u/RagerRambo

I wanted to block a few domains from being accessible on my network. Unfortunately, VM provide garbage hubs with no control. So I turned on parental control/essential security on my account, added the sites to "blocked websites" list under the parental controls.

However, I can still ping the domains from my pc, and the devices on my network can still also access it. Port 80 http also gets through to the domain.

Anyone know why or how to fix this?

Have a used Fire Stick 4K Max that's been offline a few years. Before I reset it to factory and connect it to the internet, what steps should I take?

It's on Fire OS 7.6.4.6. I don't know if this version is already locked down?

If you use IPTV, is there a particular app/player you recommend that has super simple interface, at least for the end user?

I have an m3u stream with publicly available free foreign channels my elderly relative wants to watch but they need an easy to use app with a basic simple select and play menu.

Ideally, I can configure the app once with the stream playlist, and favourite the channels he'll likely watch. Then he just opens the app and selects from the 5 or 6 favourited channels.

Any suggestion greatly appreciated.

Please don't reply with illegal apps and content. I'm interested in apps and players.

If you use m3u streams, is there a particular app you recommend?

I have an m3u stream with publicly available free foreign channels my elderly relative wants to watch but they need an easy to use app with a basic simple select and play menu.

Ideally, I can configure the app once with the stream playlist and favourite the channels he'll likely watch. Then he just opens the app and selects from the 5 or 6 favourited channels.

Any suggestion greatly appreciated.

Can anyone point me at an up-to-date guide on which firestick version I should be buying (I'm in the UK) in 2026 that allows sideloading (I use Stremio)?

I'm confused by the many versions and revisions from over the years. I currently have a 1st Gen 4K which is great, but I bought a 2nd TV so need another one that can handle modern apps and not sluggish. The TV is not 4K so not bothered about picture quality.

1. Should I avoid the recent versions direct from Amazon?
2. If I get a used on online, which model and OS version that won't be locked down?
3. If you think I should avoid firestick all together, I'm happy to try a cheap alternative. Which?

Thanks

I know we like to moan about poor customer service in retail and the service industry, but I find that less of an issue because I can always take my custom elsewhere. On occasion, and for certain public services, we have no alternative.

So I'm genuinely curious. If you work in a people-facing role (think office administration, doctor's surgery, Council department, schools....), how helpful would you say you are compared to your colleagues? For example, do you offer to follow-up an issue, or speak to someone on the customer's behalf, or resolve their issue if it might take a little longer? If you're honest enough to admit you don't care, why? What made you stop caring?

p.s. I think "low pay" is a valid argument in retail, but not in office administration and local authority. Maybe you'll tell me it is always about pay. So then my second question would be, how much extra would entice you to go 'above-and-beyond' your current approach?

I'll put my own recent experience in the comments.

I don't know if this is unique to Xiaomi OS, or all Android suffer, but my home screen widgets do not refresh in the background. This was the case on MIUI and now on latest HyperOS.

For example, I have an app that uses a widget to update pricing data that changes every 30mins, but it will be stuck displaying a previous slot. It's the same for multiple apps, not just that one. It even happens with the stock weather app. Just now it was displaying x temperature. I tapped it, it opened the weather app where the temperature now was updated, and that was reflected on the widget too.

I've set the apps to "No restrictions" in battery management.

Anyone else have this issue? Is it a HyperOS thing? Any way to resolve?

Number of 45p taxpayers rockets 57% to nearly 1M in two years and fiscal drag will clobber even MORE workers.

Remote NVR added in IVMS through hikconnect account because I'm not on the same LAN.

When I click the download button, I add the start and stop times, and add it to the download queue. However, nothing progresses and just sits at 0%.

* How do you download footage in IVMS for an NVR added through hikconnect?

* Is hikconnect the only way to manage an NVR on a different LAN, without using a VPN?

I need to download 7 mins of footage.

I'd like to download the full footage (as stored on the device) from another site so I don't have LAN access to the NVR.

In ivms I have added the device (through HikConnect account) but whenever I use the clip tool or download button on "remote playback", it says "added to queue" but never makes progress?