Google TV channels forced on the homescreen

[smusamashah]

Best solution is to install another launcher, set that one as default and remove/disable default launcher. I installed projectivity launcher and effectively disabled default launcher using one of these adb commands.

> If you are using Android TV Launcher,

> $ adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.tvlauncher

> If you are using GoogleTV Launcher,

> $ adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.app.tv.launcherx

Source : https://www.tvusage.app/use-as-launcher

[squarefoot]

Anyone knows of a list of hackable Smart TVs, ie those that can be safely reflashed with less intrusive or possibly open firmware in order to deactivate or better remove the load of advertising/spyware rubbish they're filled with? So far I've only found the Samygo project which however is restricted to TVs by Samsung.

https://forum.samygo.tv/

[xp84]

I’m no expert on all TVs, but I would question the desirability of this approach in the general case, because most TVs have a bargain basement SOC. I have a Sony TV with Google TV, and a ~$50ish (I paid even less) Chromecast With Google TV dongle (the new kind with a remote, not the strange old Chromecast that are captive to a phone for control). They have the same UI. The dongle can play SNES games on an emulator, even that is too CPU intensive for the TV. Not to mention the TV itself is frequently whining about low storage space too. I think smart TVs may be better off rendered inert, offline displays for better equipment you plug into them.

[mvdtnz]

Not sure what I'm supposed to be seeing in that screenshot but that's exactly how my android tv home screen has looked forever.

[altairprime]

Does this only affect people who login to a Google account on an Android TV?

[kaanyalova]

I think you are forced to login with a Google account on Android TV, I remember when setting up an emulator on Android Studio it wouldn't let me get past the setup without an account.

[2OEH8eoCRo0]

I turn off automatic updates, set DNS to my adblocker, and delete app data for the TV system apps. My shield doesn't pull down the BS updates and has been on the old interface for about a year now.

[HeatrayEnjoyer]

How do you make sure to still receive security and other updates?

[donmcronald]

I don’t know if it’s exactly the same, but the ads and BS that get pushed onto my TCL / Google TV are infuriating. I’m convinced it’ll become unusable with a few years of updates because they can’t help themselves and will keep shoveling crap onto the Home Screen.