most apps showing as "incompatible" when trying to install on Sony Bravaria

[uchmanntv]

I've had the misfortune of buying a Sony Bravia 49xe8396 TV. After deciding to move on to a smart TV, I settled on Sony Bravia 49xe8396 becuase of its Android OS,as my mobile is Android and I've never wanted for an app to install when I needed one.

However, when I try to install several apps on the TV it says the app is not compatible with the device. Most basic apps (including Skpye, Chrome browser) cannot install because they are incompatible with device. What does it all mean? This defeats the object of Android OS if the apps are not available for download, especially if you buy the unit expecting the same level of apps downladable from Google Play.

[Sean_Mc]

Hi Katie,

Welcome to the Sony Community.

You can only download apps that are compatible with TVs. 

Please get in touch with the support team for further advice on this here.

Cheers,

Sean Mc

[rooobb]

@uchmanntv if you want to do what you want you should also know some basics about technology. AndroidTv being used on a device that is quite different from a smartphone (bigger screen, not orientable, not touch) needs some specific modification to original apps. For this reason not all the apps in google store are "compatible" with AndroidTV.

Given this, sony flavour of AndroidTV is quite open:

• you can sideload Chrome for example and it works like a charm if you have a mouse connected to the tv (virtual or physical). 
• you can even install directly a smartphone or better a tablet .apk version of an app and try by yourself if it works even if it is declared as "incompatible". You should enable unknown source in order to do so.

So please before calling this a "misfortune", let's get some more information of what is feasible on your TV.

[thubleau]

It's a definite pain in the ass. I am getting this problem as well. I would like to ask how can you install an APK when the required apps from the Play store are not "compatible" with your tv ?

If any of you bright sparks know how to do this let me and everyone else know who have a Bravia Tv . This to me is security gone mad I just wish sony would fcuck off.

[rooobb]

@thubleau when you will use a more appropriate language and explain exactly which app do you miss may be someone may be so kind to try and help you

[khallergard]

Install the app to your mobile phone or tablet, and then sideload it https://tinyurl.com/yx96hkuj

[apwlcy1975]

In addition to a Bravia TV, I have an Android TV box which runs all apps which are compatible with its version of Android. There is NO reason that I should not be able to run Chrome, for instance, on the Android v8 which is in my Bravia.  What Sony is doing here is anti-competitive product segmentation which is surely illegal in some jurisdictions at least.  Also false advertising since the TV does not satisfy the usual expectations of "Android TV".

[khallergard]

I have no problem with running the sideloaded Chrome browser on my KD43XD80 running on Oreo

[rooobb]

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@apwlcy1975  ha scritto:

In addition to a Bravia TV, I have an Android TV box which runs all apps which are compatible with its version of Android. There is NO reason that I should not be able to run Chrome, for instance, on the Android v8 which is in my Bravia.  What Sony is doing here is anti-competitive product segmentation which is surely illegal in some jurisdictions at least.  Also false advertising since the TV does not satisfy the usual expectations of "Android TV".

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@apwlcy1975 I would suggest that before making statement like "illegal" you get an advisor and more knowledge about what you are talking about. Chrome is built by its own developer and owner (Google ltd btw) to be not compatible with AndroidTV platform (owned by Google ltd btw). If it runs on your box the only reason could be that it is NOT an Android TV box but rather an Android box.  Be aware also that in order to avoid confusion to people like you Google plan to rename Android TV to Google TV likewise the platform for smartwatch based on Android was renamed to Wear OS

[apwlcy1975]

Would you mind sharing your method for sideloading?

I have file-transferred various Chrome APKs and found only one that
would run (an old version).

Thanks.