Is there a solution to this? Maybe remapping a button on the controller? I know there is a pretty simple way to do this in Kodi, but I need to make this work in other apps, such as emulators. How will I be able to manage settings and options without it?
This has been discussed at http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-player/help/3-dots-menu-t3067105. If you're running Android 5.1 or higher, most sideloaded apps won't have accessible menus. You'll need to email the developers of the apps you use to request that they restore menus for their apps on Android TV devices running Android 5.1 or higher. Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) won't restore the missing menus so the only other possibility is that an Xposed module such as the one at http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed/modules/app-force-3-dots-menu-t3181622 may serve that purpose in the future.
Thanks for clarifying. Why did they remove it? So dumb...
I don't know why they made that change (and I agree that it's a lame decision) but it seems that Google started enforcing stricter material design requirements on apps as of Android 5.1 and higher on Android TV. That's why I suggest emailing the developers of the apps you use to see if they can update their apps to properly support Android TV. As I discovered with DroidMote Server months ago, this problem can be worked around with app updates. It's not a sure thing that developers will agree to do so for the Android TV platform that they may not officially support but it's worth a try. Which emulators are you planning to use? I don't think that Robert Broglia's excellent .emu apps are affected by this problem.
I have used yongzh's emus until now. But I found replacements so I'm fine for the moment.
I'm quite familiar with sideloading regular Android apps that don't have an Android TV version, but is there any way to force an app that supports both to use it's mobile version for the Shield TV? I have a VPN through SurfShark that only provides a single apk, and the UI changes depending on if you install it on a phone or Android TV. Problem is on the Shield I'm missing a few features that the app has on my phone, namely the reverse whitelist (selecting only a few apps that use the VPN, everything else is left alone). Also in the SurfShark whitelist options it shows all the installed apps on my phone, but on the Shield many apps aren't listed (Prime TV, NHL, etc).
Apart from waiting for their dev team to fix the Android TV UI, the easiest fix would be to just install the mobile version on the Shield but I can't figure out a way to do that since it's just a single apk, and Google isn't helping either.
Hemi-Cuda said:
I'm quite familiar with sideloading regular Android apps that don't have an Android TV version, but is there any way to force an app that supports both to use it's mobile version for the Shield TV? I have a VPN through SurfShark that only provides a single apk, and the UI changes depending on if you install it on a phone or Android TV. Problem is on the Shield I'm missing a few features that the app has on my phone, namely the reverse whitelist (selecting only a few apps that use the VPN, everything else is left alone). Also in the SurfShark whitelist options it shows all the installed apps on my phone, but on the Shield many apps aren't listed (Prime TV, NHL, etc).
Apart from waiting for their dev team to fix the Android TV UI, the easiest fix would be to just install the mobile version on the Shield but I can't figure out a way to do that since it's just a single apk, and Google isn't helping either.
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Click to collapse
Soome app with that allinone package usually changed with how you launch it. Try launch it through sideload launcher usually load mobile one.
Hey everyone - little new around XDA as this is my first post. Recently I had constructed a video tutorial of sorts for the average Onn TV box owner to get it running, achieve an unlocked boot loader and root, and use Tasker to remap the hardware based buttons (as the remap module zip I found on here did not work for me).
There is a Reddit thread here with more context and the video link:
See here
Anyways, I am trying to think about and implement a way to have the option to block OTA updates from happening automatically as I could not find any menu item to disable them. I’ve recently left the Amazon TV ecosystem as for I was tired of trying to always block updates / conform with their launcher and their software. I guess I’m slowly worrying that this TV may eventually have the same fate in terms of being locked down but I suppose I want to fight for this one over the Amazon products lol.
I have had 2 ideas that I have tried, one of which I’m at a dead end with and the other I am asking for a little assistance with - albeit I’m unsure it’ll work but I feel it makes sense and is worth a shot.
The first idea, I was trying to find and stop the service(s) associated with system updates through an app called Servicely. I am able to find 2 services related to system updates but am unable to stop/trial disabling them as the app quits when I try to do so.
The second idea is somehow devising a way to block network traffic specific to wherever the Onn Tv visits to check if there is a new update. I feel this would be a cleaner and safer method too. I tried using a couple of network traffic tracking apps and then navigating to settings and selecting “check for update” to generate the respective traffic with no avail.
So I am asking for help with this please, I’m sure there is a better or more thorough way to detect where the Onn TV is visiting online to check if there are new updates. Does anyone have an idea on how to detect / block this from happening to stop the automatic and manual check for updates (and thus hopefully the auto-update) from happening? Thank you.
You can try to remotely connect to the Onn using ADB and then freeze/disable those packages.
What are the package names for the OTA files you found?
Hi all, wondering if anyone has attempted messing with this unit - found nothing on Google/duckduckgo.
Had it 2ish years, been a glitchy little monster and apps like Hulu show incompatibility (though they are 'preloaded' and on the menu). So far as I can tell the system OS has never been updated and am curious what might be done to refresh it?
TheDrake2k said:
Hi all, wondering if anyone has attempted messing with this unit - found nothing on Google/duckduckgo.
Had it 2ish years, been a glitchy little monster and apps like Hulu show incompatibility (though they are 'preloaded' and on the menu). So far as I can tell the system OS has never been updated and am curious what might be done to refresh it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately most android TV's don't get updates because the manufacturer doesn't take the time or resources to make an update and push it to the TV's.
As for glitches and apps I would try expanding it's memory using a flash drive and moving apps to it and letting the device use it as internal storage. And I'd use a PC or laptop and download the free program called "adb app control" and use the debloat option and clean some stuff off it. I'd also suggest getting a lighter launcher than the default one. There's a few options here -> Link but I like one called dashboard from the playstore. Also install a launcher manager and/or button mapper (both are free). Hopefully some or all of this helps make your tv a little snappier. I have a fairly new Hisense android tv and I did all this and it feels a lot better than stock.
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...
Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
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