[App Launcher Updates] FireTV launchers for Now TV and Discovery+

[PRProd]

Imported issue from https://community.home-assistant.io

FilippoGhisio

This card is amazing, really great work!

I have just an issue with some applications in the App Launcher section. I have an Amazon Fire TV Stick Lite, and my problem is that some applications (Now TV and Discorvery+ in particular) does not lunch through the App Launcher, while others that I have tried (DAZN, Youtube, and so on) work well, even if they are not on my original physical remote.

I’ve also tried to change the model of my Firestick in the configuration, even if I knew I had selected the correct model, but nothing changes. Any help?

[PRProd]

Hello FilippoGhisio! Thanks for joining me over here instead!

Since Firemote supports around 300 launchers across 8 different platforms, it can be a difficult task to keep up with the changes that individual app makers push out. Sometimes their changes cause working Firemote launchers to stop working, so I'm always grateful for the folks who report these kinds of things to me!

Let's take a look at your questions:

Now TV

This app was added back in March of 2023 from a request in issue #49. At that time, the information that was provided to me resulted in a very Fire TV specific app launcher command. I wasn't able to download this app in my region, so I had to go by what I was told.

Today, I'm still not able to download this app from the Amazon Fire TV app store in my region. However, I found an apk file that I was able to download and successfully use on my own Fire TV Stick Lite - 1st Gen (2020), and that version does require a different command to launch NOW.

Before I continue with this one, I need to know two things from you:

1. Did you download your NOW app from the official Amazon Fire TV app store?
2. If so or even if not, please follow the instructions listed here and post the results back here for me to take a look.

Discovery+

This app was added back in May of 2023 from a request in issue #111. This app is available in my region, so I can verify a few things easier.

Currently, I can affirm that the Discovery+ app launcher button DOES work on both my Fire TV, and my own Fire TV Stick Lite - 1st Gen (2020), so something must be different between your environment and mine.

Just like the previous app, Discovery+ has a specific app launcher command that only works for Amazon Fire TV devices, and a different command that works for other Android TV based devices. You stated that you have a Fire TV Stick Lite - 1st Gen (2020), so if that's true there must be something else that's different.

Occasionally, I have seen different apps for the same thing that exist because an app is tailored to a specific geographic region. Just because the "US" version works properly for me, doesn't mean that there isn't a version specific to the region where you live.

No matter the reason for the problem here, I'm going to need the same information from you that I asked previously:

1. Did you download your Discovery+ app from the official Amazon Fire TV app store?
2. If so or even if not, please follow the instructions listed here and post the results back here for me to take a look.

Thanks for letting me know about this issue you are having! I hope to hear back from you soon!

-Doug

[FilippoGhisio]

Hi! Thanks for your fast reply. Idk if this may be useful, but I'm based in Italy.

NOW TV:

1. I did download the app from the official Amazon Fire TV app store.
2. This is the result of the operation I performed:

mSurface=Surface(name=com.nowtv.it/sky.wrapper.tv.AmazonMainActivity)/@0x95eba9b
    mCurrentFocus=Window{fe73d7 u0 com.nowtv.it/sky.wrapper.tv.AmazonMainActivity}
    mFocusedApp=AppWindowToken{a183a9d token=Token{749e574 ActivityRecord{b14a947 u0 com.nowtv.it/sky.wrapper.tv.AmazonMainActivity t538}}}

DISCOVERY+:

1. I did download the app from the official Amazon Fire TV app store.
2. This is the result of the operation I performed:

mSurface=Surface(name=com.discovery.discoplus/com.discovery.luna.tv.presentation.LunaMainActivity)/@0xf0a9f7b
    mCurrentFocus=Window{c31e79e u0 com.discovery.discoplus/com.discovery.luna.tv.presentation.LunaMainActivity}
    mFocusedApp=AppWindowToken{2a0fa1c token=Token{1ce078f ActivityRecord{c07e6ee u0 com.discovery.discoplus/com.discovery.luna.tv.presentation.LunaMainActivity t539}}}

Let me know if u need more info, I'm happy to help.
Filippo

[PRProd]

@FilippoGhisio ~

I have just published Firemote version v4.1.5 which contains potential solutions for your app shortcut requests.

Your version of the Now TV app does appear to be unique based on your country. I have created a new shortcut that you can find in the app drop-down menu as NOW (IT), but I could not verify that it works properly because I'm unable to download that in my region. Please test it out and let me know if it works properly.

Since I was unable to download the same version of Discovery+ that you have, and because it is different from the one I see in my Amazon Fire TV app store, I made a new shortcut that you can find in the app drop-down menu as Discovery+ (alt), but I could not verify that it works properly. Please let me know about this one as well.

Enjoy!

-Doug

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To see a complete list of all Firemote launchers visit this link
After updating to the newest version, if you are unable to see the new updates on your Firemote card, visit this link for help.

[FilippoGhisio]

@PRProd Thanks for the update!



As regards NOW TV, the launcher NOW(IT) works as a charm! Thank you so much!



Unfortunately Discover+ still does not work. I’ve tried both the original launcher and the new alternative one, but it did not work. So, I’ve tried deleting the app from my FireStick and donwloading it again from the official store. At this point, I’ve tried again both launchers, but still they did not work. I tried to repeat the instructions you send me last time, and this is the result.

mSurface=Surface(name=com.discovery.discoplus/com.discovery.luna.tv.presentation.LunaMainActivity)/@0x1eb04cf
    mCurrentFocus=Window{feb0c7e u0 com.discovery.discoplus/com.discovery.luna.tv.presentation.LunaMainActivity}
    mFocusedApp=AppWindowToken{8399eda token=Token{78f7085 ActivityRecord{a7621fc u0 com.discovery.discoplus/com.discovery.luna.tv.presentation.LunaMainActivity t558}}}

Let me know if u need some other info, and sorry to bother you again with this issue!

Have a nice holyday! Best, Filippo



P.S.: I don’t know if replying to a closed issue is a good thing or I should’ve opened a new issue; I also don't know if I can add/change labels to this issue so that to mark it as open again. Please, let me know for the future.

[PRProd]

@FilippoGhisio ~

Replying to the closed issue was the right choice! Thank you for not opening a new one!

It's a bummer that it didn't work, I'm sorry about that.

This is now one of those "We Need to Dig Deeper" situations. Can I ask you to do the following?

• Follow steps 2-5 listed here
• Instead of following step 6, please run the following command instead:

adb shell pm dump com.discovery.discoplus

• Follow the remaining steps 7-10
• Paste the results into this thread so that I can see them. The result will be VERY LONG.

Hopefully with that information, we can solve this for you.

-Doug