Potential new customer, some questions

Help and Support Vero V
1

Hi there, I am coming from a Nvidia Shield Pro 2019.
It is getting quite buggy, and was recommended this device.
I am really intrigued by what I’ve read so far.

A few questions:
Can anyone tell me about the speed difference compared to my shield pro 2019?
It will be shipped with latest stable kodi?
In Kodi, can I use it the same way as I use Kodi on ATV (so, add source, install from zip, install addon, etc.)
I am used to the AF2 skin, with about 5 widgets per category (5x anime, 5 x tv series, 5xmovies)
I can use my Trakt, SIMKL and MAl accounts?
In case of need to reinstall Kodi, can that be done by re-flashing an image?

2

I’ve never used a Shield, so no. Maybe someone else can.

Yes (ish). There is a bit of a lag from a Kodi release until it’s ready for the Vero V, and usually the OSMC folks skip the “.0” releases and wait for the “.1” release of something. But for the most part you’ll have the current release version of Kodi. They also have test branches you can use to install newer versions if you really want to.

Yes. This uses Kodi that has been modified a bit to run on this particular chipset and add some other enhancements (like Dolby Vision). Other than that, it’s the regular, stock Kodi. So if you can use it on Kodi now, you should be fine to use it here (unless it something specific to the Shield hardware or Android software).

You can reflash the device to reinstall everything. You can also use standard Linux tools to uninstall and reinstall just the Kodi application if you really wanted to.

2 Likes
3

Thanks for your reply, will wait for my vacation money next week, and place an order.

4

We are currently shipping Kodi v21.2 which is the latest stable version.

5

Just placed my order (with a note about regular power supply because EU customer).

Can’t wait for the tracking number, and my device, to arrive!

1 Like
6

Do you have a rough estimate on shipping time, and what shipper will be used?

7

I own the following:

  • Nvidia Shield Pro 2019
  • Dune HD Homatics Box R 4K Plus
  • Vero V (I also owned a 4K+)

In terms of UI rendering speed, Nvidia Shield is still faster, much faster I will say, even rendering in 4K, at least in terms of Android UI, but I guess Android UI is highly more optimized than Kodi, personally I ignore the details behind the technology and techniques used to render Kodi UI, but I always found its UI not so fluid compared with others. For instance, on Dune HD Homatics Box R 4K Plus, the rendering speed of the DuneHD Media Center app is better than Kodi, you can browse your movie catalog smoothly compared to what you can experience in Kodi in the same box, and Dune HD and Vero V shares the same chip.

I assume that Kodi uses GPU acceleration and the UI is based in textures that can be accelerated in that way, but I ignore the level of optimization they do, specially when they are more busy or centered in features related with the player.

In short, I’ve never had the feeling that Kodi runs smoothly, nothing compared with the experience you can have with UIs of apps like Apple TV+ (running on Android for instance), there is something they do better than others, same case for DuneHD app, is smoother than Kodi.

Being said all of that, and taking into consideration that there is not trace of any new Shield TV and the robust nature of Vero V as a player device (can’t say exactly the same for Dune HD one), I would get Vero V, as I did, not for the speed of the UI (it’s ok rendering in 1080p) but for the overall quality, robustness and top-notch support.

I would like to say that, imho, Vero needs to make some improvements in several parts of user experience, nowadays there are plenty of devices out there, and robustness and support are not the only things, are important, really really important, but sometimes I feel the experience provided with Kodi in Vero V a bit “meeehh” and I know, you can install skins and configure here and there, and more configuration there and there, but the default experience has it value from a customer consideration perspective, and I speak with some knowledge since it’s my job as Product Designer. Anyway I understand the limitations and resources to make Vero V shine in every aspect. Kudos always to Sam and his team for their work. :wink:

8

Vero V with the default OSMC skin is smooth as butter for me.
My boys us Arctic: Zephyr - Reloaded which is much more robust and that looks just as snappy.
I run my GUI at 1080p60.
In theory a GUI at 2160p would be nice but I’m not sure how much you would notice sitting back on a couch.
I have run my GUI at 2160p before and I only notice stuttering when doing a fast scroll through my library.
As for the Apple TV interface, well… it’s lame.
Simple tiles on a grid?

a
a1113×608 241 KB

Arctic: Zephyr - Reloaded looks WAAAAAAAAAAAAAY better:

MEBySmZ
MEBySmZ1920×1080 153 KB

I’m not saying Kodi is perfect or there’s no room for improvement but interfaces the likes of Apple products just insult my intelligence.
To each their own.

If you want to navigate around menus for entertainment then you might need some VR gimmick gadget to occupy your time.

If you want something very serviceable while not being an eye sore than I think Kodi more than gets the job done.

What ever your preferences maybe, the Vero V is plenty snappy to handle most anything you throw at it.

9

Thanks for your reply.

Running AF2 on my Shield now

Hope mine will ship soon, i had an email with the notice there is some sort of chip shortage.

@sam_nazarko could you give an indication on the delay please?

10

From other thread

11

It should ship Monday.

The shipping company depends on destination. It will be covered via email and tracking details will be sent.

A separate email was sent to you advising of such delays.

Best

Sam

12

Just to clarify a few points:

  • I own a Vero V, and I previously had the Vero 4K+. I’ve never had any Apple device — I’m not an Apple fanboy at all.
  • I wasn’t referring to the Apple TV device, but rather the Apple TV+ app on any other platform, for example, the Apple TV+ app on Android TV. And here, allow me to disagree on two things: 1) Apple’s processors are by far much more powerful than those found in most TV boxes — I’d even say they’re underutilized just for UI tasks. 2) The level of polish and performance in the Apple TV+ app’s interface, its animations, and transitions is excellent. That doesn’t conflict with the great and selfless work done by Kodi skin creators — like the one you mentioned, which is amazing.
  • I ended my previous post by suggesting the user buy the Vero V, as I myself have done.
  • My reflection on the user experience of the Vero V — in terms of “plug and play” — is a constructive critique, also considering the customer experience. Nowadays, since we’ve relatively overcome the technical challenges around playback of different formats, there are other aspects to consider. In fact, you could even argue that what we expect from a media center, especially one focused on movies and series for film enthusiasts (as I imagine many of us are), should go beyond just playback. It would be great to have content discovery features directly in the same device and interface where I store my collection — something like a “Discover” section showing new releases, similar to what Plex and other apps offer as added value beyond just being a player. Some might say: “Well, just exit Vero V and use those features on your Smart TV apps,” but that’s exactly the point — why should it have to be like that?
  • The technical work and support that Sam and his team provide is flawless, and that’s why we love Vero and why we buy it. But I believe the Vero V deserves a better native skin — one that brings extra value to the device. It’s easy, when so much effort goes into the technical side, to overlook UI evolution with the logic of: “there are skins out there anyway, so why improve the default one?” And in that sense, I also wonder what performance limitations Kodi might have under the hood that could be preventing it from reaching the levels of smoothness seen in other UIs.

Greets.

13

I wish. New formats arrive regularly.

Are you conflating skin with add-ons? The skin is just a GUI. It may not be to everyone’s taste but we don’t force users to use it. Kodi’s strength is that ability to add add-ons that do the sorts of things you are suggesting, and separately, to support a range of look-and-feel options. OSMC just wants to make sure its hardware is compatible with all those things users might want to add so that flexibility is available.

14

True and, again, this is out of any doubt, you make an awesome work here. Period.

I perfectly differentiate both things, and I understand the OSMC approach, but I’m not just a fan, and - somehow - a supporter, since I trust on your products and I buy them. I’m also a customer with expectations and I’m only expressing my desire, my hope on a better DEFAULT skin for Vero V. Of course I can get into things and configure here and there, and crossing fingers in the hope a third-party add-on developer doesn’t stop supporting something, or if the skin (that also need to support the add-on) is discontinued as well. So, there is a difference between the support of the default skin and any other skin you want to install.

And guys, don’t get my wrong, I looove Vero but it’s just that feeling, I turn it on, and yes, it displays everything you need to access your files, you can navigate through the grids and lists, and you play your files robustly, but it could do more and this would be a great added value to the product. Just that.

PD: If I’ve the time someday I would like to try creating a skin, I’ve the design skills, but not the time :frowning:

15

Hi Sam, sorry for bothering.
I havent received any shipping information yet.

Is there a delay?

16

No - your order shipped on Monday afternoon just after 4PM. You should have received some shipping details by email.

If you haven’t received anything let me know and I can re-send.

17

Yes, I got a shipping email, almost simultaneously with this reply.

Thanks, hope it will arrive soon

1 Like
18

Hi @sam_nazarko I created a support ticket, and sent an email.
I realise now the mail is converted to another ticket as well.

Can someone from support please look into it?

19

Each time you send a new email it will create a new ticket unless you respond to the original ticket.

20

@sam_nazarko i sent an email and a pm.
Would you be so kind to reply to one of them.

Thanks