Android TV Launchers - Horrible UI?

by robjdev

Hey all.. So I recently got myself a Nexbox A95x to play with, hardware is really nice, looks sleek, then I turned it on.. The first thing that hit me is the launcher UI is horrible.

Now I know this isn't running Android TV, it's running Android, but I've looked on the Play Store and I can't seem to see any launchers that look anything close to the UI experience of Google's Leanback launcher so I'm wondering what you guys recommend as the launcher for one of these types of boxes? Or do they all just look horrible?

I should mention I'm a Dev and I'm really interested in building an Android TV app, whether that be a pure android TV app or a normal android app with a 10ft interface. So if it turns out there is no sexy alternative to the LeanBack launcher I'm seriously considering building one.. Also if there's anything that you feel is missing from the android TV experience that an app could potentially rectify I'm all ears..

bacchus101

Now I know this thing isn't running Android TV

Then this probably isn't the right sub for this conversation, being this is in fact the Android TV subreddit.

Pandoroxus

HALauncher and TVLauncher both look decent if you want something similar to the stock launcher. Sadly there's nothing that can really replace it.

Edit: I have an Android TV, but I can't really think of something missing from the experience. It's essentially a media consumption device and all of that type of app for it are pretty good.

CuvisTheConqueror

TVLauncher and HALauncher are both unofficial launchers made for Android TV. They might work for your project as well. I do think you'll get a better experience out of an actual Android TV device though.

EDIT: As for missing apps, I'd be interested to see a karaoke app, perhaps? Something that can play CDG or video files, and mix in singing from microphones attached to a USB soundcard or via Bluetooth on the fly...

agodinho77

I use HALauncher because is very customizable and it doesn´t look like ordinary launchers

JimboLodisC

Send that shitbox back and get a real device.

Andrroid

I should mention I'm a Dev and I'm really interested in building an Android TV app

An app that can access my local/network media and create sources for the live channels app (i.e. channels) that then play this media back.

I wish Plex would do this to be honest. "Channels" could be created based on Plex genre metadata, i.e. an "action movie" channel, "comedy" channel, etc.