Anyone have a good idea as to how to make this work with a Kindle Fire HD8? I didn’t realize they weren’t compatible when I got the Passport. The Fire acknowledges the network but won’t show the device on the mycloud app. Thoughts?
I haven’t tried the drive with a Kindle Fire. Let’s see if anyone else can provide some information.
Real easy! Install an app on your Kindle that can access your network for files; including media files. An easy one to use is in an Amazon version at the Amazon app store. It is called AVIA. If you have your MPW connected to your network use Avia app on Kindle to search your network, and find MPW and go into the folders like you would on a computer. Play the media.
Connecting the MPW to network is easiest and fastest way to use it at home, but if you don’t have it on home network, you must connect the Fire tablet to another network – the wireless signal of your MPW. Scan the MPW for media files this way.
This should get you started. You do NOT need a WD app to access your MPW, you DO need an app that can access a network. Once this concept is understood, there are all kinds of things you can do with the Kindle!
Example, I have done this with my own MPW and Kindle tablet , I’ve taken the video signal from the Kindle’s HDMI output, and plugged the other end of HDMI cable into a TV to watch movies from my MPW when on vacations.
Tip, learn more about your Kindle and MPW from user manuals or online help info…
Same concept works with any tablet; for iPads you just need the right app (although WD My Cloud app works great, but there are others.)
Thanks. I had heard of Avia but saw a lot of mixed reviews. Does it require the paid version or will the free one suffice?
It works fine for the free stuff. Chromecast doesn’t work for me. Whatever. Like I sad, I can play a video/movie file, tap out of the Kindle HDMI and plug into a TV HDMI.
I also use it to play from music playlists (with DLNA apps on Kindle) which very few iOS apps can do. Until recently, I had not found a decent, feature-rich iOS app for music. It is called MusicStreamer, but is only for iOS.
An app better than Avia is Bubble/UPnP which is also a free DNLA type of app. A little more difficult to operate than Avia. I have both installed on my Kindle. I don’t use my Kindle as much as my iPad; which cost more, but does more and does it better. I use the Kindle for some specialized apps and porting a movie to HDMI infrequently.
Install and try out both, but start with Avia first.
OK, I’ve installed the Avia app on the Fire and turned on/connected to the
Passport network but (at the risk of sounding a bit “thick”) can’t figure
out how to connect to the Passport. My goal is to use this away from home
to stream video, music, etc. from the Passport to the Fire. It looks like
they’re telling me I have to activate the paid version to get access to
networks. I’m usually good at figuring out these things but unless I’m
missing something blatantly obvious, I can’t figure out how to get content
from the Passport drive to the Fire.
Yep, you may be missing some obvious things for anyone not very familiar with network setups and such. First, I have some questions for you. Which MPW do you have – the older model, or the newer Pro?
Have you populated the drive with media files? What kinds? ( meaning file formats/extensions; e,g, mp4, mp3s, etc.) Where did they come from; did you make them, or are they all downloaded from elsewhere? Where and how have you played these files before having the Kindle. e.g. do you have a home network you can stream them to TV, etc, or have you only played them on a computer from an internal or attached HD??
Regarding Avia app: it was over 4-5 years ago I installed it. I do remember adding the Chromecast feature for a few dollars; not sure if network access was free as well. I do remember that it originally only played media local to Kindle, so I must have added the network access feature at the same time I upgraded to their Pro version. You bought a Kindle and now a MPW that all costs a few hundred bucks. Is it too much to pay a few bucks for additional features of Avia to make it all work together? If this is the case, then install the Bubble/UPnP. I don’t recall needing to add additional features.
BTW, I booted up my MPW and Kindle a few hours ago, connected the Kindle to the MPW own wireless signal, Opened Ava app and played a video with no problem.
I have also installed my MPW on my home network as well; have you done this, too? It makes it more usable in a home, and when away from home you can connect to the MPW’s own wireless signal.
Avia has a website with a lot of help, so go here and see what you can learn about its use: http://aviatheapp.com/
Let me know how it goes for you.
I have the non-pro model, have added some music files (mp3) from my itunes
library which normally get played off the itunes on my desktop or ipod.
The files are a combination of created, purchased or imported. Haven’t
really had the need to stream (until now), they come off the internal HD.
Haven’t had the drive that long to load it up with media, that’s next once
I confirm that it works with the Fire.
Not a problem to pay the $4.99 for the network feature, was just asking if
the basic version would handle the need. Now that I know, I’ll get the
upgrade and see how things play out. Appreciate the help.
Sounds good.
Just so you know, I have same older 2TB MPW. I have copied my entire iTunes Media folder to my MPW to easily have my music library on the drive. You just attach drive to PC’s USB and copy as you would to any external drive. Before you do any mass copying, Notice the Sample Media folder on the drive. It has music, photo and video files you can use to test the playing of files with Avia app. Do a test to learn Avia before spending a lot of time copying files.
I have copied my entire folder of mp4 video files to the drive, too. Since I do not add too many of any files frequently to my music or video folders on MPW, so I usually .manually copy the new stuff to it.
It appears that things are falling into place. Now I just need to confirm
what media file formats work and everything should be OK. I also
discovered that an existing app (ES File Explorer) serves a similar purpose
and has a somewhat easier interface. In any event, thanks for the help.
Good to hear things are working out. ES File Explorer is a quality utility program like Windows File Explorer on a PC. It is really not a media-playing app like Avia with a user-friendly, attractive GUI . The only time I use ESFE is to move some files around and download files, or install some apps by what is called “side-loading”.
If you want to explore another app, try the Bubble/upnp I suggested. I have been on the lookout for apps like this and Avia and there really are not any with the quality and feature attributes I look for.
As for file types of files to play, it all depends upon the app used on Kindle, and not the MPW or the Kindle (unless if you use the internal media players of the Kindle.) You will not be able to play copy-protected media files like those from Apple or others.
