yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Y314K:
Probably. The good thing is that this is affecting multiple programs that use the internal ADB so we will have multiple developers looking for a solution.

For me just the Kodi/SPMC install/upgrade option is enough to keep using FireStarter. Even if I had to manually open the app from recents or apps.

Luckly all my FTV's are rooted anyway. Just keep an unrooted FTVS for testing.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] bvh2015:
Sounds good. I appreciate your effort. I blocked updates on my Firestick, but didn't make it in time for my Fire TV box. If this doesn't get fixed I may have to experiment with rooting myself. I was previously a Roku 3 owner and bought Amazon's products for PS Vue. Firestarter is similar to Roku's UI, which works best for our family. If this does get fixed my Fire TV will definitely have updates blocked from now on.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] GaryLittlemore:
Can anyone point me in the direction for the apk file for 'FireInstaller'?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sphinx02:
AppStarter

Dear Community,

a lot of time has passed now since my last update and I guess many of you are already on any other Fork. I really like they way jkchr1s and some others are helping to keep the open source project alive. After Amazon changed a lot since the first days of the Amazon FireTV, I decided to change the App also. As it is now possible to start any sideloaded Apps from the recents menu and to open an App overview with a double click to the home button, the whole home button observation is not needed anymore.

I decided to put the still useful things of the App into the focus and to start clean with a new name: AppStarter is an AppDrawer and Kodi / SPMC installer and updater. I hope you can understand my decision and I also hope that you follow me with AppStarter like you did it previously. Please let me know if there is anything that can make AppStarter more useful!

Best regards

Lukas aka sphinx02

AppStarter v4.0

Renamed App to AppStarter

Renamed package to de.belu.appstarter

Removed home button observation as not needed anymore

Hit THANKS button if you like it! :)

Or buy me a cup of coffee, donation-link on GitHub​
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] killerz298:
Thanks for your continued work on this. I HATE Amazon's interface. So with this new version, it will not be able to be used as the default screen avoiding Amazon's garbage? We will have to go back to interacting with Amazon's menu to bring up this app every time?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sphinx02:
Yes thats correct. We have to interact again with Amazon's default launcher. But this way I hope to get not blocked again by Amazon and to profit from the AppStarter features like finding sideloaded Apps more fast and installing and updating Kodi and SPMC.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] p50kombi:
I have to keep using firestopper unfortunately as I don't want my stick registered to my account. I have a Dutch payment card and it throws up a lot of issues with the Amazon interface.

Any chance the functionality of double click to go to app starter can go back in?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sgs9:
Update message: Download URL of new version not found..

V. 3.2.3 to 4.0

App is frozen.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sphinx02:
This comes due to the renaming.. Please use https://github.com/sphinx02/AppStarter/wiki/Install-AppStarter-and-Kodi-(only-FireTV-needed) to install AppStarter. You can use the Export / Import Option to transfer your Settings!
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] killerz298:
Well your app, your rules. I respect that. If anyone wants to fork to make this app the default again instead of Amazon's nonsense, I'm sure there would be an audience. As for me, I think I might put my big boy pants on and dump the stick for something with a little more horsepower. I'm seeing more being encoded in h.265 and my poor little stick can't keep up. Plus, I am sick of Plex's crappy Amazon app anyway.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] p50kombi:
If I export the settings in firestopper,will I still have double press in app starter to get me to the app?

Also the boot straight to app starter?

Those are the two main features I really need for my use of the fire stick
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sphinx02:
I totally understand you but for the Moment I think AppStarter is the correct answer for the FireTV.

No. Options which are not anymore included in AppStarter will be ignored. No more home-button functionalities and no boot straight App for now. I just want to see if AppStarter will not be blocked again by Amazon..
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] callanish:
Just not getting this to work properly. I'm having the same problem with 2 Fire TV 1st Gen boxes and 1 Fire TV stick. Reverting back to 3.2.3 Firestopper from 4.0 Appstarter fixes the problem on both Fire TV boxes and stick. Basically, pressing the home button in 4.0 will take it to the Amazon Front page and not to the Appstarter U.I. ADB Debug is on. Restarting doesn't change anything. Will continue to run Firestopper until I find out if it's happening to others. Just F.Y.I. Method 2 was used on all three of my Amazon devices to block future updates.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sgs9:
Sorry, stupid, i am wrong. Firestarter comes allways up, so I thing it work. After delete FS it have the same stile like yours.

I download the 4.0 apk from git, copy with X-plore, install it, without delete the 3.2.3 firestarter and it work for me. I press home button, AppStarter desktop. again home button goes to AFTV screen.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Teamster671:
According to the post before yours from the developer, yours was working properly. Double clicking the home button doesn't start Appstarter
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] ron894:
But if Amazon do not block this it could be because it doesn't boot straight to app, or it could be that they wouldnt have blocked it anyway. I like the boot to firestarter and it works fine so i'll stick with firestopper and check back for updates on this.

Thanks for all your efforts on this sphinx02. It's really appreciated.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Ewle:
I'm assuming the launch on boot feature was removed too?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] callanish:
My bad. Jumped the gun without reading and skipped over that post where the developer spells out exactly what we're getting here. I'm going to stick with 3.2.3 on all my devices and see how all this plays out with 4.0 and Amazon's restrictions. I genuinely appreciate Sphinx's effort in continuing to develop this app, so apologies for coming across like an idiot.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Notor1ouS-:
v4.0 running smoothly.

BIG THANX ;>
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] raphael.e:
If you are rooted you can restore internal ADB client capabilities again. Follow instructions: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-restore-internal-adb-client-capabilities-on-a-rooted-fire-tv/

Afterwards use FireStarter v.3.2.3 with ADB detection via your FireTV remote as earlier (in AppStarter v4 this functionality got removed).
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] p50kombi:
Thanks,but im not rooted as don't have a USB keyboard :)
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Petesky:
Does this let you use kodi on firetv , without having to register with amazon,

i.e after de-registering
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] theharrymason:
that's sad news, i will stick with firestopper for now at least it boots the app on startup.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Nalfa:
Author has Paralyzed FireStarter!

First let me say thank you about your effort to make Fire TV work better with FireStarter which was blacklisted by Amazon then it came a live again with the name "FireStopper".

Now you are coming out with a newer version (4.0) and the name has changed to AppStarter but you have made all the main favor functions of the app

handicapped

. Most people who has used FireStarter => FireStopper somewhat disappointed and going back to the older version because it's still working fine with current FireOS. Please don't fix it if it's not broken yet. If someday Amazon decided to totally blacklist (FireStopper) then I will re-consider re-install AppStarter but for now FireStopper still the best option.

Again, I respect your decision and thank you!
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] ulises.rodriguez:
First of all I would like to thank sphinx02, the Author of FireStarter that now is called AppStarter, for developing such Excellent APP for FireTV!!

Since, this application was Blocked in the last FireTV update, and has been placed on the blacklist of Amazon, I understand that in this new v4.0 some features like the "Double Click" of the Home Button had to be disabled, because it does not work anymore and also interferes with the original FireTV launcher.

However, I thought that instead of removing some functions to the APP, sphinx02 would try to find a more practical solution to continued using the "Double Click", if possible assigning it, to some other buttons of the remote control, like it happens with the "Mouse Toggle" APP, that uses a "Double Click" of the Play/Pause button of the FireTV remote.

I am aware that maybe this is not possible or difficult to implement, and that also the Remote Control not have a lot of free buttons, but maybe something could be done to enable and use the "Double Click" of the Home Button again, perhaps it could be assigned to another buttons, using only "One" or a "Two Buttons" combination.

I also have noticed, that although it was working flawlessly in the last "Firestopper" (that was patched)...

Now the APP never starts automatically when Booting the FireTV, so something should be done to enable this function on the new "AppStarter" 4.0 again!

I would like to thank sphinx02 again, because this is the best Launcher for the FireTV, but could become much better, so sphinx02 please keep up the good work!!!
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] lightfighter:
definitely need it to boot into the Appstarter bypassing the registration process some of my users don't like registering they think they are being monitored lol
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] ron894:
I agree, please bring it back Sphinx02. This topic will dominate this thread now.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] gtirsmiley:
How come I can't see appstarter under my "recents" tab?

I have to go to manage applications and then launch it from there. Very long process.?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Petesky:
Ok so appstarter wont do it , I've installed firestarter again (well actually it was firestopper but it shows as firestarter) , working well , will this allow running kodi without registering firetv , I searched google and found one link that says it will but want to be sure before i de-register
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sphinx02:
I can totally understand if you do not like the fact, that two of the main features of the App are not anymore useable in AppStarter (Home-Button-Detection and Auto-Start). And I can also understand if you are using a Fork of the App like FireStopper or if you stay at any older version of the App. But anyway, my decision is clear to that point, AppStarter will not have one of these two features in future, as I am quite sure, Amazon will block AppStarter like they did it with the App. I think AppStarter is very useful also without these two features. With a double-click to the home-button the app-overview is opened where AppStarter is always the first App if you stick it as favourite App. From there you are only one click away from opening AppStarter.

I guess the point "Some of the users don't like registering" or "Users want to bypass the Amazon User Interface" are exactly why Amazon has blocked the App. I really do not like to play cat and mouse with Amazon by changing the Packetname of AppStarter every 2 weeks to bypass new entries on the blocklist. I mostly profit from the feature to keep Kodi up-to-date at the moment and I hope Amazon will not block AppStarter only because of this ability.

For everyone who really dont want to see any Amazon related things I can only recommend to buy another streaming device or to follow any of the rooting tutorials out there. For me rooting is no choice and so I try to find a way, to keep AppStarter unblocked by Amazon.

You really should see AppStarter in your recents tab. Fastes way is to add AppStarter to your favourites and use the home-button double-click menu to start AppStarter from the first Position!

Best regards
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] tito_puente:
Yes, full acknowledgement, that's the point! I'm loving this function, thanks for that!

Btw, do you recommend kodi or spmc for daily use? Sadly streams from my synology are often stopped after some minutes, sometimes ten minutes, sometimes half an hour. This happens with using Lan and/or wifi. I have no clue why this happens. Do you have an idea?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] niphoet:
I switched to the new app. I'm rooted and have xposed installed. With rbox's xposed module for the Fire TV it sets Appstarter as my default launcher and it is what pops up when I hit the home button. I know not everyone can or wants to root, but I find it useful for this. Thanks for all of the work!
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] p50kombi:
Just out or interest, which method did you use to root and install xposed?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] niphoet:
[APP] AppStarter v4.0 | FireStarter is now AppStarter

I rooted over a year ago, so that method is no longer useful. Check aftvnews.com for rooting info. He has instructions for installing xposed onto the Fire Tv 2, but it's the same process for the first. If you get rooted and need help with xposed, PM me.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] stenuine:
I'm a former Firestarter user and just downloaded Appstarter succesfully.

Appstarter runs great, but I've noticed there is no "Background Observation -> Startup Application" option (like there was in Firestarter).

Is the best way to start it by booting via. Settings -> Applications each time I start up the FireTV? Is this the only way to get back into Appstarter as well once exiting it, like by using the Home button?

I guess it is not that bad if I can't, as long as I don't go to Amazon Home / Amazon Settings (if going "back" from other apps, it goes back to Applauncher).

Thank you.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] ulises.rodriguez:
Hello sphinx02,

As I already said in my last post, I would like to thank you, for developing such Excellent APP like Firestarter/AppStarter for all the FireTV units!!

I understand and totally agree with your decision to remove two of the main features of FireStarter: "Home-Button-Detection" and "Auto-Start", to avoid future problems with Amazon.

I really think AppStarter is Excellent and still very useful without these two features!

However, I disagree when you said that Amazon has blocked FireStarter, because it have these "Home-Button-Detection" and "Auto-Start" functions...

I think what Amazon did not liked it, was the installing and updating aspect of KODI/SPMC

It seems that Elias also have the same opinion, and said in AFTVnews (6 June 2016):

"If the developer submits the app and it gets rejected, it will be because of the Kodi/SPMC installing aspect.

Not because it duplicates functions of the homescreen.

There are already “app drawer” apps in the official Fire TV appstore, like*Application Organizer Pro, that do nothing but organize and launch apps."

http://www.aftvnews.com/firestarter...-button-detection-or-auto-launching-features/

I hope that in the future, you could add

more new functional/aesthetic features and improvements, to make this already excellent APP, to become still better! ... So sphinx02, please keep up the good work!!
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sphinx02:
You have to make sure, that you are on FireOS 5.0.5.1 which brings the double-click home-button to open app overview. There you can make AppStarter a favourite App. AppStarter will then be the first choice if you double-click your home-button and you only need one additional click to open AppStarter.

I guess you missunderstood Elias from AFTVnews. He was only thinking of putting AppStarter into the Store, not the App. Of course the only "bad" thing left in AppStarter in the eyes of Amazon is the install possibility of Kodi and SPMC. But I am quite sure, that the App have not been blocked because of this feature but because of the ability to completely circumvent the Amazon User Interface with the AutoAppStart and Home-Button-Click features.

Elias from AFTVnews:

I guess here with "the app", AppStarter is meant and with "Not because it duplicates functions of the homescreen" means the AppDrawer and the possiblity to start the installed Apps, not the home button click features..

Best regards
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] ulises.rodriguez:
Hello again sphinx02,

Thank you for your good explanation, maybe you're right, it may be that I did not understand very well what Elias wanted to say.

I really hope that although there have been all these problems, don't abandon the development of this Great APP!!

We all need your excellente "AppStarter" APP, to help it work better the FireTV...

So, please keep up the good work !!
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] KidJoe:
Hi.. I've had FireStarter installed, and blocked OS updates. I like the double home click to bring it up and launch apps from there.

With the release of AppStarter, are there any videos or anything demonstrating how it works now? Just to compare before installing it and taking the latest OS Updates.

EDIT: Just to be clear... I'm talking about the a fore mentioned "With a double-click to the home-button the app-overview is opened where AppStarter is always the first App if you stick it as favourite App. From there you are only one click away from opening AppStarter." I'd like to see how that works, to better understand if I'll be ok updating the OS and converting to AppStarter.. BEFORE I take those steps.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] killerz298:
As I previously mentioned, sphinx02 has made it clear what his direction is going to be for this app. I suggest that someone who has the experience shadow his releases and fork every version to add the desired functionality back into the app. If Amazon attempts to block the new app again, it has been suggested that naming the package after another valid app already in the store should at least prevent Amazon's current method of blacklisting. They wouldn't be able to block the forked app without blocking an official app in the store and it is doubtful they will do that. That's not to say Amazon won't come up with a new method of blocking in the future. We shouldn't keep hijacking this thread. If someone wants to fork and create a new thread, that is where this should all be discussed out of respect for sphinx02.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sneezing_corgi:
If I want to revert to Firestarter for now to use the temporarily lost functions in Appstarter, is there a way to turn off the automatic update notice in Firestarter?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] deanr1977:
I also would like to just stick with Firestarter because I have one AFTV2 box, & rooted Firestick & a non rooted Firestick with updates blocked on a lower firmware but all versions of Firestarter keep asking to Update to the version 4.0 but I have no need? Is there a solution to block the update progress?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sphinx02:
Simply click "No" if you are asked to update.. the App will stop to ask for the update Installation..
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Claude Koch:
Sphinx, very pleased to see you're still with u and I agree with the route you've taken. Now that Amazon is allowing sideloaded apps to show in Apps, and Recents, Home Button detection isn't really an issue. Just the Kodi updating alone is reason enough to install AppStarter.

With that in mind, I would, however, make a couple of changes/additions:

1. The update routines are buried too deeply, and should now be given higher prominence. Perhaps via an embedded icon on the Launch menu.

2. Battleship Grey as the only choice of background colour isn't ideal. It would be nice if you could provide an embedded choice of colours. Failing that, I would think Pitch Black would be a more pleasing default for most, if for no other reason than it gives off less light.

Thanks!
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] MetaIIica:
i will made a renamed FireStopper to see if it work in 5.2.1.0 with features from FireStarter/Firestopper, not AppStarter.. I will not release officially so wait here for my edit here... I will do that in a few days (i work hard in my job) so please wait for patient...
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sgs9:
You can load every .png (.jpg) as background you like, also black in your TV resolution 1080x720 :D
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Claude Koch:
Of course. I can do that. But where are these images currently stored and where do you propose putting them and how do you propose getting them there?

My suggestion is to simply bundle a few to save people less familiar with Android's insanely convoluted bowels having to muck around with getting them into place. It's a fairly trivial request that would save a lot of people a lot of bother.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sgs9:
Everyone knows how to install this app from this forum.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Claude Koch:
Excellent, and helpful reply.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] eXOBeX:
You can push a FireStarterBackup.zip to /sdcard and tell the app to restore from backup. This is easily done using ADB shell input keyevent commands to navigate to the option and select it. FireStarterBackup.zip includes the current background file.

adb push -p FireStarterBackup.zip /sdcard/FireStarterBackup.zip
adb shell input keyevent 21
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[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Claude Koch:
I - as in me personally - do know how to get an image onto the device, and how to navigate the file system.

I'm merely making a suggestion to improve the product for others. One that might make the task easy for those of whom farting around with Android isn't their hobby.

Bear in mind this is now an alternative launchpad. Aesthetics should be the priority. While it works fine as is, it's pretty ugly.

Bundling a few blank images isn't a huge deal and would be a start.

Frankly, it could use a complete UI overhaul. But that's another discussion, and a lot more work.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] sgs9:
Maybe it is only your taste? Why you fight for people you do not know If they exist?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] bird333:
I installed version 3.2.3 on my Fire TV 2 with 5.0.5.1 rooted. I added back the adb client and disabled the blocking of the app. When I double-click the home button, it takes me my apps. It doesn't start Firestarter like I have it set. I'm new to this but is this how it supposed to work?
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] Claude Koch:
Because I like to see good apps get better. No idea what you're on about, but it's belligerently unhelpful.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] cooltwou:
I have a problem update to 4.0 version I have hit check for update and then I hit upgrade to latest version and it gives me this message: Download URL of new version not found.

What could the problem be
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] deanr1977:
Download it from the first post, uninstall your old version then push the new version to your device, install the new version & next time it gets an update it will be fine to update from the app, the app name has been changed so the old version cannot update from that version.
[Fire TV Themes and Apps] leighjones123:
Hi... Sorry I'm completely new to this - and have been led here by some google searching.

Will Firestarter allow me to use my Amazon Fire TV when it is only connected to a "local" wireless network, without an active internet connection?