"Android TV" Experience - What's missing? - Android Stick & Console Computers General

hey all
So I recently got myself a Nexbox A95x to play with, hardware is really nice, looks sleek, then I turned it on.. The first thing that hit me is the launcher UI is horrible.
To cut a long story short, I've looked on the Play Store and I can't seem to see any launchers that look anything close to the UI experience of Google's Leanback launcher so I'm wondering what you guys recommend as the launcher for one of these types of boxes?
Also, is there any apps you use to be notified on your TV when you get an sms or whatsapp etc?
I should also note I'm a dev, and I'm seriously considering building something better than what I've currently found out there so far so I'm interested to know if I've missed something or if the state of TV ui apps atm really is lacking..

You could try https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.awe.dev.pro.tv
Once it been set-up, it's very good. You can change artwork of apps and rearrange with ease.

Does this replace original launcher? Or does it act app like? Does it start itself when booting android TV?

I know this thread is old but I recently purchased the A95X and wanted to share my thoughts for anyone who may find this in the near future.
The A95X isn't the greatest box by any stretch but the TV Launcher linked here has made this box worth using. I've been looking for a way to sideload the Google Android TV Launcher but this device is not listed as compatible with the play store listing. Still searching for that but in the mean time, TV Launcher is a quality app that does run app like but you just set it as the default launcher and it starts when you boot the box. I recommend it.

peoplegetpeople said:
I know this thread is old but I recently purchased the A95X and wanted to share my thoughts for anyone who may find this in the near future.
The A95X isn't the greatest box by any stretch but the TV Launcher linked here has made this box worth using. I've been looking for a way to sideload the Google Android TV Launcher but this device is not listed as compatible with the play store listing. Still searching for that but in the mean time, TV Launcher is a quality app that does run app like but you just set it as the default launcher and it starts when you boot the box. I recommend it.
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Click to collapse
you can use cetusplay from playstore.. inside cetusplay there is app section from which leanback launchers can be installed..
but for some reason google leanback launcher not showing recommendations.
I will also suggest you to use HAL launcher.

crazyfool_1 said:
hey all
So I recently got myself a Nexbox A95x to play with, hardware is really nice, looks sleek, then I turned it on.. The first thing that hit me is the launcher UI is horrible.
To cut a long story short, I've looked on the Play Store and I can't seem to see any launchers that look anything close to the UI experience of Google's Leanback launcher so I'm wondering what you guys recommend as the launcher for one of these types of boxes?
Also, is there any apps you use to be notified on your TV when you get an sms or whatsapp etc?
I should also note I'm a dev, and I'm seriously considering building something better than what I've currently found out there so far so I'm interested to know if I've missed something or if the state of TV ui apps atm really is lacking..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is really difficult for me to even imagine anything worse than lean back launcher

https://www.atvxperience.com

Related

[Q] Categorised app drawer like TagHome?

Hello,
Does anyone know of a HomeScreen/Launcher app that is similar to "For 2.2+, Tag Home(Launcher)" that is compatible with Android 4.2+ ?
Namely, the categorised app drawer.
I used TagHome on my Nexus One for four years and loved it, but it's not compatible with SGS4/Android 4.2+.
I have done a lot of searching and experimenting, the only one I could find that comes close is "ADWLauncher EX".
But the setup and maintenance of app's categories is horrible compared to the simplicity of TagHome.
***
To clarify the setup, in TagHome you go: edit mode, select an app then choose it's category.
Where as in ADWex, you go: edit mode, select a category then choose all the apps that belong to it.
***
It might not seem like a big deal but it means the difference between scrolling through and scrutinising all your apps only once or many, many times.
Also, after the initial setup, when new apps are installed, there is no having to search for them among all apps in order to categorise them.
I have tried contacting the developers of both apps. No response from either.
But ADW did add an uncategorised tab, though it's pointless with the above described setup/edit mode they use.
I have a very large collection of apps and games and I like trying out new ones regularly. Being able to categorise my apps is important to me.
I'd love to hear any advice.
Thanks in advance.
Aussie Cheers,
Puppet Test Pilot
PS sorry if this post is in the wrong thread, admins feel free to move it.
Make me a Launcher like TakHome?
Me again..
I came across this "[HOW TO] Create your own Android Launcher (Video Series)" but its way beyond my abilities.
Would I be asking too much for someone here to please make me a Launcher like TagHome for Android 4.2+ ?
Kind regards,
Puppet Test Pilot
anyone?
puppettestpilot said:
anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its kinda differet, but SmartLauncher is really great and amazingly fast
Or give Nova Launcher a try. Provides creating own app categories/tabs
Go launcher ex does that automatically.
Thank you LS.xD and Kobro, I'll check-out these three launchers and let you know what I think.
Cheers
Ok so I've played around with all three for an hour or so and I think I like Go Launcher EX, its really easy to categorise apps.
Smart Launcher was good but adding and changing categories is only available in Pro version.
Nova Launcher has no categories except in Pro version.
Thanks again

What launcher do YOU use?

Hey everyone, I just wanted to create a thread regarding launchers you all use. Sense is great, but I have to admit that I'm getting a bit bored of it, judging by how I've been using it for months now. I know that Nova Launcher is arguably the most popular one out there, but which launcher do YOU guys prefer and use?
MARIO SHARK said:
Hey everyone, I just wanted to create a thread regarding launchers you all use. Sense is great, but I have to admit that I'm getting a bit bored of it, judging by how I've been using it for months now. I know that Nova Launcher is arguably the most popular one out there, but which launcher do YOU guys prefer and use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i use nova but basically just to adjust my home screen grid size. The added features are nice and i do use them, but if i could adjust my home screen grid size with sense i pry would stick to that.
camf3xu said:
i use nova but basically just to adjust my home screen grid size. The added features are nice and i do use them, but if i could adjust my home screen grid size with sense i pry would stick to that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
gotcha. have you noticed an increase in speed/stability after switching to nova?
MARIO SHARK said:
gotcha. have you noticed an increase in speed/stability after switching to nova?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's fast and stable but so was sense to me
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using XDA Free mobile app
MARIO SHARK said:
Hey everyone, I just wanted to create a thread regarding launchers you all use. Sense is great, but I have to admit that I'm getting a bit bored of it, judging by how I've been using it for months now. I know that Nova Launcher is arguably the most popular one out there, but which launcher do YOU guys prefer and use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nova Prime. I try others, and always wind up back on Nova. It just works well.
Have you tried out everythingme launcher, smart launcher 2, or themer? I like the idea of the smart folders, but unsure if they match the quality/features of Nova.
Nova is near perfect. Nothing else I've tried even comes close. My only gripes would be lack of a search function and folder management could be improved.
Nova is pretty much the best. Kevin (TeslaCoil—he's given his real name here) clearly knows his stuff. While I also like Android Does (dev team or pseudonym responsible for Apex), I tested the free versions of both two phones ago, and bought Nova Prime as a direct result.
Android Police did a poll asking if anyone had switched to Google Now Launcher since the Nexus/GPE exclusivity was removed, and one of their commenters told a nice story about how Google Now Launcher made his phone faster. Since I already run Xposed, I grabbed XGELS along with it. And I just might switch.
GNL feels a little more responsive than Nova did, though it's hard to tell. I don't give a damn about animations, so I turned them off in XGELS, and damn GNL moves when I tell it to.
One thing that bothers me a little is that XGELS costs 50¢ more than Nova Prime, and the money doesn't even go to the developer of the launcher. I know, the XGELS developer deserves all the respect he's getting for what he's done, and I know, Google gets a cut of all sales anyway, it still just feels wrong though. Also, getting unread counts requires purchase of a third-party app, which costs a buck and a half. So all told, it's six bucks, versus the four I paid for Nova. And being that I've already paid for Nova, and Nova does everything I want, it's a tough pill to swallow.
Unlike many people, though, I don't consider the cost to value ratio. Like Tim Cook, I don't give a damn about the ROI. Sorry for plugging the enemy, but that statement was awesome. No... I believe in Android as a platform, and when I buy an app, I try to support developers who genuinely care about Android and who are good developers that I want to stick around. And the XGELS developer is a wizard. Four and a half bones is a fair deal. And even the free version of XGELS exposes some interesting settings.
One that stands out to me is the gestures. Nova has them as well, but only a few interest me. Namely, swipe up, swipe down, and double tap. The others are all set to disable. Up is app drawer, down is quick settings, and double tap is voice search. XGELS dispenses with the stupid ones (who's going to remember what two fingers twisted clockwise does vs ccw?) and gives you three zones for up and down. In the free version, you can only set swipe down on the left and on the right. So for me, on the left is Android settings, on the right is Quick settings. Up (only up in the middle is enabled in free) is still app drawer.
GNL+XGELS has a long way to go to reach true feature parity with Nova Prime, but it's getting there, and it's got a few unique ideas of its own that I'm sure Kevin will address down the road, but it's nice to hold the future in your hand now. And it doesn't hurt to support more than one developer pushing the same product. They aren't really competing, per se. They're just trying to make your phone as nice as they can, and we should reward that where and when we can.
I have used a ton of launchers. Currently I am using GoLauncher EX. I quite like it. Second choice is Nova of course and last choice for me is Aviate.
Compare Nova and Apex
I've been using Apex for a while and I'm pretty happy with it. Can anybody suggest any advantages to Nova?
I like the simplicity of KK Launcher. I keep coming back to it. It's sort of like GNL with more options, like grid size.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kk.launcher
Using MIUI. So far used Google Now launcher, Windows, iLauncher, Nova, Aviate. Only windows launcher is not exactly the same as real windows. So far others are good.
Sent from my Moto XT1033
Anyone here on nova prime? Is it worth the purchase?
MARIO SHARK said:
Anyone here on nova prime? Is it worth the purchase?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. It's arguably the most popular launcher there is, and Prime makes it even better.
just lou said:
Yes. It's arguably the most popular launcher there is, and Prime makes it even better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'm currently on nova, and it's been great so far, but what additional features does nova prime offer? I know it describes them in the google play store, but I'm interested in reading how you guys take advantage of Nova prime.
MARIO SHARK said:
Yeah I'm currently on nova, and it's been great so far, but what additional features does nova prime offer? I know it describes them in the google play store, but I'm interested in reading how you guys take advantage of Nova prime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The most important: tabs/folders in the app drawer; ability to hide apps. I find the launcher completely unusable without them. I feel almost as if the author excluded it from the free version so people would see how awesome Nova is, but be unable to use it unless they paid.
Others:
• Gestures, mostly for convenience — I swipe down for notifications and up for recent apps, double-tap for the app drawer, two finger swipe up for search (to type in an app name), two finger swipe down for quick settings (not often used as I have my own notification toggles widget).
• Unread Counts — work well. Not necessary, but nice to have.
• Icon Swipes — can cut the number of icons you need on your homescreen in half (e.g. swipe up on camera = gallery), or assign useful functions (swipe up on phone = call home).
MARIO SHARK said:
Anyone here on nova prime? Is it worth the purchase?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Prime definitely worth the purchase!
I actually really like using the sense 6 launcher. i keep my screens super minimal so i don't need to resize widgets or anything for the most part. i usually use nova prime but only when i'm running a aosp rom like CM or slimkat but so for been running viper for the last few months and loving the sense launcher
Nova. Sense drawer is terrible. Other options are also nice.
if we could use the sense clock widget on nova, i would use nova launcher for every smartphone i ever purchase.

Other Than Custom Launchers & Widgets, Why Else Have You Added?

So, other than custom launchers and widgets, what other upgrades and/or cool things have you done with your tablet?
I haven't done much. I have Nova Launcher installed on them so I also installed Nova Google Companion. Other than that, I've also installed Gravity Screen so when the tablet is facing down, the screen shuts off (kinda like a laptop). If you've warmed up to adb commands, I'd also suggest DragonFire1024's guide to activating Google Assistant: https://forum.xda-developers.com/hd8-hd10/general/guide-enable-google-assistant-ok-google-t3740145
Dankees said:
So, other than custom launchers and widgets, what other upgrades and/or cool things have you done with your tablet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also have Killapps installed on my HD8 which makes it easier to shut down apps that are running in the background. I have the Gboard as the default keyboard on both
Other apps I have on the them (aside from the utility-types) changes a bit because the HD10 is for my dad so he'll use the Wall Street Journal and Investing apps, which my mom won't need on her HD8, but she has a lot of different E-Readers (until she settles on one, finally) and a crossword puzzle app that my dad will never use.
They both have YouTube Vanced (HIGHLY suggested- no YouTube ads and you can listen to videos without having the screen to be on) MX Player, Terrarium TV, Mobdro, News Reader Pro and Google Assistant/ Google App

Question Launcher apps for the cover display?

Hi I was wondering if anyone found a launcher that would be optimized for the cover display?
Currently I installed Hyperion and added it to goodlocks widget and while the app icons are resized for the coverscreen and I can launch all my apps from there, I was hoping if anyone tried any other launchers that function better
And yes I am aware of samsprung and coverscreen os, I have samsprung installed but I like the fact that goodlocks implementation allows for gesture nav to work and it allows for the fingerprint reader to unlock my phone without Bixby
That's not a half bad idea. I hadn't even thought of using the widget to launch a launcher.
twistedumbrella said:
That's not a half bad idea. I hadn't even thought of using the widget to launch a launcher.
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Click to collapse
Ya so far it's been working great, it gets me around the 5 app limit, I did the same thing with your original widget as well for fun but since there wasn't a way to press a back button back then it was ultimately pointless but with goodlocks widget I find it useful despite some limitations(picture in picture mode still works so YouTube videos need to closed or else you'll have a bad time)
I thought an android tv launcher would work better but the ones available on the app store are super glitchy
There used to be a launcher inside Kodi. I wonder how that would do being made to support almost anything.

Replace missing app switcher?

Hey. My phone is an Infinix X675, running Android 11. It was a really cheap phone and at least the hardware specs are pretty much as good as I could get brand new for the price.
The software it comes with though, is absolutely terrible. Ad-riddled gallery, media player, and launcher and they're just generally bad quality.
There's no way to flash a custom ROM at the moment so I just have to make do with disabling those apps when possible. I've replaced almost everything but the launcher, since unfortunately replacing it with Lawnmower gives me the same prompt to pick the default launcher over and over again and no fix online helps.
I would like to just disable it anyway since it comes with notifications and other annoying things, and I can do that totally fine with ADB and the default launcher problem is solved... except I can't open the app switcher anymore! Is there any fix or any app switcher I could install instead? Thanks in advance.
10 Best App Switchers for Android Device in 2022
There's no doubt that Android is the most dominating mobile operating system right now. This is because Android provides users with more features and
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