UNDERSTAIRS

UNDERSTAIRS TV

Your library on the big screen, made for a remote.

Press OK on Continue Watching and you are back in the film. One TV app for Fire TV, and for Android TV and Google TV.

Tell me when it is outWhich Fire TV?
The TV home screen: the film Sintel on a full-screen backdrop with its logo, then a Continue Watching row.

Preview film coming soonSintel, by the Blender Foundation (CC BY)

Pick your TV

Two kinds of TV, one app.

The TV app is the same on both. Neither is in a store yet.

Reasons to buy

What the TV app does for you.

Each one says which apps have it. The small print is in Good to know, at the end of the page.

On Fire TV and Android TV

Straight back in

Home opens on what you were watching, and on the next episode of your shows.

Each one shows the title’s own logo. Press OK and it plays. There is no page to open first.

The TV home screen: the film Sintel on a full-screen backdrop with its logo, then a Continue Watching row.

On Fire TV and Android TV

Skip the intro, skip the credits

One press jumps over the intro. Another jumps over the credits.1

A Skip Intro or Skip Credits button appears on the screen.

On Fire TV and Android TV

No needless converting

The app asks your TV, stick or phone what it can play, and sends the film as it is.8

Your server converts only what your screen cannot play.

On Fire TV and Android TV

Surround sound, left alone

Dolby sound goes to your soundbar or TV exactly as it is. DTS does too.9

Prefer plain stereo? Switch it off in Settings > Sound.

On Fire TV and Android TV

Live TV and recordings

Watch your server’s live channels and open the guide.2

Record a programme or a whole series. Start a live programme again from the beginning.

On Fire TV and Android TV

Who is watching

Everyone in the house gets a profile of their own, with their own history.

Add a PIN if you like.

On Fire TV and Android TV

All your servers in one app

Add Jellyfin, Emby and Plex side by side, and switch between them in a moment.

The app looks for servers on your network, so you may not need to type an address.

A look around

Real screens, running on a TV.

Scroll, and the screen changes with it. Everything shown is the app itself, using the Blender Foundation’s open films.

01

Pick up where you stopped.

Home opens on a big banner, then Continue Watching and Next Up. Press OK on a film or an episode and it plays.

The TV home screen: the film Sintel on a full-screen backdrop with its logo, then a Continue Watching row.

02

Every title gets its own page.

You see the artwork, the title’s logo, the cast and a short story. Play, Trailer, Watchlist and Mark watched sit right underneath.

A title page for Sintel: its logo over the backdrop, the synopsis, Resume, Trailer, Watchlist and watch-mark buttons, and the cast.

03

Audio, subtitles and quality are one press away.

Pick your language, your subtitles or your quality from one bar. The app asks your TV what it can play, so your server converts only what it has to.

The player showing Sintel with the title logo, a progress bar, and Audio, Subtitles, Quality and Speed buttons.

04

Hold OK for a quick menu.

Hold OK on any poster and a menu opens with Play, More info and Mark watched. You never leave the row.

The home screen with a menu open over the film Cosmos Laundromat, listing Resume, Play from start, More info and the watch marks.

05

Your music is here too.

Open an album and press Play or Shuffle. Add songs with Play next or Add to queue.

An album page for Static Bloom with a six-song track list and Play and Shuffle buttons.
The TV home screen: the film Sintel on a full-screen backdrop with its logo, then a Continue Watching row.A title page for Sintel: its logo over the backdrop, the synopsis, Resume, Trailer, Watchlist and watch-mark buttons, and the cast.The player showing Sintel with the title logo, a progress bar, and Audio, Subtitles, Quality and Speed buttons.The home screen with a menu open over the film Cosmos Laundromat, listing Resume, Play from start, More info and the watch marks.An album page for Static Bloom with a six-song track list and Play and Shuffle buttons.

Shown with the Blender Foundation’s open films.

Fire TV

Fire TV: one app for every stick, Cube and TV.

It comes from the Amazon Appstore, on one listing. Your device gets the right version.

Price

£1.99

Paid once. There is no subscription.

Where from

Amazon Appstore

Coming soon. Email us and we will tell you the day it is there.

You need

A server of your own

A Jellyfin, Emby or Plex server that you run or are allowed to use.

Which Fire TV?

  • Fire TV StickA stick that plugs into your TV.
  • Fire TV Stick 4KThe same stick, for 4K TVs.
  • Fire TV CubeThe Fire TV box.
  • Fire TV built into TVsNo stick needed.

Fire TV

Coming soon to the Amazon Appstore

A small number points to a note in Good to know, at the end of the page.

What it does

  • Continue Watching and Up NextOpen the app and your film or your next episode is one press away.
  • Title logosEach title shows its own logo on Home and in the player. If your server has none, you see the name.
  • Skip intro and skip creditsOne press jumps over the intro and the credits. You can also switch on skipping for you.1
  • Next episodeWhen an episode ends, the next one is ready: a button, or it just plays.
  • Your audio and subtitles stay putPick your language and subtitles once. Change the quality or press Retry, and they stay as you picked them.
  • No needless convertingThe app asks your device what it can play and sends it as it is. Your server converts only the rest.8
  • Surround soundDolby sound goes to your soundbar or TV as it is, and so does DTS. Prefer plain stereo? Switch it off.9
  • Quality choiceChoose Auto, Original, 1080p, 720p or 480p. You can set a default quality, and pick your audio language.
  • Subtitle sizeMake subtitles bigger or smaller.
  • Subtitle colour and backgroundChange the colour, background and height of your subtitles.
  • Playback speedWatch faster or slower than normal.
  • Sleep timerFall asleep to a film or an album and it stops by itself. Choose 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
  • Picture-in-pictureKeep the film in a small window while you do something else.6
  • Scrub preview picturesWind through a film and see the pictures, not just a number.3
  • Live TV and recordingsWatch live channels, open the guide, record a programme or a series, and start a live programme again from the beginning.2
  • TrailersWatch the trailer from a title’s page.4
  • Cast and crew pagesA page for the cast and crew of each title.
  • MusicBrowse albums, artists and playlists. You can play next and add to the queue.
  • SearchSearch across your libraries.
  • Who is watchingEveryone gets a profile of their own, with their own history. Add a PIN if you like.
  • All your servers in one appAdd Jellyfin, Emby and Plex side by side and switch in a moment. The app looks for servers on your network.
  • Easy sign-inApprove a sign-in from another device instead of typing it on the remote. That works with Jellyfin Quick Connect, the Plex link code and Emby Connect.5
  • Favourites and WatchlistKeep a list of what you want to watch. Jellyfin and Emby use Favourites. Plex uses your plex.tv Watchlist.7
  • Home you arrangeChoose and order the rows on Home, and which libraries show.
  • Seven colour themesMidnight, Slate, Ember, Crimson, Forest, Dusk and Cinema. There is also a Light theme and OLED black.
  • Problem reportSomething wrong? One screen gathers the details so you can send them to us. On a TV it shows a QR code to scan with your phone.
  • Hold OK for a quick menuHold OK on any card for a quick menu. The hints on screen match your remote.

In the phone apps: Smart downloads, Downloads for offline and Notifications.

Android TV and Google TV

Android TV and Google TV have it too.

It is the same TV app as on Fire TV, so you get the same features. It is coming soon to Google Play.

Coming soon to Google Play, £1.99, paid once. Email support@understairs.tv and we will tell you the day it arrives.

Android TV and Google TV

Coming soon to Google Play

It is the same TV app as Fire TV. A small number points to a note in Good to know.

What it does

  • Continue Watching and Up NextOpen the app and your film or your next episode is one press away.
  • Title logosEach title shows its own logo on Home and in the player. If your server has none, you see the name.
  • Skip intro and skip creditsOne press jumps over the intro and the credits. You can also switch on skipping for you.1
  • Next episodeWhen an episode ends, the next one is ready: a button, or it just plays.
  • Your audio and subtitles stay putPick your language and subtitles once. Change the quality or press Retry, and they stay as you picked them.
  • No needless convertingThe app asks your device what it can play and sends it as it is. Your server converts only the rest.
  • Surround soundDolby and DTS sound go to your soundbar or TV as they are. Prefer plain stereo? Switch it off.
  • Quality choiceChoose Auto, Original, 1080p, 720p or 480p. You can set a default quality, and pick your audio language.
  • Subtitle sizeMake subtitles bigger or smaller.
  • Subtitle colour and backgroundChange the colour, background and height of your subtitles.
  • Playback speedWatch faster or slower than normal.
  • Sleep timerFall asleep to a film or an album and it stops by itself. Choose 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes.
  • Picture-in-pictureKeep the film in a small window while you do something else.6
  • Scrub preview picturesWind through a film and see the pictures, not just a number.3
  • Live TV and recordingsWatch live channels, open the guide, record a programme or a series, and start a live programme again from the beginning.2
  • TrailersWatch the trailer from a title’s page.4
  • Cast and crew pagesA page for the cast and crew of each title.
  • MusicBrowse albums, artists and playlists. You can play next and add to the queue.
  • SearchSearch across your libraries.
  • Who is watchingEveryone gets a profile of their own, with their own history. Add a PIN if you like.
  • All your servers in one appAdd Jellyfin, Emby and Plex side by side and switch in a moment. The app looks for servers on your network.
  • Easy sign-inApprove a sign-in from another device instead of typing it on the remote. That works with Jellyfin Quick Connect, the Plex link code and Emby Connect.5
  • Favourites and WatchlistKeep a list of what you want to watch. Jellyfin and Emby use Favourites. Plex uses your plex.tv Watchlist.7
  • Home you arrangeChoose and order the rows on Home, and which libraries show.
  • Seven colour themesMidnight, Slate, Ember, Crimson, Forest, Dusk and Cinema. There is also a Light theme and OLED black.
  • Problem reportSomething wrong? One screen gathers the details so you can send them to us. On a TV it shows a QR code to scan with your phone.
  • Hold OK for a quick menuHold OK on any card for a quick menu. The hints on screen match your remote.

In the phone apps: Smart downloads, Downloads for offline and Notifications.

Your server

Bring the server you already have.

JellyfinEmbyPlex

UNDERSTAIRS has no films or channels of its own. It shows what is on your Jellyfin, Emby or Plex server, and talks to that server directly. You do not need an account with us.

With Jellyfin and Emby, type the address or let the app look for your server. With Plex, you approve a link code on plex.tv, so the app never sees your Plex password.

UNDERSTAIRS is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Plex Inc., The Jellyfin Project or Emby LLC. Their names only say which servers it works with.

Questions

Before you buy.

Does it work on my Fire TV?

It works on Fire TV sticks, the Fire TV Cube and TVs with Fire TV built in. It is one app from the Amazon Appstore, and your device gets the right version.

The small print is under Good to know on the TV page, with the Fire TV devices it affects.

Is there an Android TV or Google TV app?

Yes. It is the same TV app as on Fire TV, made for Android TV and Google TV too. It is coming soon to Google Play.

Do I need a server?

Yes. UNDERSTAIRS shows what is on your own Jellyfin, Emby or Plex server. It has no films or channels of its own.

Until you add a server, you only see the sign-in screen.

Does it cost anything?

Each app is £1.99, paid once, with no subscription: Fire TV, Android TV and Google TV, iPhone and iPad, and Android phone and tablet. Each store sells its own app, so each one is bought on its own. The iPhone app covers your iPad too, and Apple Watch and CarPlay come with it. None of them is in its store yet. Email us and we will tell you the day each one arrives.

Does it work away from home?

Yes, if your server can be reached from where you are. A server you reach over the internet works like one on your own network. Films you downloaded to your phone play with no signal.

What does the app send about me?

Nothing to us. It talks to your server, and to Plex if you use Plex. The privacy policy lists all of it.

The small print

Good to know.

Each note says who it affects, what you need, and why. The small numbers on this page point here.

  • 1. Skip intro and skip creditsThese need the marks your server holds. Jellyfin and Emby give both. Plex gives them where your Plex server has already found them.
  • 2. Live TV and recordingsYou need a TV tuner on your server. Emby needs Premiere, or recording permission for your account. Plex needs its recording feature set up first.
  • 3. Scrub preview picturesThe pictures come from your server, so it needs to make them first. In Jellyfin, Emby and Plex, that is a setting for each library.
  • 4. TrailersA trailer needs to be on your server, for a film or a series.
  • 5. Easy sign-inApproving a sign-in from another device works with Jellyfin Quick Connect, the Plex link code and Emby Connect. For Emby Connect, your Emby user needs to be linked to an Emby Connect account first.
  • 6. Picture-in-picture on TVOn Fire TV, Amazon lets the small window stay only inside the app. So your film can wait in the corner while you browse UNDERSTAIRS, but not while you use another app. On Android TV and Google TV it needs Android 14 or later. A few makers switch it off on TVs with little memory.
  • 7. Favourites and WatchlistJellyfin and Emby use Favourites. Plex uses your plex.tv Watchlist, so you need to sign in to plex.tv.

Fire TV devices running Vega OS

Amazon runs these on its newer system, Vega OS. They are the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, the Fire TV Stick HD and the Fire TV Stick 4K (3rd Gen). Its other Fire TV devices run Fire OS. The app works the same on them, Sign in with Plex included. Here is what differs.

  • 8. Your server does more of the workAmazon’s player on these devices can’t jump around inside MKV files, a common kind of film file. It can also get stuck when a film starts partway through. So your server converts the film as it plays when you skip ahead in an MKV file. It does the same when you carry on watching any film more than a minute in. Your server needs to be able to convert video. On Jellyfin and Emby, 4K films need a powerful server. Plex only repackages the picture, which is light work.
  • 9. Surround soundWhen a film plays as it is, Dolby sound goes to your soundbar or TV unchanged. When your server converts a film for these devices, you get 5.1 surround sound instead. In our tests, Dolby sound inside a converted film went silent on them.