Install Ember from a USB stick

For televisions with no browser and no store, or when typing with a remote is the last thing you want to do. What a USB stick can do depends entirely on the TV’s system and year, so start by finding yours.

Which one is my TV?

Android TV · Google TV
Vestel, Regal, Beko, Grundig (2019 and later), Philips (2016+), Sony, TCL, Xiaomi, Nokia and nearly every box and stick. USB install works today — steps below.

Samsung (Tizen, 2015+)
Samsung TVs do not install apps from a USB stick, and Ember is not in Samsung’s store. Use an Android TV or Google TV stick — see the next box.

Samsung + TV stick or box
An Android TV or Google TV stick in an HDMI port gives any Samsung the full Ember app. See TV box & stick.

LG webOS
No USB installs for consumers on webOS. Ember is coming to the LG Content Store.

Vestel Smart Center (before 2019) · Philips Saphi · Hisense / Toshiba VIDAA
These systems do not take apps from USB and Ember does not support them. An Android TV or Google TV stick in an HDMI port brings the full app.

Not sure?
Press Home. A row of apps with a Google Play or Play Store icon means Android TV / Google TV. A ribbon of apps along the bottom with no Play Store means one of the others.

Android TV & Google TV — from a USB stick

Same app as the phone and the box; only the way the file reaches the TV is different.

ruscus.net/ember/apk

USB

1Put the file on the stick

On a computer or phone, open ruscus.net/ember/apk — it downloads Ember.apk (about 101 MB). Copy the file to a USB stick. Any stick works; if the TV cannot read it, format it as FAT32 or exFAT.

USB drive

Ember.apk

2Plug it into the TV and open the file

Plug the stick into the TV. Most sets offer to open it; choose the file manager (some call it Files, Media or File Browser). Find Ember.apk and select it.

No file manager on the TV? Install a free one from the Play Store first — File Commander, X-plore or FX File Explorer all work.

Unknown apps

Install

3Allow it once, install, open

The first time, the TV asks to allow installing unknown apps for the file manager. Turn it on, go back, and choose Install, then Open. Ember appears on the home screen from then on.

You can pull the stick out afterwards; the app no longer needs it.

YOUR DEVICE ID

HA:15:0C:D8:D1:7F

4Device ID and QR code

The first screen shows a device ID and a QR code. Read the ID out to your reseller, or scan the code with your phone to add your own playlist. The screen opens into the app by itself once the playlist is there.

Updates come by themselves. When a new version is out, Ember shows a line on its home screen; one press downloads and installs it. The USB stick is only ever needed once.

Ember includes no channels and no content. The playlist comes from you or your reseller, from your own provider.