I have a HiSense TV and use ADB AppControl to disable/remove the telemetry or forced updates, and Projectivy Launcher to get a home screen/launcher that doesn’t show ads. Both are free and work really well. I don’t see trash on my homescreen anymore.
Paired with a button remapper and set as default, I honestly haven’t seen the stock Android interface in years. (Like you, I’ve also used ADB to disable telemetry etc on TV, and replaced google play with Fdroid and Aurora)
PS: For the uninitiated, these are also worth installing:
Lets you connect a hard drive to your router and create your own local media streaming frontend ala Netflix (or plug your hard drive / USB stick directly into your TV; it doesn’t care).
While it lacks some of the polish, it’s simpler than Jellyfin or Plex.
Well, in fairness, Flauncher and Nova launcher are on the play store. Irrespective, there are ways to install things now and then harden against google, such as blocking MAC address, Pinhole, disabling updates etc.
Alternatively, an android dongle (like Onn) is an option, however I would advise against Amazon Fire sticks and the like (telemetry, locked down)
Alternatively, make your own. A
Raspberry Pi CM4 TV Stick that plugs into HDMI is one known option. If Andorid (and ASOP) become as locked down as you fear, there will be other options - Kodi, LineageOS TV etc.
If Android wants to shit the bed, no problem. It’s not the only game in town.
A totally valid option I had not considered. Imo, the solution needs to be controlled by a standard remote. I tried for a couple years to get my family to use a media pc that used a media keyboard and no one would touch it. I turned it into a server and streamed to emby and now they will use it but only after I showed them it works even when the internet is down.
I TOTALLY feel you. I’ve wanted a good media remote for ages. seems like a project to repurpose a bluetooth remote to control a phone would be medium low difficulty
Well, I was mostly piggy backing on your comment / signal boosting what you were saying for the cheap seats. I figure anyone who’s hacking their TV via ADB commands doesn’t need my help with work arounds.
But heck, if any of those are of use, please enjoy.
I’m tempted to mentioned a good “yarr me harties” source here too, but I don’t want to teach anyone how to suck lemons.
I basically left it vanilla after switching the launcher and borking the updates. We use emby for our home streaming but I am always looking for extra functionality
No doubt. The market is shriveling up for people who want a new tv that isn’t garbo. Outside of commercial displays which are like 3-4x as expensive and have lower image quality, I don’t know of anyone making dumb tvs in a 55" plus size. Yes, you can opt not to hook them up to the internet but in a house with non-tech people, its a huge hassle to get them to want to use anything other than the built in apps. Even diy set top boxes running on a pi or shield are not as user friendly for kids or grandparents.
I have a HiSense TV and use ADB AppControl to disable/remove the telemetry or forced updates, and Projectivy Launcher to get a home screen/launcher that doesn’t show ads. Both are free and work really well. I don’t see trash on my homescreen anymore.
Good call!
I’d also like to share another option for folks: Flauncher. I’ve been using it for a few years - it’s very clean and lightweight.
You can set it as the default using ADB commands, or install it directly from the Play Store and use adhoc.
https://gitlab.com/flauncher/flauncher
Paired with a button remapper and set as default, I honestly haven’t seen the stock Android interface in years. (Like you, I’ve also used ADB to disable telemetry etc on TV, and replaced google play with Fdroid and Aurora)
PS: For the uninitiated, these are also worth installing:
https://smarttubeapp.github.io/
Gives you ad-free YouTube and then some.
https://f-droid.org/packages/org.courville.nova/
Lets you connect a hard drive to your router and create your own local media streaming frontend ala Netflix (or plug your hard drive / USB stick directly into your TV; it doesn’t care).
While it lacks some of the polish, it’s simpler than Jellyfin or Plex.
Until sept 2026…
Do you really think Google will approve those APKs once they have fully lockdown android (that includes Google TV)?
That’s why this push from google to kill the APK installation without their blessing infuriates me!
https://keepandroidopen.org/
Well, in fairness, Flauncher and Nova launcher are on the play store. Irrespective, there are ways to install things now and then harden against google, such as blocking MAC address, Pinhole, disabling updates etc.
Alternatively, an android dongle (like Onn) is an option, however I would advise against Amazon Fire sticks and the like (telemetry, locked down)
Alternatively, make your own. A Raspberry Pi CM4 TV Stick that plugs into HDMI is one known option. If Andorid (and ASOP) become as locked down as you fear, there will be other options - Kodi, LineageOS TV etc.
If Android wants to shit the bed, no problem. It’s not the only game in town.
yeah, we’ll be working on grapheneOS tv boxes in a years time.
I will 100% jump over to it if that does turn into a thing
HDMI + A presentation mouse and bluetooth keyboard on an old Pixel?
A totally valid option I had not considered. Imo, the solution needs to be controlled by a standard remote. I tried for a couple years to get my family to use a media pc that used a media keyboard and no one would touch it. I turned it into a server and streamed to emby and now they will use it but only after I showed them it works even when the internet is down.
I TOTALLY feel you. I’ve wanted a good media remote for ages. seems like a project to repurpose a bluetooth remote to control a phone would be medium low difficulty
I bought one of these from Flirc but never used it.
OMG me too!
Oh cool, I’ll have to checkout those other tools!
Well, I was mostly piggy backing on your comment / signal boosting what you were saying for the cheap seats. I figure anyone who’s hacking their TV via ADB commands doesn’t need my help with work arounds.
But heck, if any of those are of use, please enjoy.
I’m tempted to mentioned a good “yarr me harties” source here too, but I don’t want to teach anyone how to suck lemons.
I basically left it vanilla after switching the launcher and borking the updates. We use emby for our home streaming but I am always looking for extra functionality
Stremio is also an option.
I don’t have an Android tv but if that day ever comes, very glad options like these exist.
That’s great, but people who don’t already own one shouldn’t support this garbage company.
No doubt. The market is shriveling up for people who want a new tv that isn’t garbo. Outside of commercial displays which are like 3-4x as expensive and have lower image quality, I don’t know of anyone making dumb tvs in a 55" plus size. Yes, you can opt not to hook them up to the internet but in a house with non-tech people, its a huge hassle to get them to want to use anything other than the built in apps. Even diy set top boxes running on a pi or shield are not as user friendly for kids or grandparents.