Looking for what I can do with my android TV
Looking for what I can do with my android TV
I've got a Sony android TV and it... Kinda sucks with the constant 'reccommended content's (ads). Every update just adds more scrolling shit I don't want to see.I want to know what different programs I can try out, and maybe a different os I can put on it. I'm looking at smarttubenext currently, and I want to know of other things I can use to customize my experience.
Any recommendations?
Get FLauncher from the Play Store then either use Button Mapper to make the home button go there or use adb to disable the existing launcher. Completely clean home screen and can be done in a few minutes.
Worked like a charm. About an hour of fiddling around and learning ADB and now I feel like I own my TV. Thanks for giving me a solution outside of 'build/buy a different device'.
While I do appreciate everyones advice, this is exactly what I was hoping was possible. Thanks for the help mate.
Glad you went with ADB. Yeah it is more complicated but I agree it does feel better to have it completely disabled. Luckily once you do it once it is easier to do again. I just recently did it for a TV and a Chromecast, and the first one took me 30-40 minutes to figure out while the second one took more like 5 since I knew exactly what to do.
Still check out Button Mapper if you want to map the YouTube button on your remote to SmartTube. And if you are looking for any other app recommendations there is one called S0undTV that is basically SmartTube but for Twitch if you watch any streams.
This app works great for me when I want to disable bloatware: https://adbappcontrol.com/en/tv/
If you go to account configuration, you can select the "apps only" interface, which gets rid of almost all recommend crap. Also, install pihole/AdGuard Home on your lan and disable all the telemetry apps and related shit, which can be done directly from the GUI (at least on my Sony).
That setting wasn't an option on my TV unfortunately, and my network ad blocking wasn't working due to the ads being saved on the TV. I ended up using ADB to just kill Google entirely.
Use an external input, such as a home theater PC (HTPC) or NVIDIA Shield. Set the TV to automatically boot to that input and you'll never see that bs again
I was hoping to avoid having to complicate my setup any further with another device. I'm trying to drag my friends into the world of customized media, and if it seems more difficult than an iPhone they'll just roll their eyes and continue dealing with ads. I ended up using ADB to disable Google and set flauncher as my default system.
I'm dreading replacing my dumb tv, but can confirm that the nvidia shield was the best thing I ever bought for entertainment: just sideload your apps and off you go.
Take the cable out of the tv, plug it into your android box and hdmi to the tv.
Can recommend STN, cloudstream and plex.
Good luck.
I got myself a projector and it does nothing but display what I throw at it. I'm not watching cable anyway. The shield might be a great idea though.
Based on what I learned from another reply here, I was able to make my TV do exactly what I wanted. If you ever have to replace the dumb TV, I'm going to recommend getting an android TV just because it was so easy to remove the original OS.
I know each android TV is a little bit different, so if it helps I'm running a Sony Bravia with android TV 11.
Excellent! Glad you found what you wanted - I'll bookmark this for when I have to replace my trusty Bravia! 👍
- Projectivity Launcher
- SmartTube Next
- Stremio
- TiviMate
I got an apple tv 4K and factory reset my tv. never updated the tv or allowed it online after that. i use the plex app and jellyfin for local network files. it also has VLC from the app store for free. apple isn't everyone's cup of tea, but they don't embed ads in the app interface. also, the ATV has a huge mute button, one of my favorite features.
as far as disabling the android crap, I went through every single menu setting and turned off all of the nagging "features" like auto update, bravia notifications, sign in, anythin android, etc. it acts almost entirely like a dumb tv in that way now. very relieved after spending $$$ on a TV and fearing the forced ads. good luck, hope this helps.
I've had issues with the Jellyfin app and AV sync. You found that at all?
yes, my roku has less issues. the atv version seems to be pretty bare bones, which is why I use plex as well. and for whatever reason plex works better on atv than roku ¯_(ツ)_/¯
consider jellyfin
get a mini pc or xiaomi tv box/firestick etc and use that with the tv. Android included with the TV fucking sucks.