Dune HD Media Center App

Quick links:   ▶ App versions and changes   ▶ Other Dune HD support materials

Dune HD Media Center app provides access to advanced Dune HD Media Center functions on the following compatible media players:

• Dune HD Premier 4K Pro
• Dune HD Homatics Box R 4K Plus
• Dune HD BOXY (BOXY with Dune HD Media Center)

How to install

Note: Direct installation from Google Play Store is not supported yet, it will be supported later.

To install Dune HD Media Center app, use any file manager app to install the following APK file:

• For all models except BOXY: dune.apk
• For BOXY with Dune HD Media Center: boxy.apk

For example, you can use "File Manager" app this way:

1. Copy the APK file to a USB drive and attach the USB drive to the media player.
   
   
2. Launch "Google Play Store", type "file manager" in the Search field, choose and install "File Manager" app:
   
3. Allow installation of apps from sources other than the Google Play Store:
   • Press "Settings" button on the remote, or choose "Settings" icon on Android TV home screen.
   • Choose "Apps" / "Security & Restrictions" / "Unknown sources" / "File Manager" and ensure it is set to "Allowed".
   
   
4. Launch "File manager" app, allow it to access USB drives, and use it to install the APK from the USB drive:
   • Note: If "Unsafe app" dialog appears, choose "More details" and "Install anyway".

Recommended audio settings

Important audio settings:

• SYSTEM: Android System Settings / Device Preferences / Display and Sound / Select formats (Auto / Passthrough / None)
• DUNE: DUNE app / Setup / Audio / Digital audio output mode (Decode / Bitstream)

Recommended settings for Dune HD Media Center:

• For PCM output from Dune HD Media Center: SYSTEM = Passthrough, DUNE = Decode.
• For bitstream output from Dune HD Media Center: SYSTEM = Passthrough, DUNE = Bitstream.

Depending on these settings, Dune HD Media Center can play the following Dolby / DTS / PCM formats:

• All models except BOXY:
  • The following formats can be output as multichannel PCM up to 7.1 channels:
    • DD, DD+, DD+ with Atmos, TrueHD, TrueHD with Atmos, DTS, DTS HD HRA, DTS HD MA, DTS X, DTS CD.
  • The following formats can be output as bitstream:
    • DD, DD+, DD+ with Atmos, TrueHD, TrueHD with Atmos, DTS, DTS CD.
    • DTS HD HRA, DTS HD MA, DTS X can be output as DTS core bitstream.
  
  
• BOXY with Dune HD Media Center:
  • The following formats can be output as stereo PCM (downmix):
    • DD, DD+, DD+ with Atmos, TrueHD, TrueHD with Atmos, DTS, DTS HD HRA, DTS HD MA, DTS X, DTS CD.
  • The following formats can be output as bitstream:
    • DD, DD+, DD+ with Atmos, DTS.
    • DTS HD HRA, DTS HD MA, DTS X can be output as DTS core bitstream.
    • TrueHD and TrueHD with Atmos can be output as DD core bitstream when playing BD ISO, BDMV folders or M2TS files.

If you want to use S/PDIF output, note the following limitation:

• S/PDIF can output Dolby / DTS bitstream only if the media player is connected via HDMI to a TV which supports Dolby / DTS formats (i.e. the HDMI EDID information sent by TV to the media player indicates Dolby / DTS support).
• Otherwise, S/PDIF will output only stereo PCM. This is the limitation of the used Google-certified Android TV platform.

If you use Netflix and want to output Atmos in Netflix:

• Atmos output from Netflix app works only with the setting SYSTEM = Auto (limitation of Netflix app). With this setting, Dune HD Media Center can output the following (depending on Decode/Bitstream DUNE setting and depending on capabilities of the receiver):
  • PCM up to 5.1 channels, Dolby MAT (PCM with Atmos), DD+, DD+ with Atmos, DTS.

Recommended video settings

For automatic framerate and resolution switching according to played content, use the following settings (they affect only playback of video in Dune HD media center):

• DUNE app / Setup / Video / Auto framerate (default ON)
• DUNE app / Setup / Video / Auto resolution (default OFF)

Automatic Dolby Vision / HDR format switching according to played content:

• All models except BOXY:
  • By default, the box converts everything to Dolby Vision / HDR.
  • If you want Dolby Vision / HDR output only when playing Dolby Vision / HDR content, set the following:
    • Android System Settings / Device Preferences / Display and Sound / HDR / HDR Auto = ON
  • Limitation: For Dolby Vision TVs, "HDR Auto" is fully supported only in LLDV mode, and works only partially in STD DV mode:
    • If your TV supports both LLDV and STD DV, choose LLDV in TV settings.
    • Ensure the following is set (it is set by default):
      • Android System Settings / Device Preferences / Display and Sound / HDR / Dolby vision source-led = ON
    • Otherwise, if LLDV mode is not supported or can not be chosen, and STD DV mode is used, automatic switching to HDR will not work and HDR content will be output as SDR. I.e. only switching between SDR and Dolby Vision will work. (This is the limitation of Amlogic S905X4 SDK.)
  
  
• BOXY with Dune HD Media Center:
  • By default, the box converts everything to Dolby Vision / HDR.
  • If you want Dolby Vision / HDR output only when playing Dolby Vision / HDR content, set the following:
    • Android System Settings / Device Preferences / Display and Sound / Screen resolution / HDR Policy = Adaptive HDR
  • Limitation: For Dolby Vision TVs, "HDR Auto" is fully supported only in LLDV mode, and works only partially in STD DV mode:
    • If your TV supports both LLDV and STD DV, choose LLDV in TV settings.
    • Otherwise, if LLDV mode is not supported or can not be chosen, and STD DV mode is used, automatic switching to HDR will not work and HDR content will be output as SDR. I.e. only switching between SDR and Dolby Vision will work. (This is the limitation of Amlogic S905X4 SDK.)

How to use remote

Google-certified remotes may have a limited number of buttons and lack some buttons previously present on standard Dune remotes. However, you can still use all functions of Dune HD Media Center using only UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, CENTER (also know as OK or ENTER), and BACK (also know as RETURN) buttons.

Main functions of buttons of the remote when using Dune HD Media Center:

• UP, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT buttons:
  • In menus: navigate through menus and menu items.
  • When playing a media file (this behavior can also be customized in Setup menu):
    • UP/DOWN: show playback control menu.
    • LEFT/RIGHT: show playback timeline.
  • When playing a TV channel (this behaviour can also be customized in Setup menu):
    • UP/DOWN: switch to next/previous TV channel.
    • LEFT/RIGHT: pause/resume playback (when supported), and also show playback time.
  
  
• CENTER (also know as OK or ENTER) button:
  • In menus: choose/use/play the selected object.
  • When playing a media file: pause/resume playbak, and also show playback control menu.
  • When playing a TV channel: show TV menu.
  
  
• BACK (also known as RETURN) button:
  • In menus: go back to the previous menu level.
  • During playback: stop playback.
  
  
• Long-press CENTER (also known as OK or ENTER) button:
  • Does the same as "POP UP MENU" button on standard Dune remote.
  • Usually shows a POP UP MENU providing access to additional information and actions for the currently selected object, for the current screen, or for the currently played media.
  
  
• Long-press BACK (also known as RETURN) button:
  • Does the same as "TOP MENU" button on standard Dune remote.
  • When a video or audio is not playing: quickly jump to the top level of the maun Dune menu.
  • When a video or audio is playing: show/hide the main Dune menu over the playback.
  
  
• BOOKMARK button:
  • Does the same as "INFO" button on standard Dune remote.
  • Usually shows some information about currently selected object, the current screen, or the currently played media.
  • The same function is often available via POP UP MENU.

Universal remotes and Google IR codes

Google-certified Bluetooth remotes and Google-certified Dune HD media players with built-in IR receiver use Google IR codes (Dune HD IR codes are not supported).

• Google IR codes.
• How to switch Google-certified remote into IR mode to learn IR codes into a learnable remote.

iOS and Android mobile apps

You can use Dune Control mobile app on iOS and Android phones and tablets to conveniently control Dune HD media center.

• When using the current Dune Control version from Apple / Google app stores, it will not find Google-certified Android TV Dune HD media player models automatically (because a new non-privileged port is used for network access). So you need to manually enter the IP address of the media player add the correct port number (11080), for example: 192.168.1.50:11080.
• For Android phones and tablets, you can use a new alpha version of Dune Control mobile app. It can find Google-certified Android TV Dune HD media player models automatically.

Additionally, you can use the following mobile apps on your iOS/Android phones and tablets:

• Google TV:
  • Can be used as a remote to control the media player.
  • Supports controlling all Android apps, not only Dune HD media center.
  • Instructions.
  
  
• Google Home:
  • Can be used to cast content from your mobile device to the media player (using Chromecast built-in technology).
  • Instructions.

How to use SMB client

Dune HD Media Center includes a built-in SMB client, which allows you to access files on SMB file servers (such as NAS, PC or any other device with SMB server function). You can launch files or copy files from the SMB file server. Access is read-only.

To connect to a SMB server, there are two options:

• Option 1: Browse the list of available SMB server and shares.
  • Use "Sources / Network Browser" menu, choose SMB server, choose SMB share.
  • SMB shares can be opened and used directly.
  • Also, an SMB share can be added to "Sources" menu as a "network folder": choose the SMB share, press POP UP MENU, choose "Add as network folder".
  
  
• Option 2: Manually create a network folder in "Sources" menu.
  • In "Sources" menu, press POP UP MENU, choose "Create network folder".
  • Choose "SMB" and enter the name or IP address of the SMB server, the SMB share name, and optionally user name and password (if the SMB server requires user name and password).

SMB client supports SMB 1.x/2.x/3.x protocol versions. For best performance, it is recommended to use SMB 2.x/3.x. SMB client chooses SMB 2.x/3.x automatically when supported by the server.

If connection to SMB server does not work, try to enable SMB 1.x and NTLM v1 support in SMB server settings. (And keep SMB 2.x/3.x enabled too.)

How to use NFS client

Dune HD Media Center includes a built-in NFS client, which allows you to access files on NFS file servers (such as NAS, PC or any other device with NFS server function). You can launch files or copy files from the NFS file server. Access is read-only.

To connect to a NFS server, there are two options:

• Option 1: Browse the list of available NFS server and shares.
  • Use "Sources / Network Browser / NFS servers" menu, choose NFS server, choose NFS share.
  • NFS shares can be opened and used directly.
  • Also, an NFS share can be added to "Sources" menu as a "network folder": choose the NFS share, press POP UP MENU, choose "Add as network folder".
  
  
• Option 2: Manually create a network folder in "Sources" menu.
  • In "Sources" menu, press POP UP MENU, choose "Create network folder".
  • Choose "NFS" and enter the name or IP address of the NFS server and the NFS share path.

NFS client uses non-privileged port number, so you need to ensure your NFS server allows connections from non-privileged ports. See here for more details.

How to use built-in SMB file server

Dune HD Media Center includes a built-in SMB file server which provides access to connected storage devices (such as USB HDDs) and internal memory from local network.

SMB server supports SMB 2.x/3.x protocol versions and uses non-privileged port number (10445). This port number is not standard, so you need to connect to it in a special way: connect manually using IP address and port number. On Windows, port forwarding should be used. See here for more details.

SMB server settings (such as SMB server name and password protection) can be configured in "Setup / Applications / SMB server" menu.

Functions in development

The following functions are currently in development and will become available later:

• Full disc menu for BD images (currently, as of app version 230924_2058, full disc menu is supported only for BDMV folders and only for local drives; full disc menu for ISO files and for SMB/NFS shares is not supported yet).
• Write support in SMB/NFS clients (currently, access to SMB/NFS shares is read-oly).
• UPnP client.

Besides, other improvements and additional features are in development and will be included into future versions.

How to boot directly to Dune HD Media Center

You can disable the default Android TV launcher ("Android TV Home" app). In this case, Dune HD Media Center will become the launcher, and the media player will boot automatically into Dune HD Media Center. This can be done using "ADB" software.

Instructions how to disable the default Android TV launcher:

1. Enable ADB access: Go to "Android System Settings / Device Preferences / About", choose "Android TV OS Version" and press the center button on the remote 5 times. You will see a message "You are now a developer".
2. Install ADB software on a PC or directly on the media player:
   • To use ADB directly on a media player, install "ADB TV" app from Google Play Store, launch it, and choose "Console".
   • To use ADB on a PC, install and use ADB using these instructions.
3. Perform the following command in ADB:
   pm disable-user com.google.android.tvlauncher

If you want later to restore the default Android TV launcher, perform the following command in ADB:

• pm enable com.google.android.tvlauncher

Functions requiring Internet connection

Some functions require Internet connection to verify Dune HD license:

1. Internet connection is required once at first start of Dune HD Media Center.
2. Internet connection is required to play some Dolby Vision formats (DV P7).
3. In the future, the set of functions which require Internet connection may change.

App versions

See here the information about app versions and changes:

• App versions and changes