Make your Google TV look like Apple TV with this free app

Like many different streaming platforms, Google TV is steadily getting more durable to tolerate.

Finding one thing to look at requires wading via all types of adverts and upsells, from the sponsored listings on the prime of the house display to a number of rows touting films and exhibits for buy. Those money-grabs detract from what was once one of many extra helpful streaming TV dwelling screens.

A brand new app referred to as AT4K Launcher gives an answer, with another launcher that shamelessly borrows from the Apple TV interface. With a couple of minutes of setup, you’ll be able to take away the adverts from Google TV’s dwelling display and get a a lot less complicated menu for apps. If you could have a Google TV good tv (from manufacturers like TCL, Hisense, and Sony) or a Google TV streaming participant (like the superb Walmart Onn 4K Plus), this free app is at the very least value a glance.

How AT4K Launcher works

AT4K Launcher is another dwelling display (often known as a launcher) for Google TV and Android TV units. It lists all of the apps you’ve put in in your good TV or streaming gadget, however with a distinct presentation than the default dwelling display.

The inspiration is evident: AT4K Launcher seems to be almost similar to the app grid on Apple TV streaming boxes, with 5 massive app icons per row and a carousel of featured content material on the prime. You can reposition apps by long-pressing them and selecting the place you need them to look.

That prime function carousel works equally to Apple TV as nicely. When you spotlight an app within the prime row, it’ll present a listing of issues to look at, seemingly based mostly on Android TV’s advice rows. Clicking a type of suggestions takes you on to the video.

Jared Newman / Foundry

If an app doesn’t assist dwelling display suggestions (such as Netflix), AT4K Launcher’s prime carousel will as a substitute present a “Watch Next” row, with just lately watched films and exhibits from throughout completely different apps. You also can conceal the highest carousel solely via AT4K Launcher’s settings menu.

AT4K Launcher is free to make use of, with an non-obligatory one-time buy of $5 to unlock some further options, together with customized wallpapers and an choice to have six apps per row as a substitute of 5. While it’s not the one alternative launcher for Google TV units (Projectivy is a well-liked different), I recognize its visible polish and the best way it handles suggestions.

Jared Newman / Foundry

That mentioned, the app has room for enchancment. The Watch Next row might use its personal devoted app icon, together with an choice so as to add or take away gadgets from it. And maybe long-pressing an icon might reveal extra choices for issues like uninstalling and viewing the app data web page. Unlike on Apple TV, there’s no folder assist both. At least the developer appears aware of options and bug experiences on AT4K Launcher’s subreddit.

Replacing Google TV’s default launcher

When you install AT4K Launcher from the Google Play Store, it’ll seem as an app on the usual Google TV dwelling display, and also you’ll must launch it manually each time.

That’s clearly not superb. If you wish to exchange the common dwelling display with AT4K Launcher, there are a few methods to strategy it:

The simpler approach

The best choice is to remap your distant’s dwelling button so it opens the AT4K Launcher app. For this, I like to recommend a separate app referred to as TVQuickActions, or the optional Pro version ($4). I’ve written a separate article on setting up TVQuickActions, however right here’s the gist:

• Install the TVQuickActions app in your Google TV gadget.
• Skip over the Show Overlay and Usage Access setup screens until you wish to enable some more advanced controls, and skip the battery optimization display as nicely.
• When prompted to start out the accessibility service, hit “Agree.”
• In your gadget’s Settings menu, head to Accessibility, then scroll to the button and allow “tvQuickActions.”

Jared Newman / Foundry

• In the TVQuickActions app, head to Mappings and choose “Add Button.”
• Hit your distant’s Home button.
• Set “Button action type” to “Usual action.”
• Set “Single press” to “AT4K Launcher.”
• Select “Double press” or “Long press,” then look underneath the “Action” tab and choose “Go to home.” (This enables you to return to Google’s default dwelling display as wanted.)

Jared Newman / Foundry

Using TVQuickActions to remap your house button has a few downsides: The customary dwelling display will all the time seem when your TV first activates, and also you’ll must hit the again button as a substitute of the house button to exit Google TV’s screensaver mode. Still, I like which you could simply return to the default dwelling display, whose broader suggestions can generally come in useful.

The more durable approach

If you wish to totally exchange Google TV’s customary launcher, you could use a distinct app referred to as Launcher Manager. It’s solely accessible through sideloading and requires further configuration to setup. Advanced customers who’re comfy with sideloading can observe these directions:

• Install Downloader by AFTVnews from the Google Play Store.
• Open the Downloader app, then enter 160445 in its deal with bar.

Jared Newman / Foundry

• When you see the warning about putting in unknown apps, hit the “Settings” button
• Enable the toggle for Downloader.

Jared Newman / Foundry

• Hit the “Install” button when prompted.
• Open the Launcher Manager app and choose “Enable Custom Launcher.”
• If you get a “Connection Failed” message, hit “Open ADB Settings.”
• In the subsequent menu, activate developer choices and allow USB debugging.
• Return to the Launcher Manager app and choose “Enable Custom Launcher” once more.

Jared Newman / Foundry

Now, your Google TV gadget will all the time load AT4K Launcher at startup and whenever you hit the house button. If you might want to entry the default Google TV dwelling display once more, simply open Launcher Manager and choose “Disable Custom Launcher.”

This story is a part of TechHive’s in-depth protection of the best media streamers.

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