How To Side Load Apps On Your Google TV
November 11, 2011 in Featured, Google TV How To's, How To's, Video
So you have a Google TV that has been updated to the Android 3.1 Honeycomb OS? What now? Obviously you will want to check out the Android Market and poke around to see what is available. When you realize that some of your favorite apps are not there, you will need to side load those apps and we are going to walk you through how to do that.
I. Before You Begin - Make Sure You Have the Following:
1. Android OS version 3.1 or greater (you must have received and installed the update – see here for more details).
2. Internet access.
II. Install Applications to Get You Started
We are using information found HERE to help us out.
1. Open the Google Chrome web browser on your GTV and navigate to: https://www.dropbox.com/
2. Click “Log In” at the top right corner of that webpage
3. Sign in using the following credentials:
- login: gtvmarket@gmail.com
- password: GTV2011
4. Select the folder named “APKs Confirmed for public GTV2.0″
5. At this time, you can select any of the applications listed to install. Once the file is downloaded, long press the Home button on your GTV remote and head over to “Notifications”. From there you can click on the file you just downloaded and you will be greeted with installer prompt. Simply select “install” and then agree to the disclaimer about the system access that application will have access to. Now you are ready to launch that application by selecting “Open” or you can select “Done” and rest assured, that application will now be available in your app drawer.
Note: My personal recommendation is to click on the application labeled as “dropbox.apk”. This way you can use the dropbox app (with the same credentials above) to download more apps. It’s just easier to use the dropbox application than it is to use the web browser.
III. Install other (non Google) Android Markets
1. Using either the Dropbox application or website, download the Amazon Market app which is labeled as “Amazon_Appstore-release.apk”.
Sure, you could go to Amazon.com using your browser, click around until you find the where to download the app store…only to realize that you have to submit your email address so you can get a download link, then access your email account via web browser…but I think we could all agree that this would be more time consuming. Dropbox is your friend here.
2. Various app stores may have different and limited numbers of applications to install. Hopefully with more time, there will be more apps that will work with our GTVs.
Lee Millar said on November 12, 2011
Brian,
Would you happen to know if there are any VPN side loadable apps working on Google TV, or is the situation similar to skyfire where apps from the android market are all a work in progress trying to get them to adapt to Google TV. Hoping someone will eventually crack the nut to provide a VPN app, but I guess at this point, we’re all on the ground floor trying to see what’s possible and what isn’t with the 3.1 update.
Brian Henry said on November 13, 2011
Well honestly, I dont use VPN’s but was able to load “1 VPN” and it installs just fine. It opens fine but I did not connect to any VPN’s. I also installed “Remote RDP Enterprise” and that crashes when you first launch the application.
dman_312003 said on March 13, 2012
hello the logjn and password don’t work can you check pls,i want to doanload apps
Ra Server said on November 14, 2011
So.. What exactly is preventing someone from uploading malicious content to this drop box account you’ve posted..
Brian Henry said on November 15, 2011
Nothing really and you bring up a good point. Side loading apps is less secure than using the Android Market (or other reputable app market). You have a warning that explains how your device is more vulnerable to attack by applications from unknown sources when you check the box to allow unknown sources. If you do not feel comfortable loading the applications listed in the dropbox folder then that is your choice.
This is why I have lookout mobile installed on my phones and tablets. I haven’t tried it yet on the GTV but I will tonight and let you know if that works. That gives you at least some level of security as it scans the applications as they install to verify there is no malicious code before the application is ever launched.
Great comment, thanks!
long2know said on December 12, 2011
If you’re concerned about security, don’t download any of these apps from DropBox. Use your own rooted device and TitaniumBackup to extract the APK’s and copy them to USB. You can set up your own download site to get a File Explorer (such as ES File Explorer) installed, and from there, you can then use the File Explorer to install APK’s that you’ve put on USB.
Brian Henry said on November 16, 2011
As promised, I tried to side load Lookout Mobile (not available in the Market) and it would install but would not run. I did find an antivirus application in the Market that installs and seems to run fine. It is called BluePoint Security. There is a free and paid version. I’m not sure how well that application really works but at least it appears to be a viable option.
There are some reviews of it in the Market: https://market.android.com/details?id=bluepointfree.ad&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImJsdWVwb2ludGZyZWUuYWQiXQ..
Robert Batko said on December 4, 2011
Google made a big deal about “Market” on GTV, now I have the Market and nothing there – boy was I disappointed. So finally I found your site and this great tutorial. Just got Skyfire over Dropbox and unfortunately will not run – it says “portrait mode is not available for this application” I have Sony Internet Tv.
Update: I got “Orientation control” app , switched to landscape mode and now I’m able to have Skyfire.
just got Launcher pro – wow what a diffidence, I feel like I’m using my Nexus One
Thank you for this tutorial.
Tony V. said on December 13, 2011
Brian,
What are all the .apks listed on the root of this dropbox account. Are they ones that still need to be tested? Are they safe to download? Could you make a folder to put them in describing them. So the public knows what they are. And so that I can share the entire folder with my personal dropbox account.
Bill Andrews said on December 18, 2011
Concerned about security using the apps above, I created a dropbox of my own and side loaded apps from my phone to it, then tried to download to GTV. It didn’t work. None of the downloads actually downloaded. I really want to try and get the Dish Network Android app.
Pradeep_Menon said on February 28, 2012
would you be able to add the apk for a indian karaoke meragana is available at android market.
koolgk said on March 15, 2012
login and password not working
KPW said on April 22, 2012
login and password not working
OB said on April 28, 2012
Can’t access… does anyone know the actual login and password? Thanks,