What is Cloud TV?

24 June 2018

What is Cloud TV ?

Cloud TV is  simply a cloud based live television streaming program or app where one can watch HD TV channels or movies or TV shows.  It is available in 8 different languages;  namely,  Mandarin,Indian,Arabic,French,English,Cantonese and Japanese.  It is a free to use program that can be used in mobile phones,  TV etc

How Many Channels?

There are more than 800 over TV channels from all over the World.  One can watch all these channels without the needs of having TV box or aerial as long as one has a stable internet connection.  Some are restricted due to geographical location or sluggish due to poor connectivity but most are free to watch.  For Singapore  viewers,  there is a Toggle APK that  one can download and install to watch live TV channels – Channel 5, 8, U, Suria, Vasantham, okto and Channel NewsAsia (Does not work for Xiaomi as it requires Google Services).

What needed ?

1.  An apk for Cloud TV that can be downloaded free from here (For Xiaomi TV)

2.  An android device,  such as handphone and smart TV  with Android OS version 2.2 and above

3.  A good and steady Internet connection that can support speed up to 2 Mbps.

Is the Streaming Free?

There are many free TV channels but some are premium channels that will have a fee to watch them.  New users can try the premium channels free for about 3 days and thereafter,  they will need to pay fees based on 3 months to 1 year period. The longer the subscription, the more the discount.

The premium service provider accepts Alipay,  PayPal or credit card payment.

Can Record?

Users can record streaming videos in the premium or paid channels using special built-in players.  However,  most TVs or TV boxes do not have this built-in player.  Free streaming videos or TV channels are not record-able.

Are the TV Streaming Stable?

Not all TV channels are viewable but the local channels like Channel 5, 8, Okto etc are good for viewing.  Usually,  the channels are sorted according to  viewing quality;  the better one are always located at the front.   There are “favourite” folder for viewers to store those frequently viewed channels.

It was said that the Premium or paid channels are usually better in play back quality.  Viewers can always test it out free before buying

Are there other Alternatives for Smart TV?

There is one equivalent to Cloud TV called Kodi which is also free.  It is formerly called XBMC and is open source software.  It allows users to play and view most videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files from local and network storage media and the Internet.

Not all smart TV can use Kodi which is basically designed for use in PC and not Android devices.  Nonetheless,  Kodi is playable in Xiaomi TV and there is an App downloadable from google play and other websites or here for xiaomi TV.

Other relevant articles about Xiaomi TV 

tinyurl : https://tinyurl.com/ybcsy6qv

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What is Wukong Remote Control?

8 May 2018

What is Wukong Remote Control?

It is a TV projection and casting software designed by Sofa Net to allow one to remote control and/or  cast Movies or pictures onto smart TVs using one’s smart phone.  The software can perform the following functions

a)    Remote controlling the TV program selection

b)    Screen Casting  of movie programs,  telecast

c)    Voice assist control
d)  other functions such as install and delete TV apks

What kind of  Videos or Movies supported?

The software is able to screen project or cast most type of videos,   streaming HD videos, CCTV,  TV,  movies and other content. 

It also can play movies contents direct from  Tencent, Youku, Iqiyi Litchi TV, TV cats, magic video and other video resources as well as movies and pictures that are stored in Baidu cloud drives.

What type and brands of TV supported?

Wukong supports many different types and brands of TVs made in China as well as some foreign made TV such Amazon Fire.  The apk has been successfully tested for use in Xiaomi TV, Xiaomi Box, LeTV, Tmall Box, Hisense TV, TCL TV, Skyworth TV. , Haier TV, Konka TV, Changhong TV, Microwhale TV, Timmin, Meile, the United States, Haimi Di, Kaiboer

Where can I download?

The apk can be downloaded from here. 

It can also be downloaded from shafa.com

Note:  some virus scan software may pick up the apk  to be virus infected but it has been scanned by MacAfee to be free of virus.

How to Install?

Once apk is downloaded to the TV and fired up,  one would be greeted by the following page

Use the smart phone to scan the left hand QRcode which will download the required apk or app depending on whether you have iphone or andriod.  The alternative is to do Google or Iphone App search.
Once the software is downloaded and fired up in the smart phone,  the phone will perform a search  and connect to the TV automatically  provided the smart phone and the TV are sharing the same WiFi and/or  Ethernet network.   

On successful connection,  the following screen will appear indicating the network ip address and the name of the TV as shown in bracket edged red.

By pressing the TV address,  the following page should appear,  allowing one to test the working of the Wukong remote control to control the TV.

 

How to Select and View TV programs?

As an example,

1. Navigate to the following page.  One would be presented with various pre-loaded TV programs

Click and select the program,  one would be greeted by the following page in the smart phone

Now select the sources or the “Srcs” (1) if there are more than one source and then press the TV screening button (2), one should see the movie being projected onto the TV.

How to Watch Downloaded Movies?

One could download the various movies and pictures and store them in Baidu Cloud Drive for Wukong remote for projection and and casting onto the TV.

To start,  one must have a Baidu account  created using the following address

http://motu.baidu.com/register.html

Once this account is created and Baidu Pan is uploaded with various movies (in mp4 format),  one can click the Baidu Cloud button (edged red in the following picture) to select the movies to be projected onto the TV screen.

What is the Difference between Wukong Remote and the Xiaomi Assistant

They are all able to remote control the TV using the smart phone except the following main differences

1.  Xiaomi Assistant is residing inside the TV and there is no need to install separate apk for the TV;  but,  it works only in Xiaomi TVs or boxes;
2.  Xiaomi Assistant can do screenshots whereas Wukong cannot;
3.  Xiaomi Assistant cannot screen project movies from external cloud drives;
4.  Xiaomi Assistant cannot be used to download and install or delete various TV apks

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Other Reference
tinyurl : https://tinyurl.com/yctqaogu

Modifying Dell Monitor’s Stand for Non Vesa Monitor

5 May 2018

The new Dell SE2417HG LED Monitor is non Vesa;  meaning,  it does not have the usual 4 mounting holes at the back cover to fit Vesa wall mounting bracket or the Vesa stand.  The usual way is to purchase special non-VESA adaptor kit shown as follows

 

This article will describe one way to modify the existing stand  of SE2417HG to fit into the old Dell 2407 wfp stand.  The same method  can also be used to fit into wall mounting brackets

What's Needed?

1.  The usual tools such as flat end screw drivers,  Philips screw driver, electric drills and other necessary mounting screws etc

2.  2 pieces of metal extension bar 

How to Modify?

Carefully ply open the casing of the original stand using a flat end screw driver,  starting  from the bottom side of the stand as shown by the red arrow.  

  

When the casing's bottom end  opened up,  use a small screw driver to carefully ply open the bottom cover away from the top cover,  working around the edges, giving way to clear the fragile clips.   In the process,  making sure no force will be applied to the clips or they will break easily. 

Once the cover is opened,  remove the  6 screws that hold the metal plate to the  stand as shown

 
Now untighten the 2 side nuts  as shown  and take note how the washers etc were arranged.

 

Flip the metal plate over and install the  metal extension bars as indicated so that the mounting bracket will clear the back cover of the monitor when it is mounted.

Remove the rotating plate from the old  Dell 2407 stand.  Drill and tap 4 nos of M4 threaded hole to mount the assembly onto the old stand as shown

Lastly,  fit the whole assembly including the metal plate back to the old Dell 2407 wfp stand.

Xiaomi TV or Box Insufficient Memory Problem

14 Apr 2018

Xiaomi TV or box often gives out warnings about insufficient memory and causes TV or box to cease operation or having read/write errors etc. This article will explain why and how to avoid this.

What type of Memories?

ox Insufficient Memory Problem

Xiaomi TV or box has  2 type of memories.  For example,  Xiaomi TV4 has  2 GB Random Access Memory (RAM)and 8 GB storage of embedded Multi-Media Controller (eMMC) or flash memory.     The latter consists of  both a flash memory and a flash memory controller integrated in a memory chip.

Where they Use?

RAMs are mainly used for storage of Operating System (OS), current application programs and data so they can be quickly reached by the microprocessor. whereas eMMCs are used for storage of third-party apk files or its installation cache files.  It is also used to store the user data and cache and some applications that do not need instant access by the microprocessor.

Why Insufficient Memory?

When one downloads and installs too many third party apk files or the system generates too many cache files,  it will clog up the limited memories

How to Avoid?

1. Regularly use memory cleaners such as One Key Cleaner to constantly clear up the unnecessary data generated by the system while it is working; 

2. Flash and store only apks that use as little memory as possible;

3. Timely delete unnecessary apks 

What is the Official Xiaomi Cleaner?

The official cleaner is called “TV Manager”.   Unlike many other cleaners,  this cleaner has the following  functions

1. Optimise the memory space
2. Boosting Internal Memory
3. Gabbage Cleaning
4. Uninstall APKs
5. Deep cleaning
6. USB thumbdrive installation
7. Useful APKs
8. Internet Speed Test
9. Network Testing

The most commonly used functions are 1,2 and 5 for cleaning purposes

These function are explained as follows

 What are the Alternatives?

TV Manager is useful but it does not have automatic cleaning function that will clean the memory at regular intervals.   A 3rd party cleaner designed by  Shafa called “一键清理TV版”  or One Key Cleaner TV version can be viewed from here. .   It is a useful small program always running in the background.  It  will clean the memory in half hourly or other interval. 

Xiaomi TV Audio Output Connections

9 April 2018

1) The Hard Wiring Connection

2) Blue Tooth  Connection
3) More about SPDIF and  HDMI (ARC)
4) Why HDMI (ARC) Not Working

Xiaomi TV or MiTV  is originally a TV manufactured in China for Chinese market.  Plenty of users has encountered problems;  for example,  playing YouTube 4K movies or  trying to install Google Play Store.  This is because Xiaomi has omitted the supporting features not commonly found in Chinese market to cut down cost.  One of such features is the old type of analogue video and audio output ports.  

How Many Ways?

There are 2 ways to connect to MiTV's audio system

1.  Hard Wiring Method
2.  Blue Tooth  

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1.  Hard Wiring Method

Xiaomi TV has only digital ports;  SPDIF is the only audio output port available.  Alternatively, one could use one of the HDMI that has Audio Return Channel (ARC) for audio connection.  This is provided the audio receiver also has an HDMI with ARC connection;  otherwise,  one would have to use an HDMI ARC adaptor which allows signal to be converted to other audio format.

a)  What is SPDIF?

SPDIF stands for Sony/Philips Digital Interface.  It is a type of digital audio connection used in consumer audio equipment.  Unlike ordinary analogue audio connection,  SPDIF  signal is transmitted digitally over either a coaxial cable or a fibre optic cable called TOSLINK connectors.   Most modern amplifiers will have SPDIF connectors;  older amplifiers only has analogue connections.

b)  What to do for Amplifiers without the correct SPDIF connection?

Xiaomi TV only has a co-axial type of SPDIF connection.   If one’s amplifier has only TOSLINK port,  one will have to buy a Co-axial RCA to Optical TOSLINK SPDIF converter as shown

  

However,  if one’s amplifier has only analogue port such as composite video/audio inputs,  one will need to buy a Digital to Analogue audio converter with RCA connectors as shown

 c)  Connecting up

In addition to the above converter,  one would need to have the right type of cables 

1.   For connection between Xiaomi TV and the converter -  A length of Co-axial digital RCA cable 

2.  For connection between the Converter and one's amplifier - either a TOSLINK cable or a set of RCA audio cable depending on one's amplifier set up

d) Any Difference between the Ordinary and Digital Co-axial Cable?

They are all having the same type of RCA connectors. 　The difference is in the quality of the cables.  The digital cable has better grade of cable and RCA connector.  However,  some claimed that there was no appreciable difference for a short length of cable connection.

e)  Connection using HDMI ARC

This audio connection is more commonly used by audiophile who often seek perfection in sound quality as it is one mean of sending true Dolby sound surround from the TV to the sound system.  For more information about how to set this up,  please refer to this article.  

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2)  Blue Tooth

a)  Type of Blue Tooth　

This is the most modern way of audio connection that is being used nowadays  in almost every new sound system.   The connection is done by pairing between 2 devices for example,  the TV and the phone or the speaker system.   Up to seven or eight devices can often be paired but usually,  one 2 devices can be paired together.

MiTV has its own built-in audio bluetooth transmitter which will allow audio connection to the speaker or headphones through a bluetooth receiver such as these receivers

There are several types of blue tooth receivers available in the market.  They differ only in the way they get their power,  some has its own rechargeable battery while others has a USB charger.    Although Bluetooth standards are always backward compatible,  it is preferable to get receivers that are using the same Bluetooth standard as the TVs;  in the case of MiTV,  it is Bluetooth 4.2.

b)  Connecting up

Connecting the Bluetooth device is relatively easy.  All one has to do is to pair up the devices.  To pair up,  fire up [Setting] and select [Device and Bluetooth],  MiTV will search for available Bluetooth device in the room.  If the Bluetooth device does not show up,  try turning on the Bluetooth device as it may be switch off by default.

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here

TinyURL : https://tinyurl.com/yafwgedf

A Userful Cleaner for Xiaomi TVs or TV Boxes

4 Apr 2018

Xiaomi TV or TV box has limited memory and quite often,  it's operation will slow down when its memory is clogged up;  sometimes,  the TV may stop to operate altogether until one cleans up the memory manually.  A method where one’s TV or TV boxes can be cleaned automatically in the background is presented here;  also,  it will not touch the user data so one did not have to re-enter all the data again and again.

What’s Needed

1.    An Apk called “一键清理TV版”  or One Key Cleaner TV version which can be downloaded here or  directly from the apps maker from here.  One could also download the APK directly from shafa apps.

Note:  Some browsers might pick this file with virus warning but the file has been scanned using McAfee to be free of virus.

2        Some trial and error effort

Step by Step

1.  Download and install the APK

Fire up the APK through App Store as shown,  one would be greeted by this screen immediately while the APK proceeds to clean the memory

2.     It will show the following screen when the cleaning process is completed.

3.    Click the green button which will set the automatic cleaning process;  one would be greeted by the following screen

Using the remote control,  click the top button to accelerate the cleaning process,  then select and click the bottom button to set the timing for the cleaning

4,  The TV or box is now set for automatic cleaning every one hour in the background while one is watching the TV

Other Articles About Xiaomi TV or Box 

Can be found here