ok, we all don't like the new android tv ad ridden launcher and know delaying the update can only do so much until it's forced upon us.
i don't know who said this but someone suggested changing the package name to get android to think it's a different app so it will install and we can enjoy Play Next without seeing an ad for Disney+.
so i started my journey of trying to do this myself and sharing the info with others so they can also enjoy the spoils of war (didn't go as intended but at least i have info that i can share so someone else can continue my work).
i first downloaded the last version of the launcher that doesn't have ad's (2.0.10-307630529-f) and tried opening it in 7z to see if i could change the manifest xml file that way. no dice, it's in a proprietary format that your average text editor can't work with.
so i googled a manifest editor and came across this github repository:
https://github.com/WindySha/ManifestEditor
perfect! i can... oh no its in Chinese...
after some translation i was able to figure out what parameters was what. the first parameter (-pkg) was exactly was i was looking for! it takes in a valid manifest xml file (i just used the one i extracted from the launcher) and changes the package name in the manifest file to what i have supplied.
and it worked, i put the manifest xml into a copy of the original and tried installing it on a android tv image you can use via android studio aaaaaand...
signature not valid.
to be honest i was kinda expecting this so i looked at the rest of the editor to see if it has a signing feature and it does! so i go and us the -s parameter which takes the signed apk and applies it to the modified unsigned apk and got a error saying i needed jarsigner, ok i'll download a copy and put it into the same folder as my editor.
i found the signer ( https://github.com/Jamling/jarsigner ) and found out that i needed to compile it.
thats when i decided to share where i am at so someone else can take a crack at it cause it's one of those things that i just don't have the energy to continue and have to go though more potential road blocks (i have enough of that in my real life, i don't need anymore).
if anyone wishes to take this on then go ahead, i'm gonna go and waste away in bed until i am back to normal.
People hate changes. The new interface is much better than the old one. Suggestions are decent and if you use primevideo much better than the application itself. Ofc I wish I could disable Google movie suggestions and the occasional apps I don't use but it's not that bad you can turn off all if you want. I have Disney Netflix and prime and the suggestions add a bit of value for me.