[APP][TV5.0+][2015.03.10] Sideload Launcher for Android TV v1.05

[Chainfire]

Easily launch apps you sideloaded to your Android TV

This is only for the new Android TV devices, like the ADT-1 and the Nexus Player, it is completely useless on other devices

Android TV requires existing apps to be updated and declare themselves compatible before they're installable from the Play store.

While certainly not as streamlined or seamless as the average user would wish for their TV, many apps can still function on some level on these devices if you sideload them, but they don't show up in the Leanback Launcher (the Android TV homescreen).

So for that there is this app, the Sideload Launcher. A simple app that shows you the normal app launcher icons that a phone or tablet would show you, but which are hidden on Android TV, allowing you to launch any sideloaded app!

PS. This is a rather silly small app, but it came in handy for me while messing around. I don't expect this to become even remotely popular even when Android TV takes off, but it only took two hours to write, and I learned some new APIs, so if anyone at all ends up using being happy it exists, I consider that a win.

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher

Redistribution of the APK is not allowed.
(1.00: 1000 downloads; 1.02: 1140)

 

[wytecaztle]

Thanks for this. This will def come in handy.

 

[mr3p]

very cool. could this be modified or something similar for amazon firetv?

 

[bertcarv]

Excellent work as always.

Thank you!

Bert

 

[prstorero]

I was one of the people who preordered the Nexus Player, so this makes the wait even harder now! Thanks for all the work you do man.

 

[Harkunwar]

Don't know why but I just got my ADT today and it ain't working. Updating to lollypop

 

[Pilz]

Do we have to sideload this to the Nexus Player through adb to get it on there?

 

[Chainfire]

Do we have to sideload this to the Nexus Player through adb to get it on there?

Yes, it's need to be slightly updated before the Play store will allow it to be visible because of the new TV guidelines...

 

[jblaylock]

How do you sideload on this device? I got mine yesterday and just hooked it up.

 

[sluflyer06]

I'm far from a newb when it comes to using adb, fastboot and doing pretty much anything on android but I cannot get sideload to work on the nexus player. I've tried it from PC and Mac, I've used the most recent ADB version and USB driver. ADB sees the player but if i try to sideload it says "error". I've tried in recovery, frmo within a normal boot (dev options enabled, ADB is allowed as well as unknown sources)

 

[Chainfire]

adb install filename.apk

 

[jblaylock]

adb install filename.apk

Thanks

Sent from my Nexus 5

 

[Chainfire]

Icons and banners updated. Hopefully Play will allow it on the TV store now

EDIT: Approved by Google for TV distribution, yay! Now if only the Play store on my device would actually work, I could check it out...

 

[toe451]

This is so nice, using it on the nexus player . all my sideload apps are showing up , except for plex ver 3.6.2.267 , i find it in system, apps section.... thanks for making this ,great time saver....Thanks

 

[IBNobody]

[BUG] Menu Key Broken

I ran into a bug with v1.02.

I'm running this on the Nexus Player. I have the Amazon Fire TV stick remote paired with it. That gives me access to the menu button.

When I hit the menu button, Sideload Launcher hangs - no button presses except for the back button or the home button are recognized.

 

[Konstigt]

This app, Viaplay, does not show up in Sideload launcher. Any idea why?

 

[e_rocm]

Some Apps Not Showing

I sideloaded Plex (because the Android TV version of Plex is still too buggy for me) and it does not show up in Sideload Launcher.

As a workaround I tried to use Tasker and Autoshortcut to create an app with Tasker App Factory to open Plex. Thinking if I named the app something different it would show up in the Launcher. Well, that didn't work either as that app isn't showing. Is there a reason why certain apps aren't showing in the Sideload Launcher?

 

[rob_fed]

Plex development version v3.8.2.294 is not showing on the Nexus player. Earlier dev versions worked fine in the v3.5 ranges.

 

[Otisrhw]

Is chrome preinstalled in sideload ?

 

[Chainfire]

Updated to v1.05: should make some of the missing apps show up. The app wouldn't load the title of apps that weren't properly localized (bad developer!), and in turn would fail to display them.