Robbes Shed: OLD VERSION - Amazon Prime using a Raspberry Pi & KODI

updated 3.April.2019

This is a copy of the OLD (manual install) version. See HERE for the latest.

03 April 2019: Amazon incorporated a major security update a few days ago, requiring build-in encryption chips, which does not work with Kodi.......
>> See the new update above

Fed up having to slog my laptop to the living room to watch Amazon PrimeVideo, I pressed a spare Raspberry Pi into service.
The most recent release of the open source multimedia centre, libreElec Kodi 18, for RPi has the required streaming service and Amazon Add-on which once again allows Amazon Prime (and many others) to run perfectly.

With great thanks to Sandmann79 & Varstahl who build this Add-on.

I will show here how to do a complete new, clean install from scratch, using a windows10 PC to download and install the libreELEC Kodi media center for the Raspberry Pi.

This install was originally done on in December 2017, but requires the occasional update if/when Amazon changes (regularly) their settings or something. About once a year I just do a fresh install just to keep up with the changes.
My latest LibreElec install is now #0104 4th Jan 2019.

Updates:

Amazon regularly changes things, some break this setup. SO... If you find the player not working after you updated Widevine, it can usually be fixed by updating to the latest LibreELEC Kodi and Prime Addon.

If you already had Kodi installed and working, you only need to do steps 1.2 and 1.3 to download the latest Kodi build and Prime Addon, and then continue at step 4.

If that doesn't work, first check the Kodi thread (step 1.2) to see if something has already been reported as broken and may already be worked on. If so please hang in there as everybody is a volunteer and does this in their free time!

NOTES

Available in all countries where Amazon PrimeVideo is available (since version 0.5.0).
Doing this installation from an Mac or Linux shouldn't be much different, but you'll have to work out your own details. Afraid I can't help there.
This install turns your RPi into a dedicated KODI system, so you won't be using it for anything else (to install KODI on a general purpose RPi, see this KODI how-to)
Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to comply within your locations legal requirements for streaming content.

You need

one Raspberry Pi, version 2 or 3,
micro-SD card, at least 8Mb.

after the install you need to have 2+ Gb left for the widevine decoder extraction to happen.

HDMI cable (to connect Raspberry to your TV or monitor) ,
PC to download files and load to SD card, and
a valid, working Amazon Prime account

this is not a free-to-view hack
should work in all countries where AmazonPrime Video is available.

Steps:

1. Download installation files

On your PC

1.1. Download and install libreELEC for Raspberry Pi onto SD card

Go to https://libreelec.tv/downloads/

Download the libreELEC USB-SD Creator app, and open it.

In (1) select your version: I am using a Raspberry Pi 3 so selected version 'Raspberry Pi 2 and 3'
In (2) select 'Download' button and a window pops up where you select your directory where you want the file to go. Once you select the folder, the Creator will immediately download the file and you should see it in the bar

If not already done, connect your Raspberry's microSD card to your PC (you may need a MicroSD to USB converter).
In (3) select your microSD card location (in my case E:\)
In (4) hit Write, and sit back.

When the write is complete, close the Creator, and eject your SD card.

1.2. Download KODI 18

Go to https://forum.kodi.tv/showthread.php?tid=298461
Please take a second to read the heading 'Fair Warning' and 'Installing'
Download the most recent build (i used build #0101, 04-Jan-2019). Pick the version for your Raspberry! (RPi 3 users use the RPi2 builds).
SAVE the .tar file to your PC. We'll use it later.
- In my case this file is called "LibreELEC-RPi2.arm-9.0-Milhouse-20190104215518-#0104-gdf9076a.tar"

1.3. Download the Amazon Prime Add-on

Unfortunately, the Amazon Prime Add-on is not in the base Kodi repositories so we have to install it manually. There are a few Amazon Prime add-ons on Github, but I use the original by Sandmann79.

Go to https://github.com/Sandmann79/xbmc

On the top right select the green "Clone or download" and select "Download ZIP". Save to your pc. We'll use it later.
- At this time the file is called "xbmc-master.zip"
- On downloading you may get a virus warning! As this certainly raised my alarm bells, I checked this with Sandmann79 and he replied it's due to the zip containing an AutoHotKey script executable for windows which you can remove. See here for the discussion.

Read the "Instructions to install Widevine Library" at the bottom of the page. "2. LINUX" (as we're installing on a RPi)

1.4. Download SSH client (PuTTy)

To install the widevine library on the RPi we'll use PuTTy as SSH client to remotely use the libreELEC system command line editor.

Go to https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/
In the second paragraph you find "The latest version is xxx. Download it here" (current version 0.70). Select the 'Download it here' link.
All we need is the basic putty.exe file, so go down to the second box "Alternative binary files" and select the 32-bit "putty.exe" file.
Download the file to your pc and make a note where you download it to or create a short-cut to it as you'll need it later.

2. Raspberry Pi KODI Setup

On your Raspberry Pi

2.1. LibreELEC/KODI initial setup

Insert the SD card into your Raspberry Pi.
Hook up RPi to your TV (or monitor)
Hook up a keyboard (and mouse) to your Raspberry: this is for this installation only, although might be handy later also.
Fire up your Raspberry. You should now see the libreELEC setup screen.

Hit 'Next' and you'll go to the Interface window

Interface window: Give your Raspberry libreELEC a name for identification on the network. I called mine 'kodi'. Hit 'Next' to set up Sharing and remote access.

Sharing and Remote Access: To install Amazon, for now you must allow both SSH and SMB ('samba') in order to remotely drop further files from your pc to the RPi after the initial boot. (we will shut down SSH again at the end of the install)

Hit 'Next' and you'll find yourself in the KODI main menu.

To install Amazon, which is not in the Kodi or libreELEC official repositories, we must allow Kodi to download from external

Go back to Main Menu > Settings > Systems > Add-ons.
Go back to Settings, then > System Settings, and activate the Unknown sources so that KODI will accept the Amazon Add-on install from zip file.
If you're not seeing this option, you must first switch to Advanced in the left menu. Kodi will give you a warning about this action.

2.2. Connecting to your wifi network

picc of main menu, settings

Move up the menu to select the 'Settings' button (the cog-wheel) to get to the System settings.
Select 'LibreELEC' and then 'Connections'
Select your wifi network and enter your wifi code. Once you've done this, libreELEC will reboot into wifi mode and return to the main menu

3. Install Widevine on the RPi

NOTE:Since the #0207 (2018) build, Kodi does the Widevine extraction automatically so this step is no longer needed.
I'm leaving this step here for reference only.

Chromium-Widevine is the plugin required to enable the RPi to play streaming video encoded with Widevine (which Amazon uses).

On your RPi

From the main menu, go to Systems, then System Information, and make a note of your RPi's IP address.

From your PC

Open PuTTy

At "Host Name (or IP address)" type the IP address for your RPi, and check that Connection type is SSH.
You can save the info for future quick access by giving it a name in "Saved Sessions" and hit Save.
Hit "Open"

login as: root
password: libreelec

Type the following commands

     wget http://nmacleod.com/public/libreelec/getwidevine.sh
     chmod +x getwidevine.sh
     ./getwidevine.sh

This will install widevine and should tell you "successfully installed libwidevinecdm.sh"

Exit PuTTy.

4. Copying KODI 18 and Amazon Add-on to RPi

Still on your PC

Open file explorer and in the address bar type "\\" and the name you gave your RPi kodi system (in my case 'kodi' so I type "\\kodi"). In Windows this looks like

If this doesn't work (e.g. because you are using something other than Win10 smb file sharing), use the RPi's IP address instead of the name (so it becomes "\\xxx.xxx.x.xxx")
You should now see the RPi directories. Select the 'Downloads' directory

On your PC, select the directory where you saved the KODI 18 and Amazon files under steps 1.2 and 1.3.
Copy the "xbmc-master.zip" file to the "Downloads" directory on your RPi
Copy the KODI 18 .tar file (in my case "LibreELEC-RPi2.arm-9.0-Milhouse......tar") to the "Update" directory on your RPi.
Wait for the copying to finish!
Optional: If you want, this is a nice time to download Kore, the official remote for KODI App for your smartphone or tablet. (After a year, I find I actually don't use it..)

5. Reboot your Raspberry pi KODI

Back on your Raspberry.

In KODI, hit the power icon (left top) and select 'reboot'
As it reboots, you'll see the "upgrade in progress" in the left top corner of the libreELEC startup screen.
Once you're rebooted and updated, you're ready to start with the actual install of the Amazon Add-on.

6. Install repository and Add-ons

note: the layouts have changed a bit since I originally did this in 2017, but the menu structure I believe is still be valid.

Go to the KODI >Main Menu.
Go to the >Add-on menu
Select >Add-on browser, and >install from zip file.

Select Home folder, then downloads
Select your xbmc-master.zip and amazon .zip files.

This has now installed the repositories which contain the actual add-on, so now we'll install the actual Add-on.

from the Add-on browser menu, select > Install from repository
you should now see your Sandmann79s Repository. Select it.

Select > Program add-ons, and there > Browser Launcher
Go back to the Sandmann79s Repository and
Select > Video add-ons > Amazon VOD

You should see the following window

Select > Configure and select the following:

Playback with Input Stream
'Enable DRM check' OFF, 'Switch audio track' ON (see Note below)
Language: as you need.

Since the #0207 (2018) build: The first time you select a video/movie to play, Kodi will tell you it needs to extract Widevine. Accept this and accept the Google terms. You must have at least 2Gb of free space for this to work.
If, after doing this, it doesn't play your movie immediately, please reboot and try again.

NOTE: We did a Kodi 18 install: 'DRM check' disabled and 'switch audio track' enabled should give multi-channel audiotracks (if available). If you have problems set 'DRM check' enabled and Switch Audio track disabled and you should at least get good stereo audio. [communication with Sandmann79]
If (for whatever reason) you're using KODI 17: you must have 'DRM check' enabled.

Go back up the VOD menu and select > Connection
Select > Sign in ... and enter your Amazon Prime membership details.

SMALL PRINT: By entering your login details for Amazon you assume a certain risk in doing so. Both Milhouse and Sandmann have been active with Kodi for a long time. The source code for the software is open source. The add-ons do not store login data, just an authentication cookie. Even so, you have no guarantee that the security measures won't be breached.

You should now have Amazon up and running !

ENJOY

Robbes Shed

Monday 15 April 2019

OLD VERSION - Amazon Prime using a Raspberry Pi & KODI