This is a collection of Fire TV mods using Xposed. It requires that you are on software version 51.1.4.0 or newer. It currently contains:
AlternateLauncher: This will start an alternate launcher instead of the Amazon one. It will load when the Fire TV starts and anytime you push the home button. The way this is done is a little hokey and there is currently no way to turn it off or select which launcher you want, so if you have more than one, the one that gets started is it.
HideAmazonMenuItems: Gives a settings menu to select which menu items to show.
HideLauncherAds: Hide the ad at the top of the Home screen.
KeyBindings: Allows any key to start any app.
RecentsOnMenuLong: Bring up the recents dialog when long pressing the home button.
HideAmazonMenuItems:
In order to do this, I had to hijack an existing Settings item, so the Help option is gone and I put a 'Menu Items' option at the beginning of the settings list. You can turn on/off any item except Home and Settings. After making changes you must reboot to see the changes.
KeyBindings:
Someone requested this, but doing a UI for it would be too complicated, and I figured I'd put the feature out there for people to use, and eventually get around to making a UI for it. For now, you'll have to configure it manually. Create a file called key_bindings.xml and make it look like this:
Code:
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8' standalone='yes' ?>
<map>
<string name="KEYCODE_F1">org.chromium.content_shell_apk</string>
<string name="KEYCODE_F2_LONG">com.pandora.android.gtv</string>
</map>
You can have as many entries as you like. You can find the KEYCODE names listed here: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/KeyEvent.html To set up a long press key put _LONG at the end of the key name. The other part is the package name you wish to start, org.chromium.content_shell_apk is Netflix. Then just adb push key_bindings.xml /sdcard/ and reboot. And it should start whatever app you specified when pressing that button. Do note that the button will not longer do whatever else it used to do. So if you bind ENTER to something, it will not longer function normally. By default, long press on home will launch the recents dialog. If you set up KEYCODE_HOME_LONG, it will override that behavior.
Starting with 51.1.5.0, Amazon provides a shortcut menu on home long press. If you would like to retain this functionality, you can use this key_bindings.xml file (Thanks to @Firef0xx819):
Code:
<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8' standalone='yes' ?>
<map>
<string name="KEYCODE_HOME_LONG"></string>
</map>
Please let me know if you have any issues. One problem I know of is that it doesn't seem to show up in the list of applications, so if you want to uninstall it you need to use adb, ssh, or a terminal using the command pm uninstall rbox.xposed.firetvmods
Source code: https://github.com/androidrbox/RboxFireTvMods/
Changelog and Downloads:
1.4: Added HideLauncherAds
1.3: Fix HideAmazonMenuItems for 51.1.4.0.
1.2: Allow KeyBindings to support long press keys
1.1: Added HideAmazonMenuItems, KeyBindings, and RecentsOnMenuLong
1.0: Initial version
Awesome. XBMC is now my launcher!
elmerohueso said:
Awesome. XBMC is now my launcher!
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how? I have Xposed installed and have installed and activated the module ... how do I choose xbmc as the launcher?
I assume it's because he repackaged or recompiled the apk to include the launcher intent.
I found a handy app on the Play Store that allows XBMC to act as a launcher without having to make any modifications to the XBMC .apk. I just sideloaded it after installing/activating the Xposed module, and now pressing the home button takes me to XBMC right away. Seems to work perfectly so far, although I haven't yet tested what happens when there is more than one launcher installed.
Play Store link for XBMC Launcher:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.blunden.xbmclauncher
Evozi APK Downloader link:
http://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/?id=se.blunden.xbmclauncher
I've installed xposed, and the module. The module is activated, but I have no alternate launcher on bootup, or when I press home.
treqie said:
I've installed xposed, and the module. The module is activated, but I have no alternate launcher on bootup, or when I press home.
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I believe you need to launch that alternate launcher first.
Shinyhead said:
I believe you need to launch that alternate launcher first.
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And where might that be, exactly? There's nothing in Applications, the module has been loaded and activated.. but there's nothing in xpose itself that points me to anything launchable.
treqie said:
And where might that be, exactly? There's nothing in Applications, the module has been loaded and activated.. but there's nothing in xpose itself that points me to anything launchable.
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I used FiredTV launcher as my alternate launcher. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2782307
treqie said:
And where might that be, exactly? There's nothing in Applications, the module has been loaded and activated.. but there's nothing in xpose itself that points me to anything launchable.
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You need to install another launcher, the xposed module isn't a launcher itself. Install the XBMC Launcher linked above by essdee. I just restarted my FireTV and it worked right away.
I get "sorry, cannot open" when I try to launch! What am I doing wrong? I've installed using ADB and shell. Both give me the same result when I try to launch.
You have to install Xposed which is linked in the first link, then open Xposed and 'install' it, reboot when asked then open Xposed, go to Modules and using a mouse check the appropriate module's checkbox on the right.
..
JJ-KwiK said:
So, which launchers have been tried/tested so far? There are a couple a TV themed launchers on Google Play. I wonder if any of those would work...
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I tried TV Launcher, but it's not free. Now I'm using XBMC as my launcher.
..
Apex launcher
Apex launcher works after using Xposed module. Some Apex features don't work, but I figured out how to link activities to shortcuts with custom icons in the Apex launcher. So I have shortcuts for AFTV launcher, Applications (native app manager under settings), Controllers (native under settings), and Network (navite under settings/system).
Fire TV boots directly to Apex launcher. Home button returns to Apex launcher always. Placed XBMC shortcut first on Apex so its easy to launch XBMC from anywhere by pressing home then enter.
Near perfect. Thanks for the module rbox.
Just curious.... I haven't seen any posts about this so I was surprised to find all of my installed apps in a generic five icon wide grid launcher format under Apps, in between Games and Photos, in the AFTV launcher. Is this normal?
htpcforall said:
Just curious.... I haven't seen any posts about this so I was surprised to find all of my installed apps in a generic five icon wide grid launcher format under Apps, in between Games and Photos, in the AFTV launcher. Is this normal?
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That is weird. I know you mentioned in the other post you didn't install the Amazon app store. Quite strange. If you read through that post you saw I am working on an addition to this module that basically does the same thing, without breaking everything else like the app store does. I never saw anything that would hint that this was built in functionality to the launcher itself though.
htpcforall said:
Apex launcher works after using Xposed module. Some Apex features don't work, but I figured out how to link activities to shortcuts with custom icons in the Apex launcher. So I have shortcuts for AFTV launcher, Applications (native app manager under settings), Controllers (native under settings), and Network (navite under settings/system).
Fire TV boots directly to Apex launcher. Home button returns to Apex launcher always. Placed XBMC shortcut first on Apex so its easy to launch XBMC from anywhere by pressing home then enter.
Near perfect. Thanks for the module rbox.
Just curious.... I haven't seen any posts about this so I was surprised to find all of my installed apps in a generic five icon wide grid launcher format under Apps, in between Games and Photos, in the AFTV launcher. Is this normal?
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This sounds pretty nice, any chance we can get a screenshot of what your default home screen looks like now?
servo386 said:
This sounds pretty nice, any chance we can get a screenshot of what your default home screen looks like now?
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i think the biggest issue with i had with apex was it isnt fully remote friendly, for me on a htpc i would like full control with the remote myself. its suprising that there arernt any good TV launchers out there already.
htpcforall said:
Apex launcher works after using Xposed module. Some Apex features don't work, but I figured out how to link activities to shortcuts with custom icons in the Apex launcher. So I have shortcuts for AFTV launcher, Applications (native app manager under settings), Controllers (native under settings), and Network (navite under settings/system).
Fire TV boots directly to Apex launcher. Home button returns to Apex launcher always. Placed XBMC shortcut first on Apex so its easy to launch XBMC from anywhere by pressing home then enter.
Near perfect. Thanks for the module rbox.
Just curious.... I haven't seen any posts about this so I was surprised to find all of my installed apps in a generic five icon wide grid launcher format under Apps, in between Games and Photos, in the AFTV launcher. Is this normal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm installed the same method as described in the xbmc wiki: 3.3 Xposed and rbox module (Requires root)
So everything went well, until I wanted to go back to the vanilla firetv homescreen. It says that if I exit xbmc with the button on the bottom, it should return me to that screen. Nope, it just restarts reboots xbmc. First how do I fix this and second, how can I remove the apks to get rid of this if it's not what I am looking for? I tried using adbfire app in osx, I chose uninstall apk, and pasted the same .apk that I installed with but it says that there isn't one of that name...
I have Gotham with Xposed and rbox. My FTV is rooted. I read the wiki but have some confusion.
Would FiredTV still show the default Amazon menu for a second, or would it be better because I'm rooted?
I want something like FiredTV that will show my sideloaded apps on boot up, but I would like to avoid the "blink" of showing the default menu for a second. Is FiredTV the best or should I pick something else?
I want the first screen to let me choose from my favorites. XBMC, Amazon's menu, or a few other apps. If possible I want to "pin" my favorite Amazon-supported apps there (I want to put Pluto.TV's Fire TV app.)
Thanks for any help.
dreamy said:
I have Gotham with Xposed and rbox. My FTV is rooted. I read the wiki but have some confusion.
Would FiredTV still show the default Amazon menu for a second, or would it be better because I'm rooted?
I want something like FiredTV that will show my sideloaded apps on boot up, but I would like to avoid the "blink" of showing the default menu for a second. Is FiredTV the best or should I pick something else?
I want the first screen to let me choose from my favorites. XBMC, Amazon's menu, or a few other apps. If possible I want to "pin" my favorite Amazon-supported apps there (I want to put Pluto.TV's Fire TV app.)
Thanks for any help.
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with exposed and firedTV you wont see the blink of the amazon menu, but it is accessable via an icon in firedTV you can add and remove icons with firedTV, everything installed should show up automatically. imo its the best solution since it works fully with a remote with a new version on the way with some nice improvements.
Installed a few mins ago. It's very good so far.
I've read in several different places that people use Nova Launcher with the Fire TV. Since I've already purchased Nova Launcher Prime, I figured this would be a particularly good option for me.
The problem I'm running into is that I can't launch most of the Amazon apps. If I try Amazon Video, the screen just flashes and then goes back to the app drawer. If I tried Appstore or Amazon Music, I get "permission denid" (Amazon FreeTime, oddly enough, works just fine, as does the Fire TV App Tutorial, but I don't need either of those ). My Fire TV is rooted, and running the latest firmware version.
Has anyone else seen this, and if so, do you have a solution? I can't find any mention of it by searching the web, which makes me think it might be an issue introduced with recent firmware versions. It occurred to me it might have something to do with root: when I rooted my daughter's Kindle Fire, we couldn't watch Amazon videos on it without turning root off temporarily. I can't find a way to turn off root temporarily using SU on the Fire TV, though--there's no way to launnch SuperSU from Settings, and attempting to launch it from the Nova app drawer does nothing.
Given this problem, I abandoned Nova Launcher and tried several other things. XBMC/SPMC is nice, but it doesn't give easy access to Android apps, without some finagling (I'll install the non-launcher version of SPMC so that my wife can browse TV). I've seen mentions of several launchers for Google TV or Android set top boxes, but most of those can't be found anymore, or they don't work on the Fire TV.
However, I eventually was able to make Nova work, by adding a shortcut to the Fire TV Launcher on a home screen: when adding something to a home screen, select "Shortcuts", then "Activities". There are several paths to the Fire TV home screen, the simplest probably being the "Home" activity under "KFTV Launcher"--there's also at least one under "Android System" (the one ending in "ChooserActivity"), and another somewhere else I can't remember. Once I put the shortcut in place, I edited the icon, using the green one for Amazon Instant Video. Interestingly, even using the Activities Shortcuts method, you can't go directly into videos, music, etc.--you get a "Permission denied".
Of course, to make Nova work as the launcher, I'm using rbox's mods package, which includes support for an alternate launcher: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786618
OK...so the above solution isn't completely unproblematic: if any apps are open (including apps opened directly from Nova--even sideloaded apps), opening the Fire TV Launcher goes to those apps. The only way I've been able to get back to the menu (other than hitting the "Back" button a lot) is to go into System Settings from Nova Launcher. What I probably need is an app that'll force stop KFTV--but that's ugly and time-consuming. Any suggestions?
EDIT: That was easy. When creating app shortcuts on the Nova home screen, I hadn't seen a KFTV Launcher app--but it's there, called "Home", and that one always goes to the KFTV home menu.
Hi
I have the Eminence theme installed on an unrooted Fire TV. The eminence skin lets you edit built-in functions of the buttons (tiles). I'm looking for a way to use on of the buttons to open the android home screen where my apps are. I can edit the button with an ActivateWindow(10001...) function but this just opens up a window in programs. I can access the apps there but would prefer the Android home screen Can anyone help?
Can't you just use a link to the Android app KTVLauncher? That will boot you to the retail Amazon menu.
KCFish said:
Can't you just use a link to the Android app KTVLauncher? That will boot you to the retail Amazon menu.
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Yes, we can use favorites for this.
Go to program addons - Android apps and add a favorite for kftv launcher. Then add this favorite as a button in your theme settings.
Sent from my GT-I9195 using XDA Free mobile app
I am on Kindle Fire HDX 7 inch stock rom 4.5.5.1 I use buzz launcher and buzz widget which btw works nice for wallpaper and widgets on stock, I don't know if this will work for all alternate launchers but it should.
Install QuickShortcutMaker by sika524
I got it off Google play then transferred it to my kindle.
Scroll to the Kindle App click it then Scroll to
com.amazon.kindle/com.amazon.kcp.library.tabletlibraryactivity
Click on it and then at the bottom of the screen click create and then home screen to place the shortcut.
DBCAB said:
I am on Kindle Fire HDX 7 inch stock rom 4.5.5.1 I use buzz launcher and buzz widget which btw works nice for wallpaper and widgets on stock, I don't know if this will work for all alternate launchers but it should.
Install QuickShortcutMaker by sika524
I got it off Google play then transferred it to my kindle.
Scroll to the Kindle App click it then Scroll to
com.amazon.kindle/com.amazon.kcp.library.tabletlibraryactivity
Click on it and then at the bottom of the screen click create and then home screen to place the shortcut.
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Click to collapse
I got the shortcut app from 1Mobile Market to save transferring it.
The shortcut appears on the Nova launcher home screen too.
I would like a shortcut to the audible library but when I click on the audible app I can't find any reference to a library. Any ideas?
julianporter5 said:
I got the shortcut app from 1Mobile Market to save transferring it.
The shortcut appears on the Nova launcher home screen too.
I would like a shortcut to the audible library but when I click on the audible app I can't find any reference to a library. Any ideas?
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I have never used the audible program I assume its the same method find the program under which find the activity and place the shortcut, there may be more then one reference to that audible program search through all the apps is all can think of.