[APP][NO ROOT][ANDROID TV] Leanback Launcher for Fire TV

Leanback on Fire
Android TV Launcher Ported to Fire TV

Source Code: https://github.com/leanback-on-fire/LeanbackLauncher

Project is continued at https://github.com/tsynik/LeanbackLauncher, not supported by rockon999
Releases: https://github.com/tsynik/LeanbackLauncher/releases (no longer offered by rockon999, forked releases)



(More screenshots are attached)

Tested on:
- Fire TV Stick 2

Features:
- Can open Bluetooth and WiFi settings without the stock launcher installed.
- Opens notification center, notification settings, and displays the current amount of unread notifications.
- Can display Amazon-downloaded apps in the store for easy updating and management.
- Can open individual app's settings.
- Can sort applications by categories (video, music, favorites, etc)
- Stripped of all Google services (to prevent crashes!)

Limitations:
- Recommendations were removed (unfortunately they are too unstable and unworkable without root, though I am exploring a method of adding them back into the launcher in Alpha 3)
- As this is based on decompiled sources there are bugs that must be squashed
- The uninstall button in edit mode is broken via the traditional Android TV method. Instead use the Fire TV app menu.
- Also, the done button in edit mode is broken too. Simply use the back button on your remote

Basics:
- The menu button will open up an app menu.
- The edit favorites launcher in the settings row can be used to add apps you want easy access to. Press back to exit the selection screen.

Installation:
- Install like any other APK over ADB. (adb install [path])
- If you want the notification counter you need to execute the following command: "adb shell pm grant com.rockon999.android.leanbacklauncher android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS"
- If you are on firmware 5.2.6 or lower you can disable the stock launcher. See this thread for more information. I don't recommend disabling all amazon features. Only OTA and com.amazon.tv.launcher.
- You should install LauncherHijack v3 for a fully functioning home button.
- If you want Google Search you'll need to install a specific version. 've found a working 2.x series version that is better looking, more stable, and much faster than the previous 1.x version. You can get the APK here. Note: The current version of Leanback on Fire may crash if you try to use the "microphone" orb to interact with the 2.x version. Always use the keyboard orb.
A future version will remove the microphone orb. Unfortunately the latest version is incompatible but an older version works surprisingly well. I've found version 1.0.6.2108324 to be the most stable. You can download the APK here.

Notes:
-The notification counter is still in its infancy and may not always function exactly.
- The app must be restarted for WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission to take effect.
- I'll be posted a full guide to the various Android TV APKs that function on Fire TV soon - The guide is posed in General

BRICK0044 said:

I tried it on my fire tv 3 with no luck. I can see the apps but when I try to open them they just flash for a second and don't open. Thanks for all you do.

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If you can send me the relevant logs (adb logcat | grep leanbacklauncher) I can try to add Fire TV 3 support

BRICK0044 said:

I have never used logcat but I tried to use it from adblink. Should I be tring to open the apps while it is logging and then find "grep leanbacklauncher"?

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I was listing the command to get any log results from the launcher. If you're on a Mac/Linux run "adb logcat | grep leanbacklauncher" in your terminal. If you're on Windows you should be able to use the command "adb shell logcat | grep leanbacklauncher" instead. Once you've run the command attempt to open an app, hopefully an error will appear in your terminal.

BRICK0044 said:

Tried the command you listed and get 'grep' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Try executing "adb shell" and then running "logcat | grep leanback" in the adb shell that opens.

Y314K said:

Great work. Please add this to your OP as the best option of making your Android TV Launcher for FireTV launch @ boot. Especially if not rooted.

https://xdaforums.com/fire-tv/general/noroot-boot-appstarter-t3616824

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Click to collapse

Thanks for reminding me! I actually used this up until I "uninstalled" the stock launcher (after you uninstall it for your user, it asks you which launcher to run on boot)

velayo said:

How did you get amazon video to work?

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I have a FTV Stick 2 on 5.2.6.0 w/ OTA blocked and somehow I have an APK called "com.amazon.amazonvideo.livingroom.firetv". It has always been on my device and works perfectly when launched. Since it ends in ".firetv" I'm fairly certain nothing I've done to my stick brought it about and Amazon merely included it for some unknown reason (I'm guessing as an interface for the prime channel).

AFTVnews.com said:

I second that. @rockon999, please post a donation link and/or enable the XDA built-in donation button.

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Thank you! I added donations to my profile