Ending support for storing recordings on Android

[nickk]

We are considering ending support for storing recordings on Android.

1) Android has moved all filesystem access to fuse. This is much much slower, limiting the number of concurrent recordings.

2) Android is imposing stricter rules for processes that launch at startup requiring changes to how we handle things.

3) We get regular support calls from people where the Android device isn't always on or isn't always there (phones for example).

4) Google still hasn't provided a way to store recordings such that they don't get deleted if you uninstall and reinstall the app.

Our current thinking is to end storing recordings on Android as there are much better ways to store recordings.

Open to feedback...

[theseer2]

F android. Its become the new windows.

[Jsherman]

Could you elaborate on this? Is this more like on Pl3x where you can download a show from the server on to devices?

Are you saying you can run the DVR Server on Android devices like phones or STBs? I wasn't aware that you could store recordings on Android devices.

I think it would be nice to keep (if it already exists) to keep this option for those with Google TV STBs but perhaps require a USB drive to hold the recordings?

[jasonl]

Most Android devices only support FAT32 on external storage because they don't want to pay licensing to Microsoft to be able to support exFAT. FAT32 is not suitable for DVR use as it has a limit on file sizes of 4GB. Most ARM SoCs also have poor USB performance, as anyone who ever used a Raspberry Pi before the 4 can tell you. The NVIDIA Shield is a notable exception to this. It worked well as a DVR when it was released, but in one of the major version updates, Google changed the mechanism that Android apps use to access external storage and absolutely destroyed the performance on it. This was supposedly improved in later versions of Android, but because of the way Android updates work, only device models that ship with a particular version of Android would get that fix, not any that received it as a later update, and there haven't been any new devices with proper filesystem support and ethernet and good performance. We're thus at a point where few people are using Android DVRs, they don't perform well, and they are becoming an increasing headache to support, and we're looking to do away with it. Android would still continue to be supported for watching TV, both live and recordings, of course.

[Jsherman]

Most Android devices only support FAT32 on external storage because.....

Thank you for elaborating more on that. I personally wouldn't be affected by this so I have no dog in this race.

Perhaps asking this on BlueSky may get more engagement?

[ppasteur]

Most Android devices only support FAT32 on external storage because they don't want to pay licensing to Microsoft to be able to support exFAT. FAT32 is not suitable for DVR use as it has a limit on file sizes of 4GB. Most ARM SoCs also have poor USB performance, as anyone who ever used a Raspberry Pi before the 4 can tell you. The NVIDIA Shield is a notable exception to this. It worked well as a DVR when it was released, but in one of the major version updates, Google changed the mechanism that Android apps use to access external storage and absolutely destroyed the performance on it. This was supposedly improved in later versions of Android, but because of the way Android updates work, only device models that ship with a particular version of Android would get that fix, not any that received it as a later update, and there haven't been any new devices with proper filesystem support and ethernet and good performance. We're thus at a point where few people are using Android DVRs, they don't perform well, and they are becoming an increasing headache to support, and we're looking to do away with it. Android would still continue to be supported for watching TV, both live and recordings, of course.

Well this would mess up my system pretty badly. I have two 2017 Shield Pro boxes that provide storage for recordings. Actually I have three reorders setup with the third being on a Synology NAS. I did do some testing at one point and was having some issues with pixelization when using one of the Shields. I thought it was due to the WiFi link that that unit was on. Maybe it was the storage issue. Though honestly I haven had to use either of the Shields for storing recordings for quite a while. The last time I did, I had no problems.

I think there are quite a few people using Shields for hosting their record engine, so I think you would have a bunch of unhappy customers. FWIW Maybe you could keep a version that allows recording and just tell users that they are on their own when it doesn't work well??

[The_Jonathan]

I am still using my SHIELD for recording. Silicondust must already know the Numbers of recorders on Android …

When is the plan to discontinu supporting Android ?

Chepest option to replace is a flex ?

[nickk]

The next Android release will not allow storing recordings on phones and tablets but will keep support on Android TV.