its just so stupid that they would think this is a good thing....stop trying to force ad's on us....I hate amazons interface so no need to copy it
nothing surprising. do we see ads on my phone home screen. user paid for the entire device ( software + hardware ) google misbehaving by forcing us to see ads on another platform. thanks god we have options like Apple tv, roku..etc
If you like it, great! But people have a right to be ticked off when they spent a lot of money on an expensive smart TV chosen partially for the clean UI with no ads. So grow up and stop downvoting them. Apps-only mode also isnt a good suggestion if they want to retain access to the Google Assistant, since Google made the bone-head move of disabling it in apps-only mode.
If you hate the new user interface and don't want to lose access to the Google Assistant, here are a few suggestions:
Install a simple launcher — like Sideload Launcher, Hal Launcher, or Top TV Launcher — and customize it to just display your apps. They each are available in the Google Play Store and are easy to use. Another option is to choose apps-only mode and use Reelgood or JustWatch in lieu of the Google Assistant to search for movies/shows/genres, see which apps have a particular title, and start playback from one of your installed apps.
If you opt to use a different launcher, the Launch on Boot app in the Play Store can be used to set your launcher of choice to open on startup. The Button Mapper app in the Play Store can be used to reprogram the Home button on your remote to open your launcher of choice anytime you land on the default Android TV launcher when backing out of an app. Though most apps will return you to whichever launcher you opened the app from, some will still return to Google's default launcher.
If unsure how to set up either of those apps, there are a ton of easy-to-follow videos on YouTube. Just be prepared for search results to include several videos about the Wolf Launcher. It's very popular, but more complicated to set up. The only real advantage to using it over other launchers is if you want to add widgets to your homescreen.
Is the android TV launcher part of the Opensource part of android? If so what is stopping someone from forking it and just striping out the ad code and releasing it as say "Open ATV launcher" or something.
You can change the Android TV launcher?
Got idea for Google TV/Android TV homepage instead of useless ads let the user use that space for Google Photos like Nest Hub Make it personal no other Company can do this!
Install Kodi and configure it to autolaunch
Use it as the default interface.
There are some gorgeous skins and the interface is much better then android in my opinion
Not sure they'll care about reviews as it comes included with the platform so they don't need people to find and install it via the play store?
The experience was already poor.
What ads are we talking about here?
I realise I'm being stupid missing them but if we're talking about the banners promoting content on services I like this!
I don't see it as an advertisement but a suggestion for something else for.me to watch? Isn't that the point of this experience?
I don't believe there ads on this launcher, it's the new launcher that has the ads, google tv home.
Edit: speaking from personal experience, I have a sony android tv and an nvidia shield. Other people might have a different experience though.
i love how everyone is bitching about this, google doesnt want you anymore you dont make any profit for them they want to finally get average people that will make money and click ads and just be ok with all of this
Review bombing should be held accountable.
Haters gonna hate.
People seem to forget that Google's primary source of income is advertising. They are best known for their search engine and other services like Gmail but as a business they are first and foremost an advertising provider.
As for people saying "I never agreed to this" - yes, you did. When you starting using your Android device you agreed to Google's Terms of Service which state they can add, remove or modify features or services at any time.
From Google's Terms of Service ;
We’re constantly developing new technologies and features to improve our services. For example, we invest in artificial intelligence that uses machine learning to detect and block spam and malware, and to provide you with innovative features, like simultaneous translations. As part of this continual improvement, we sometimes add or remove features and functionalities, increase or decrease limits to our services, and start offering new services or stop offering old ones.
This statement has existed in some form or another in their Terms of Service for more than 20 years as evidenced from this section of the ToS from 21 April 2001 .
We may modify or terminate our services from time to time, for any reason, and without notice, including the right to terminate with or without notice, without liability to you, any other user or any third party. We reserve the right to modify these Terms of Service from time to time without notice. Please review these Terms of Service from time to time so that you will be apprised of any changes.
"Google, please don't add adverts to my homescreen"
"Okay, we've removed the recommendations and it's back to normal"
"Thanks but why don't you ever update Android TV with new features"
"🤦🏾♂️"
Yes, it's sooo hard to hit the down button once or twice to lose the banner ad and get to your content.
People are so hypocritical. You don't want ads, and you're not willing to pony up the coin for ad free content. Advertising helps pay for the content you want to watch. 99% of you would bitch at the pricing for ad free content.
Everyone bitched at cable pricing and bundling. Now many who bitched pay the same or more for all the various streaming services plus their internet.
The grass isn't really greener no matter what side you're on.
I hate these adverts, ruined my Sony android TV