This app was mentioned in 97 comments, with an average of 1.75 upvotes
It doesn't have a leanback icon so you have to launch it via voice or install something like Sideload Launcher to select it.
has anyone managed to install PopCorn Time on an android smart TV? I read about the Sideload Launcher which is supposed to enable installation of third party apps but I haven't been able to test it.
If you are going to try a third-party launcher, you may want to take a look at the [List of alternative launchers for Android TV](/r/AndroidTV/comments/nkboqd/list_of_alternative_launchers_for_android_tv/) that I posted over on /r/AndroidTV.
The stock Android TV launcher included with the Mi Boxes does not show non-Android TV apps, which would include sideloaded Android phone apps (which is probably what you installed). Install Sideload Launcher or HALauncher to launch these apps.
Using the Sideload Launcher you will see all the APKs installed. There are some programs in the default install that don't show up on the menu:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
There might be another way to get it to launch. There's an app called Sideload Launcher that will show all apps installed and let you browse through your apps that are hidden.
Although, from what I'm seeing the Netflix app should already be installed and also visible from the main screen. She might need to just take the TV back or buy another device to attach to it that works better.
Chrome isn't properly optimized for Android TV so it doesn't have a tile in the launcher when installed. (since Android TV is a fork of Android, Chrome will still install)
You either need an app launcher like Sideload Launcher to navigate to it via the remote, or just use the voice command "open Chrome". The gamepad's right control stick will operate as a mouse.
I'll go ahead and answer #3, it does have the Play Store but it is different and not every app for your phone is available. A lot of the apps that aren't available can be installed from play.google.com and launched using this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
#2 The remote uses bluetooth, and I'll throw a couple different things at it tonight and see if I can give you an answer on the max.
Tip: For apps that don't appear in the launcher, use Sideload Launcher to view installed apps.
You can also do a voice command "open Chrome" to get to it.
As far as apps that can be installed via the web but aren't discoverable in the Play Store app on the device itself, you're probably never going to see the icon in the launcher. If there's any that do have Android TV support but don't show up in the ATV app store, then I'd love to see them mentioned.
Google. If it ain't optimised for TV it will by default be hidden, but usually found in settings-apps. Weird it ain't there
Try installing a sideload launcher to see if it shows up
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
I just use sideload launcher
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
EDIT: But that doesn't create shortcuts, like you asked :shrug:
Yes the workaround is to install this app (Sideload Launcher) - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en_US
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Sideload launcher will show up as an icon on your home screen, and when you open it up it will look just like you opened up a folder, inside will be all your sideloaded app icons.
I downloaded the apk, put it on a usb and installed through ESBrowser. Since its side loaded it won't show up by default in your app lists but there are guides online on how to get it to show up. Or you can use a sideload launcher like this one You'll need a mouse to initially set up PIA and select what server you want to use.
You need to install this: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en If you install an app that's not meant for Android tv, it will not show a card on the main screen. This app will show you all of your sideloaded apps.
You may be able to use this app, basically one click from the dashboard to see all apps instead of just Android TV apps.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
Using the controller is a good idea, that hadn't occurred to me.
If the app is installed and you just can't see it, you should be able to get to it using this app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
You are exactly correct, the right stalk controls the mouse cursor. This will be useful for a couple of different things for me.
Thanks!
I've sideloaded a few. Sometimes they're equipped to accept a gamepad/remote as input and others aren't. Just have to give it a try. I need Sideload Launcher to access a few of them though.
After you install Vue Mobile from play.google.com to your Shield TV. Directly from your play store on the Shield TV, you search (I used voice search) for Side Load Launcher, it was the first app from Chainfire. (Link Here)
~~Minecraft shows up on my Shield TV under the Games section.~~ (nm, it was the Story Mode version) You could also try installing Sideload Launcher to open up apps that don't appear in the main launcher.
It's not in the TV play store, but can be installed from the Web play store, and shows as compatible with my Nexus Player. You'll need Sideload Launcher, or as /u/jwiv said, Settings -> Apps.
Check out this app called Sideload Launcher. It should allow you to find the sideloaded apps that do not show up on the launcher a little bit more easily instead of having to go into settings every time.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
I was able to install the standard android app on my nexus player using the following steps:
Using the web interface for the play store, Install: Sideload Launcher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
Again from the play store, Install ES File Explorer: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop&hl=en
Find the slingtv APK from various sources, they had downloads posted before it was put in the play store, and add it to google drive. Place it in dropbox or google drive.
Sign into ES Explorer and add your cloud storage option of choice, and navigate to your cloud storage and download/install.
Run sideload launcher from the main screen, launch into sling tv, enjoy.
That's most likely because those Apps are not made for Android TV (even if they work fine on your device). You'll need something like Sideload Launcher to access those Apps more conveniently.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
Not only this but for future reference also..
Transfer files from your phone or computer to Shield Tv and install it from Solid Explorer. Open Sideload launcher to view all applications.
I got the android game apk from apkmodo.net the original version of the game (1.3.3) which is about 65MB.
It’s sideloaded on my de device and I have to use sideload launcher to run it (if I don’t run it with sideload launcher it won’t start)
Good performance but this game is also not heavy so it would be weird if it wouldn’t run properly.
If you got good (wired) connection stadia games are probably best. You can test a few free games also like PUBG, Destiny 2,..
On Android TV, the easiest native way that I found is to open Google Podcast via a web browser. If your Android TV doesn't have a web browser, install "Latest release" of .apk version of Firefox for Android. Then launch it with Sideload Launcher.
https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/releases
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
Sideloaded non-AndroidTV apps won't appear in the launcher, you're going to need another app to launch them, such as Sideload Launcher
I don't know what Side load Channel Launcher 2 is
Sideload Launcher is free https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
I meant this Sideload Channel https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dxidev.sideload.channel.launcher
Some use ES File Explorer to side-load, as it has lots of bells and whistles that help get to your files. I stopped when I saw my firewall intercepting traffic to China. I later learned that this is typical for the app, but I decided to skip it all the same.
These days, I usually go on my PC to apkmirror or install it on my android, then backup the app to APK, and save that so I can sneaker net it to my Shield.
I use this ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher ) to launch apps that aren't listed in the main launcher.
sideload launcher is an add-on launcher that lets you launch any apps which aren't android TV compatible. it should list that bbc app there. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en_US
and you need to install sideload launcher on your Shield TV to open Zwift:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
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to copy files from Phone to Shield TV I uploaded them to Google Drive and used ES File Explorer on Shield TV to download the files from Google Drive.
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When update is available for Zwift, you need to copy both files to Shield TV again...
Side-load launcher FTW!!!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en_US
For some people AppStarter was causing their Go to crash, which is now the case for me :(. However Sideload Launcher fills in the gap very nicely!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en_US
For sideloaded apps that don't have a tile for your homescreen, use an app like Sideload Launcher or HALauncher.
I don't know how to bypass anything with Sky TVs apps. Never dealt with them.
It means the app is not Android TV compatible and you'll have to side load it some way. You could use sideload launcher (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en)
You could also use this site (http://atvlauncher.trekgonewild.de/index.php) to make an apk that will launch the app directly and not require the above solution. Make the apk, then sideload it and you should now have access to Acorn TV app from the launcher.
I think there's a bug with the Plex app that's causing it to not show up on the leanback launcher App row on Bravia TVs; I've seen others in this sub complain about this very same issue. Per Plex:
> It will try to detect the device it is running on and will adjust the UI as needed. Currently there are 4 possible UIs:
For some reason, the app isn't displaying the icon for the leanback launcher on Android TV (option 3 above) like it's supposed to.
You could try Sideload Launcher to find and launch Plex or TV App Repo to create a launcher icon for Plex. Or, you could uninstall the Plex app and try to reinstall it from the Play Store on your Bravia TV (don't install it from a web browser) after the Featured Apps row is disabled.
The launcher that I use on my Mi Box is Sideload Launcher. On the Mi Box, anything which isn't installed from the Play Store doesn't seem to show up in the main launcher, so I think just grabbing the APK might not be good enough.
I've successfully installed FireTV apps on my Sony Bravia tv using adb. Just connect adb to the tv adb connect {ip address of tv}
, then install the apk adb install {name of app}.apk
. Simple as that. You might need an app like Sideload Launcher or Tv App Repo to make the icons for the FireTV apps show up on the leanback launcher.
I found this a few days ago. I don't think there are a lot of (good) custom ROMs for Android TV, what I found online was that people didn't think there would be that much to improve on.
So here's the link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
What that does is allow you to launch apps that don't appear in the normal Google launcher, including sideloaded apps and in this case the PS Vue app.
Once you have that installed open it and you'll be able to see in the PS Vue app and start it.
There are a lot of apps that do that on the ShieldTV. It's annoying to say the least.
Install Sideload Launcher from the web onto the Shield and when you run that from the Shield's main menu it will give you icons for ALL the apps you've loaded, not just the ones it feels like showing you.
Sometimes I swear I spend more time making the ShieldTV act like the device it should be than playing games and video on it combined.
It's installed, it's just not in your leanback launcher. You need something like Sideload Launcher installed to access it or hit the mic button and say "open Chrome"
It's tricky to use with the remote, but the gamepad lets you use the right control stick as a mouse.
You might need to use Sideload launcher https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher to find and launch it on the shield. I'm away from mine right now, or I'd check.
Certain apps don't show up on Android TV's home screen for some reason. Install Sideload Launcher to access those apps.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
basically app's need to say they support Android TV to show up, a lot don't , but sideload launcher works for me, for reicast and some others
I connected the controller using an xbox 360 usb wireless receiver. As for the mapping of the controller, deus ex was plug and play. As I said before this was back in November, so I don't completely recall my setup but I'm pretty sure I did the following:
sideload the liquidsky apk onto the nvida shield
install chainfire's sideload launcher so you can open the app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en)
open the liquidsky app and use a usb keyboard and mouse to navigate through the desktop interface.
Open a game that has controller support and viola. It should work off the bat.
I know things have changed since the last time I used the service, so I'm not sure how you'd go about mapping a controller now. Good luck!
Can't you just sideload the android APK and launch it with Chainfire's Sideload Launcher? I'm not at home, so I can't test it at the moment.
I have no idea I don't have a PS4. Doesnt matter either way though because you can use sideload launcher to launch apps without support. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en_GB
What your saying is misleading. Android tv OS will not run all regular android apps. This is especially frustrating if you own a collection of Android tablet games as you expect all of them to work on Android TV since its still android but they won't all work - most won't.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
Even if you sideload apps because the google store will correctly block most apps because they aren't made for Android TV OS, they won't show up in the launcher, so you can use this above app as a workaround, but even it won't fix all apps, or have them all show up. So in the end you have less apps that will run on Android TV OS compared with regular Android.
Depends on your definition of Functionality.
For instance, Hearthstone is a touch screen game, and my TV isn't a touchscreen, and I'm not going to stand up there to play anyway. I use my Logitech K400 for that. The WatchESPN app also requires me to use the K400.
None of the apps I sideloaded show up natively on the Shield's home screen, but this app Sideload Launcher does and I use it as a sort of "App Drawer" to pull up all the stuff I've sideloaded.
I've got a pinball arcade on there too. The controller works during the game, but to use the menu, I have to use the K400...
Hope that helps!
You install the apk's and then launch with this:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
If you've got any questions, feel free to shoot them my way and I'll do my best to help! I just picked a player up on Monday and went through the process of getting it set up and installing apps the last couple days.
Install Sideload Launcher
Yes, but it can be a pain.
First thing you need to do is install the Amazon App Store on your Shield. You might also want to install Sideload Launcher to make it easier to get to non-Leanback applications. Open Sideload Launcher, and then use it to open Amazon App Store. Log in with your Amazon account.
Now you'll need to go to the My Apps page. The first thing you'll notice is that you can't really navigate the app with the remote. If you have the Shield game controller, you can use the right thumbstick to move the mouse pointer, so you can navigate with that. If not, you might need to plug in a USB mouse. If you see what you want to install on the My Apps list, you can just install it from there and you'll be good (you may be prompted to enable install from unknown sources in settings, if you haven't already).
What if it's not there, you ask? In that case, you're going to need to extract the APK file from your Fire TV (or another compatible device) and install it to your Shield. You can do this using a computer with ADB installed. Follow these directions, and you should be able to get the APK file. Then sideload it on your Shield (you can also do this with ADB). Please note that you will still need to have Amazon App Store installed on your Shield and logged in to your Amazon account, as any app downloaded with Amazon will check in through the app store to make sure you're licensed to use it. Additionally, if it doesn't have the metadata to present itself in Leanback, you may still need to use Sideload Launcher (or a similar app) to launch it.
I haven't done this with the Jackbox games, but I've had success doing this with other games I own through Amazon (including GTA San Andreas and Sonic 2). Good luck!
Have you been sideloading the games? If so, install Sideload Launcher and make a link on your home page to that.
>Yep, I don't know how to exit a game
Can't exit from game controller. I haven't used the Shield TV remote in months but Back/Exit button on it may work. Otherwise, try Back/Exit in the Nvidia Shield TV iOS/Android app.
>Also, there's any way to create a shortcut to the Game Pass app?
I have not tried these methods, which should be more efficient:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO0i4VqodxY https://np.reddit.com/r/AndroidTV/comments/ae9anf/create_homescreen_shortcut_for_sideloaded_apps/
(I use a fourth method, Button Manager and a button on my universal remote.)
For the controller i am using the Xbox One controller via bluetooth.
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This tutorial explains how to sideload:
https://thestreamable.com/news/how-to-sideload-apps-on-new-chromecast-with-google-tv
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After it is installed you will need this app to launch the Xbox app in the future:
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To install this the best way is to use voice search for " Sideload Launcher"
not exactly the same as having each one on the home screen but at least you can start your apps
Does it show up in the Sideload Launcher app?
Install Sideload Launcher or HALauncher.
There are two Unknown Sources sections: the one in the main Library section of Oculus Home, and the one at the bottom of the Oculus TV app. The former is where sideloaded apps built with the Oculus Mobile SDK will appear, and the latter is where sideloaded Android TV apps will appear.
> By default Oculus TV only shows apps that have been designed to work properly with Android TV, which as you probably know is a variant of Android that has been tweaked to suit the UI and input requirements of a TV. But UI design guidelines aside it's fundamentally still the same OS so you can get other Android apps (not designed for Android TV devices) to run as well by launching them from within another Android TV app that has its own internal app launcher, like Kodi (Add-ons > Android apps) or Sideload Launcher.
> You can also create shortcuts to standard Android apps that will appear in Oculus TV using TvAppRepo (Leanback Shortcuts), or if you're feeling more adventurous: https://redd.it/8ve7iq
I use Sideload Launcher for any app that doesn't have a TV variant.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
You also want this once you have the App installed:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
The processor power of the Shield is actually less than my old i7. When not using hardware acceleration, the Shield can have trouble playing some parts of x264 48fps content I have. This is largely a non issue as its only part of the movie that drops frames, and I only know three movies in existence that feature this frame rate.
Upgrading to the KS series Samsung TV with its best in class input latency made a huge difference in both Xbox play, and emulator play. I can't believe I used this old CFL TV ten years with that much display latency.
If you are considering upgrading to a Shield, I highly recommend it. HDMI-CEC makes things one remote, and the software support makes getting it just how you like without requiring modification (rooting). The samba/Windows share ability actually mounts your NAS as a local disk, so some apps can interact with it like a local disk. The stock "Downloads" app allows you to load APKs or launch files (videos) directly, but I'm not sure how to activate the system app without Sideload Launcher. ES File Explorer isn't actually required if you prefer not to install it.
The KS LED TV with Kodi's "dim" screensaver actually did drop to 36 watts. I believe its active LED control allows such a low power state. The "Chromecast built-in Daydream" screen saver bumps the power back up to 100+ watts.
Install Sideload Launcher (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher) and try to find it there.
You can't just use Sideload Launcher? All sideloaded apps show up when you click on it.
Well expectations are everything. Android TV is not a desktop OS. Coming from an HTPC, which is a full complete computer that can install just about anything, you're going to a trimmed down fork of Android that's optimized for the living room. I know a lot of tech people may have HTPCs hooked up in the living room with a wireless keyboard and mouse, and they love all the functionality that they have with that setup, but that's a huge minority of users. The vast majority of living rooms have a big ass display on one side of the room, and someone on a couch with a simple remote in their hands on the other side of the room. To build an operating system tailored to a TV remote, you need to take away some features. You wouldn't use a TV remote to control your PC, right? And you also wouldn't buy a Roku to do your taxes and check your email, right?
Luckily, it's Android. You can sideload apps. You can plug in a keyboard and mouse. You're not completely shit out of luck.
So I would suggest you stop trying to think of the Shield as a replacement for a computer, but more as like a smarter way to watch TV with a remote.
So some quick examples of workarounds, you can install Chrome on your Shield. Just go to it via the web on a computer to remotely force it to install on your Shield. Then use the voice command "open chrome" to open the browser. Then plug in a KB+M and you're set!
The problem above is that Chrome is not optimized for the Android TV platform, so you won't have a tile to click on in your home rows. There are apps that help you find these apps that are hiding. You can use Sideload Launcher to access them all in a separate interface, or you can use App Cloner to create a version of the app with a leanback tile.
And if you have a PC or smartphone, you can do a lot of things with Google Cast, which is built into every Android TV device.
I typed up a long set of instructions and apparently they just went poof when I hit submit so sorry if this isn't as thorough or as clear as my first attempt.
These instructions will only work with the official shield controller, the headset ports on the ps4 and Xbox controller are not supported as far as I know.
To sideload discord you need to obtain an apk of the latest client. The recommended way is to make your own backup from your Android phone but you can also obtain it from an apk mirror site if you need too.
Using a file explorer app (I use File Commander) browse to the apk and install it. Now discord is sideloaded. To launch discord you need to go to settings->apps->all apps. If you don't want to do that every time you have to launch a sideloaded app, I'd recommend downloading sideload launcher
After you log in to discord you can go to the server and voice channel you want to join. Navigation isn't optomized for controller but thankfully you can use the right analog stick to control the mouse cursor. When you join a voice channel your default mic input is the voice search mic on the controller itself but if you plug in a headset with a mic then that will take presedence. You should be able to hear your mates and they should be able to hear you.
However streaming games from geforce now (or locally) through nvidia game will cause your mic to go muted in discord. (You will still hear others but they won't be able to hear you) instead you will only be able to chat via ingame VOIP. If you want discord to always have presence over nvidia games you need to disable the mic permission by going to settings->apps->nvidia games and then choosing either "app permissions" or "special app access" and then disable "mic permissions" (I can't remember the exact wording on Android tv, if it isn't one of these just reply and let me know and I'll double check when I get home)
From there on out you should be able to chat on discord directly from the TV now. Be sure to remember to disconnect calls and close the app for your privacy because the shield controller has a built in mic and unplugging the headset wont mute you.
I grabbed the Side load launcher. It worked like a charm.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
Look for an app called side loader. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
It will allow you to have a central location for launching the apps
After you install try to launch it with sideload launcher Link
Try this launcher
Maybe this launcher can be useful toolsideload launcher
You can sideload wirelessly; not sure which way is the simplest (haven't done it for years myself), but here's what a tiny bit of googling yielded:
https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/09/05/how-to-sideload-any-application-on-android-tv/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
to make launching easier, you could try https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en_US
It hasn't been updated in a while but hopefully still works
You're probably going to need to use sideload launcher for Android TV
You need use this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
Install side loader so then you can use file explorer:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobisystems.fileman&hl=en
It's ARM, trust me, just confirmed it myself today.
Sideloading work same as on any android phone since it's basically the same OS but with a different skin on top.You will encounter a few issues though.
-to solve this I recommend connecting a mouse and keyboard to the shield since then you will still be able to click everything on screen same as on a touchscreen
2) most sideloaded apps will not apper in the menu
- for this you will need to download sideload launcher which will display the apps that the regular interface doesn't displayhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
3) no automatic updates. you will have to sideload the newest version of the app every time the app updates or breaks.
I don't know if this is an option for you but Kartina TV has a great app that work for russian tv and is adapted for android tv boxeshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tv.kartina.mobile
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Finally unless you already own a shield and have one to spare I would not recommend getting the shield for elderly people since it has many expensive features like Game stream and the ability to be a plex server that go underutilized with most people. maybe something like a Xiaomi mi box, it has the same entertainment features (minus plex server, just client) and should be less than half the price of a shield.
BTW the Xiaomi box is not some cheap Chinese box but one of the few legit Android TV boxes (actually running the official android tv OS) that is endorsed by google.
The only method I know is to use Sideload Launcher. You could even use the actual Twitch icon for it.
+1
I use APK Extractor all the time to get apps from my phone to player; only catch is you need a way to transfer the apk from phone to media player. I use Solid Explorer to move the apk from phone to NAS and then on my media payer for NAS to media player.
I'd also suggest getting https://set-orientation.en.uptodown.com/android for apps that want to run in portrait mode and https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en_AU for apps that don't naturally support Android TV.
Why don't you just use the Sideload Launcher?
You can install Sideload Launcher from Android TV Play Store.
Does it show up on SideLoad Launcher? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
You are gonna need a decent file explorer to begin with, ES File Explorer will be fine.
Next, you have several options (my favorite is the 2nd one), here are three of them:
• If you have an OTG cable and a USB flash drive, you can go that way and copy the .apk (from you computer) into the flash drive, then plug it using the OTG cable and it should show up on ES File Explorer. You can then install the app.
• ES File Explorer enables you to create a FTP (File Transfer Protocol) server on your phone so that you can access from your computer using an FTP Client. It may seem complicated but it really is not that difficult and can become quite useful to easily transfer files. You can follow this tutorial: http://androidforums.com/threads/tutorial-how-to-quickly-manage-android-folders-via-wifi-from-a-pc-with-es-file-explorer-3-0.717276/
• You can also use network sharing: http://www.cnet.com/how-to/share-files-between-android-and-windows-with-es-file-explorer/
You should install this launcher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher It enables you to launch sideloaded apps that are not initially made for Android TV.
Please note that you will have to use a mouse to navigate through the app, as it is not usable with the remote controller or the gamepad. A Bluetooth mouse is needed if you do not have a USB OTG cable. Movie HD is more remote controller friendly, you should try that if you do not have a BT mouse/USB OTG cable.
I just use chainfire's sideload launcher. It just gives you quick access from the home screen. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher&hl=en
if you sideload the apk's they won't show on the default interface but there are 3 ways to get around this:
the easiest is to use sideload launcher (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher)
the paid one is to clone the apk's with app cloner (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.applisto.appcloner)
the free but a bit complicated one is to use TV App Repo app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=news.androidtv.tvapprepo.playstore)
sorry for being a dick about the remote. your concern is that the normal android interface won't work without a touchscreen, but in most cases they work well, or just connect a normal usb pc mouse. are you sure the apk's from the shield don't work on the Mi Box?
> is there any way of just sticking vanilla android on this thing
that won't help your problem with the remote being used in apps. actually it would make it worse
You may want to give Sideload Launcher a try (see my comment above).
What you want is something called Sideload Launcher. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.tv.sideloadlauncher
When you start the Sideload Launcher, it will show you all your apps, including the ones you sideloaded.
It should be on there already, but you will need to go to settings > apps to find it. You can also install Sideload Launcher.