I'm getting and hopefully rooting my new FTV tomorrow, and was checking out the launchers. I am going to primarily use it for XBMC, but I'm sure that my wife will want to use the FTV stock launcher. Which way should I go to easily switch between XBMC and stock FTV?
spyder03 said:
I'm getting and hopefully rooting my new FTV tomorrow, and was checking out the launchers. I am going to primarily use it for XBMC, but I'm sure that my wife will want to use the FTV stock launcher. Which way should I go to easily switch between XBMC and stock FTV?
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Click to collapse
Since you can't root the FTV for now you could use llama in order to make a XBMC shortcut on your FTV homescreen.
edit: I don't know what firmware version you will get, rooting is impossible with the german FTVs for now. Maybe you are more lucky.
Ultraschorsch said:
Since you can't root the FTV for now you could use llama in order to make a XBMC shortcut on your FTV homescreen.
edit: I don't know what firmware version you will get, rooting is impossible with the german FTVs for now. Maybe you are more lucky.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may be able to root. Before you even plug your FTV in, you should read and follow the guides on AFTV News. Start here: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-setup-a-new-fire-tv-without-blocking-root/#more-1403.
ftv in
Thanks guys. Followed the guides and I have ROOOOOOOOT!
Now to install XBMC...
Is llama the preferred method? What exactly is llama anyway?
spyder03 said:
Thanks guys. Followed the guides and I have ROOOOOOOOT!
Now to install XBMC...
Is llama the preferred method? What exactly is llama anyway?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since my FTV isn't rooted I can only tell you they way on how to add XBMC to the homescreen with llama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMt8gtnCSx0
There are probably better ways on how to start XBMC while keeping access to the Fire TV homescreen but this works just fine here, even without root.
I find FiredTV to be a very decent launcher. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2782303
I second FiredTV...
I installed it so I have an icon for XBMC, Xfinity TV Go, the FireTV app, PBS, PBS Kids, Plex, Pluto.TV, and Settings. Everything else is hidden. If I want to watch something on Amazon Prime, I just launch the FireTV app, and I'm in the "default launcher". Hitting the Home button takes me back to FiredTV, no matter which of these I'm in.
Of all those, I think XBMC is our main use... I'm running Mythbuntu as my PVR back-end, and this makes getting to XBMC super easy, while still making it easy to get to other apps, and back to XBMC...
FiredTv for sure.
Easy interface for accessing sideloaded apps and also comes with an icon that takes you to the stock launcher if required.
This, combined with rbox's firetv xposed mods = perfection
gazdaman. said:
FiredTv for sure.
Easy interface for accessing sideloaded apps and also comes with an icon that takes you to the stock launcher if required.
This, combined with rbox's firetv xposed mods = perfection
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i must say the same, i tried some asop style launchers.. and well i just cant get used to a phone interface on a TV.. i try but theres something not right about it. FiredTV is good to go over here.
I'm using the SPMC version of XBMC these days which is an Android launcher. Along the xposed and the rbox mods is what everyone else I know seems to prefer as well. I've built about 5 HTPC replacements for people and they are all happy with this setup as well.
1. Root
2. Custom recovery
3. Latest firmware
4. busybox
5. Stickmount
6. Lama (daily reboot)
7. SPMC
8. Xposed
9. Rbox xposed mods
10. Enjoy!
I have used FiredTV in the past. It was good. Nothing flashy but serves it's purpose. I had my FireTV rooted and thought I had Auto updating blocked but I guess I did it wrong. I lost my root so I guess I'm going back to FiredTV. What a bummer!
KarlP said:
I'm using the SPMC version of XBMC these days which is an Android launcher. Along the xposed and the rbox mods is what everyone else I know seems to prefer as well. I've built about 5 HTPC replacements for people and they are all happy with this setup as well.
1. Root
2. Custom recovery
3. Latest firmware
4. busybox
5. Stickmount
6. Lama (daily reboot)
7. SPMC
8. Xposed
9. Rbox xposed mods
10. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've read the documentation on SPMC vs XBMC....mostly talks about the tweaks made...
From a user's perspective, what do you notice is the difference? Is it snappier? less crash prone? etc?
Could I install it next to XBMC and try it out? Or would I need to uninstall XBMC first?
spyder3 said:
I've read the documentation on SPMC vs XBMC....mostly talks about the tweaks made...
From a user's perspective, what do you notice is the difference? Is it snappier? less crash prone? etc?
Could I install it next to XBMC and try it out? Or would I need to uninstall XBMC first?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't notice much difference between the two. I started out with xbmc and switched to spmc because it fixed a few issues I was having at the time. They both work pretty well. They can be installed along side each other as they use separate days folders.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
collindv said:
I didn't notice much difference between the two. I started out with xbmc and switched to spmc because it fixed a few issues I was having at the time. They both work pretty well. They can be installed along side each other as they use separate days folders.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
spmc is also in the amazon and google play app store so you can just download and install it from there and have a real icon on the amazon launcher without the need for anything else if you wish, i still use rbox exposed mod's and firedtv set to the alternate launcher but again, none of its really needed if you want to just use SPMC now since its in the app store.
My setup:
1. Root
2. Custom recovery
3. Latest firmware
4. busybox
5. Stickmount
6. XBMC/Kodi -- Helix Alpha 4
7. SPMC (non-launcher version)
8. Xposed
9. Rbox xposed mods
10. XBMC Launcher blunden - September 4, 2014 (from Google store). This latest version allows you to specify which version of XBMC you want to launch. You can easily go back and forth. It's important to have the non-launcher version of SPMC installed.
spyder3 said:
I've read the documentation on SPMC vs XBMC....mostly talks about the tweaks made...
From a user's perspective, what do you notice is the difference? Is it snappier? less crash prone? etc?
Could I install it next to XBMC and try it out? Or would I need to uninstall XBMC first?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe a fluke, but less crashes with SPMC than when I was running XBMC. You could backup your XBMC config with the FIRE TV utility and restore it to SPMC and be done. They can exist together on the same box, but I found no reason.
I'll set it up and run it along side my current installation. Haven't done an XBMC backup/restore yet, so this will give me a reason to practice that as well.
Thanks guys!
Many people want to add some apps to their Nexus Player before that app has officially been released for Android TV. To accomplish this, you can either install the app via the Play Store in your web browser or you can sideload the app. The problem is that on the Nexus Player, you can't see these apps that aren't optimized for Android TV! But don't worry, there are a couple of work arounds:
BEST OPTION: Use chainfire's Sideload Launcher app (See this article for details: http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...ndroid-tv-users-easily-start-sideloaded-apps/)
You can install a custom launcher like Go Launcher, Nova Launcher, etc.
You can find/open all apps here: Settings --> Apps (you'll probably be able to find your app in "Downladed Apps")
Hey guys, I have 2 nexus players and I'm thinking of getting another android box that's more powerful. What I want to know is can i install the leanback launcher on a box other than the nexus/adt-1?
Any help is greatly appreciated .
Try these
I found few apps which can serve the purpose
HALauncher
Unwind Launcher for TV BETA
You can test these apps on your phone or tablet too
I found an older version APK that worked, except suggestions, on my Leelbox (amlogic) Q2. Every other version did not work though.
Hi,
I don't understand why only few app are available in Play store ? Is it only a problem of non-touch device ?
For an app like Connectbot (as JuiceSSH), touch device is not required I think, so why is it not present in play store ?
Thanks.
Being a non touch device is part of it. Also some games and apps are also exclusive to certain android tvs.
Many apps including paid (provided your play account has the app license) apps can be sideloaded if you extract the apk from another Android device. Sideloaded touch apps usually need a mouse. I prefer using a Logitech k400r for sideloaded apps.
Also devs need to specifically mark the app is compatible with the forge in the play store. Another issue is the on device app browsing and search of the play store is pretty weak. You may have better luck searching and installing via a desktop browser
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Thanks you for this details. I will try some apks (and search in browser, but it's in my browser I saw incompatibility for SSH apps).
I've a probably stupid question but... how can you use a k400r to emulate touch ? Using a touchpad is like always putting your finger on screen :/
cébé said:
Thanks you for this details. I will try some apks (and search in browser, but it's in my browser I saw incompatibility for SSH apps).
I've a probably stupid question but... how can you use a k400r to emulate touch ? Using a touchpad is like always putting your finger on screen :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The device registers a touch only when you click on the touchpad/mouse.
Yeah I would love for then to step up the apps. Firetv is Android but they have more apps available
Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk
Yeh fireTV has way more apps available
is there anyway/place to find out the new app releases for Nvidia?
Hey,
i recently bought SuperDisplay and wanted to use it with my firetv but it's not working like it supposed 2. After sideloading and starting it just opens up and closes immediatly. What am i missing here? the Play store? is it even possible to install the playstore to the Fire TV Cube 2nd and if yes without root?
thanks in advance
Is no one able to help me out?
I don't know if its a paid app is not, but most of the apps on the play store rely on the Google Play Services which aren't available on FireTV.
It could be that its not compatible with the android version or display size.
It could also that the file is in splits, which some of the newer ones are, and you are pulling the base only and not the splits, which will DEFINITELY crash the app.
In any of the cases you have to provide the logcat. But my guess is the last one