An app that turns your TV into an Apple TV, complete with all of the Android system's features.
Smart TVs, particularly those like the Apple TV, Xiaomi TV Box, Google TV, NVIDIA Shield, and Amazon Fire TV, have transformed televisions into screens for much more than just TV channels. There are numerous television options available, including free and paid streaming platforms, IPTV apps, and free and paid TV services.
All of this is accomplished by installing apps on the device or the television itself. With so many apps available, what if you could disguise your Android device to look like an Apple TV? With the AT4k Launcher, that's now possible.
The AT4K launcher is one of the most popular launchers for smart TVs and TV boxes. It's the app that customizes the user experience, the interface that acts as an intermediary between other apps and the user. Each manufacturer has its own AT4k launcher: Amazon, Xiaomi, Google, Samsung, and others. But there are also third-party launchers like AT4K Launcher, a unique blend combining the best of Apple and Google. One focuses on visuals; the other, on functionality.
Its concept is simple: to replace the home screens of Android TV, Google TV, smart TVs, and streaming TVs that use Android as their operating system. The goal is to make Android resemble Apple TV. This isn't just about visual appeal; it's also about simplicity and smoothness, which is crucial for devices that often have limited memory and processing power.
App launchers are one of the many categories of applications that make Android a flexible and customizable operating system. While Apple favors a distinctive style in iOS, which others often imitate in their own way, Android gives users more freedom. On Android phones, each manufacturer includes its own app launcher, but there are also many third-party options, such as the popular Nova Launcher, AIO Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, and many more. These apps change the look and feel of your phone and the user experience.
For TVs and other devices running Android TV and Google TV, the app launcher plays a pivotal role. Specifically, the TV's app launcher should make it easy to navigate between apps, games, and content, allowing you to easily switch between them using the remote control. Therefore, any design change not only affects the visual appearance of Android but also the user's ability to choose what to watch or do on their TV.
The AT4k Launcher is designed to be a sleek, fast, smooth, and modern launcher that mimics the look of Android in the style of Apple TV. Instead of using its own design, it emulates the tvOS interface, Apple TV's operating system. This launcher is available for free on the Google Play Store, with a paid version available for purchase. It is ad-free and specifically designed for Android TV and Google TV devices—that is, televisions and streaming devices that run on Android TV, which make up the majority of devices on the market.
If you're tired of the default Android TV and Google TV interfaces, or the interface of your TV-connected device, or even the TV itself, AT4k Launcher replaces them with an interface similar to the latest Apple TV releases. Its developers describe it as a "simple and elegant" interface with "super-fast performance and a lightweight design." This is a welcome change, given that these devices typically have limited RAM, limited storage space, and a mid-range processor.
How to install and activate the AT4k Launcher app
Like any good app launcher, installing AT4K Launcher is incredibly easy. On your Android TV or Google TV, open the official app store, Google Play, and search for AT4K Launcher. Once installed, it will launch instantly, and your Android TV will look just like an Apple TV. The app will ask for permission to access your TV's content and apps. That's it.
As you'll see, the app is easy to use. Simply swipe right, left, up, or down. Or tap the OK button to select an item, such as an app or card. If you want to change anything in the launcher, you'll find an icon in the upper right corner. There you can choose, for example, whether to display a custom content bar or what type of background you want. To move apps, press and hold the OK button. Then move the app using the arrow keys, and finally, tap OK again to finish.
To fund the app, you'll notice that some options are locked in the settings. For example, using background videos, accessing all available wallpapers, or displaying six apps in a row instead of five. These and other options are exclusive to the premium version, which requires a one-time purchase. However, unlike some other apps, this "freemium" model won't prevent you from enjoying the AT4K player for free.
- Link to AT4k Launcher