Smartphone apps? - Shield Android TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi there,
I tried to find the answer to this however my searches left me still unsure. Can this device run regular smartphone apps or is it another operating system entirely? If so can they be loaded from both Google Play and sideloaded?
Thanks!

They can be sideloaded in a variety of different methods, and then kept up to date with the built in play store. Rooting is highly suggested for many things though.

Related

[Q] Android apps suddenly not compatible with my NC?

I've been collecting free apps from Amazon on my rooted NC for awhile now. At the time I got each of these apps, they were listed as "compatible" with my device.
Now suddenly a lot of them are not, and I am unable to go back and re-install the ones that I had removed.
Even worse, pretty much everything I've tried so far today to grab has come up as incompatible. Even really simple stuff that should have no problem running.
Oddly, at some point early on, Amazon listed my device as simply "Nook Color". Most of the apps are still showing as compatible with that device. Unfortunately, that's not what Amazon thinks my NC is anymore! I now have a second device on my list called "BarnesAndNoble NOOKcolor", which almost nothing is compatible with.
So then I wanted to check to see if Amazon was behind this, maybe to screw B&N fans. But nope! The Android Marketplace lists every game I've checked so far today as incompatible with my NC!!!
That's certainly news to me, considering some of the games I checked are currently installed on my NC and work perfectly.
I'm not sure what's going on here, but it's sort of scaring me. Who's locking down my rooted NC? If the official android marketplace says everything is incompatible... there aren't a lot of options for getting apps.
Do search with "Market" keyword, you will see about 10 threads with many responses and instructions how to fix this.
votinh said:
Do search with "Market" keyword, you will see about 10 threads with many responses and instructions how to fix this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are quite a few threads found that way, but none of the ones I read helped. I did the "stop/restart Framework/Google and reload" and nothing changed. Most of the others seem to be related to problems with the new market, which was working perfectly for me up until today, or problems run into right after rooting. I've been rooted for about 5 months with no market problems of any kind, and I haven't changed anything on my NC for over a month.
I also tried clearing the settings for the Amazon market and also deregistered the device from my amazon account, forcing it to re-register. Still no luck.
Anyone else seeing this, or have another suggestion?
My old market and new market were working fine too, just like yours, until a few days ago. If you try the 160 dpi/reboot/clear-data-from-market procedure below and that doesn't work, then you may have a totally unique problem that just happens to have the same variety of symptoms everyone else is having. (I'm doubtful.) This procedure seems to be fixing the problem for almost everyone else. Did you try it? It fixed mine.
1) set dpi to 160 in build.prop
2) reboot
3) clear market app data (force close first may help?)
4) restart market, accept terms, let it rebuild data at 160 dpi
5) profit
the above we all seem to agree on now. Next steps are more speculative
6) set dpi back to 161 (or whatever you had)
7) reboot
8) profit indefinitely (unknown how long this lasts; I rebooted >5 times including flashing a nightly w/o issue)
9) do NOT clear data again as this rebuilds data at the wrong dpi again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I had tried the first half, but not the second. I used manual nooter, so my dpi entries originally looked like:
ro.sf.lcd_density.xdpi=169.3333
ro.sf.lcd_density.ydpi=169.3333
I don't know if that makes a difference.
Anyway, I just tried the second half of the above process but I'm still showing as incompatible. I wonder if I need to re-noot.
Everyone trying to be helpful here seems to miss the poster's dilemma. He is talking about the Amazon Market, not the Android Market. Hopefully someone familiar with the workings of the Amazon Market will chime in with some suggestions.
My original problem was with Amazon's market, but it looks like that's just a symptom of the bigger problem that I noticed first because I use it every day, as opposed to much less frequent use of the android market.
But the Android market suffers the same problem and from what I've read online it sounds like the problem was started with changes by Google that Amazon also adopted.
Interestingly I noticed this for the first time last night on the Android market and this morning with the Amazon market. Ebook downloads presently are unaffected to my rooted NC. Amazon recognizes my device as an Android but when I tried to make an app purchase this morning it suddenly tried to download it to a BN Nook. Amazon emailed me this morning saying that unless I have their market preloaded by the manufacturer they do not support it. Collusion?
I got the "not compatible" message after installing the most recent update from the Amazon App Store. Fortunately, I have the very first app store apk. I uninstalled the updated app store, then installed the old apk, logged in and then updated it and for some reason that worked for me. You might try not updating also to see if that works. I am not using CM7 though and I'm not manualnootered. I'm minirooted meaning I can side load apps and have superuser access, but no Android Market access and some other things.
I have attached the apk I used. I hope it works for you.
unibroker said:
Interestingly I noticed this for the first time last night on the Android market and this morning with the Amazon market. Ebook downloads presently are unaffected to my rooted NC. Amazon recognizes my device as an Android but when I tried to make an app purchase this morning it suddenly tried to download it to a BN Nook. Amazon emailed me this morning saying that unless I have their market preloaded by the manufacturer they do not support it. Collusion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A better question would be is Amazon trying to bork the Nook Color with their app?
Anyone else have a suggestion for getting the Android Market working again for me?
thanks for the APK, I'll try it when I have a chance... But since the Android market from Google doesn't work either I'm hoping for a fix to that.
If you make the change in your build.prop “ro.product.manufacturer=BarnesAndNoble” to “ro.product.manufacturer=samsung” then reboot the device. This seems to fix most of the device compatibility problems in the Amazon appstore. I went down the top 100 paid and free app list, and the only apps that came up with the compatibility problems after doing this are,
Soundhound
Peggle
Thumb keyboard
Trainz simulator THD
Chuzzle
Talking Tom Cat
flexT9
GrooVe IP
Ultra Voice Changer
TV.com
Compass
Also attached is the amazon appstore v.1.14, it has the double click buying fix, but does not give all the compatibility issues. With installing this version does fix the compatibility problem, but you will be constantly hounded with the update reminder.
I don't use Facebook, but I was able to find, install and open the Facebook app with the new market. Do the density change using 240. Its more stable than 160 for whatever reason.
GMPOWER said:
If you make the change in your build.prop “ro.product.manufacturer=BarnesAndNoble” to “ro.product.manufacturer=samsung” then reboot the device. This seems to fix most of the device compatibility problems in the Amazon appstore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately it had no effect. The first four apps i tried not on your list all came up incompatible, as did stuff on the google market.
I'll try your attachment to see if it helps. Thx!
kayak and tripit does not install
Running MN4.5 on NC. Kayak and Tripit are visible in Market and downloads - but I get a window that just says "error".
Any suggestions?
GMPOWER said:
Also attached is the amazon appstore v.1.14, it has the double click buying fix, but does not give all the compatibility issues. With installing this version does fix the compatibility problem, but you will be constantly hounded with the update reminder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The old version of the market is working! I was able to install a number of apps that didn't previously work.
Now if I could just get the Google market to work!
Thanks for that link!
I was having the same problem with the AMAZON appstore (but not the android marketplace, for some reason) but I couldn't find the old amazon appstore apk. Going back to it totally fixed the problem. But you're right, the constant reminders to update the apk are a pain in the whatsus.
Also try going into application management and goto market and tap uninstall updates. Also use titanium backup or similar program to freeze market updater.
By what I read, I bet amazon is trying to block the competition because they are fixing to come out with their own tablets and by horning something like the nook you might be enticed to buy their tablet.
I voided my warranty and your mum.
My markets all seem to do whatever the f*ck they want the moment i need an application that was perfectly available minutes before. What i've done to get around the issue if neither the market or the amazon store have what i'm looking for is: (i know its tedious but hey it works)
1) install astro
2) using your android phone assuming you have one, download the applications you want regardless of them being compatible with the nook color according to the android market.
3) once your files are installed on your phone use astro to create a backup of the .apk files you want (open astro > menu > tools > application manager/backup)
4) i then take my sd card out of my phone and pop it into my nook color and install my apps through w.e file manager it is i have on the nook color
all the games that i cant normally download onto my nook through the official methods i've been able to install and play through the method i've been using. not ALL apps will allow you to back them up though =/

[Q] Network issue with installed apps

My nook Simple Touch is rooted used NookManager however I do not get network connectivity on third party apps.
The built in B&N apps and the browser work but the Amazon appstore and any sideloaded apps cannot connect to the internet.
I have even tried installing these apps to the system but that makes no difference.
Any help fixing this problem would be appreciated.
Thanks.
I've since installed the stock android 2.1 email application and that works fine. Confused as to why only these applications have a data connection but other third party ones don't.
tomb20 said:
I've since installed the stock android 2.1 email application and that works fine. Confused as to why only these applications have a data connection but other third party ones don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That seems kind of bizarre. If you don't have too much installed at this point I think maybe you should use NookManager to restore to factory and try the rooting process again after re-registering the device. Some subtle but vital piece of information is missing.
I have developed the same problem earlier this month. The Amazon Appstore only allows me to see apps I have previously installed. App searches on Amazon fail with a network connectivity problem.
I understand that postcode or phone number security questions have been recently introduced to the appstore login. Can anyone confirm that they can still access the appstore on a NookManager-rooted Nook?
I've just used NookManager's rescue option to successfully restore a year-old Nook image but the problem remains. The Opera Mobile browser opens but fails with an "Internal Service Failure" because the Amazon Appstore is inaccessible. ColorNotes does the same. Several other Amazon apps continue to work fine. Can I, perhaps, find a compatible browser and note app from Google Play and ignore Amazon altogether?
I guess I may have to do a factory rest, but I'll loose all my apps customization. Does a reset ensure the problem will cease?
I began to have trouble with the version of the Amazon App Store that comes with NookManager in short order after rooting some years back. Apps from the store (like Opera Mobile) were cranky and I would get random error messages about the App Store and its problems while reading or doing something else. I finally got rid of it and searched for app sources elsewhere.
I've attached a generic copy of Opera Mobile below. Works great for me although I found that altering the UAString gives better discrimination of sites that offer simpler mobile versions.
I suspect other connectivity issues are due to the Amazon App Store problems as you describe them.
nmyshkin said:
I've attached a generic copy of Opera Mobile below. Works great for me although I found that altering the UAString gives better discrimination of sites that offer simpler mobile versions.
I suspect other connectivity issues are due to the Amazon App Store problems as you describe them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your generic Opera Mobile works fine once I realized that, for installation, apps like this need to be moved to /system/app and run! I now realize that my early attempts to replace the Amazon version had failed for the same reason. Amazon appstore is no longer a problem, so I thank you.
As for the UAString, I generally prefer desktop view to mobile view, because it's more comprehensive. I'm still hunting for a generic ColorNotes but that matters little.
Joydeck said:
Your generic Opera Mobile works fine once I realized that, for installation, apps like this need to be moved to /system/app and run! I now realize that my early attempts to replace the Amazon version had failed for the same reason. Amazon appstore is no longer a problem, so I thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure why your Opera needs to be in the /system/app folder to run properly. Mine is in /data/app and works just fine, but the main thing is that you got it working for you!

Lost apps that use to be android wear compatible

Hello, I was just wondering, I've come by some apps that apparently used to be supported but no longer are. Two examples are trip advisor and firefox. I've seen many youtube videos and other relevant forums showing how they work and how good this and that... anyway long story short, I've installed both on my phone but they don't show up on my watch. I know android wear 2.0 is coming and will most likely increase compatibility of all sorts of apps. But I'm still wondering, what happen to these apps? Another example is duo lingo, I don't really want it but it did disappear under the radar... anyone can tell me if I'm the one not installing those proper? Thanks

Better Customization

I really would like to have the best of both worlds! I like the almost every Amazon has implemented on the Fire HE 10, except their apps and app store. And I like everything about Google Play services and their apps. Here on CAR are many threads on topics to customize one world over the other. But not anything I would characterize as the best of both worlds.
Most Amazon topics are generally like tips. And Google topics generally involve a complete wipe of Amazon's implementation of launcher and product offering.
Is there anyone who has created an implementation that utilizes the best of both? It seems as though I've read all the posts or searched all the posts here and nothing that really says to me this is the solution. I would especially like to see a custom rom like we see for our phones.
cfedata said:
I really would like to have the best of both worlds! I like the almost every Amazon has implemented on the Fire HE 10, except their apps and app store. And I like everything about Google Play services and their apps. Here on CAR are many threads on topics to customize one world over the other. But not anything I would characterize as the best of both worlds.
Most Amazon topics are generally like tips. And Google topics generally involve a complete wipe of Amazon's implementation of launcher and product offering.
Is there anyone who has created an implementation that utilizes the best of both? It seems as though I've read all the posts or searched all the posts here and nothing that really says to me this is the solution. I would especially like to see a custom rom like we see for our phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check around here for my tips, hacks etc. I have been trying to build a ROM for a bit. It may not be possible on this device (as long as it's bootloader locked), at least not like the Fire 7. Either FlashFire won't install one on the HD 10, or Amazon did something that doesn't allow the traditional updater-scripts or FlashFire to do their job properly. I suspect they removed something from a .bin file or modified it like they did the bootanimation.bin (FireOS stock bootanimation is written into the bootanimation bin file in /system/bin. So if you don't replace the bin file, and try to change bootanimation, it would fail.) So far I have been doing it the slow way: replacing the Amazon apps one by one, with Android. My hope is to create a 'ROM' that way, and at some point distribute the system.img.
cfedata
Follow DragonFire1024's posts about the FIre HD and you have a great approximation of both worlds. I have Alexa and Google Assistant voice activated on all my Fire HD's. The Amazon Appstore is pretty useless in my opinion. Once you get the Google Play store installed, you'll probably never use it. I tend to sideload apps on all my devices anyway but the Play Store is occasionally useful for updates. Just make sure you have "Do Not auto-update apps" selected in your Play Store settings since some updates for certain apps make them unusable or unstable on the Fire HD's

Install Google Adverts?

Yes, pretty much the opposite of what everyone else is asking for.
I bought the Fire HD 10 without ads, and some of the games I play require adverts for certain features to work. I didn't think it'd cause issues like this, I just assumed I would avoid all the built in ones.
Is there a way of enabling the usual Google adverts you get on most android devices, without reverting to the built in Amazon adverts?
I've installed Play store and the bits that were needed to get that working.

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