network speed of around 13 Mbps to play video properly.

Problem Watching 4K Movies

Watching some 4K UHD movies downloaded from Youtube can be a pain as there will be lags playing the movies;  that is if one downloaded movies of the wrong video format onto a thumb drive and watches the movie from there.   However,  one can still watch 4K UHD movies directly using YouTube without any problem as the movies have already been downgrade automatically to HD quality for viewing;  alternatively,  one can first convert the Youtube video into the correct format using a 4Kdownloader which can be downloaded from here  or here.

Why there is Video Lags?

MiTV does not have compatible hardware decoder called  VP9 to play 4K UHD  movies download from YouTube.  There are basically 3 types of 4K Video encoders/decoder for 4K UHD videos:   the libvpx (VP9), the x264 (H.264) and the x265 (HEVC).  MiTV4 and many other Chinese made TV use H.264/H.265 encoders whereas Youtube 4K UHD videos uses VP9 encoders.   

Why MiTV has No VP9?

This has something to do with cost of production.  Xiaomi is actually a TV made for Chinese market and Chinese don’t use Google;  but VP9 is a format developed by Google.   However,  VP9 is an open and royal free video encoder where users will not by charged for using such as viewing Youtube movies; but,  VP9 is a patented product and the use of which for producing devices or videos will not be free and will require licensing.

H.264/H.265 Vs VP9

These 3 formats are quite similar in terms of performance as shown in the following chart;  actually, H.265 is almost identical to VP9.  What one downloaded a 4K movie quality from Youtube is always in VP9.  If one has to upload a H.265 video to Youtube,  one would have to downgrade it first to H.264 or convert it to lower quality before uploading it to Youtube. 

How To Test 4K UHD capability?

Where to Download Demo 4K Movies?

There are free movies clips available in H.264 format for testing and most of them can be found in the Chinese apps;  for example 魔力视频TV版 (download and type 4K to search) or the various test demo from here.   

To confirm that MITV4 has 4K UHD video capability,  one could use a 4K Tester that can be downloaded from here or here.

What is in the 4K Tester?

When one starts up the tester,  one would be greeted with this page.  Press Start button to start the test

On completion of successful test,  the follow screen will appear.   The  left hand side shows the HD quality equivalent to 1008p whereas the right hand side shows the 4K UHD picture quality which is much more finer  in words and in pattern.

The following up picture tells what type of TV screen.

How Can MiTV4 play Youtube 4K Movies?

Without the VP9 decoder,  there is no way for MiTV to play Youtube 4K UHD movies.  However,  one can root MiTV4 and use a separate firmware in ROM which has in-built VP9 decoder.  The other way is to wait for Xiaomi to upgrade the firmware which may involve licensing fee.   Presently,  there is no software VP9 decoders available.

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here
tinyurl:   https://tinyurl.com/y7ml5jgp
Google :   https://tinyurl.com/y7hozsja

The Alternative to Google Play for Xiaomi TV

17 March 2018

https://tinyurl.com/y869j6xr

Introduction

Google Play has  a lot of Android Applications or Apps.  It is always a must to use in any Android device.  However, Xiaomi TVs or TV boxes has a special ROM designed for Chinese market that does not use Google Play.   Many overseas users  tried very hard to install Google Play but failed.   In short,   Xiaomi TVs or TV boxes must be rooted to install Google Play.

How to Install Additional Apps?

Present way,  side loading through the USB port every time or use file manager like ES Explorer or Google Chrome.

Any Alternative?

There is none so far except for an App called Aptiode-TV.  Even Xiaomi manufacturer has no choice but to obtain  license from Google to use Google Play which means additional cost to the users. 

What is Aptiode-TV?

Aptoide is just like Xiaomi having its own Android Smart TV or set-top box and they came up with Aptoide TV app that has a list of all the apps specially selected for  Andriod TV.   This  Aptoide TV app could be sideloaded to Xiaomi TV using this APK and thereafter,  use it just like Google Play without the need to side load the Apps everytime.

Step by Step

1.  Download the APK from http://m.aptoide.com/installer-aptoide-tv?lang=enre

     or from here.

2. Side load it to Xiaomi TV using this method

(http://skyjuiceiswater.blogspot.sg/2018/01/install-youtube-and-google-chrome-in.html)

3.  Fire up Aptoide-TV in the Apps Store of Xiaomi TV 

 4.  This screen will come up

5.  One can install all the Apps just like Google Store..They have Youtube,  Google Chrome,  Netflix, games.  videos and many more for use in Android TV and bet most of the apps can be used also  in Xiaomi TV.. However,  the videos and games download must comply with MiTV specification in order for them to work.  Have fun

Update: 20 March 2018

File Note:  There are 2 versions of YouTube TV available in Aptiode-TV app:  the original Yoube TV (as shown above)  and the Smart Youtube TV.  The former does not allow user to sign in.    It will just return to the last page.      The latter has  a mod that was specially designed for MiTV users to sign into Youtube account using handphone.

The advantage of signing into Youtube allows users to store their playlists.   It also allows users to view uploaded Youtube files.

The Smart Youtube can play most of the Youtube movies but may have difficulty playing videos linked from external source if the default in the linked video is to play on the original Youtube TV.

To find the Smart Youtube TV to upload to MiTV,  just press the search button on the top left hand corner of Aptiode app and type "Smart Youtube" to search. 

The installation is straightforward.  Just follow the instruction given.

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here

Tinyurl :  https://tinyurl.com/y869j6xr

Google:   https://tinyurl.com/ycmubf5s

How to Identify and Block URL of Advertising Site in Smart TVs; for example, Xiaomi TV

17 March 2018

Introduction

Many smart TVs and some Apps for TV have lots of disturbing full screen advertisements that will force viewers to take few seconds to watch them.  The worse kind is when the advertisement use some unsupported video or image files that could freeze up the TV;  for example,  Xiaomi TV,  requiring a reset of the TV.   This article will describe an easy way where one can identify and get rid of these unwanted advertisement.

 

What you will need?

1. A router that has web browsing history or logging capability;
2. Plenty of patient

Note:  This works only for those ASUS or routers that has web history function

Which Router To Use?

Most routers have  web browsing history or logging capability;  for example,  ASUS router has a web browsing history in the “Adaptive QoS” section

Netgear,  in their “log” section,  TP-Link in the System Tool.

Consult the user manual of one’s router or google  to find out how to access the web browser history or logging location in the router.

This article will take ASUS router as an example.

Step by Step Procedure

1. Log into the router by typing the home URL address of the router in any browser;  for example  192.168.1.1 and one will go to the above home page;

2. Click “Adaptive QoS” and select “Web History” tab and one will reach the main page of web history or log.  Click the on-off button to turn on  the “Web History” function.  If the page is not empty;  click “Clear” to wipe the page;

3. Now go and turn on the TV or device and select the page or app where one has found the unwanted advertisement.  Observe and note down the names of the advertisement.  In this example,   the  advertisement was from “iqiyi” about their latest TV shows;

4. Come back to the “Web History” page,  one should find out there will be some loggings;  if not,  click “refresh” button or turn to other pages and come back to the “Web History” tab.  Once there is a list,  look for the name of the TV or device.  In this example,  the device is  Xiaomi TV.  the client's name was “Beijing Xiaomi Electronic Co” as shown;

5. Click the  “All Client” drop down box and select “Beijing Xiaomi Electronic Co”,  the following page will appear.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Find the URL address with “iqiyi” and the URL is “m.iqiyi.com”;

7. Now block the URL using the “Fire Wall” function as described here.  Note that as “iqiyi.com” also offers other TV programs,  do not just use “iqiyi.com” to block the URL as it will block all the URLs that have “iqiyi.com” in it;

8. After having blocked the URL,  test the TV to check if the advertisement  is gone;  if not,  repeat step 7 using other URL address having “iqiyi.com” for example.

What are the Alternatives?

There are a few other alternatives like using special ad block DNS addresses. This might work for some but not all the advertisement.  Also,  there may be  some security problem plus it may not filter all the correct advertisement. 

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here

Tinyurl : https://tinyurl.com/yaeyrb39

Google :  https://tinyurl.com/y87fu36m

Reference:

1.  How To Skip Advertisement in Xiaomi TV/Box

Xiaomi TVs and Box; Changing the Default Video Player

13 February 2018

Introduction

When playing some western movies or displaying some advertisement,  the Xioami device will act strangely.   Sometimes without any warning,  announcement or displaying any message,  Xiaomi will hang or re-start or just freeze totally.  The only recourse is to power  off the device and reboot to restore.  Sometimes,  a reset in the recovery mode would  be required.

Why?

Xiaomi TVs,  boxes and even handphones  have their own Xioami Video Players for some reasons.  After some testings and observation,  it is found that when Xiaomi device is playing video or displaying picture of other formats that cannot be accepted by Xiaomi's defaulted  video player,  it will react strangely.

What are the Support Format of Xiaomi?

Hence,  the Xiaomi Device will just hanged,  reset or just stop playing altogether if there is video with other format.

What is the Solution?

Change the Default Video Player

How and What’re needed?

1. One will need

a)      Default App Manager Lite 2.4 (download from here or from here)

b)      All Format Video Player (download from here  or from here)

c)    Other players such as MXPlayer, VLC, xPlayer   and also MXPlayer Codec

          

            Note that video players like MX players,  Youtube's html5 players etc may not have all    the  necessary formats.  also the All Format Video Player many not necessary all all the formats.

2. Install the 2 APKs and open up the Default App Manager first,  one will reach the following screen.   Navigate and select “Video”

3. In the following screen,  select “Video Player”. Note that it is the "All Format Video Player" Ignore any error thereafter.

   4.  Make sure one has selected "Always" when this screen appears

   5.  One successful setting,  one should find a green tick sign at the right hand side of the defaulted app as shown

  
   5.  Restart by rebooting the TV or box

   6.  You are set to play almost any movie or advertisement that contains different formats.  .

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here

How To Skip the Advertisement in XiaoMi TV/Box Without Rooting or Apps

UPDATE : 17 March 2018

If  one needs to block the other advertisements not found in the list,  one can try this method described here

How to Identify and Block URL of Advertising Site

9 Feb 2018

tinyurl : https://tinyurl.com/y86gysg8

Introduction

Xiaomi  TV or TV box has a 30 seconds time slot for advertisement and everyone is made to watch the advertisement.  There are a few ways to cut this unwanted advertisement.  This article introduce one of the easier way.

Note:  1.  Tested working in sets imported directly from China;
           2.  Works only for those ASUS or routers that has web history function
          

How?

When the TV is first switched on,  Xiaomi TV is programmed to  download  the advertisement or files from one or more of the  URL addresses to display the advertisements.  These URL addresses are

 

ad.mi.com ad.xiaomi.com ad1.xiaomi.com api.ad.xiaomi.com api.io.mi.com b.netcheck.gallery.pandora.xiaomi.com bss.pandora.xiaomi.com config.kuyun.com data.mistat.xiaomi.com de.pandora.xiaomi.com dvb.pandora.xiaomi.com gallery.pandora.xiaomi.com gvod.aiseejapp.atianqi.com jellyfish.pandora.xiaomi.com logonext.tv.kuyun.com mishop.pandora.xiaomi.com o2o.api.xiaomi.com sdkconfig.ad.xiaomi.com staging.ai.api.xiaomi.com stat.pandora.xiaomi.com upgrade.mishop.pandora.xiaomi.com

All one has to do is to set our home router to filter and block these URL addresses so that the TV will no longer be able to download these advertisement or files.

Other Methods

There are many advertisement blocking software available but they will  not work for skipping Xiaomi's advertisement during start up.  Moreover,  this type of software might contain information stealing Malware or Trojan or even harmful element.

How to Set Up the Router?

The following method is for ASUS RT AC56S but almost every router will have similar facility to block the unwanted URL addresses;

1. Type in the URL address of the router in any browser.   The router address is defaulted to be 192.168.1.1 unless one has it changed before
2. After entering the administrator's name and password,  the following screen will appear

      3.  Select “Fire wall”,  one will go into the firewall section

 

4. Select the URL filter tab on the top and  then

a)      Enable the URL filter;

b)      Enter the URL addresses of the advertisement as stated above

 

5. After typing or copying and pasting the various URL addresses,  press “Apply” and close the browser. 

      6.  You are set to have an advertisement free Xiaomi TV.

 Note:  One may have to 

a） Reboot the router;
b） Clean the cache and the files stored in the TV's memory using  Xiaomi's or Shafa's deep clean features;

If necessary,  unplug the TV and allow it to rest for 20 seconds to discharge all its memory before putting the plug back on.

tinyurl : https://tinyurl.com/y86gysg8

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here

Reference:

1. How to Identify and Block URL of Advertising Site

Xiaomi TV4 : Hanged up at the First Wall Paper Screen

8 February 2018

Introduction

Xiaomi TV4 restarted suddenly when browsing using Google Chrome or when trying to play certain foreign movies.   Sometimes,  the TV can restart itself  smoothly but sometimes,   the TV might just stuck at the first Wall paper Screen,  refusing to move further.  This article propose a method where one can resolve this  problem.

Why Xiaomi TV Restarted?

There is no explanation or warning.   But many observations suggest that Xiaomi TV does not like the default video players specified by the foreign movies.  May be such action triggered certain hardware interrupts that cause the TV to restart or hang up. The other possibility is that we have downloaded/uploaded too many apps and some of these apps are not friendly to Xiaomi TV's OS.

What to do Next?

When the TV has a hangup,  it will not respond the the remote controller nor the white start/stop button underneath the TV screen.    The only recourse is to pull the  TV’s power plug.   Sometimes,  the stubborn hang up just refuse to go away.  Fortunately,  Xiaomi TV has a recovery mode in which one can do a hard reset.

How to do a Hard Reset?

1. Pull the power plug off the TV and wait for about 20 seconds
2. Push and hold the the “confirm” and “Restore” buttons at the same and plug back the power supply;
   
   
3.  
4. The TV will try to start.   If it does not,   press the white big button just underneath the logo "Mi" in the center of  the TV screen with the other hand or get someone to help; 
5.  The TV will go into recovery mode with the following screen appearing.  Quickly release the "confirm" button first and then the "Restore" button when this recovery screen appears.

6. Select “Wipe Cache” to wipe and clean the caches stored in the memory and then select “Reboot”.  Note that sometimes,  a rebooting will already solve the stubborn hang up without clearing the caches;
7. If the TV again refuse to restart normally,   repeat 1 to 5 and select also “wipe user data”.   
8. Note that there may be a need to pair the remote controller after the restoration. 

 Note:  it is not advisable perform  "Wipe All Data" especially when one has rooted the TV before.
This will also clear the newly installed APKs that is not native to the TV.  Make sure one has a copy of the installed APK for restoration.

The Power of Bollinger Band

Introduction

Many Analysts use simple moving average indicators to trend stocks and indexes; but not many use Bollinger Band indicator in their presentation for some reasons. This article intend to introduce Bollinger Band as one of the important indicators that a trader must always master.

What is Bollinger Band Indicator?

Bollinger Band is actually a derivative of moving average indicator. Instead of just plotting a simple moving average (usually 20-day), it also plots the upper and lower values of the moving average which is two standard deviations away from the simple moving average as shown in the attached graph.

What is a Standard Deviation?

It is a mathematical expression to express the deviation of the values from a mean average. The explanation could be complex but in simple term, standard deviation is just a mathematical tool that can be used to tell what is normal, and what is extra high or extra low of the historic stock price or index. In the above example, the normal 20-day index of STI is ......, the extra high index is .... and the extra low index is ... on 20 Jan 2009.

What the use of Bollinger Band?

Traders often use Bollinger Band to track the movement of the stock or index. This is because it can foretell the extra high and extra low prices based on past historically prices.

The Xiaomi’s Sacred Screen Controller (投屏神器)

 4 February 2018

 Introduction 

The Xiaomi’s original TV remote controller is simple. It consists of only a few components. But it lacks a “mouse” control which makes it harder to navigate especially in web browser like Google Chrome or other western software that are designed to be used with a mouse.
The article will explore how to use a special Xiaomi software called the Sacred Screen Controller (投屏神器) to overcome these shortcomings.  The software is also called Xiaomi TV Assistant.

What will be needed? 

 1. A smart phone (IOS or andriod)
 2. A Xiaomi software called 投屏神器
 3. A shared wireless network or router that is connected to the smart phone and the TV

What is the Use? 

One can use the smart phone to:
1. Project photos, send videos and Apps to the TV;
2. Act as a smart remote controller;
3. Capture the TV screen (doing a screenshot)

How To Setup?

 1. Download the APK or Apps from the Apple Apps store or Google playstores (or from here)  and run it;
 2. In the following screen and at the bottom, press the bar “请先连接设备”.

The software will search for all the Xiaomi devices connected to the same wireless network and present to you a list of devices found; alternatively, one can enter the IP address manually to complete the connection.

What is inside ? 

Basically, there are 4 main categories: namely

1. The Treasure Box

This is where one can do the setup, using smart phone as a remote controller. There is also “mouse controller” inside for easy navigation

2. The Video

One can select the various video available in the smart phone and send the video to the TV for screening

3. The ScreenShot

Allow the various recorded screen shots to be projected onto the screen,

4. The Apps 

One can upload the various selected Apps onto the TV.

What is so Special?

Generally,  one can get all the functions from either the handheld controller or from an external mouse that is connected to the USB port except the following:-


1. The ScreenShot or Screen Sharing

By pressing the Screenshot button, one can immediately capture a picture from the TV screen at ease and save it to the smartphone's photo pages.




2. Local Video Screening

At the press of the button, a list of stored video in the photo will be present on the phone for your selection to be projected onto the TV screen

3. Screen Projection
This is where one can project all the photos taken by the phone for sharing with the family on the TV screen

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here
tinyurl :   https://tinyurl.com/y8qlrpy7

Reference:

1. Backup APKs in Xiaomi TV
2. Install Youtube and Google Chrome in Xiaomi TV without rooting
3. Xiaomi TV:  Factory Reset and Recovery
4. Xiaomi TV:  To root or not to root

Xiaomi TV: To Root or Not To Root

3 February 2018

Introduction 

This is always a frequently asked question.  This article will attempt to give some answers but the decision to root or not should rest with the users  

What is Rooting? 

 It is actually a jargon term used for “Jail Breaking”.  It is a term used to describe the removal of the   restrictions often installed in smart device for some reasons. Take Xiaomi TV for example, the manufacturer is forcing every user to watch a 20-second advertisement whenever one starts up the TV.   Because of this,  some users went "rooting".    There are also others who want to remove the restrictions so that they can watch free movies.

How To Root?

Rooting involves a change in the software stored inside the Read Only Memory (ROM).  This ROM is actually non-volatile flash memory microchip that one can program and re-program to control  the operation of smart devices.  It contains the operating system (OS) and the manufacturers usually do not recommend one to modify and change the software in the ROM.

What are the Main Advantage of Rooting? 

For Xiaomi TV, besides having the ability to remove the 20 seconds advertisement at TV start up, one will be able

a) to move some software to the external memory devices like SDcards or hard disks, freeing the system memory for better performance;
b) to release the restrictions so that some restricted Apps can be installed;
c) to have freedom to modify the ROM allowing the TV to perform as you like them to perform .

What are the Main Disadvantage of Rooting? 

a) There is always a risk that that rooting might go wrong, making the TV unusable; 
b) Even after successful rooting, there is no guarantee that  TV might not be able to run the way you wanted them to run;  
c) There is no software support for the operating system after rooting;
d) There was report that 90% of  Xiaomi TVs failed to work properly after the TV was upgraded with to the latest OS released by the Xiaomi and there were no recourse to restore the OS unless one has a copy of the original factory firmware to "unroot" the TV;   

To Root or Not to Root? 

In the early stage before 2016, Xiaomi TVs cannot play Youtube Videos and also run Google Chrome.  Then,  there was an urge for users, particularly, those resided overseas, wanting to root their TVs.  However, Google has now made Youtube and Google Chrome playable on Xiaomi TVs, thus  this urge to root the TV has died down. Very likely that users will have a hard time finding suitable rooting software that could work well in the new models.

 In view of the above, it is advisable not to root the Xiaomi TV but to wait until the manufacturer can improve its operating system if the TV cannot meet the user’s requirement.

 Working Around

Remember that if there is a restriction,  there is always a possibility that someone, somewhere will find a workaround and share with the communities on how to overcome the restriction. The worse come to the worse, one can always install an external TV box and uses HDMI input to overcome these restrictions. Although this method is crude, it is one easy way to solve the problem than to root the TV.

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here

tinyurl :  https://tinyurl.com/y9kk36sl

Xiaomi TV: Factory Reset, Recovery & New TV

3 February 2018
https://tinyurl.com/y7gbj78v
 
1. The Soft Reset
2. The Hard Reset
3. Factory Reset for New Xiaomi TV

Introduction 

 There are times that one will have to reset the Xiaomi TV to its factory default settings, particularly after one has installed too many APKs, clogging up the system memory, making the TV to perform in a strange manner.  This factory reset may be required for new Xiaomi TV in order for the remote controller to be  used.

 This article will try to describe how one can reset the Xiaomi TV to its factory settings.

Whats Needed? 

Only the TV controller is needed

Where are the Controls for Resetting? 

There are 2 factory resetting controls

   a  Soft Reset
   b. Hard Reset

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1. The Soft Reset 

The Soft Reset could be found by clicking the “setting” Apps  in the Apps Store; after that, select “General Settings” to reveal the “Factory Reset” option as shown.  This example is for Xiaomi TV4.  Other Xiaomi TV sets may be different and some TVs has "Factory Reset" inside "About" icons

 

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2. The Hard Reset

a) Entering into the Recovery Mode 

1.  For Infra-red TV Remote Controller

Disconnect the electricity supply to the TV and wait for about 20 seconds for TV to discharge all stored values. Press and hold the “Home” and “Manual” buttons firmly with fingers of one hand while using the other hand or get someone to reconnect the plug of power supply.  The TV should start; if not,  press the big white button located just under the "Mi" symbol,   underneath the centre of the TV

2.  For Blue Tooth TV Remote Controller

1.  Disconnect the electricity supply to TV and wait for about 20 seconds and reconnect it back;

2.  Press and hold the “Confirm” button and the “Restore” button (as shown above) with fingers of one hand at the same time and use to other hand to press the big white button located at  the bottom  of the TV.   just under the "Mi" symbol,  underneath the centre of the TV.

On successful start up, the following recovery screen will pop up.  Quickly release the "confirm" and "Restore" buttons when this recovery screen appears.

 b)  The  Recovery Selections

 In here, there are 4 selection

1. Reboot: When you want to reboot the TV after wiping the data and cache
2. Wipe Cache: This is where one will want to clean the cache
3. Wipe User Data: This is where all the newly installed APKs will be wiped out
4. Wipe All Data : This is where a factory reset will be performed to wipe out all the cache and data and restore the TV to its factory settings

Normally,  just select Wipe Cache and  reboot the TV
Important Note:  
If one has rooted the TV before, it will not be advisable to select option 4  to “Wipe All Data” because the process will wipe out all  including also the rooted files, making the TV unusable.  Some users advised not to use this option 4 altogether.

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3.  Factory Reset for New Xiaomi TV

New Xiaomi TV may need a factory reset so that the remote controller can be used.  

Perform the hard reset as described in  The Hard Reset

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here

Reference:

1. Backup APKs in Xiaomi TV
2. Install Youtube and Google Chrome in Xiaomi TV without rooting
3 .Install Youtube and Google Chrome in Xiaomi TV without rooting
4. Xiaomi TV:  To root or not to root