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")
This version is little old but you can signup for BETA/ALPHA releases I am currently waiting for google to update it.. so this thing will get even better!
FiredTV Alternative with " TV LAUNCHER FOR ANDROID"
Hey guys by accident I think I found a way to use different launcher then FiredTV Launcher which often crashed for me..
I sideloaded TV Launcher then bought full version. After installing this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786618 , XPOSED module after reeboting and removing all previous launchers now TV Launcher turn on itself always by pressing home button!!
the only way to go back to amazon screen is by holding "Home" and then clicking on settings and then going back to Amazon menu.
I can make a short video to show it I am impressed!! TV Launcher is pretty cool just gotta find HD ICONS for my apps
TV Launcher pro is like few bucks you can then add unlimited icons to your launcher.
Steps I Took to get it working
#1 Install Xposed (if you are already did skip it) if you didn't install framework of course also.
#2 Install Fire TV Mods (all credits to rBox) link to 1.3 Ver apk:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/onvu1xbjjkho1yb/RboxFireTvMods_1.3.apk
#3 Remove any previous launcher ( I had few like Nova,FiredTV Launcher etc..) leave only TV Launcher
#4 reeboot via xPosed app (your fire tv box)
#5 after clicking HOME you should be able to go to TV Launcher menu everytime
VIDEO -- UPLOADING
Play Store Link to TV-Launcher:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.awe.dev.pro.tv&hl=en
How to buy Paid version fire TV?
you gotta have Play Store installed I bought pro version via Fire TV to make things easier.
How to extract easily TV Launcher?
download APK Extractor on your tablet/phone,extract it and use your favorite app/way to install the TV Launcher APK.
The home button works with any launcher available if using xposed, but like it's been said before its non selectable.. So whatever it launches is your default launcher. Tested apex and Nova and TV launcher back in the day.. TV launcher iirc didn't work right with the remote back then. Did they fix it?
nhumber said:
The home button works with any launcher available if using xposed, but like it's been said before its non selectable.. So whatever it launches is your default launcher. Tested apex and Nova and TV launcher back in the day.. TV launcher iirc didn't work right with the remote back then. Did they fix it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure I joined the dev on google plus comnunity and signed up for beta however his latest launcher works horrible on Fire TV so I hope he will catch up with it quick it's the perfect launcher but the 2.08 version in playstore works ok but could be better.
Not sure if this is known already but i found a way to make my side loaded apps appear under apps on my fire stick main menu using agk fire app.
I download and installed the amazon store apk on my phone then side-loaded it on my fire tv stick, after that you will be able to see all the side-loaded apps under app section thus eliminating the need to use fired tv launcher or llama app,
I am not sure if it works with the fire tv but i guess someone can try and report back.
stress1ner said:
Not sure if this is known already but i found a way to make my side loaded apps appear under apps on my fire stick main menu using agk fire app.
I download and installed the amazon store apk on my phone then side-loaded it on my fire tv stick, after that you will be able to see all the side-loaded apps under app section thus eliminating the need to use fired tv launcher or llama app,
I am not sure if it works with the fire tv but i guess someone can try and report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has been reported before. I believe it may stop some of the amazon services from working properly (installing apps, watching videos, etc.) I have never tried it personally though.
Applications Organizer Pro FireTV edition does this too. You can enable single click launch in the app settings last time I checked it was on sale for $0.99. It is native. I wish FiredTV was approved as native
Edit: link
http://www.amazon.com/Application-Organizer-Pro-Fire-Edition/dp/B00Q3907T6
Hey I did install the appstore apk and it did make all the apps appear on the main menu under apps. However it just goes away after the fire tv stick is restarted. Not sure what is wrong, is there any other option which needs to be changed?
goodhur said:
Applications Organizer Pro FireTV edition does this too. You can enable single click launch in the app settings last time I checked it was on sale for $0.99. It is native. I wish FiredTV was approved as native
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the app certainly makes things easier than going through settings etc.. . Since its a native app to FTV, it shows on the main apps homepage. Nice.. If the developer could add a "Dashboard View" that can be displayed on startup, and allow the user to tag specific apps to show on the dashboard, this would satisfy me. It would allow the most used apps to be launched with two clicks from the home page apps category.
I'm running vanilla FireTV, no root, no Organizer Pro, nothing special. I've noticed, as others have as well, that if you sideload an Amazon app store app it will show up in "Recent" on the main AFTV menu. Between this and the AGK Fire side-loading app on my Android phone this is good enough for me. Just install an app from Amazon on my phone, then with a few clicks AGK Fire pushes it to my AFTV and I'm good to go. Now if only Amazon would push out an update to let us use USB storage for apps or at least app data without rooting I'd be completely satisfied.
How are you guys able to sideload the amazon appstore apk onto the FireTV
I downloaded the Amazon appstore apk from the Amazon website onto my computer and tried sideloading using ADB. When trying to sideload, the command states "FAILURE [INSTALL_FAILED_ALREADY-EXISTS]"
Is it because the amazon appstore is currently installed on the firetv?
Edit: I just used the AGK Fire app and it worked perfectly. Is there anyway for Kodi to appear on the recents menu?
EFEXR said:
How are you guys able to sideload the amazon appstore apk onto the FireTV
I downloaded the Amazon appstore apk from the Amazon website onto my computer and tried sideloading using ADB. When trying to sideload, the command states "FAILURE [INSTALL_FAILED_ALREADY-EXISTS]"
Is it because the amazon appstore is currently installed on the firetv?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
adb install -r [apk goes here]
goodhur said:
Applications Organizer Pro FireTV edition does this too. You can enable single click launch in the app settings last time I checked it was on sale for $0.99. It is native. I wish FiredTV was approved as native
Edit: link
http://www.amazon.com/Application-Organizer-Pro-Fire-Edition/dp/B00Q3907T6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I keep seeing people say the firedTV launcher should be a native app, but that will never happen. There is a better chance of Amazon sellling Fire TVs at buy one get two free than them approving another laucher to be a native app. They do not want other launchers to be used, and for good reason, they are a business that is selling entertainment and their product is incorporated in to their launcher, so why would they be dumb enough to approve a launcher that does nothing to help sell their products? Approving the fired TV launcher to be a native app would be beyond stupid for Amazon to do. I do not like the default launcher at all, but the day Amazon approves a third party launcher as a native app for the fire TV, is the day I lose respect for them as a business, and so would all their investors.
---------- Post added at 02:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:50 AM ----------
EFEXR said:
How are you guys able to sideload the amazon appstore apk onto the FireTV
I downloaded the Amazon appstore apk from the Amazon website onto my computer and tried sideloading using ADB. When trying to sideload, the command states "FAILURE [INSTALL_FAILED_ALREADY-EXISTS]"
Is it because the amazon appstore is currently installed on the firetv?
Edit: I just used the AGK Fire app and it worked perfectly. Is there anyway for Kodi to appear on the recents menu?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do not really have to uuse adb to sideload apps, just download them from your browser and install em, cause its much easier. I have sideloaded two apps, a browser and a file manager, and if you have those to apps there is no need for using adb.
porkenhimer said:
I keep seeing people say the firedTV launcher should be a native app, but that will never happen. There is a better chance of Amazon sellling Fire TVs at buy one get two free than them approving another laucher to be a native app. They do not want other launchers to be used, and for good reason, they are a business that is selling entertainment and their product is incorporated in to their launcher, so why would they be dumb enough to approve a launcher that does nothing to help sell their products? Approving the fired TV launcher to be a native app would be beyond stupid for Amazon to do. I do not like the default launcher at all, but the day Amazon approves a third party launcher as a native app for the fire TV, is the day I lose respect for them as a business, and so would all their investors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is just wishful thinking. I agree with you and do not expect it to be approved in it's current design. A substitute launcher that hijacks the home button will not be approved by Amazon ever, even is just an option that is disabled. (I posted that in the Fired TV thread). It would interfere with the advertisement of paid content. All I want is simple grid "sublauncher" for sideloaded apps like chainfire did for the Nexus Player, but native. I think that fact that App Organizer was a passive app allowed it through.
Has anyone an idea where to get the apk files for the leanback versions of apps like zattoo? I'm now on Lollirock 5.1.1 rom and have to use tablet version of most apps. Some work ok to control with remote but some need keyboard or mouse to click somewhere. Using the leanback app store would also be fine
OK, i wanted to give this device a Chance. Tried out different Roms. Stock 5.1.1 and 6.0 preview, even rooted is not able to control Volume. Apps like sambadroid do not run. Amazon Video is not working. All these things work on lollirock. But common, it really does not look like modern technology, running a tablet smartphone screen on a big TV. You cant even install the lean back versions of the apps so you can sit in Front of your TV with keyboard and mouse and control your **** looking Smartphone apps in your TV screen.
Gonna have a look at the new AFTV....
What I do is install the target app on my phone or tablet and then email the app using titanium backup to myself and install it on the NP.
There are other apps to backup apks, or you can do it manually using a file explorer.
So i would need to install the stock leanback rom again and email me the apks. switch back to lollirock rom and install these leanback version of apps on it.... hmmm
I see this app in the play store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zattoo.player
Alternatively you can search the web for the apk.
this app comes pre installed with leanback stock rom. when using another rom like lollirock i can only get the tablet version from playstore. which sucks on a tv. i dont find a leanback version of the zattoo app on the web. most of the leanback apks i find on the web are for US providers. Zattoo is for european users i guess...
Would anyone be so kind as to get me the apk for the app "Gaia" for the Fire TV? I don't have a Fire TV, but I'm curious to see if it'll work on my Shield TV. Thank you.
It should have a search bar like my Fire TV. Knowing that the devices are pretty close with each other. You just need an apk for an installer program so you can pick up apps that are not on the built in store. (Note: Some apps will not support Android TV's.)
Firez454Z said:
It should have a search bar like my Fire TV. Knowing that the devices are pretty close with each other. You just need an apk for an installer program so you can pick up apps that are not on the built in store. (Note: Some apps will not support Android TV's.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried finding the app on the internet so I could just put it on my Shield TV using a thumb drive, but I can't find it and it's not available any 3rd party market either. There is two different versions of the Gaia app because I've installed the same apk that I can install on my phone from the Play Store on my Shield TV and it doesn't work the way that it should. Gaia, and Amazon, advertise that there is a Fire TV compatible app and that's what I'm looking for. I imagine that since it's exclusive to the Fire TV it's only available from Amazon's app store, but I can't download the file without a compatible device and it would appear that there's currently no reliable way to trick the Amazon app store into thinking I have a Fire TV either. So I'm stuck asking for help here.