Sideload Launcher for Android TV released
Posted on 2014-10-23, 15 comments, 237 +1's, imported from Google+/Chainfire

NOTICE: This content was originally posted to Google+, then imported here. Some formatting may be lost, links may be dead, and images may be missing.

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

XDA: http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/app-sideload-launcher-android-tv-t2914962/post56212196#post56212196

+1237
Smity Smith commented on 2014-10-23 at 01:00:

+Chainfire well done mate. I dont own those devices but wanted to say, well done ;-)

Rob Hart commented on 2014-10-23 at 01:59:

Love your work!

Chris Wardall commented on 2014-10-23 at 02:34:

Pre ordered the nexus player so this is good news thanks for the app.

Vito Vizziato commented on 2014-10-23 at 03:09:

Thanks my man!!

Matthew Sherrick commented on 2014-10-23 at 03:33:

Preordered mine also, so this will come in handy! Shared with another person who also preordered one!

Vito Vizziato commented on 2014-10-23 at 03:54:

I can't wait to check it out at Bestbuy

DroidMote commented on 2014-10-23 at 05:52:

Well done. Thanks.

Ghuntar Waldmeister commented on 2014-10-23 at 19:04:

Seems interesting for devices using controller/joypad for the UI like #NvidiaShield   ,  #Ouya  , or any other console oriented device. I'll test it.

Patrick Ellis commented on 2014-10-23 at 21:25:

I'm curious about whether this would work on the Amazon FireTV. I know, I know: "This is only for the new Android TV devices, like the ADT-1 and the Nexus Player, it is completely useless on other devices"

But somehow I still feel like it might actually be useful, given Amazon's walled garden. So long as this doesn't absolutely require Lollipop to install, I'd like to give it a try :) Worst case, it really is useless and I uninstall - no harm done :P

Greg Willard commented on 2014-10-23 at 23:20:

I literally just got my ADT-1 in the mail and had planned on making something like this. Great minds think alike, I guess. (Even though yours is about 500x greater than mine.)

Christopher Zurcher commented on 2014-10-25 at 08:12:

Working nicely, thanks. Is there any chance it could have the option to only show apps that don't already declare the leanback launcher though? It gets a bit cluttered once you've got a couple dozen TV apps mixed in there.

Orions Angel commented on 2014-10-27 at 00:54:

Well done sir!

Thea Lychhing commented on 2014-11-06 at 08:32:

Ty

Jared Wuerzburger commented on 2014-11-18 at 15:38:

very helpful.

Aye Mossum commented on 2015-01-08 at 23:24:

I was just wondering how to get to the apps I told it to load via the play store on web (without going the long way via settings->apps). You rock!

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