Here's something I stumbled on that I haven't seen mentioned... Found it very helpful.....
Problem: On my Samsung HDTV set, I found that many apps (particularly Chrome) were getting key parts of their screens cut off by overscan. But I couldn't find a way to set the overscan on my HDTV or in the Nexus Player.
Solution: While I was playing around with Nova Launcher on the Nexus Player, I found a way to launch something called "Overscan Calibrator" which fixed the issue!
Here's how I did it:
(1) Install Sideload Launcher (so you can launch Nova Launcher)
(2) Sideload Nova Launcher
(3) Use Sideload Launcher to launch Nova Launcher
(4) In Nova Launcher, long click on the screen to bring up the "Add to Homescreen" menu
(5) Shortcuts -> Activities
(6) Scroll down to find "Overscan Calibrator"
(7) Click on it to open the selection and click on the revealed item to add it to the home screen
(8) Now launch "Overscan Calibrator" and adjust the screen so that then entire screen is visible
Then... your entire Chrome screen will be visible !
How exactly do I long press on the home screen? I tried long pressing the select button on the remote but that didn't help
NexusNow said:
How exactly do I long press on the home screen? I tried long pressing the select button on the remote but that didn't help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll have to get an OTG cable and hook up a mouse. Just about any wired mouse works, and many wireless do too. I use the Logitech K400 keyboard/touch pad combo unit.
On my Samsung TV, I just switched the picture size to best fit and the picture being cut off is longer an issue.
This is fantastic. Wonder if we could extract the calibrator out somehow.
xfortrenox said:
On my Samsung TV, I just switched the picture size to best fit and the picture being cut off is longer an issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Older TVs don't have this option. I'm in the same boat with my Samsung. There's no best fit or just fit option. Sounds like they added it to my TV's updates model in 2007. It's been driving me nuts.
How I did it!
I currently don't have an otg cable or a compatible bt mouse but I was able to get the same result.
I sideloaded nova launcher and airdroid and use the desktop client of airdroid to mirror it to the computer.
first I navigated in airdroid to login with the nexus remote. Maneuvering is kind of wonky but you should be able to login with username and password. I couldn't login using google+.
After logging in on the nexus player, I logged into airdroid on my desktop and Mirroring worked! but it looks bad lol but you can still tell what you are doing which is the important part.
Use the nexus remote to open sideload launcher and open nova launcher.
Then on the mirror you can right click with the PC mouse!
Then follow the rest of OP instructions starting at #4
Note: I am using a Panasonic Plasma tv. I have options on the remote for different "Aspects" but no options that auto adjust like "best fit".
There are picture options that I was able to tweak but not for overscan.
If you go into Nova settings -> gestures and buttons -> home button -> shortcuts - activities -> scroll to overscan calibrator, then press once, then press and hold the center button on the remote you can launch the app. No mouse needed.
Alternatively, without needing to sideload anything, just type this into adb shell:
Code:
am start -n com.google.android.tungsten.overscan/.CalibratorActivity
saeba said:
Here's something I stumbled on that I haven't seen mentioned... Found it very helpful.....
Problem: On my Samsung HDTV set, I found that many apps (particularly Chrome) were getting key parts of their screens cut off by overscan. But I couldn't find a way to set the overscan on my HDTV or in the Nexus Player.
Solution: While I was playing around with Nova Launcher on the Nexus Player, I found a way to launch something called "Overscan Calibrator" which fixed the issue!
Here's how I did it:
(1) Install Sideload Launcher (so you can launch Nova Launcher)
(2) Sideload Nova Launcher
(3) Use Sideload Launcher to launch Nova Launcher
(4) In Nova Launcher, long click on the screen to bring up the "Add to Homescreen" menu
(5) Shortcuts -> Activities
(6) Scroll down to find "Overscan Calibrator"
(7) Click on it to open the selection and click on the revealed item to add it to the home screen
(8) Now launch "Overscan Calibrator" and adjust the screen so that then entire screen is visible
Then... your entire Chrome screen will be visible !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You Sir, just made my night.
I tried the screen calibration, but now it messes up some of the emulators I have on the Nexus Player, and I can't restore things to normal.
Here's an apk I quickly slapped together to run the Overscan Calibrator.
Run it from Sideload Launcher.
Turge said:
Here's an apk I quickly slapped together to run the Overscan Calibrator.
Run it from Sideload Launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good work, I've been meaning to make something similar but I got super lazy and forgot.
You should upload it to the market, it's a useful tool!
Turge said:
Here's an apk I quickly slapped together to run the Overscan Calibrator.
Run it from Sideload Launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I. LOVE. YOU.
haha seriously. wow. my old Sony TV has no setting for this and my chromecast and nexus player were off SO bad and this fixed it all. thank you.
Sent from my Galaxy Note 4
Thank you. Fixed nexus player issues for me.
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk
Thanks for this or has been bugging me for ages. TV player seems to be the only app with text still hanging off the screen but it is only a few letters and I can live with that. Really should be a stock feature.
For some reason, it's not working for me. I've tried with the Nova Launcher, the overscan APK, and a few other ways. The app opens and has me calibrate, I "click to confirm", but the youtube videos and such are all overscanned still. I haven't had any issues ever with the main menu overscanning, or some of the games. Would it have to do with my TV model?
I'm not sure of the exact model, since I bought it from a thrift store and all of the stickers and numbers were scratched off, but it's a small 16' VIZIO tv.
Update: After doing it once more and checking some games apps, none of them are overdrawn anymore. The only thing that's still overdrawn is YouTube, or rather any videos in YouTube. The HUD is just fine, but the videos are a bit zoomed in, cutting off quite a bit of the experience.
I tried this Overscan app on my Nexus Player running full Android AOSP 6.0.1, but the app just says "Unable to start" when I try launching it from the app drawer. I also tried pulling the app from CM13, which is the default overscan app for CyanogenMOD13 fugu builds, but again it does not run. I tried manually installing it to System/app and /system/priv-app which is where it is located in Cyanogenmod, but it still refuses to run. If I install it and set permissions as a system app, it then tells me "Parse Error: There is a problem parsing the package". Nothing I do will get this to run.
However, it works perfectly if I install a ROM with it already part of the ROM, such as with CM12.1 or Pure Nexus ROM. Not sure how to get this to work. Any ideas?
SkOrPn said:
I tried this Overscan app on my Nexus Player running full Android AOSP 6.0.1, but the app just says "Unable to start" when I try launching it from the app drawer. I also tried pulling the app from CM13, which is the default overscan app for CyanogenMOD13 fugu builds, but again it does not run. I tried manually installing it to System/app and /system/priv-app which is where it is located in Cyanogenmod, but it still refuses to run. If I install it and set permissions as a system app, it then tells me "Parse Error: There is a problem parsing the package". Nothing I do will get this to run.
However, it works perfectly if I install a ROM with it already part of the ROM, such as with CM12.1 or Pure Nexus ROM. Not sure how to get this to work. Any ideas?s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same issue as you. Love running AOSP, but that overnscan issue almost gives me a headache. I tried it in HAL browser, Nova, sideload... Every one says unable to run. Maybe in 6.0 it's controlled by a different portion of the OS...
sivboy said:
Same issue as you. Love running AOSP, but that overnscan issue almost gives me a headache. I tried it in HAL browser, Nova, sideload... Every one says unable to run. Maybe in 6.0 it's controlled by a different portion of the OS...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I found strange is that the Overscan Launcher.apk works great in AICP. However AICP is just not ready to be used as a daily ROM. The only ROM I have found that I like enough to keep is Pure Nexus (Which has Overscan Launcher built in), but I'm having issues figuring out how to get my VPN installed thus Netflix is still useless to me. By the time the NP gets a ROM that just works it will be too old to use altogether, lol.
Is there any way to reset the overscan settings?
Related
I installed Launcher Pro. I read that you can switch between launchers with a selection. I thought you could do it by press on screen, like when adding a widget, and it would be there. But it isn't.
I have searched through the settings, and can't seem to find it.
Any thoughts?
ewingr said:
I installed Launcher Pro. I read that you can switch between launchers with a selection. I thought you could do it by press on screen, like when adding a widget, and it would be there. But it isn't.
I have searched through the settings, and can't seem to find it.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
download home switcher from the market or go here
settings/applications/manage applications/select your home screen program
I dont have an android phone yet so someone correct me if i'm wrong ^^
You can download HomeSwitcher from the Market
Without a switcher, you can go into Settings/Applications/Manage Applications/LauncherPro/Reset Defaults. Then next time you hit the Home button, it'll ask you again which one you want and if you want to set one as default again.
Croak said:
You can download HomeSwitcher from the Market
Without a switcher, you can go into Settings/Applications/Manage Applications/LauncherPro/Reset Defaults. Then next time you hit the Home button, it'll ask you again which one you want and if you want to set one as default again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol beat ya to it
Croak said:
You can download HomeSwitcher from the Market
Without a switcher, you can go into Settings/Applications/Manage Applications/LauncherPro/Reset Defaults. Then next time you hit the Home button, it'll ask you again which one you want and if you want to set one as default again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, Thanks.
Uh, now how do you use it? So then I guess I just need to have an icon for it on the desktop.
I did think I saw somethign that brought up a list just by pressing on the screen. Maybe a different app, or settings. I'll continue to investigate that...but thanks again. I can do what I need!
What a great site this is. I hope to return the favor of helpful answers as time goes on.
I installed launcher pro but the contact button says the application is not installed (little head icon on launcher pro)...
What contact application do I need to isntall for that functionality?
centex99 said:
I installed launcher pro but the contact button says the application is not installed (little head icon on launcher pro)...
What contact application do I need to isntall for that functionality?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Long press on the icon and you can change the shortcut options (which app to use, which icon to use, etc)
Whats the app need to be for the phone...
If I select "Phone" application... it doesnt' quite operate like the stock launcher...
When on a phone, the stock launcher when you click on the phone icon, goes to the dialer/call information... when you launch the phone application, it goes to the keypad but not the current call window...
you can get to the current call window by going to the status screen adn clicking on the little green phone during an active call though...
any ideas?
I installed launcher pro beta, but I can't figure out how to add a clock widget!
madjsp said:
I installed launcher pro beta, but I can't figure out how to add a clock widget!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't use the "Samsung Widgets" outside of TouchWiz. Go to the market and search for clock widgets. There are dozens, free and otherwise.
Thanks! This is my first android phone so this is all new to me!!!
Drachen said:
You can't use the "Samsung Widgets" outside of TouchWiz. Go to the market and search for clock widgets. There are dozens, free and otherwise.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Samsung, this is pathetic!
Wasted 2 hours of my life dealing with your stupidity.
heres the solution (problem was launcher pro):
1. grab the homeswitcher from market
2. set touchwiz crap as default.
3. reboot phone.
from then on, kies acts normally, phone gets detected normally etc etc etc.
thanks for wasting my time samsung.
edit: even after this i had probs, seems i need to reboot phone everytime i need to connect it. on first connect after fresh reboot it seems to work. goodluck. (very very very poor software as expected from samsung)
edit2: this is a bug fest! who coded this samsung? some student? jesus this soft is so bad it kills all the experience. what a piece of junk. barely works. flaky. buggy. samsung, fire your software team asap. they suck. only a true amateur can output this kind of garbage. this is below badly coded visualbasic garbage.
moonrock said:
Long press on the icon and you can change the shortcut options (which app to use, which icon to use, etc)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the action to execute TWlauncher ? (I mean the TouchWiz app-drawer)
I would mixup LauncherPro homes with TW horizontally scrolling apps
I wonder if there's a way to strip out the touchjizz widgets and use them in launcher pro or something, or make them available for any launcher replacement. I actually like the calendar clock widget.
I'll try picking touchjizz apart tomorrow at work if I get some extra time.
kodea said:
Samsung, this is pathetic!
Wasted 2 hours of my life dealing with your stupidity.
heres the solution (problem was launcher pro):
1. grab the homeswitcher from market
2. set touchwiz crap as default.
3. reboot phone.
from then on, kies acts normally, phone gets detected normally etc etc etc.
thanks for wasting my time samsung.
edit: even after this i had probs, seems i need to reboot phone everytime i need to connect it. on first connect after fresh reboot it seems to work. goodluck. (very very very poor software as expected from samsung)
edit2: this is a bug fest! who coded this samsung? some student? jesus this soft is so bad it kills all the experience. what a piece of junk. barely works. flaky. buggy. samsung, fire your software team asap. they suck. only a true amateur can output this kind of garbage. this is below badly coded visualbasic garbage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you are on jf6. Updates have become available. Try a froyo Rom. Also there is a nicely modded touchwiz launcher in the themes and apps section.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897
We all know the Nexus Player has a Chrome browser integrated in its firmware as it is used for some settings, google cast support, etc. However, it seems the browser can be somewhat user accessed and has a bit more capabilities than I expected, such as a desktop mode, mostly baked remote control support, ability to directly access web, image, map, etc search and so on. The interface for the browser seems close to having full remote control support. Amyone can sideload the actual Chrome from the Play store, however that one doesn't have a leanback interface like the built in one yet.
Here's how to find it:
Select settings at the bottom of the main menu
Select "About" from the first row
Scroll down and select "Ads"
Scroll down and select "Ads by Google"
Scroll down to "Ads Settings" link and select it
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and select "Desktop View"
Now you can select from the top bar with your remote any of the quick links for Google services, such as "Search". Once you do so, you're brought to the standard Google search page... clicking in the search field brings up the standard software keyboard (or use your sync'd phone, otg keyboard, etc). The results are displayed in normal "Mobile" view as on a phone, but you can scroll to the bottom of that page and choose to view the results in "Classic" desktop mode which is preferable.
Once you visit a site you can scroll through it with your remote as well, however navigating and clicking links seems to be hit or miss depending on the site. Also, hitting "back" currently takes you back to the settings menu instead of the previous page. I'm sure there are other quirks as well.
The point of this is: it'd seem to be trivial for an enterprising developer to wrap the existing functionality in an app and expose this near complete built-in remote ready chrome browser for easy leanback web browsing on the NP. Or, of course, the obvious route of Google exposing this web browser to leanback itself. Interesting.
This is cool to know. Love or hate the old google tv boxes (the ones with honeycomb) that is one feature they had done really well was they had a really awesome version of chrome browser that was very similar to the pc version out at the time. Still one that is made to work with the NP is good too.
I was able to install Chrome Beta from the Play store, and after getting past the "I Agree" screen it works perfectly. I'm using a BlueTooth KB/Mouse.
I'm using ChainFire's Launcher to start it, as the Icon doesn't populate on the home screen.
Tried this but can't get beyond "Ads by Google". When I select this I get a black bar down the center of the screen (1/3 the screen) and it flashes some information but then goes back to black.
ldavids said:
Tried this but can't get beyond "Ads by Google". When I select this I get a black bar down the center of the screen (1/3 the screen) and it flashes some information but then goes back to black.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I may be seeing the "I Agree" screen but it disappears pretty quickly.
ldavids said:
I may be seeing the "I Agree" screen but it disappears pretty quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same happens with me. I read in another post Chrome will work (non-beta) but launched through the Chainfire sideload launcher. Also read Nova launcher works. Will test this weekend and update.
Strange. I still have no problem getting in to the built-in browser doing what I wrote above as long as Chrome from the play store isn't installed. If you instal Chrome from the play store, it supplants the built-in browser and the procedure above doesn't work anymore.
I also have Chrome from the play store installed... it works ok, but not as well as the (near hidden so useless) built in browser when it comes to the remote control support - with keyboard and mouse Chrome from the play store works perfect. I also don't like the Chrome from the play store defaults to its "mobile" UI in search, etc.
Hopefully Google will surface the built-in soon and provide an easy link in the main leanback interface.
I thought I got rid of the Chrome browser I had downloaded as a test but I hadn't. Once I did, the built-in now works except it does not fit the screen correctly (menu items at top only display half).
ldavids said:
I thought I got rid of the Chrome browser I had downloaded as a test but I hadn't. Once I did, the built-in now works except it does not fit the screen correctly (menu items at top only display half).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your TV is probably not in "just fit" kind of mode... it's probably over scanning or set to 16:9, etc. If you can change the aspect ratio through your TV settings that'll probably fix the issue. Most media content is designed for overscanning so won't be an issue, but things like web browsers, PC screens, etc are not.
I was able to get the built in chrome by just installing google search from the playstore..
Sent from my Nexus 5
I wasn't using Chrome on my N5 because I was always missing basic features in the android version. For me, a browser has to have a home button and a exit button. Chrome for android doesn't have any of those, at least that's what I was thinking until I recently got an update for chrome on my LG GPad. Suddenly, it was all there. A home button and a small x on the tabs menu to close the browser. Finally! I was excited and updated chrome on my N5 also but it still looked the same as always. I checked the settings but couldn't find any new options.
So to make a long story short: How the hell do I configure chrome on my N5 to get those features?? Check the screenshots, first is from my tablet, second from my N5. It's the same version of chrome so there must be a way.
Why on earth do you need a "home" button? Just set your new tab page to be whatever you want "Home" to be.
As for the "x" to close a tab, it's right in the tab list, which you get to by tapping the little box with a number "1" in it in your second screenshot. There is no list of tabs across the top of the screen like there is on the desktop / tablet version because it's a giant waste of real estate on a small screen.
thebobmannh said:
Why on earth do you need a "home" button? Just set your new tab page to be whatever you want "Home" to be.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, let's say, it's just a personal preference
As for the "x" to close a tab, it's right in the tab list, which you get to by tapping the little box with a number "1" in it in your second screenshot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but it doesn't exit Chrome as it does on my tablet, it just gives me a blank dark page.
There is no list of tabs across the top of the screen like there is on the desktop / tablet version because it's a giant waste of real estate on a small screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That wouldn't be much of a problem, since it immediatly disappears as soon as you start scrolling.
But I think it's really interesting from a technical point of view. Why does Chrome look different on those devices? It's the same app, isn't it? Or do tablets get a different version from the same playstore link? Some browsers have own versions for tablets in playstore, but not Chrome.
Frankie73 said:
Well, let's say, it's just a personal preference
Yes, but it doesn't exit Chrome as it does on my tablet, it just gives me a blank dark page.
That wouldn't be much of a problem, since it immediatly disappears as soon as you start scrolling.
But I think it's really interesting from a technical point of view. Why does Chrome look different on those devices? It's the same app, isn't it? Or do tablets get a different version from the same playstore link? Some browsers have own versions for tablets in playstore, but not Chrome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It´s the same app you get on phone and tablet. The DPI triggers if it will show the tablet or phone version. You can change your device's whole dpi to let's say 240 (with WugFresh Nexus Root Toolkit for example, doesn't even need root for that), but then everything will be in 240 dpi, which may not be very helpful.
You could try to find an per-app-dpi module for Xposed, and then edit the resolution and dpi values just for chrome, to achieve the tablet-ui.
Thx a lot for this, milestone2mod!
So i've downloaded the apk for epsxe from my phone's ftp server, and I'm not interestedin going to settings, app settings to launch it every time. How can I do this. Is there a way to do this without tasker and a weird workaround?
Edit: some of the other apps seem to add their own shortcut
tooandrew said:
So i've downloaded the apk for epsxe from my phone's ftp server, and I'm not interestedin going to settings, app settings to launch it every time. How can I do this. Is there a way to do this without tasker and a weird workaround?
Edit: some of the other apps seem to add their own shortcut
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use "Sideload Launcher" by Chainfire. It puts all your apps in a Android TV Launcher box on the main screen. Otherwise there's no other way.
i've been able to add stuff from the shield hub and the Android TV netflix app icon shortcut to NovaLauncher using add widget then searching for the app icon. if ur not interested in using a different launcher i think SideLoad launcher is your best bet
Batfink33 said:
Use "Sideload Launcher" by Chainfire. It puts all your apps in a Android TV Launcher box on the main screen. Otherwise there's no other way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that works just great
I recently got a new 2019 Kindle HD 10 and started setting it up. I have been able to get Google Play and Nova Launcher successfully installed without any issue. Everything has been working great but I am unable to do something that I was able to do with my older Kindle Fire HD: add shortcuts to the Home Screen.
Previously on a 2017? HD 10, I was able to add shortcuts from Chrome right to the desktop. I was also able to add a book's shortcut from Moon+ Reader right to the Home Screen. But now, neither of these things seem to work. I am not exactly sure what's the issue that is preventing this from happening. App permissions? Newer version of Fire OS? A setting within Nova Launcher? I Googled the issue and found someone mention this was due to the OS version being higher but I haven't found any real confirmation on this anywhere else.
Does anyone have an idea of why I can't do this - and is there any workarounds for this feature?
Thanks,
TB
Todd Banister said:
I recently got a new 2019 Kindle HD 10 and started setting it up. I have been able to get Google Play and Nova Launcher successfully installed without any issue. Everything has been working great but I am unable to do something that I was able to do with my older Kindle Fire HD: add shortcuts to the Home Screen.
Previously on a 2017? HD 10, I was able to add shortcuts from Chrome right to the desktop. I was also able to add a book's shortcut from Moon+ Reader right to the Home Screen. But now, neither of these things seem to work. I am not exactly sure what's the issue that is preventing this from happening. App permissions? Newer version of Fire OS? A setting within Nova Launcher? I Googled the issue and found someone mention this was due to the OS version being higher but I haven't found any real confirmation on this anywhere else.
Does anyone have an idea of why I can't do this - and is there any workarounds for this feature?
Thanks,
TB
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must disable Amazon's crappy launcher
Code:
adb shell pm disable-user com.amazon.firelauncher
AmznUser444 Dev said:
You must disable Amazon's crappy launcher
Code:
adb shell pm disable-user com.amazon.firelauncher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, already did this using the Toolkit (14.2). I have Nova Launcher set as my default launcher and have even restarted to see if that cleared anything in memory. Still nothing. I have even gone back in and run the command again from the Toolkit to no avail. I keep checking permissions on the Kindle but I obviously haven't found the solution ... yet.
Take care,
TB
I had widget support allready activated with toolkit but no option to add a shortcut to Nova Launcher in Chrome and gdrive. I don't no why but suddenly the option appears in drive an chrome app.
Same problem here, configured with fire toolbox to use nova launcher, and widgets work but shortcuts don't.
So... I installed "Shortcut Maker" app, and created widgets that are shortcuts on the desktop. I even made some use chrome and some use Firefox, works great. I'm guessing there are other similar app choices but this solved my problem.
Note that when it first starts it says it can't make shortcuts, to try widgets, and that worked.
As usual ymmv, but did exactly what I needed.