Use a different launcher as a default KD49X8307C

[DJayM1988]

Hey all new around here i bought my TV model# KD49X8307C around december last year and i love it but i absolutely hate Leanback Launcher its just way to basic for me and not very customizable so the first thing i did was went to the extremely limited TV version of Google Play and looked for a new Launcher. IIRC i installed HALauncher anyways when i pressed the home button on my remote control a box popped up asking if i wanted to use the new launcher as my default i confirmed and was happily using the new launcher then i found out i could sideload apps so i sideloaded the launcher i was using on my Z5, which was lightning launcher and i was using this as my default for ages until Sony rolled out an update ever since that update i havent been able to set a default Launcher anymore when i press the homebutton it just takes me straight back to Leanback Launcher. I have been talking to Sony about it for a few months now but im starting to get the feeling like they dont believe me even though i can and did show them proof. Can anyone here confirm they could once set another launcher as a default? or can anyone still do it?

[Anonymous]

Hi there

Im not aware that other launchers can be used as default.  Can anyone else confirm?

Cheers

[DJayM1988]

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@Quinnicus wrote:

Hi there

Im not aware that other launchers can be used as default.  Can anyone else confirm?

Cheers

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Thanks for the reply neither are Sony from the sounds of it lol heres the proof i sent them, it was the 2/2/2016 update that took the feature away.

[MiCal1967]

Hi,

Did you ask the opinion of the app author?

He has not updated this app since January 14th.

If you also bought this app there is a reason more to ask about.

I believe this is easy for the programmer to resolve.

Try also to factory reset your TV but do not enable Location. Then re-install your app.

Seems also that there were limitations with this app in specific regions or system language.

I think there are solved these days.

You might also need this:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.faendir.lightning_launcher.permission_manager

[DJayM1988]

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@MiCal1967 wrote:

Hi,

Did you ask the opinion of the app author?

He has not updated this app since January 14th.

If you also bought this app there is a reason more to ask about.

I believe this is easy for the programmer to resolve.

Try also to factory reset your TV but do not enable Location. Then re-install your app.

Seems also that there were limitations with this app in specific regions or system language.

I think there are solved these days.

You might also need this:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.faendir.lightning_launcher.permission_manager

Yo

I didnt because i know its nothing to do with the Launcher because no Launchers show the set default dialog anymore, yeah its been a while devs been busy implementing multi editing which is a massive complicated feature.Theres an update planned for this Monday though so il try it anyways but id be willing to bet my balls that it wont fix this. I know about the permissions app i wrote a script the other day that needs the launcher to have the SEND_SMS permission and the guy i wote it for had to use the permission manager app to grant that permission.but even if i could use that app it doesnt work standalone it needs Xposed framework and my TV isnt rooted.

[DJayM1988]

I updated the app but still cant set as a default. I noticed on Launcher app description it says Android 6.0 cannot set as a default. IIRC Sonys 2K15 Android TVs are still running 5.1.1 which is Lollipop. So if Sony can fix this il be turning off the update feature and sticking with Lollipop.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Hi there

After a little research, i found this.  Have a read:

https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=191828

Cheers

[DJayM1988]

Works! thanks man 

[Anonymous]

Excellent.

Just for reference for others, post 13 on this link:

https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=191828

Points to a post on the XDA forums:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-player/general/how-to-set-default-launcher-marshmallow-t322781...

Even though it points to Nexus Player running Marshmallow, the same also appears to work on Sony Android TVs running Lollipop.

For anyone who doesnt know about ADB commands - developer mode must be enabled.  See:

https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/developer-functions/m-p/2143520#M42174

Cheers

PS: Thanks @DJayM1988 for confirming !

[DJayM1988]

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@Quinnicus wrote:

Excellent.

Just for reference for others, post 13 on this link:

https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=191828

Points to a post on the XDA forums:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-player/general/how-to-set-default-launcher-marshmallow-t322781...

Even though it points to Nexus Player running Marshmallow, the same also appears to work on Sony Android TVs running Lollipop.

For anyone who doesnt know about ADB commands - developer mode must be enabled.  See:

https://community.sony.co.uk/t5/televisions/developer-functions/m-p/2143520#M42174

Cheers

PS: Thanks @DJayM1988 for confirming !

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I cant believe it worked im over the moon i disabled auto updating im happy to stick with an outdated firmware for this feature. From what i can tell the nexus Player OS is no different to the TV OS except for all the bloat Sonys added to it and if we can remove LBL we can probably remove the bloat azwell and have a pure Android experience