For all the Android Echo doubters

[ncm6349]

Little story to go with the photos...
I woke up this morning and was looking to watch a little television. I turned on the tv and the echo. That magical press 1 to update flashed up on the screen...I hammered away on the 1 button on my xbox 360 remote and the Echo began to update. I got a completely new start up screen and a new gui which then began to download/install apps (netflix, youtube, rdio, amazon mp3 player, ...). After all the apps and updates, the echo reset itself and apparently had lost the connection information for my Ceton/Media Center PC...it was very early in the morning and I didn't want to wake up others in my house re-connecting my Echo to my HTPC so I went to turn it off and only then did the shutdown screen instantly make me think Android...wait...my Echo was running Android. I grabbed a pc and started looking for information on a new firmware update here, AVS, and on Ceton's site...I found nothing. After resetting the connection up and changing some settings, I now know for sure my Echo is running Android with a shortcut to load a WMC app. I am attaching some pictures as visual evidence....


Main screen, with mine and a buddy's Ceton Echo.

Windows Media Center app link

Apps

Movie Gallery

Upcoming Recordings

Guide

Installed Apps in the android OS

The apps seem to work, but watching live/recorded tv through the Android interface does not work. I could not get any of my mkv files to playback either. It seems to be a very promising start and I have no idea how I ended up with this update, but I don't think I will be downloading any more updates until I see some confirmation that they won't take this away.

[makryger]

It's still a work in progress, so if this update comes to others in the wild, I'd hold off on trying it, but I am very impressed with the new interface. Really, really promising.

[mikinho]

It's still a work in progress, so if this update comes to others in the wild, I'd hold off on trying it, but I am very impressed with the new interface. Really, really promising.

^^ What he said.

[lithium630]

That's great news! Going to check now. Can you still boot to media center to watch recorded tv? I don't mind bugs but the wife will be very unhappy if recorded tv doesn't work.

*Update* Or no update I should say. Good to see we're getting close.

[ncm6349]

yeah, the Media Center App works fine

[DigiTechMedia]

Now that has me a little excited again. My Echos have been off and being unused now for two months, checking forums every week for any bit of info. This is close to what I envisioned a new interface would look like. But like I said, just a little excited. But crossing my fingers it is close to being released.

[ajhieb]

Any improvements you can see within the WMC Extender framework, or all the changes Android related?

[nick]

Looks nice!! Now how can we get it too??!!

You are probably going to give Ceton's upgrade server a DDoS with everyone checking for upgrades

However, I'm happy to wait after your comment: "but watching live/recorded tv through the Android interface do not work"

[Motz]

Like michael pointed out the current build that he has is still a work in progress and is not the latest version either. There is more additional information ncm needs for things to work properly.

Additionally you should not bother checking for updates just yet, I mean you can, but I do not believe you will find any, but if you do let me know

[Crash2009]

I just checked. None for me as of yet. Looks great Motz. I have 2 Echo's, wouldn't bother me at all to move one up to Android. Thanks for the heads up ncm.

[shortcut3d]

It looks great. Glad I didn't by ATV3's. Makes the pain I've been going through much better.

Better than a SOTE post.

[Crash2009]

No pain, no gain.

[newfiend]

Wow.. Looks nice.. hope someone at Ceton isn't in trouble at work tomorrow.... =P

[DigiTechMedia]

Yea. I was just wondering that too. How did any box for that matter even get an incomplete build?

[Motz]

It is a full build. Just not the latest build that's all.

[STC]

Looks great!

[rdb4133]

Now that's what I'm talking about! I really hope this all becomes a working reality soon! I can finally have one box to do pretty much everything I would want, WMC Extender, Netflix, Plex, etc.

I have a few questions:
1. Does it have access to the Play Store so you can download apps like Plex for example?
2. Can you sideload APK's so we can figure out a way to get Amazon Instant Video on there (mainly for Prime stuff)?
3. Does it have a web browser? Although I'm not too sure how well it would work with a MCE remote.

Now I just have to wait for another Echo sale..... Thanks in advance everyone!

[shortcut3d]

How much memory does the Echo have for apps anyway?

Could Android use the HTPC for app storage?

Does this mean we need the Echo companion app?

[ncm6349]

2.88GB Total Space
2.68GB Available on my device with this distribution

Yes, this build has a browser.
No play store access (but I didn't really expect there to be, as any of the devices I have used running android that weren't a phone/tablet had limited play store access).
I plugged in a mouse to make navigation easier when I was playing around yesterday.

Sorry guys (and gals), won't be able to answer any more questions for the next 13-14 hours as I have to work today.

I wanted to also let everyone know that Ceton has been nothing but professional in their approach toward me in what appears to have been a mistaken upgrade.

[CBO]

Good deal!!!