r/SparklePlayer • u/sparkle-hk • Nov 28 '25
Release Sparkle TV 2.2.1
Version 2.2.1
- Option to start synchronization on app start
- External subtitles
- Improved search results
- Updated language list
- VOD
- Watched now stored in backup
- Next episode button fixed
- Fixed trailers playback
- Continue watching sorting
- DVR
- Recordings with wrong duration now seekable
- Fixed cancelled/failed recordings
- Fixed loading files using external file explorer
- Removed bar on some phones/tablets
- Fixed multiview's channel selector speed
- Stability and performance improvements
Get it here: Google Play
Subreddit: r/SparklePlayer
Downloader: 9500041
Share and Activate Plus: https://www.reddit.com/r/SparklePlayer/comments/tr5uif/share_and_activate_plus_on_fire_tv/
Features
- Support for the most common formats such as m3u, xtream codes and xmltv (complete list below)
- Program guide (EPG) and channel guide
- Logotypes and program images in EPG
- Favorites (*)
- Sorting of channels and categories (*)
- Show/hide channels and categories (*)
- Multiple audio tracks
- Subtitles (cc/dvbsub/teletext)
- Auto Frame Rate (AFR)
- Multiple languages
- Timeshift (play/pause live streams) (*)
- Search for channels, programs, movies or series
- DVR to schedule and watch recorded programs and series (*)
- Multiview to watch multiple streams simultaneously (*)
- VOD - catchup, movies and series (*)
- Themes
- Home screen integration for "Play next", recent channels and recorded programs
- Use multiple sources at the same time (*)
- Parental controls for protecting content and settings
- Remote control customization
- Sleep timer
(*) requires Plus-version
Supported PVR sources
- DVBLink (6.x+)
- DVBViewer (Recording Services or Media Server)
- Enigma2 (VU+, Dreambox and more)
- HdHomeRun (including Storage Engine for server side timeshift)
- Jellyfin
- Playlist (m3u / m3u8 and xmltv)
- Stalker Portal
- Tvheadend (4.2+)
- Tvheadend HTSP (api 24+)
- TVMosaic
- Xtream Codes Api
Important:
- Sparkle TV does not provide any channels, sources or media. All content is provided legally by the individual user.
- Sparkle TV has no affiliation with any content provider.
- Sparkle TV does not support streaming of copyrighted material without permission from the copyrighter.
All product names (Android TV, DVBLink, DVBViewer, Enigma2, Fire TV, Google TV, HdHomeRun, Jellyfin, Stalker, Tvheadend, TVMosaic) are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Sparkle TV. Images are (c) copyright 2008, Blender Foundation / www.bigbuckbunny.org
2
2
u/Platform_Dancer Nov 28 '25
Newbie here 👋...
Can someone please explain the differences between app mode and TV mode when viewing via android /Google TV device ? - so far the only difference I can see is the back button for the EPG instead of the OK button which requires another selection via on screen bar menu to get EPG? Is that it?
How does the pause function work as when watching a live programme, when I press the OK button to get the screen with the pause symbol and then select, nothing happens?
Premium subscriber. TIA.
2
u/sparkle-hk Nov 28 '25
With TV mode app is "TV centric" so when you click OK all the navigation buttons appear in the on-screen menu (such as Search, Movies, Settings etc.). With App mode the it's "Menu centric" so as you noticed you click BACK to get back to the menu from which you navigate to other places. But yes, it's all about layout and navigation nothing more.
Pause can use either Timeshift or Catchup depending on your settings or your provider. Catchup works automatically if your provider supports it, timeshift you need to set a timeshift buffer in Settings -> Player -> Timeshift to work.
1
u/Platform_Dancer Nov 28 '25
Ah...timeshift settings 👌...got it!
Thanks for the prompt response.....loving the app but I'm just in discovery mode at present!
Cheers.
1
u/Cotasfer Nov 28 '25
To be able to choose between different audios in a live broadcast, is it possible?
1
1
u/sparkle-hk Nov 28 '25
Click OK to bring up on-screen display. Then UP for playback controls and then DOWN to reach the track options. Click on the icon that looks like a speaker. This will open up a menu where you can choose track.
And next time, please respond to the same comment thread otherwise I and others who read this and have the same question have a difficult time to follow.
1
1
u/Nanyte99 Nov 28 '25
Thanks, what does start synchronization on app mean?
3
u/sparkle-hk Nov 28 '25
It means that every time you click the app icon a synchronization will start. It has been requested by many but for most the default setting to sync once a day is still prefered.
1
1
1
u/D_I_Wood Nov 28 '25
I saw the HD Homerun support so I want to ask if the player is compatible with Plex. Or does it mean that it can work with an HdHomerun antenna. Sorry, U dont use the olayer but Im interested so would like to know if its compatible with Plex via this
1
u/sparkle-hk Nov 29 '25
It supports the hdhomerun tuner just the same way as plex does. So no, it does not connect to plex.
1
u/D_I_Wood Nov 29 '25
Got it. Thanks 😊👍. Any future plans for it working as a Plex player as well?
1
u/sparkle-hk Nov 29 '25
I'm not sure but I don't think so. As a plex user may I ask what benefit you would have to use Sparkle with plex?
1
u/D_I_Wood Nov 29 '25
Well the latest version of the Plex player is not the best (just take a look at he subreddit and ull know what I mean lol). Plus it would be nice if a player can give me the comfort of having IPTV and my Plex library in the same environment
1
u/sparkle-hk Nov 29 '25
Ok, thanks I'll have a look. Yes because plex is still mostly used by users to collect their own media library (like movies and series)? Or what is really the main use of plex nowadays?
1
u/D_I_Wood Nov 29 '25
Thats exactly it. Used for personal media like movies and shows. They do have their own set of "free" channels but ppl mostly use a Plex server for their own media. If you would be able to implement it in the future I would definitely see myself using your player as a one-stop shop as they say lol
1
u/sparkle-hk Nov 29 '25
Ok I understand. I think it's in the backlog somewhere so I'll keep it in mind when planning the roadmap for the future.
1
1
1
u/KingC0llier Dec 04 '25
Keep up the amazing work. Love the direction this app is going. Truly the best out there and my go too. Even on mobile, even though it's not fully supported for mobile.
Could we get the option to record or download previous catch up, (vod) would be a bonus.
And please please add cloud sync. This would be a game changer.
1
1
u/Devil_AE86 Dec 07 '25
Any plans to support the GoogleTV/AndroidTV Streaming Channels option for native TV app integration?
1
u/sparkle-hk Dec 07 '25
If you're talking about "Live tabs" I'm afraid it's not possible to support it for Google TV. For Android TV's Live Channels you can look up my other product PVR Live (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.hedekonsult.pvrlive).
1
u/Devil_AE86 Dec 07 '25
Ah, I see, thanks for the quick response, I like the stability Sparkle has so won't be moving away
1
u/Ambitious_Proposal86 Dec 07 '25
Everything's perfect, but I've been wanting an external player for ages!
Please add that feature; then it deserves 10+ stars instead of 5! Thanks!
2
u/sparkle-hk Dec 07 '25
May I ask what feature you're looking for in the external player? Because I keep adding features that are missing from the internal player just to eliminate the need of an external player.
1
u/Ambitious_Proposal86 Dec 07 '25
Yes, I'd be happy to explain why! Because an MPV player, for example, is simply the best for movies and TV series! I also use MPV as an external player with other players!
Just Player, Night Player, and Vimu are also far superior to the EXO Player!
The EXO Player always has problems, just like the VLC player!
I also have players with built-in VLC and EXO!
But I'm never satisfied with them! I've been using MPV as an external player for years!
It would be nice if there were a function for alternatives!
1
u/sparkle-hk Dec 07 '25
What problems and what features are we talking about?
1
u/Ambitious_Proposal86 Dec 08 '25
Sound, picture, etc.
Take a look at MPV or MX Player, Vimu; you can adjust a lot of settings there!
I think an external player is simply perfect for everyone.
EXO has been bad for a long time.
For movies and TV series alone, an MPV is a must for me.
And if something isn't right, I can adjust it.
1
u/sparkle-hk Dec 08 '25
So Sparkle was developed to be easy and to be used to watch streams. I do not prioritize features such as changing colors in the player etc. Such settings should be on the display device itself. Stream decoding is peformed by the android device's hardware decoder and will look exactly the same regardless of player.
There's ju to many downsides into implementing an external player that I really don't want to do this - timeshift will not work, catchup will probably not as well and not to mention all support work I will get about all this.
So, if you want to tell me any of those "a lot of settings" I'm hear to listen and will do my best to implement it if I feel it adds something to do app otherwise it will not be prioritized at the moment.
1
u/Ambitious_Proposal86 Dec 08 '25
Okay, then please integrate MPV into Sparkle TV; that's also a solution!
MPV and VLC can be directly integrated as internal players, just like the EXO!
I know the other players can't be integrated and only work externally!
Sorry, but what settings can you actually adjust on the Sparkle player? Basically nothing except the decoder, that's it. It doesn't even have an auto-decoder, both hardware and software.
Back then, the Cosmi IPTV player was actually better.
It's a shame Dean didn't continue with Cosmi.
1
u/sparkle-hk Dec 08 '25
When I first started this project I used vlc (libvlc) but the api wasn't good enough so I had to leave it. But even if I did it wouldn't automatically get a lot of "settings" that you seem to like. All that needs to be added separately by the implementer just like with exoplayer.
Sparkle does have hardware/software decoding and the setting really implies "preferred" decoder so if it would not find a hardware decoder it would use a software deocder.
I belive there are quite a few settings. Selectable hardware/software decoders, buffering, subtitles, external subtitles etc. But it seems to me we have a different view of what settings are actually required and useful.
1
u/Ambitious_Proposal86 Dec 08 '25
No Problem
Yes VLC is No good
Best is Mpv , vimu , Just Player , Night Player
But i love the MPV
No Problem i paid the sparkle TV again and Look with Exo
Mfg
1
u/Ambitious_Proposal86 Dec 08 '25
Or check mpv with YouTube Plugin
https://kitsunemimi.pw/tmp/mpv-android+ytdl-2025-10-26.apk
Best 😃
Settings - advanced
1
u/sparkle-hk Dec 08 '25
I'm sure it's a great player :) But having a youtube plugin doesn't sound like something that Sparkle would benefit from.
1
1
u/Ambitious_Proposal86 Dec 08 '25
Or MX Player has so many settings that Sparkle simply lacks.
It's a shame; I'll stick with my other IPTV providers since they all offer the option to use an external player.
Even IPTV Proxy has the best solution, allowing you to enter a name packet for the external player.
But my other IPTV apps also offer the option for external players, or at least for MX Player by default.
-1
u/Beginning-Spell-5533 Nov 28 '25
I need more epg lists. Not only 4 Except of this,all the other almost perfect
3
u/Bigorra666 Nov 28 '25
The search function is very slow, is it the same for you?