I have Plex for my media, Steam Link for games, but that's it. Netflix and Amazon are built in, Youtube too, I use them sometimes, but are there any apps that I could install that would blow my mind about what Android TV can do?
I have Plex for my media, Steam Link for games, but that's it. Netflix and Amazon are built in, Youtube too, I use them sometimes, but are there any apps that I could install that would blow my mind about what Android TV can do?
Retroarch for games .nes
I’m fairly new to Android TV, but here’s what I’m using thus far...
Standard apps like Spotify , YouTube , Netflix , etc
VLC : Viewing media files
ES File Explorer : Viewing system files
CyberGhost VPN : Access to US Netflix (I’m in Canada)
AirScreen : Mirror iPhone screen to TV
Button Mapper : I use this app to turn the Yellow, Red, Blue, Green remote buttons into app shortcuts. Eg: Yellow launches VLC
Puffin Browser : Web browser
HopWatch is great for Reddit videos (and photos)
Join lets me "beam" long strings directly the the clipboard of my Shield TV. Great for typing in a long password generator password or an authenticator code.
Never really got into plex, tried it years ago and seemed ok it's it worth it ? You need to pay someone for a server don't you ? I wouldn't mind being able to get overlays onto my android TV. So if motion detected it pops up showing my camera for a few seconds in the corner etc
Well other than few video/audio apps there's not much to do. Which is a shame.
Live channels with hdhomerun tuner, Emby server, Google Drive, Ipvanish, MX Player Pro, Perfect player, Prime video, Puffin TV browser, Sideload channels, Total Commander, VLC player
It's the best home screen, can't go back to anything else.
Mainly what I use is: Netflix, Spotify, YouTube, Kodi, X-plore, VLC, RetroArch, and Chromecast
Live Channels with Streamin DVR app So I can have one epg with ota and iptv Smart Youtube- youtube without ads my favorite app Puffin Browser TV- best web browser for android tv Aptiode TV- best 3rd party app store Archos Video Player- best media player for local movies Es file explorer- might be riddled with ads but swiss army knife for Android tv
Tip - removing "Featured Apps" from Home screen
Just adding to the thread but slightly off topic but related to apps was a tweak to remove the "Featured Apps" section of the home screen. This can be turned off in the settings, but you had to dig for it to find it:
Settings>Apps>System Apps>SonyShelf>Notifications>Off
Once I did this, I rebooted the system (not turn it off/on again from remote, but pulled the plug), then this updated the my "Apps" section to include all the apps I installed. I was able to then organize the apps (by holding down the Enter key on the remote) and move them to order them.
Anyone know how to turn off the top Recommendations list in the home screen?
Depending on what Android TV device you go with: For example with Sony Bravia's they have their own Guide and TV app that normally applies to their internal tuner. And their guide, IMHO, is much more usable and has more information on screen than Google's Live Channels app or HDHR's. But the cool thing is that Sony's apps will gladly use any tuner sources that Live Channels will. So stuff like Pluto TV, HDHomeRun, etc. will all show up like any other channel within Sony's Guide app just like the native internal tuner and it will gladly exist with said tuner as well. The bonus is they have specific 'TV' and 'Guide' buttons on their remotes that jump straight to those apps.
Android TV doesn't really do anything mind blowing that Roku or IOS can do. My staples are Plex, YouTube TV, some gaming with GameStream or GeForce Now, OTA with Live Channels or Channels DVR. Other various apps and services. I guess it's kind of mind blowing that a 4 year old Nvidia Shield is still the best device on the market and getting better.
Sideload channel for homescreen customization