Nvidia Shield - regular apps?

by LoveParadeFest

Hi guys,

Switching to an Nvidia shield from an "android box" at the end of the month. My question is - can the Nvidia shield run regular android apps, or do apps need to be specifically optimised? I have a tonne of children's books I read to the kids that actually work great on the TV on regular android and I'd hate to lose this capability.

Cheers,

nessguy

In order to install apps on Android TV the apps have to be considered Android TV compatible on the play store. (I'm not sure how one can check this without having an android tv)

If you provide some specific examples of books/apps that you want to know about, someone could probably check for you.

If you have an apk file for the app then it can usually be sideloaded onto Android TV, even if the play store didn't consider it compatible.

GazaIan

To launch them from the regular launcher, they will need to be optimized with Leanback support. You can install unsupported apps, but you have to launch them through the Settings menu.

If you are going to go that route, have a mouse/keyboard handy. You're gonna need it, depending on the app.