About

About nine months ago, I found some Dolby Vision Profile 5 videos available through Direct Media links. My Android TV supported Dolby Vision natively, but VLC could not play those files correctly. I started looking for a media player that supported both Dolby Vision and HTTP network streams.

That search led me to Just (Video) Player. It did exactly what I needed, and I still use it today.

Just Player could open network streams, but it did not have a dedicated screen where someone could paste a URL on Android TV. Its documented approach was to receive the URL through Android’s share sheet.

I could have forked the player and added a URL input, but maintaining a media-player fork would have created a large ongoing cost for one small workflow. Instead, I opened an issue and built a small demonstration website that could invoke the share sheet with a selected URL.

It worked, but typing long URLs with a TV remote was still awkward. I could copy and paste through the Google TV app, although that workaround was not obvious or convenient for everyone.

I wanted to avoid repeating those steps. Lynvo lets someone save a link in a browser, find it on Android TV through cloud sync, and send it to Just (Video) Player, VLC for Android, MPV, or MX Player without typing a long media URL with an Android TV remote.

Plugins made the experience more useful. Lynvo Plugins can resolve supported Bhadoo Google Drive Index and OneDrive Index pages, while the Plugin Server Protocol lets developers connect other compatible Sources.

The first version was useful, but it needed a clearer identity and a stronger foundation. I used it almost every day. Lynvo is the same practical idea, rebuilt into a more complete and carefully designed product.

Lynvo is sometimes compared with catalogue-driven products such as Stremio, but they solve different problems. Stremio provides a familiar browsing experience built around titles and add-ons. Lynvo does not provide a catalogue or decide what belongs in your library.

With a catalogue, the exact quality, version, or language someone wants may not always be available. Lynvo starts with the link the user chooses, so the library reflects their own selections instead of an add-on’s catalogue.

Lynvo does not provide media or help users discover unauthorized content. People add their own supported URLs and are responsible for ensuring they have permission to access what they save and play.