Install Android mobile apps

[Jack Liu]

Is it possible to install normal Android apps that's not Android TV compatible?

Or replace the default OS with a normal Android OS?

[Woody]

As far as i know.. that is a great big no 

[Emporium]

Actually can you be more specific on which type of apps ? 

I have installed pretty much everything I install on all my boxes and have not had any issues.  I have all the APK downloaded on a USB stick, and insert stick and install them all, one after the other... (beetv, hbplayer, mxplayer, solid explorer, smarters, windscribe vpn client, keepsolid vpn client, greektv app, and a few others) with no issues.

OK, if the app is not designed for use on a device with a remote, you may have to enable mouse pointer.  If you need to do this often, it may be worth considering getting a buzz ARQ-200 series remote, which has Gyro style sensing to move mouse cursor.  Or even a cheap Mini Wireless Multi-Media Keyboards off amazon, they are damn cheap, typically under CDN$15.

Keep in mind however that this device is running Android 13.  So the app needs to be compatible with Android 13.  Some TV apps are still way behind for that.

 

[Jack Liu]

It's a custom built commercial app for the company that I work for and is built for a touch screen tv. It runs poorly on all-in-one touchscreen kiosks and I'm hoping to use BuzzTV as an external android computer, and connect it to a touch screen monitor.

Sadly the app isn't made for Android TV so I couldn't install it

[Emporium]

3 minutes ago, Jack Liu said:

It's a custom built commercial app for the company that I work for and is built for a touch screen tv. It runs poorly on all-in-one touchscreen kiosks and I'm hoping to use BuzzTV as an external android computer, and connect it to a touch screen monitor.

Sadly the app isn't made for Android TV so I couldn't install it

It is usually a single line in the manifest for it to be allowed to be installed on AndroidTV.

If your company makes the app, then it should be trivial for them to build a version with it enabled.  I know I have done it on other apps ages ago, by dearchiving them using Android Studio, then editing the manfest and recreating them.  Been ages though.  It was for 1 app specifically that I would do it for,

I have not even tested using a touch screen monitor on a Buzz box.  I should probably pull out my ELO screen sometime next week, and see if it works when the touch controller i plugged into the box.

Does the app give an error during install, or does it install, but you don't see an icon in the default androidTV launcher ?  

 

[Jack Liu]

7 minutes ago, Emporium said:

It is usually a single line in the manifest for it to be allowed to be installed on AndroidTV.

If your company makes the app, then it should be trivial for them to build a version with it enabled.  I know I have done it on other apps ages ago, by dearchiving them using Android Studio, then editing the manfest and recreating them.  Been ages though.  It was for 1 app specifically that I would do it for,

I have not even tested using a touch screen monitor on a Buzz box.  I should probably pull out my ELO screen sometime next week, and see if it works when the touch controller i plugged into the box.

Does the app give an error during install, or does it install, but you don't see an icon in the default androidTV launcher ?  

 

I originally tried to install it from Play Store (where we currently get it) and it just doesn't show up (says incompatible with my device). I'll try the apk file directly next week, but my thoughts are it'll also give me an incompatible error when I try to install it.

Updating it to be Android TV compatible should be possible but want to see if there are alternative solutions before asking the engineering team to update the app.

Let me know if ELO screen works if you get a chance to try it