Hi,
So looked over the various posts and used the search. My question is really around the performance benefits of install a custom ROM vs the current Amazon ROM.
I read a fair amount of PDF's/magazines via edPDF, and i hate the lag when going from page to page, does a custom ROM help with that? The only other thing i used the kindle for are my book, which i see i can just download the default kindle reader and videos.
So given the above any help? If the performance is better which ROM should i go for?
thx
markjo77 said:
Hi,
So looked over the various posts and used the search. My question is really around the performance benefits of install a custom ROM vs the current Amazon ROM.
I read a fair amount of PDF's/magazines via edPDF, and i hate the lag when going from page to page, does a custom ROM help with that? The only other thing i used the kindle for are my book, which i see i can just download the default kindle reader and videos.
So given the above any help? If the performance is better which ROM should i go for?
thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Kindle Fire comes with a modified version of android 2.3 (gingerbread). Basically, as you can see, the launcher is different, there is an amazon app market instead of the android play store, and many of the stock google apps that come with an android powered device have been removed and either replaced with amazons desired equivalent or simply left out. The kindle has a specific build in video browser that is linked into their video streaming service that you will not be able to get with a custom rom to the best of my knowledge. The same goes with the kindle reader. There is a kindle reader on the android play store but it is not the same as you will get with a stock rom. Custom roms basically undo the changes amazon made to the gingerbread os and unlock the restrictions those changes created (i.e. more apps on the android play store, google stock apps, more flexibility in software customization...). If you want to continue reading magazines and PDF's I would suggest you stick with the stock rom simply because it's built to do that. If you want more freedom with what your kindle can do and would like to use it as a fully functioning tablet and not just an e reader with a few perks then you should go with a custom rom. Currently the developers are hard at work perfecting Android 4.0 by building a functioning 3.0 kernel (the current kernel they have implemented with their custom roms does not allow for hardware accelerated graphics such as advanced games or video streaming apps like netflix or hulu). The previous generation rom equivalent to a custom version of android gingerbread, referred to as CM7 (cyanogenmod 7) does support hardware accelerated graphics and functions fully with the exception of one draw back. Android 2.3 was built with the idea of physical buttons being present on the devices it powered such as you would find on a phone with the standard menu, home, back and search buttons. Where the kindle fire only has one physical button all builds of CM7 for the Kindle Fire have a custom row of touch buttons at the bottom of the screen that take up a little but still annoying amount of space. This is in my opinion the only drawback to the custom roms running gingerbread for the kindle fire and is fixed in the ICS rom as android 4.0 is built with touch screen buttons in mind and minimal use of physical buttons. I hope this helped, let me know if you need any more help.
Thank you for taking time to send such a detailed reply. think I might wait for Android 4.
The only thing with the fire that gets me is the time it takes to go from page to page on magazines...
isaiahhhhh said:
The Kindle Fire comes with a modified version of android 2.3 (gingerbread). Basically, as you can see, the launcher is different, there is an amazon app market instead of the android play store, and many of the stock google apps that come with an android powered device have been removed and either replaced with amazons desired equivalent or simply left out. The kindle has a specific build in video browser that is linked into their video streaming service that you will not be able to get with a custom rom to the best of my knowledge. The same goes with the kindle reader. There is a kindle reader on the android play store but it is not the same as you will get with a stock rom. Custom roms basically undo the changes amazon made to the gingerbread os and unlock the restrictions those changes created (i.e. more apps on the android play store, google stock apps, more flexibility in software customization...). If you want to continue reading magazines and PDF's I would suggest you stick with the stock rom simply because it's built to do that. If you want more freedom with what your kindle can do and would like to use it as a fully functioning tablet and not just an e reader with a few perks then you should go with a custom rom. Currently the developers are hard at work perfecting Android 4.0 by building a functioning 3.0 kernel (the current kernel they have implemented with their custom roms does not allow for hardware accelerated graphics such as advanced games or video streaming apps like netflix or hulu). The previous generation rom equivalent to a custom version of android gingerbread, referred to as CM7 (cyanogenmod 7) does support hardware accelerated graphics and functions fully with the exception of one draw back. Android 2.3 was built with the idea of physical buttons being present on the devices it powered such as you would find on a phone with the standard menu, home, back and search buttons. Where the kindle fire only has one physical button all builds of CM7 for the Kindle Fire have a custom row of touch buttons at the bottom of the screen that take up a little but still annoying amount of space. This is in my opinion the only drawback to the custom roms running gingerbread for the kindle fire and is fixed in the ICS rom as android 4.0 is built with touch screen buttons in mind and minimal use of physical buttons. I hope this helped, let me know if you need any more help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't about Zmooth or Button Savior to replace the CM7 soft buttons. I really prefer Zmooth since it's quicker and never in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
airmaxx23 said:
Don't about Zmooth or Button Savior to replace the CM7 soft buttons. I really prefer Zmooth since it's quicker and never in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess i'm not familiar with that, I never really used CM7, I flashed it and then almost instantly upgraded to CM9 because I liked the fact that it was being updated so frequently.
isaiahhhhh said:
I guess i'm not familiar with that, I never really used CM7, I flashed it and then almost instantly upgraded to CM9 because I liked the fact that it was being updated so frequently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once they have HWA working I'll be switching to CM9.
Related
Here's a video of a Motorola Droid running the Nexus One firmware but with Multi touch enable in the browser.
I assume this is using the mutli touch enabled functions from the Milestone. Surely someone can port this back over to the Nexus One soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mX1EmlKtFM
The Nexus already has multi touch, just not supported by any apps that comes with the phone or used in the OS itself. Fore example download dolphin browser from the market, it'll make use of multi touch.. no hacks. I tested this with my wifes Nexus One, works great.
Right, it has multi touch technically, but basically nothing in the phone is set to use the functionality from the get go to my understanding.
So, the question remains... Will someone develop an app or whatever (rom / hack / program) that overcomes this and makes it functional in basically every operation of the phone (web browsers other than Dolphin, text messaging, games, etc...)?
I'll certainly be keeping my eye out for that. I read about the Milestone functions being used on other phones, like in the video linked of the Droid using it with multi touch. I would hope this same thing can be done for the Nexus One without affecting performance or other factors of the phone.
booser4 said:
Right, it has multi touch technically, but basically nothing in the phone is set to use the functionality from the get go to my understanding.
So, the question remains... Will someone develop an app or whatever (rom / hack / program) that overcomes this and makes it functional in basically every operation of the phone (web browsers other than Dolphin, text messaging, games, etc...)?
I'll certainly be keeping my eye out for that. I read about the Milestone functions being used on other phones, like in the video linked of the Droid using it with multi touch. I would hope this same thing can be done for the Nexus One without affecting performance or other factors of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no app or hack that can add the functionality to every single app. Basically each app (or APK) decides whether or not to use the multi touch APIs. Google put the APKs on this phone that don't use them. I'm sure once the European ones come out that use it, they can be hacked onto this phone, and people can probably go in and edit the APKs on the US Version as well. I would be willing to bet that custom ROMs that come out will include multi-touch versions of apps. Cyanogen has already said he is working on multi-touch for his first custom ROM. It will be here in time.
He may have already done it check this out: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=613812
none of that has to do with browser, sorry. he tweeted earlier that he was working on it so expect it soon . until then, use dolphin.
Yeah I figured it was specific to each app / apk (not sure what an apk is) unless a full ROM makes it possible with everything on the phone.
If one is being developed, that's awesome. Bringing the ROM from the Europe Model sounds like a good option to, once it hits the market. I'm waiting on the Verizon release, so just figuring some of this stuff out ahead of time.
I guess its just a tweak which will enable Multitouch for all the apps on Nexus one... Soon one clever guy from XDA will figure out
Hi, I hope I am at the right place to ask about this device.
I found a good deal on this 7" board, and saw that it shipped with the "new" Android v 2.3
However, I can't access the Android Market with it (is that obvious???). I think that without access to the largest app marketplace, I could as well return the thing. (the "replacement" market on it features zero of the apps I want/need)
I could go with a more expensive Samsung tablet where everything probably works out of the box, but I bought this for my kids to play with, so I felt I had no need for all that 3G/GPS/advanced stuff
Could you please advise me on how to obtain market access on this device, if at all possible? Most of the info I've found is on other/related tablets, with older versions of Android.
Is it possible to:
- install a compatible custom ROM (something that works on a tablet like Advent Amico, but it has newer hardware?)
- root the device and then do some magic with it?
- download some app that magically installs market?
- grab the apk's directly from market and then install them (aka "sideloading"?)
I'd really appreciate help on this!
I did a little research on "point of view pro tab 2" thru Google and came up empty (except for deal offerings).
I, personally, would avoid this tablet. On google I didn't find a single forum/board about this tablet, so atm the developing community is nonexistant, so you're getting a slim chance to ROOT your tablet and get the "Google Experience" TM --> Market, GMail, GTalk, Maps,...
If you really want a decent 7" Tablet then get an Archos A70 or its clone Prestigio PMP7070.
Archos also has 10" Tablets A101 (Prestigio PMP7100C), but Advent Vega/ViewSonic 10S/POV mobii are all Tegra 2 based (dual-core with NVIDIA technology (think GeForce GPUs)).
There are alot of similar models and brands in the tablet world and some are ROOT-able and some are not and not a single of these "cheap" tablets has the Google Experience, because that costs extra money for the manufactuers.
I would strongly recommend to check if the device is ROOT-able before you purchase it, this basically applies to any device nowadays: Routers, Phones, media players, Consoles,...
Update about the apks from the Market:
I installed the Market apk on my tablet and it didn't show some apps/games in the market. So I've installed them thru my SGS (phone) and then made a backup (Titanium Backup, Astro Filemanager, there are lots of backup apps on the market) and then transfered the apks from my phone to my PC and then from my PC to my tablet and normally installed them thru a filemanager (like Astro).
You just need to enable "Unknown sources" under Settings --> Applications and you're all done!
yani2000, thanks so much for your help.
I was hoping that the tablet was common HW, just with a obscure branding!
Btw, here's some info on the board. I was looking at the Archos, but it had less RAM and not 2.3, so I thought the POV was a better out of the box (guess I was wrong...)
Operating system Android 2.3 Gingerbread
Processor Telechips 8803 Cortex A8 - 1.0 GHz
System memory 512 MB DDR2
Storage memory 4GB NAND Flash
Display LCD 7" 800 x 480
Touchscreen Capacitive 2-point multi touch
WiFi 802.11 b/g
Hi there.
The screen res on that screen is very low even for a seven inch tab, you should be looking at 1024x600 as a min. 800x480 is the same as my 4 inch phone. Also forget gingerbread, honeycomb is what you want for a tab. Try to find a POV Mobii 10 inch. Vegacomb will install on that and its only around 250 euros.
PEACE.
yani2000 said:
I did a little research on "point of view pro tab 2" thru Google and came up empty (except for deal offerings).
I, personally, would avoid this tablet. On google I didn't find a single forum/board about this tablet, so atm the developing community is nonexistant, so you're getting a slim chance to ROOT your tablet and get the "Google Experience" TM --> Market, GMail, GTalk, Maps,...
If you really want a decent 7" Tablet then get an Archos A70 or its clone Prestigio PMP7070.
Archos also has 10" Tablets A101 (Prestigio PMP7100C), but Advent Vega/ViewSonic 10S/POV mobii are all Tegra 2 based (dual-core with NVIDIA technology (think GeForce GPUs)).
There are alot of similar models and brands in the tablet world and some are ROOT-able and some are not and not a single of these "cheap" tablets has the Google Experience, because that costs extra money for the manufactuers.
I would strongly recommend to check if the device is ROOT-able before you purchase it, this basically applies to any device nowadays: Routers, Phones, media players, Consoles,...
Update about the apks from the Market:
I installed the Market apk on my tablet and it didn't show some apps/games in the market. So I've installed them thru my SGS (phone) and then made a backup (Titanium Backup, Astro Filemanager, there are lots of backup apps on the market) and then transfered the apks from my phone to my PC and then from my PC to my tablet and normally installed them thru a filemanager (like Astro).
You just need to enable "Unknown sources" under Settings --> Applications and you're all done!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi there!
i'm thinking of buying a presticio 7070c tablet, but i'm unsure if it's possible to root it, or to install any custom rom, or at least change the launcher app. that prestigio's launcher is terrible!
also i'm wondering if it's possible to install regular android market, and then, afterwards to download and install apps from it?
any help is appreciated!
neverone said:
hi there!
i'm thinking of buying a presticio 7070c tablet, but i'm unsure if it's possible to root it, or to install any custom rom, or at least change the launcher app. that prestigio's launcher is terrible!
also i'm wondering if it's possible to install regular android market, and then, afterwards to download and install apps from it?
any help is appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi!
You're actually on wrong XDA forum.
To get all the nice treats visit this XDA's sub-forum:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=875
Gen8 (Generation 8) are the forums for you!
Generation 9 is a good 8"/10" tablet forum with HoneyComb out-of-the-box.
To get more info about ROOT click here.
And here is a guide on how to ROOT.
If you have any questions feel free to ask in that forum.
And for the butt-ugly launcher (I would be ashamed to develop such a launcher), I think you can always install a custom laucher from the market like: GO Launcher EX, LauncherPro, ADW Launcher (I just pointed out few of the most commonly used launchers).
And for the apps+market thing... when you ROOT your tablet you can copy market, maps, contacts, gmail, talk, youtube,... and some other google framework and services related apks to your system/app folder with root explorer and after reboot you'll get the google experience.
Or you can install a custom ROM and let an experienced developer handle all the details.
Well tbh, from my research its based on the ly-f tablet. i'll post a thread when i figure out more.
Also, the tablet comes pre-rooted. just install superuser.apk and rock n roll.
[HowTo] Install Android Market on Point of View ProTab 2
I had the same problem with the Point of View Mobii 7" Tablet ProTab 2 (TAB-7C-4GW-1). After a couple of hours, I found a solution. Here is what I did:
1. Update the firmware/ROM to version 2. Download from Point of View homepage (I can't provide the URL due to forum limitations , but Google "TAB-7C-4GW-1 firmware" and it should be the first hit). NOTE that following the instructions will also perform a factory reset and remove all data. (The reset in the last step means putting a needle in the tiny hole on the back)
2. Configure Wi-Fi and connect.
3. Open the YouTube app and go to My channel. This will require you to log in, so select to add account and provide your Google credentials. (Adding the Google account in the device Settings didn't work for me, at least not under firmware 1)
4. Put LauncherPro and Home Switcher on an SD card, for example by backup up some other device with MyBackup (or maybe transfer to the tab via USB?). Open ES File Explorer and install LauncherPro. Then install Home Switcher, launch Home Switcher and select to launch LauncherPro. Now on the home screen of LauncherPro there will be a Market icon. Tap it, accept the terms - and your're in!
For me this worked on two separate devices with different Google accounts.
i picked up a POV mobii tegra 2 10.1 from my local computer shop for £132. it comes with froyo 2.2 and i installed youtube app and few games on it. im shocked how good the graphics are on games like shadowrun, riptide and jelly defence.
iv did try putting viewcomb 3.2 on the device but there were a lot of bugs, games like shadowrun did not work on it then either. vegacomb doesnt work, it just ends up at the vegacomb boot video animation and goes nowhere. so i went back to stock firmware. shame really since viewcomb had very good scrolling speed but it bricked itself with a usb boot loader message.
still trying to fina a way to get the proper market working with stock firmware.
slybunda said:
still trying to fina a way to get the proper market working with stock firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try any of the custom ROMs that are based on v2.2?
Like Corvus5, Modaco ROM or a Preformance Pack that goes on top of stock firmware.
no i not tired those, although with stock firmware 2.2 everything seems to work fine for me, i dont ge thte scroll speed that honeycomb offers but the 2.2 is more stable.
however i have an issue with motion sensor games where they dont register the tilting on 2.2 firmware but work fine on honeycomb.
odd.
Hi, i get the same tablet of u (Point of View Mobii 7" Tablet ProTab 2 (TAB-7C-4GW-1)) but i get some troubles for upgrading the firmware, i cant enter in FWDN mode dunno why, i follow all steeps and nothing happens...
i press (holding) back button + power button and start normally and in FWDN software dont get the tablet data, can u helpme plz?
BTW this firmware upgrade solve the problem on sleep/suspend mode (tablet freeze and need to make a hard reset (tiny btn in back of the tablet)?
thanks!!
AllGoodWereTaken said:
I had the same problem with the Point of View Mobii 7" Tablet ProTab 2 (TAB-7C-4GW-1). After a couple of hours, I found a solution. Here is what I did:
1. Update the firmware/ROM to version 2. Download from Point of View homepage (I can't provide the URL due to forum limitations , but Google "TAB-7C-4GW-1 firmware" and it should be the first hit). NOTE that following the instructions will also perform a factory reset and remove all data. (The reset in the last step means putting a needle in the tiny hole on the back)
2. Configure Wi-Fi and connect.
3. Open the YouTube app and go to My channel. This will require you to log in, so select to add account and provide your Google credentials. (Adding the Google account in the device Settings didn't work for me, at least not under firmware 1)
4. Put LauncherPro and Home Switcher on an SD card, for example by backup up some other device with MyBackup (or maybe transfer to the tab via USB?). Open ES File Explorer and install LauncherPro. Then install Home Switcher, launch Home Switcher and select to launch LauncherPro. Now on the home screen of LauncherPro there will be a Market icon. Tap it, accept the terms - and your're in!
For me this worked on two separate devices with different Google accounts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the performance pack is very old, its for v1.08 rom, im using stock 1.10 rom.
corvus5 and modaco rom dont have a nvflash installer so the install method seems complex so i didnt bother with those roms.
me hoping VegaICS improves and works out well, that i would like to be using on this tablet. or who know, windows 8 in the future?
Point Of View Playtab 2/Protab 2 7-4 GW-4
Hi Guys,
I Have a Problem with my Protab 2 7-4GW-4 when i make screen selections or type i have to use my nails instead of my fingers.I have seen
many reviews about this 2.3.3 gingerbread tablet but in the reviews the tablet touch is fine and good but why my is not sensitive i have tried
touch calibration why plz help me guys plz how the videos on youtube have a good touchscreen and sensitive.They are the same like my Protab2 7-4GW4 BUT why my is not perfect plz reply plz reply with a good news plz i really love that tablet
Ive been trying to get tablet apps to load in my market on ics for the last couple days. Specifically, id like to get CNN because the phone one doesn't look good on the fire. Is there a way to get them to show up in the android market, and if not, is there a way to get them to work on the kf at all? Thanks.
You can try to side load it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13048857&postcount=9
Doesn't show on the market due to settings the KF uses. It requires Honeycom or higher, which won't work on the Stock Rom.. I would think you have a shot side loading it though if you are using ICS.
I have not bothered with ICS yet... no sound and video and I don't see the point because that is what I got my Fire for.
krelvinaz said:
You can try to side load it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13048857&postcount=9
Doesn't show on the market due to settings the KF uses. It requires Honeycom or higher, which won't work on the Stock Rom.. I would think you have a shot side loading it though if you are using ICS.
I have not bothered with ICS yet... no sound and video and I don't see the point because that is what I got my Fire for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I sideloaded the CNN tablet app from that link and all good. The phone version crashed on video, this does not. CM7 here.
Sent with Tapatalk / Kindle Fire / CM7 ROM
That is good news... I'd like to try it, but until ICS works with video and sound....
Am I missing something? I installed that app and it appears just to be the phone version. Also, doesn't the table version require at least honeycomb?
He is running ICS which is above honeycomb.
Yeah that's the problem. I'm trying to get the Cnn tablet widgrt to work on ice but as of now I can only get the phone version. Has anyone got it to work?
I can't wait to put a decently stable ICS on this thing because of these issues.
Is there a way to trick the market into showing "incompatable" apps?
Even for compatible Honeycomb/ICS app versions, the better tablet layouts in some apps were designed pretty specifically for the popular 10" screen size and the app will revert to the basic phone layout when it detects a screen size below a certain cut-off. These apps either need to change the cut-off that they're looking for or include another layout option that is optimized for 7-8" tablet screens.
From what I remember from playing around with ICS on my Nook Color, the otherwise excellent IMDB app is an example of this unfortunate limitation.
I can't get any apps such as facebook or twitter to show up in the market
App Update
I have the CNN app for Tablets from the previous posts but it is an older version, does anyone have the latest version to download.
The older version runs on my ICS tab but won't let me download or update because it says it's incompatible with my device.
Hey everyone! I am not new to Android, but I have only had the Kindle Fire for a few days now. I am having a blast with it! I knew that XDA would be the place to come for all my KF hacking needs and you didn't disappoint. Within hours of my KF being handed over by MR. UPS, I was rooted and customizing.
You even saved me from having to go through it all over again because I was informed of the 6.2.2 update before it even hit and was able to prevent it from coming OTA. I manually updated the following day with the file provided here.
So I just wanted to stop in and say Hello, and thanks for all the great information and help! I can't wait until the ICS ROM is running with video and sound so I can load it, too. Sadly, those are two key functions in my desire for the KF so I have to wait for my ICS love.
Hello and welcome.
ICS is actually possibly farther along than you think. Sound appears to be solved.
Video works sometimes. My biggest issue at the moment is the CPU seems to be pegged, so you can just see the power dropping off.
But all in all, ICS is such an improvement that I'm going to try to run it as my daily.
Does the ICS rom still allow access to the Amazon features, or only via apps like Amazon MP3, Kindle, etc?
HI, yes the KF is turning into quite a nice little device.
Kindle app works well on ICS, I love the interface with ICS. No more tiny fonts like with CM7.
The Amazon Prime Videos will not work with ICS, however I could get Prime videos running under DolphinHD when i set user agent to desktop on CM7. Web Videos are currently hit and miss on ICS but I am sure once that JackpotClavin (You rock sir) has done his magic we can access Prime Videos again via the web browser.
Have not tested MP3 from Amazon, but Google Music does work.
Hello everyone,
I've got a Smart TV with stock Android TV (v 11, can't disclose client , at the moment).
Is there any way to add a super minor customization to android tv ?
It's literally minor, it's adding an entry point for an App, which is not an App Icon Launcher, because they want it to look like integral part of the OS.
It could be anything like an Icon (next to the other system icons like settings, input, profile), or an Entry in system settings menu' , or something like that, to launch the Application.
It's so minor that redo all the work and get into AOSP is way too overkill, it would start a completely different project.
No, the client exclude the option to just have the App installed, they want the App as it was integral part of the Operating System.
I've read several documentations :
- Aosp : Way too many cons for such a small customization.
- Android Operator Tier with Custom Launcher : Could be viable to do a custom launcher, but the Smart TV is not eligible for operator tier (Not sold in leasing, do not sell any pay/linear channel, it's just a plain Smart TV)
- Custom Launcher on stock Android TV : Not viable, it would still be an Application with its launcher or would need some tricky configuration which wouldn't look like integral part of the OS at all.
- TIF (TV Input Framework) : Would just modify and recompile the TV App work ? I'm not sure if it is possible and how difficult it would be and if it is possible to "overwrite" just the TV System App on a Stock Android TV OS.
Do you have any suggestions how to achieve the desired "customization" without loosing all the built in supports/services that come with stock Android TV OS ? The simpler the better.
Thank you so much in advance!
from what you're explaining isn't a minor customization.
what you want is to customize the android tv launcher, however that launcher is an app just like everything else on the tvbox including your iptv app, youtube app, netflix app, etc...
so for your to achieve what you want, you'll need to have some dev knowledge, and you'll need to disassemble, modify and reassemble the launcher app + do whatever customization you need done.
it's not impossible, however it's not easy at all.
option2: you can hire a developer to develop your own tv launcher with whatever customization you want, probably won't be cheap, but will achieve exactly what you want.
option3: find an open-source tv launcher, use it, customize it as you like, you may or may-not need to hire a developer to do extra customizations, your cheapest, easiest, and quickest way to achieve what you're looking for. just google open source tv launcher, i'm sure you'll land on a few.
example:
Code:
https://gitlab.com/flauncher/flauncher
donmega_icecube said:
from what you're explaining isn't a minor customization.
what you want is to customize the android tv launcher, however that launcher is an app just like everything else on the tvbox including your iptv app, youtube app, netflix app, etc...
so for your to achieve what you want, you'll need to have some dev knowledge, and you'll need to disassemble, modify and reassemble the launcher app + do whatever customization you need done.
it's not impossible, however it's not easy at all.
option2: you can hire a developer to develop your own tv launcher with whatever customization you want, probably won't be cheap, but will achieve exactly what you want.
option3: find an open-source tv launcher, use it, customize it as you like, you may or may-not need to hire a developer to do extra customizations, your cheapest, easiest, and quickest way to achieve what you're looking for. just google open source tv launcher, i'm sure you'll land on a few.
example:
Code:
https://gitlab.com/flauncher/flauncher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello!
Thanks so much for the answer, Don Mega.
Damn i hope there was an easier way to add an icon.
I see...
No need to hire a developer.
I'm a Senior android engineering and I got a skilled team but we never had to work on the android TV OS system itself tho ( we're specialized on mobile apps and iot solutions, not tvs).
Btw .. I could develop a custom launcher but it may take time and as I said as far as I've read on documentation, a custom launcher would still need AOSP if the manufacturer want to override the system one.
Doesn't it ?
I ask 'cause AOSP is too much of an effort (at least just for an icon!) and several manufacturer who started on aosp and various customizations are now abandoning it (I already worked on a STB for British telecom and yeah, i didn't work on their custom OS specifically but i know they changed their mind in the end).
Probably because once you go that route, you loose all the support and services out of the box, and you need to take care of too many things to keep it up to date.
So they usually prefer to stick to Android tv stock version (wise choice).
If that's the case I suppose the manufacturer will be better find a more standard way to launch their app
Nimx said:
Btw .. I could develop a custom launcher but it may take time and as I said as far as I've read on documentation, a custom launcher would still need AOSP if the manufacturer want to override the system one.
Doesn't it ?
Click to expand...
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no need for flashing a different OS or Custom Rom to be able to install a custom developed app.
so if you make your own apk, all you need to do on the existing tvbox, enable unknown sources, to be able to install your own apk on there, it should be pretty straight forward.
put the apk on a usb stick, plug it into your box and navigate to any file manager app, you'll be able to find your apk, click on it and install, on your remote control press the HOME button, it should popup a msg asking which launcher you want to load, since now you developed your own launcher and the old launcher is still there, choose which launcher you want to be default. you can always go into settings > apps and disable the old launcher so if anyone presses the HOME button again, it always defaults to the new one you developed.
so short answer, no you don't need AOSP or any type of Custom Rom
donmega_icecube said:
no need for flashing a different OS or Custom Rom to be able to install a custom developed app.
so if you make your own apk, all you need to do on the existing tvbox, enable unknown sources, to be able to install your own apk on there, it should be pretty straight forward.
put the apk on a usb stick, plug it into your box and navigate to any file manager app, you'll be able to find your apk, click on it and install, on your remote control press the HOME button, it should popup a msg asking which launcher you want to load, since now you developed your own launcher and the old launcher is still there, choose which launcher you want to be default. you can always go into settings > apps and disable the old launcher so if anyone presses the HOME button again, it always defaults to the new one you developed.
so short answer, no you don't need AOSP or any type of Custom Rom
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The manufacturer obviously don't want users to do this procedure to choose the new launcher, but should be able to persistently active it overriding the system one. And that's why I thought custom ROM was needed.
If that's not true then your solution is the perfect one
donmega_icecube said:
no need for flashing a different OS or Custom Rom to be able to install a custom developed app.
so if you make your own apk, all you need to do on the existing tvbox, enable unknown sources, to be able to install your own apk on there, it should be pretty straight forward.
put the apk on a usb stick, plug it into your box and navigate to any file manager app, you'll be able to find your apk, click on it and install, on your remote control press the HOME button, it should popup a msg asking which launcher you want to load, since now you developed your own launcher and the old launcher is still there, choose which launcher you want to be default. you can always go into settings > apps and disable the old launcher so if anyone presses the HOME button again, it always defaults to the new one you developed.
so short answer, no you don't need AOSP or any type of Custom Rom
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Just to keep you updated.
Custom launcher need user to set the new one.
But we found a possible solution without the burden to do a custom Rom.
Adding a new Ad-Hoc button on the Remote controller to launch their ecosystem settings app and/or a custom launcher (since this Smart Tv is a new model that will initially be delivered to several europe countries).
In this way it will look quite integrated in the android tv system, and the android TV OS will be always kept up to date from regular google updates, without all the issues plaguing custom roms like it does for other manufacturers.
Thank for your help
Nimx said:
Just to keep you updated.
Custom launcher need user to set the new one.
But we found a possible solution without the burden to do a custom Rom.
Adding a new Ad-Hoc button on the Remote controller to launch their ecosystem settings app and/or a custom launcher (since this Smart Tv is a new model that will initially be delivered to several europe countries).
In this way it will look quite integrated in the android tv system, and the android TV OS will be always kept up to date from regular google updates, without all the issues plaguing custom roms like it does for other manufacturers.
Thank for your help
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Click to collapse
sometimes i wish i was a developer, glad you found an easy solution.
thank you
It's still quite easy to become a developer due to high demand.
Not sure how old are you but I started when I was 34 yo by myself with no prior experience.
Nowadays, 5 years later, I Interview many candidates and I can tell the discriminating factor is not prior studies but dedication, high IQ (logic and abstraction wise) and learning speed.
Good luck if you'll ever decide to get into it
i'm 44 i have no patience for programming in general, I never did, I'm a full time network admin, and really into hardware a lot more than software.
but when it came to Android, i got my hands dirty flashing custom roms on all my phones. i started to customize my own roms for tv boxes.
but I kinda wish I did have some android dev skills, it's the only thing i end up outsourcing when needed.
thank you