In 2014 Philips was the first to introduce TVs powered by Android in its high end TV ranges. These TVs are capable to run Android APKs next to HTML5 apps. These APK's can be found in the Google Play Store which is available on the home menu of the TVs powered by Android.
There are certain things to take into account when creating an App for a Philips TV powered by Android. For example, a TV is not a mobile device and has no touchscreen. On the other hand a TV has a prominent place in the household. Moreover nowadays TVs have a screen which allows for an increased real estate for your App, which makes them the ultimate content interaction and consumption screen in the house.
Many App providers will already have an App available in the Google Play Store. To make your App also available for Philips Smart TVs you need to ensure that:
You can also choose to register your application at Philips Smart TV. This can be done by manually applying your Business Development contact within our company. When registering your app you will be able to contact our business support team as well as our development support. Our Business Development team will provide you with the documents.
1. Design requirements
The following design requirements are applicable when creating an Android App suitable for Philips TVs:
- no regular frame drops under 25 frames
- no obvious graphical glitches
- no crash of the application
- The app is fully controllable by the D-pad and/or OK, Back button
- The app is fully controllable with a x/y pointer and mouse click or click&hold. For avoidance of doubt: no multitouch scenario.
- The app is fully controllable with either a dual shock or X-input based Gamepad controller.
Next to above input methods Gamepad mode should be enabled by default, preferably indicating to the user the Game/App can be controlled via Gamepad.
2. Technical requirements
The Philips TVs powered by Android Philips contain the following capabilities
Sofware features:
android.software.app_widgets
android.software.input_methods
Hardware features:
android.hardware.audio.low_latency
android.hardware.camera
android.hardware.camera.autofocus
android.hardware.camera.any
android.hardware.location
android.hardware.location.network
android.hardware.microphone
android.hardware.screen.landscape
android.hardware.type.television
android.hardware.faketouch
android.hardware.usb.host
android.hardware.wifi
More details on Android App development for TV can be found here:
http://developer.android.com/training/tv/index.html
Note that the Philips TV powered by Android does support android.hardware.camera and android.hardware.microphone allthough the Android developers website states otherwise.
Our security policy makes it impossible to install APKs from unknown sources. Hence making it impossible to load an APK from a file browser App.
To test your application you can follow these steps.
1. Start with Google Play Application overview
source: https://developer.android.com/distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html
2. Alpha and Beta Testing
Google Play makes it possible to distribute pre-release versions of your app to alpha and beta test groups.
source: https://developer.android.com/distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html
3. Distribution
Google Play lets you control distribution according to device features or capabilities that your app depends on. There are several types of dependencies that the app can define in its manifest. Define your Philips Smart TV.
source: https://developer.android.com/distribute/googleplay/developer-console.html