App missing from android TV store

[ippocratis]

That's not an issue really
I can still sideload the app just mentioning it

[Radiokot]

What is the store on your TV? The app should appear in Google Play, but I haven't added it to Samsung/LG/other stores.

[ippocratis]

What is the store on your TV? The app should appear in Google Play, but I haven't added it to Samsung/LG/other stores.

It is Google's playstore but the apps there are limited to apps only working on tv's

I think the Dev needs to opt in the app for android TV
https://developer.android.com/training/tv/publishing/distribute

Not really sure

It's not that important really as the app sideloads fine

just wanted to mention the fact

On the other hand maybe its a valid reason to expand the userbase

Media server Apps are common in televisions

[Radiokot]

Turned out, that in order for the app to be shown in Google Play TV, after enabling the TV compatibility and uploading TV screenshots, I had to put an extra checkmark 🤯
I did it, now they will review the app and hopefully make it visible.
Thank you for reporting ❤️

[Radiokot]

So they declined the publication because there was no app name on the TV banner and the welcome screen looked too "portrait" to them.
I've updated the banner and split the welcome screen into 2 columns. Will resubmit with the next release. I think they might pick on search view, which can't be opened from keyboard – I've added an alternative message shown only on TVs suggesting using a mouse. Will see 🙄
@linosgian

[Radiokot]

How do you sideload the app to a TV? Does it require cable connection to a computer, or you just download and install the APK from the internal browser?

[ippocratis]

How do you sideload the app to a TV?

You could use a shared network folder.
I used an app called send files to TV instead.

[linosgian]

I used built the apk, dumped it on a usb stick, and used a file manager app on the android TV to install it

[Radiokot]

They declined publication again:

Now, I really have no idea what they mean by "vertical letterboxing", so I made an appeal to have a conversation with a real person.

[ippocratis]

I had no idea pushing the app to android TV store will be such demanding.
Anyway I think what they mean is some ui elements might be hidden/overlaping/overscaned as the app is designed for portrait mode and not landscape.

Maybe this answer will give you some hints:
https://stackoverflow.com/a/64270885

I think letterboxing are the black bars on the adge of the screen when the content is not flitting the screen aspect ratio(?)

https://developer.android.com/guide/practices/enhanced-letterboxing

[Radiokot]

They explained what they mean by "vertical letteboxing". Are you ready? 😂

your app (version code 26) contains videos that are not displayed in full screen.

So they logged into the PhotoPrism demo, opened 4:3 photos and 9:16 vertical videos, saw the horrible black bars on the left and right sides and rejected the publication.

Seems like Google folks don't care at all which app they review and think that every app for Android TV must be Netflix-like movie player. They suggested adding a ridiculous disclaimer to the Google Play app description saying "you'll see content in its original aspect ratio in this app". I did it and now they will make another review with the next app update.

[sharky98]

I saw on the official PhotoPrism that this app worked on Android TV and was sad to not find it. I am happy to see that this is a WIP (but PITA coming from Google side). Don't give up!

I did not test the app yet, but maybe adding a setting for auto rotation, auto zoom (fill viewscreen). Not sure how feasible it is, but could help with Google reviewers?

[Radiokot]

Rejected again 🥴

Your app requires user interaction for menus or app navigation. Please make sure that menus and app navigation needed for the app’s core functionality are fully functional using a DPad.

I think they mean Search, so the "Search the library (use the mouse)" hint did not help. I asked them if I can put another disclaimer to the app description or simply hide the search bar on TV. There is no way I will get the search to work with DPad, too much effort is required to do and support it.

[ippocratis]

Just don't include the app on the TV store
too much trouble for questionable profit

[rrednaxela]

How do you sideload the app to a TV?

You could use a shared network folder. I used an app called send files to TV instead.

I installed it using adb.
You need to enable USB debugging on the TV, and then you can install it over network using
adb connect <IP>
adb install file.apk

[GlassedSilver]

Rejected again 🥴

Your app requires user interaction for menus or app navigation. Please make sure that menus and app navigation needed for the app’s core functionality are fully functional using a DPad.

I think they mean Search, so the "Search the library (use the mouse)" hint did not help. I asked them if I can put another disclaimer to the app description or simply hide the search bar on TV. There is no way I will get the search to work with DPad, too much effort is required to do and support it.

Aren't there boilerplate screen keyboards that you can use?

I have a hard time believing you have to reinvent the wheel here.

In any case I find it odd to suggest to the user to hook up a mouse to their TV to use the most basic feature this app can provide after viewing stuff. Am I way off here? My remote has a BT mic, using it in YT and other apps successfully, same with the screen keyboard in various apps for short searches.

[Radiokot]

@GlassedSilver believe it or not – maintaining keyboard navigation (movable focus) is ridiculously hard with components designed to be used on touch screen, such as Material Design 3 search bar. I am not Google, I can neither afford to maintain a different version of the app for TVs nor to write and support endless tweaks to make the keyboard navigation work with touchscreen components.

[GlassedSilver]

Maybe @photoprism themselves can pitch in some effort since you're making this app to support their ecosystem?

[ippocratis]

Maybe @photoprism themselves can pitch in some effort since you're making this app to support their ecosystem?

Their Dev team is limited.
Their feature requests countless.
They have a prioritization system on feature requests based on donations.
They heavily rely on pull requests.
But yeah true maybe shining this issue on their discussions maybe hopefully bring a pull request here.

[wolfdael]

I really hope this is not closed until published in the Play store or with an inbuilt app updater. One of my friends is a contributor at VLC and Google is asking them for app signing key and which is why VLC is not updated in the play store from 2023. Google is notorious and known to bully like this.
Even if this fails, better to implement an inbuilt app updater like SmartTube within the app.

[Radiokot]

@wolfdael please, use F-Droid or Obtainium to load non-Play apps on your TV and keep them up to date. I won't make further effort to pass Google Play TV review, they are too demanding.