It appears Dolby is changing the game once again with how the Dolby Atmos metadata is handled depending on the speaker configuration on AV receivers.
Movies are usually mixed for a 7.1.4 speaker configuration and when that mix is played on a soundbar or AV receiver with lesser speakers, the decoder places the sound depending on the number of speakers connected.
On a 5.1.2 speaker configuration for example, the Atmos metadata has been handled depending on the Dolby MAT version:
Dolby MAT 2.0: This version required that the speaker configuration had at least two top speakers or a 7.1 speaker configuration in order for the atmos metadata to be decoded (2.1.2, 3.1.2, 4.1.2, 5.1.2, 7.1, 7.1.2, 7.1.4 and beyond). If the two conditions are not met, standard Dolby Digital Plus or standard Dolby TrueHD is played back. On this version, the side surrounds of a 7.1.4 mix are matrixed on a 5.1.2 speaker configuration by using the front speaker and the surround speaker while the top information is played back by the top speakers without matrixing.
Dolby MAT 2.1: This version doesn't require the previous speaker configuration to be decoded and instead it works with any speaker configuration ranging between 2.0 up to 7.1.4 and beyond. On this version, the side surrounds are downmixed directly into the surrounds while the top information continues to be played back by the top speakers without matrixing.
The new version in the Streamer is unknown and it appears that the new Dolby Atmos decoder has been rolling out to some TVs and probably to some soundbars and AV receivers as well.
All I know so far is that it handles the Atmos metadata for the top speakers depending on how they are setup in an AV receiver.
My AV receiver (Pioneer VSX-835) has 5 different top speaker configurations but they just differ in three different ways.
I discovered this new Atmos decoding by using the Dolby Atmos Test Tones 7.1.4.mkv (this video was uploaded to file.io and it will be available to download for a year for anyone who wants to test).
So here is the new decoding output:
I prefer to use the Top Middle, Top Rear and Rear Height, I don't like the diagonal that it's created when using the Front Height or Top Front speaker configuration but the opposite.
This is now similar to how DTS:X decodes its own metadata but it's less precise as the above table, it gives a weird output when using the Top Middle, Top Rear and Rear Height on a 5.1.2 speaker configuration.
Can anyone with a 5.1.2 speaker configuration test this out just to confirm I am not the only one with this new decoding method?
Android 14 brings four important features, one should have been working on Android 12 but didn't:
QMS (Quick Media Switching): The "Seamless-only" option should work this time around because on Android 12 the "Seamless" option is completely broken, even on devices with HDMI 2.1; the TV where the box is connected must have VRR support in order for this to work and any HDMI cable should be sufficient but it's recommended to use an Ultra HDMI cable (48Gbps). I hope someone can confirm if this is working or not. To see QMS in action please check out the Google TV Streamer tiny review.
Videocall notifications: Android 14 is now able to provide notifications from videocalling apps such as Google Meet while it's on the background. Please confirm if this is actually working.
Picture In Picture: This has been supported on Android for TV ever since Android 7 for the Android TV UI, but on the Google TV UI, support was provided on Android 13 but that version was discontinued altogether. It's important to clarify that support is limited, such as videocalling apps and camera views from the Google Home app integration.
A feature introduced on Android 13 for TV where playback stops or pauses as soon as the device enters in standby mode after it turns OFF manually or automatically.
Volume leveler + Dialogue enhancer; Not sure if they are part of Android 14 or something exclusive for the streamer, still it's interesting to know how they work.
I have to disconnect and reconnect the device but the issue starts about 10 mins afterwards again. The bluetooth headphones are not the problem as it works fine with the Onn 4k ($20) and fire stick. I bought another new Onn pro but the same issue persists. Does anyone know how to solve this?
I'm currently using a google tv stick with A12 (Thomson 140G) and I can't find any kill-switch or auto-start function in the android settings or in my vpn app (Proton VPN).
Does someone know if there is a way to get that working? I hate always having to go into the app to enable the vpn again.
I recently upgraded my DuneHD box to ATV14. I wanted to restore my kodi backup but I am not able to get permissions through ADB, ADBLink, ATVTools. I am getting permission denied error on Kodi files inside Android/data folder.
I am able to read files as I can see those in Adblink file explorer. But when I copy backup files to kodi foldeer inside Android/data folder, I get error.
Can anybody suggest how can I restore Kodi backup?
sample log from Adblink -
Android version: 14
process time duration: 2 seconds
package: "C:/adblink/adbfiles/adb" -s 192.168.50.182 -s 192.168.50.182:41297 shell pm list packages
I'm hoping someone with more knowledge can help answer this question.
I've been looking into setting up a home network with storage. I currently have a Deco XE70 which unfortunately doesn't have USB ports and my router is a standard ISP modem.
I also have a couple of (no longer in use) Android TV Boxes and I was wondering if I could connect one of them to my external 2TB harddrive by usb and connect the Android Box to my home network WiFi to act as a wireless NAS?
Does anyone know if this would work and if so how I could do this and if not why?
Apologies if it's a silly question, I'm trying to avoid spending lots on a new NAS and I also am looking to repurpose the android boxes
Hi, I have got this Nokia Streaming Box 8000 since 2022 which worked flawlessly.
However after unplugging and re-plugging it today, it does not start anymore. The power supply provides 12V, and the HDMI cable works fine.
I have no video, no sound, no LED on the front powering on.
I also tried pushing the reset button under the device. Of course it is no longer under warranty…
Hi. When I try to stream Amazon Prime shows from my phone to the tv using my phone's screen mirroring feature, the footage doesn't appear. Everything else is there such as the settings time bar, subtitles, etc. but the footage is just black. Why does this happen and how can I fix this? Thanks in advance
...when I least expect it. It refers to protecting my hearing.
I have two main use cases for this TV. One is using its built in and installed android apps, where the appropriate volume level is 20, or watching media from my HDMI-connected laptop when with the matching audio settings on the laptop, I turn the TV volume to 40.
And then, for no apparent reason other than knowing better that my ears prefer inaudible media, it reverts back to 10 when I least expect it—sometimes several times a day, sometimes after a day or two, regardless of screen time. When I use the TV remote to increase the volume, I first need to confirm that I am risking my hearing. I really want to increase the volume from 10.
Help me how to disable this behavior, or set the safe threshold to 40.
Is there anyway that I don't have to pay to block YouTube, sick of my kids watching YouTube junk and just don't even want the ability to open it or see it on the main screen. I have tried uninstalling and disabling it but if they click on a YouTube advertised video on the main screen all they have to click is Install or Enable and boom they're right back in it. Please also I don't need the "just tell them not to go on it or take away the remote" lines looking for how to remove it not "parenting advice"
So I've been using the onn 4k pro for some months now and I'm loving the experience on my lg tv so far.its fast and snappy and a much better than lg's crappy web os and i've been wondering whether it's going to receive the android 14 update.
Has Walmart announced about when or even if its even going to get this update, because I've looked online and i can't find anything about this.
I have an old man who is used to the old free to air TV.
Is there a way to start a TCL android TV to start into the DTV mode/app on startup? Launch to boot would that work or is there something else i can do.
From yesterday I am having issue regarding my Blaupunkt android tv I bought last year I downloaded a movie and tv storage had no space so I connected a pendrive for extra storage so I directly pasted the movie which I was sending to tv to that pendrive and all of thesudden it started crashing to home screen and I have no idea what to do I would really appreciate your help
i have android stick Skyworth Leap S2. When device launch its going to recovery mode. Remote not working on recovery mode because its works with bluetooth. That stick dont have any usb or any button on device. how i will move Factory Data. i tried some combination with remote on startup but didnt help .
I bought a Ebay box, the power supply had been replaced with a 12V-1A power supply. The box does not power on, and I'm suspecting the power supply. Can anyone with a Kinhank G1 look and see what the power supply is rated to ? The manufacturer is SUNUN.
Some background, I've used the OG Chromecast with Google TV for a number of years. I got the Onn 4k Pro box to utilize 4k.
It always seems to just do 1080p. I went to settings and switched from Automatic Resolution to 4k but I'm not sure it works the way I am thinking it should.
My TV has 4k, so I know it can/should work. I feel like this should be easier to figure out haha.
I've tried on a number of streaming services (D+, Prime, YouTube Premium, etc).
I recently bought the onn 4k pro streaming box, and every time I plug it in, it will power on, show the onn logo, and then the TV will show no signal, and the device will not respond to input. The device was brand new in box. Any help would be appreciated.
I recently purchased a Dual Band Wi-Fi Router, D-Link DIR-825. I am connecting to 2.4 Ghz bcz there are two wifi bands normal and 5G I am using the normal one to connect to my TV. After connecting to wifi it is intermittently being disconnected and I should again turn off and turn on wifi to reconnect. Lately, this disconnecting is happening very frequently, literally while watching web series it's disconnecting every 10-15min. But when I was using my mobile hotspot there was no such issue. What changes should I make to my wifi or TV? It just frustrates me whenever I try to watch something.
I've done a fair bit of digging but haven't had much luck, and most of the posts I'm finding are quite old so I'm hoping something new has come up that I can't find.
Basically I'm wanting to install some apps on my tablet that are currently only available for Android TV. I know they work on tablets because I've found apks for some of them and they run just fine. The apps in question are the jack box party games. I know I could get an android TV box but I'd rather do more with less than buy something else to sit around the house for a single use or carry to friends places. I would be running the app on my tablet, casting it to the TV, and we could all play via phones.