Downgrade firmware on original NowTV box?

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DMZ

DMZ

DMZ

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Does anyone know how to downgrade the firmware on the original NowTV box? As I understand it, the box can only run signed firmware, but the old firmware will be signed, so no prob there.

Imo it's a pretty decent little box, crippled by the ad-centric firmware that's too heavy for it to run well. The old firmware was appropriate for the device.
 
I have an original NowTv, what do you mean by ad-centric firmware ? any references. ?

I have not noticed anything degrading the NowTV 'experience' and the plex app I loaded/added works fine.
Are there other useful apps that you are planning on adding ?
I had noticed the Roku SDK is available to private individuals, so if I can find some template apps, was considering an app to give direct access to favourite hi-res (free) internet radio stations.
 
Sky changed the firmware to disable Dev mode, so you will find a lot of people looking to roll back the firmware and prevent updates.

They did this to stop things like Kodu but there are a lot of great apps that are also victims.
 
I'm really annoyed about this actually. I bought one for my daughter mainly for youtube etc but I had Plex loaded on it. It was not perfect but it would and she could watch films from my server but now that functionality has been removed.
 
Yep I totally understand that, I expect that there will be people working on rolling it back,

Sly has told moderators of NowTV forum to move posts regarding developer mode to a hidden area as they are deemed "off topic" so the conversation will be had elsewhere.

They will gain NOTHING from this stunt, just bad will for their brand, if we were staying in the the EU I would report it as anti-competitive.

Sly owns a share of Roku because it depends on them so much, still they can't block Plex4 or Rarflix or Dev mode on Roku at the moment, but they may try to tale control of Roku.

We have seen it before, where Sky buys up companies that have tech their competitors depend on.

This behaviour shows why Murdoch is not fit to take control of Sky, it ALWAYS ends up being worse for consumers.

Best solution for you is to buy a Roku3 or maybe vote with your feet and buy an Amazon Firestick to deprive Roku of income.

I got a Roku3, it allowed me to remove BBC iPlayer as I do not watch LiveTV and did not want to even be capable (I blocked it on my router too).
 
The Now TV boxes are subsidised for the purposes of the user (ideally) using it to access Now TV, it's understandable that they don't have the same set of features as the proper Roku players.
 
TheVoice said:
The Now TV boxes are subsidised for the purposes of the user (ideally) using it to access Now TV, it's understandable that they don't have the same set of features as the proper Roku players.
Click to expand...

Yes you are right, it is a cut down player, it is limited to 720p and it can't load most apps, however, Roku OEM their product for many other providers, they do not DISABLE the developer mode.

This has worked for years and was disabled by Sky, it cuts the market to competitors and hobbists alike, for example there is a dev app for USB and SD functions, that too is a victim of this action by Sky.

I have no doubt that people will find a way to roll back the firmware, it will take some time.

Already they have worked out that when the box gets it's updates it is going to a section of the Roku update servers based on an ID in the box.

People have worked out how to disable the Mac Address of them and to block comms to updates which at least keeps them safe for a bit.

pooley said:
same thing going on with the later black version?
Click to expand...

Yes it is worse for the Black ones because they auto update more quickly.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
bugger just checked mine the newer black version it was updated mid march , the usb app i installed has vanished :(
 
I'm very fond of my Roku3, I used to use a NowTV box with dev mode but wanted a bit more freedom so if Sky start messing with those too then its bye bye Roku and hello competitor.
 
Kreule said:
Yes you are right, it is a cut down player, it is limited to 720p and it can't load most apps, however, Roku OEM their product for many other providers, they do not DISABLE the developer mode.

This has worked for years and was disabled by Sky, it cuts the market to competitors and hobbists alike, for example there is a dev app for USB and SD functions, that too is a victim of this action by Sky.

I have no doubt that people will find a way to roll back the firmware, it will take some time.

Already they have worked out that when the box gets it's updates it is going to a section of the Roku update servers based on an ID in the box.

People have worked out how to disable the Mac Address of them and to block comms to updates which at least keeps them safe for a bit.
Click to expand...

Was their main motivation to avoid access to pirated streams though ? I understood people were selling nowtv boxes with unlimited access (via plex ?) to Sky.
If that is true maybe Roku will do something but, yes, its basic box is not as cheap.

It was unclear if blocking the nowtv Roku IP address for update, via router, may also inhibit any of the paid tv services ? a plex only box is not so useful (I have a 1st gen black box not plugged in since Feb when they had Amazon Roku sale)

The Roku is still 720p for nowtv afaiks, don't know about netflix/amazon.

It still seems (as I saw written on reddit) that Roku is abandoning UK market, having not released the Roku Premiere(hevc/4k), and the US imported boxes do not work with Iplayer
 
Since this change I have been looking at a overall solution. I use a WD box for the main TV downstairs which works well apart from the occasional issue but have been considering swapping this out with a Minix Neo U1 and give the WD box to my daughter. The reviews are very good, and apart from the price I am quite keen. Does anyone else use one of these as an all round solution?
 
Have 3 now tv boxes at my parents house they use to watch movies from my plex server all used mostly for plex, All are going in the "soon to be binned" drawer after this this update.

Really scummy thing to do from sky

Luckly the plex app on my lgtv is absoutly flawless!
 
Do tell us how you prevented the up date so far ?
... if they are seeing your plex server on the web haven't they seen the update too -
maybe you bolted down these IP addresses that seem to deliver the payload on their router ?
 
jpaul said:
Do tell us how you prevented the up date so far ?
... if they are seeing your plex server on the web haven't they seen the update too -
maybe you bolted down these IP addresses that seem to deliver the payload on their router ?
Click to expand...


Not sure what your getting at there matey.

Since the auto update the now tv boxes have reset them selves and the developer mode is
No longer available so cant re install plex.

None of them work, 2 of the new hd boxes and one the white ones
 
TheVoice said:
Not really, they're selling these devices cheaply to be used for their specific service. It's not as if they've removed an advertised feature.
Click to expand...

That may be the case but theyve done it no doubt because they were upsetting roku

Have you read the forums and thier excuse for doing so? Claiming that plex is "illegal"
 
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