Questions About Side Loading

[Greg C]

I could have Googled this, but I decided to ask it in this forum so that others could see it.

Side Loading the Nexus Player.. how do you do this? Do I have to use a computer or can my Samsung Galaxy S5 work? I would like to add the Chrome Browser. Also.. if I hook up my Samsung Galaxy S5 to the Nexus Player.. does this offer more options like file explorer?

 

[AndroidJunkie]

I sideloaded chrome (via adb), but it closes immediately, wont work. dolphin browser loads, but its difficult to use since it wasn't designed for android tv. side loaded apps all seem to extend beyond the view of the tv screen a little. a margin that slightly hides the top/bottom/left/right of each app on the screen. makes them difficult to use w/o an updated android tv supported UI.

to setup nexus player for sideloading:
- settings -> personal options -> security & restrictions, turn unknown sources ON
- settings -> about, go to build on bottom and click build multiple times until it shows that you unlocked developer options
- settings -> preferences -> developer options -> debugging, turn USB debugging ON
then you could sideload through the usb port (read/install apks from external memory using a usb otg adapter, or install from computer through an adb connection)

something to note:
I found that some apps can be installed directly from the play store web site. ES File Explorer for example.
that wouldn't be considered sideloaded since it still came from the play store.
example:
- on any device's browser, go to play store (login to your google account)
- search for es file explorer, click install, choose device "no carrier Asus Nexus Player", install

you might find a way to side load from your phone (maybe some 3rd party app can help, dunno)
but having a backup app on your phone, like ultimate backup, could be used to obtain the apks/installers of all the apps/games on the device.
then you could try sending the apks to a cloud storage like google drive.. then using es file explorer on the player, setup network connection-> gdrive and access/install the apks that way.

any side loaded apps that don't officially support android tv won't show up in the app list on the main screen. to access them, go to settings->apps, downloaded apps

 

[Greg C]

I sideloaded chrome (via adb), but it closes immediately, wont work. dolphin browser loads, but its difficult to use since it wasn't designed for android tv. side loaded apps all seem to extend beyond the view of the tv screen a little. a margin that slightly hides the top/bottom/left/right of each app on the screen. makes them difficult to use w/o an updated android tv supported UI.

to setup nexus player for sideloading:
- settings -> personal options -> security & restrictions, turn unknown sources ON
- settings -> about, go to build on bottom and click build multiple times until it shows that you unlocked developer options
- settings -> preferences -> developer options -> debugging, turn USB debugging ON
then you could sideload through the usb port (read/install apks from external memory using a usb otg adapter, or install from computer through an adb connection)

something to note:
I found that some apps can be installed directly from the play store web site. ES File Explorer for example.
that wouldn't be considered sideloaded since it still came from the play store.
example:
- on any device's browser, go to play store (login to your google account)
- search for es file explorer, click install, choose device "no carrier Asus Nexus Player", install

you might find a way to side load from your phone (maybe some 3rd party app can help, dunno)
but having a backup app on your phone, like ultimate backup, could be used to obtain the apks/installers of all the apps/games on the device.
then you could try sending the apks to a cloud storage like google drive.. then using es file explorer on the player, setup network connection-> gdrive and access/install the apks that way.

any side loaded apps that don't officially support android tv won't show up in the app list on the main screen. to access them, go to settings->apps, downloaded apps

Thank you very very much!

 

[skuni]

I would like to know if you can load the Amazon app store and have access to my games. Has anyone tried this yet?

Posted via Android Central App

 

[AndroidJunkie]

I would like to know if you can load the Amazon app store and have access to my games. Has anyone tried this yet?

Posted via Android Central App

yes you can sideload the amazon app store. once you sign in to your account, other amazon app store apps will load (but wont necessarily be functional on android tv). the appstore itself might be difficult to use also. I sideloaded the amazon version of alpha wave, which works well enough.

 

[Greg C]

yes you can sideload the amazon app store. once you sign in to your account, other amazon app store apps will load (but wont necessarily be functional on android tv). the appstore itself might be difficult to use also. I sideloaded the amazon version of alpha wave, which works well enough.

I bought a bluetooth mouse in the hopes that it will work with apps that don't play well without a touchscreen.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ag=hawk-future-20&ascsubtag=UUacUvbUpU4037957

 

[bhop42]

This is the easiest way to sideload an apk:

Download ESS File Manager on your phone then sideload ESS File Manager on your Nexus Player. Once you do that open ESS on your phone and Nexus Player, navigate the the apk you wish to transfer, touch/hold it and drag it to the upper left hand corner of the screen. This will bring up a share option. Choose "send by lan" and choose your Nexus Player. You now can store it whatever folder of your choosing (I use Downloads) and install the apk.

 

[Wilberries]

Thanks for the info, its really appreciated. I was wondering how to get xbmc on the player along wifh some other apps and your guide will help.

In regards to viewing unsupported apps there is a launcher that can be used https://forums.androidcentral.com/e.../store/apps/d...deloadlauncher&token=efI9A2v6

 

[Greg C]

This is the easiest way to sideload an apk:

Download ESS File Manager on your phone then sideload ESS File Manager on your Nexus Player. Once you do that open ESS on your phone and Nexus Player, navigate the the apk you wish to transfer, touch/hold it and drag it to the upper left hand corner of the screen. This will bring up a share option. Choose "send by lan" and choose your Nexus Player. You now can store it whatever folder of your choosing (I use Downloads) and install the apk.

Thanks much. I happen to use ES File Explorer so I should be good to go.

 

[Doug Meredith]

I could have Googled this, but I decided to ask it in this forum so that others could see it.

What, like sometime in the future, after they took the time to Google it?

 

[Greg C]

What, like sometime in the future, after they took the time to Google it?

This post was useful... how?

 

[BaD-ZeD]

Be sure to get the x86 version of XBMC for Android, it runs like a charm. TVMC would crap out on me during initial set up.

 

[Greg C]

Be sure to get the x86 version of XBMC for Android, it runs like a charm. TVMC would crap out on me during initial set up.

Dumb question....where is the apk to download this from? I searched the Google Play Store, but couldn't find it.

 

[Wilberries]

You can extract APK's from your installed android apps using APK Extractor, then move them to the cloud and installed from a PC. Or you can simply use a PC (on the same network as NP) and browse to google play then install to NP

 

[Greg C]

I sideloaded chrome (via adb), but it closes immediately, wont work. dolphin browser loads, but its difficult to use since it wasn't designed for android tv. side loaded apps all seem to extend beyond the view of the tv screen a little. a margin that slightly hides the top/bottom/left/right of each app on the screen. makes them difficult to use w/o an updated android tv supported UI.

to setup nexus player for sideloading:
- settings -> personal options -> security & restrictions, turn unknown sources ON
- settings -> about, go to build on bottom and click build multiple times until it shows that you unlocked developer options
- settings -> preferences -> developer options -> debugging, turn USB debugging ON
then you could sideload through the usb port (read/install apks from external memory using a usb otg adapter, or install from computer through an adb connection)

something to note:
I found that some apps can be installed directly from the play store web site. ES File Explorer for example.
that wouldn't be considered sideloaded since it still came from the play store.
example:
- on any device's browser, go to play store (login to your google account)
- search for es file explorer, click install, choose device "no carrier Asus Nexus Player", install

you might find a way to side load from your phone (maybe some 3rd party app can help, dunno)
but having a backup app on your phone, like ultimate backup, could be used to obtain the apks/installers of all the apps/games on the device.
then you could try sending the apks to a cloud storage like google drive.. then using es file explorer on the player, setup network connection-> gdrive and access/install the apks that way.

any side loaded apps that don't officially support android tv won't show up in the app list on the main screen. to access them, go to settings->apps, downloaded apps

I bought the pro version of Ultimate Backup.. super app. Thanks for the tip. For anyone interested in this app here is the lite version:

https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...?id=com.jrummy.app.managerfree&token=R5Goro4G

 

[Greg C]

You can extract APK's from your installed android apps using APK Extractor, then move them to the cloud and installed from a PC. Or you can simply use a PC (on the same network as NP) and browse to google play then install to NP

I hooked it up to a laptop and I was unable to sed if they were connected. It didn't make any notification sound or anything. I searched to see if the Nexus Player showed up as an extra drive and that too showed nothing. How do you know when it's connected to the laptop properly? Maybe I had a bad connection. The micro usb went in kinda hard and not all the way.

 

[Wilberries]

I did not hook my nexus player to my computer it is on the same network through my wifi router. I even installed apps from my office. The cable needs to be an OTG cable.

 

[BaD-ZeD]

It is on the official XBMC Page. TVADDONS.AG

 

[Greg C]

I did not hook my nexus player to my computer it is on the same network through my wifi router. I even installed apps from my office. The cable needs to be an OTG cable.

I figured it out FINALLY. I found a video on YouTube that shows step by step. I was lost before because when I went to download Sideloader Launcher from the Play Store app it showed that it wasn't compatible with my device. So I went to the online Google Play Store and I was able to load it on my Nexus Player from there. All that frustration over a small.. but critical step!

 

[BaD-ZeD]

How do you like XBMC so far?