Unless I am doing something wrong here....It seems silly that a phone number is required to sync a mobile device to the Fios STBfor use with the remote app. Especially when you have to be on the same WiFi network in order use the remote. Can anyone confirm this is true? If that is the case then all WiFi only Android tablets are left out being able to take advantage of this awesome feature?!
You would think we could just provide a custom personalized PIN and not have the software rely on a non-existent phone number.
Agree, tried to use Kindle Fire and would not let one dowload the App.
That because the kindle fire is not a true android tablet. Unless you root it you are only suppose to download from the app store on amazon, the fire is a color ereader with access to some popular apps via amazon thats it.
i have the same issue. when i "chatted" with verizon support they told me to check with tablet manufacturer. obviously no joy there, since issue is with the app. would love to know if anybody figures out a workaround.
Yes. There seems to be a glitch. I side-loaded the apk source file for android version of the mobile remote (which is completely permissible on a Kindle Fire). However, the final setup/sync with my STB is asking for the last 4 digits of my phone #. Since my Kindle Fire is wifi only, I can not complete the final step.
I agree this should be a simple fix for the verizon techs. How do you complain?
Is this the correct forum to discuss issues with the Android apps? Its not technically a TV issue, so who or where can we voice our concern about WiFi only devices? Can a verizon mod chime in? Thanks!
The verizon residential forums are an appropriate place for your questions regarding the apps working with residential products.
🙂
@Dovahkiin wrote:
Is this the correct forum to discuss issues with the Android apps? Its not technically a TV issue, so who or where can we voice our concern about WiFi only devices? Can a verizon mod chime in? Thanks!
In case anyone's being particularly pedantic, I can verify that on my non-rooted android tablet (iconia a100) the app shows up in the market but can't actually be used due to the lack of phone number. i know there used to be an ipod touch version that allowed using a pin and i assume the ipad version works the same way, so this oversight really ought to get fixed for wifi-only android devices!
I agree! WiFi only Android devices need love too, Verizon! Tablets are the future....get with the program. And....bump
I could quickly try it to see if the VZ app would work on my hardware, but Verizon's choice of distribution methods is preventing it.
Why does Verizon link us to the Android Market? Why can't we download the APK file directly from Verizon's website? Who owns the app, Verizon, or Google? Is VZ's contract with Google prohibiting them from distributing the app directly, or offering it to the Amazon store for easy access by Kindle Fire users?
I know for a fact that the Apple version of this app does not require a phone number. My wife has an iPod Touch, and the version of VZ Mobile Remote she got through the Apple Store does indeed allow you register the iPod device with the STB widget using a PIN number. It was confusing at first, since the app did want to send the PIN via text message (thinking we had an iPhone), but eventually we found the menu that let the TV display the code we needed to enter into the handheld device.
I believe it's Google that is requiring a phone number associated with their user accounts. It limits access to the app, but may not actually be a requirement of the app itself. Again, I could try it myself, but Goggle won't let me load it.
Google and Amazon are competitors, and not allowing tablet users into the Google store may be their way of keeping out Kindle users. All Kindle Fire traffic is passed through Amazon's servers, and until there was a hugely negative reaction from customers, they filtered IP addresses to keep Kindle users from accessing Google's apps and e-books. Tablet users are caught in a crossfire between competitive providers.
It is not necessary to root the Kindle Fire to side load apps. You can change a setting do allow installation of apps from unknown sources. Rooting is only required if the app itself wants to add files to the system folders. I have loaded apk files from the internet into my un-rooted Kindle Fire, including apps that let me use WiFi instead of a USB to load additional apps.
Start a new topic or ask questions in the open forum.
