Posts by richi207

  • The clock that stays — on your TV or Android device. KloqTV

    I originally wanted to place the clock in the bottom-right corner with a transparent background, but it seems some users didn’t notice it was there. That’s why I made it larger so every user would see it. Unfortunately, some users also overlook the auto-start feature and then complain that the clock doesn’t restart.

    There are also Android device manufacturers that have disabled or completely suppressed this feature, or like Amazon, which has almost entirely removed the ability to display apps over others in Android.

    What surprises me the most is how poorly some budget devices are set up, to the point where their drivers have clear errors that I can even detect with my small app. It’s a miracle you can watch TV on those devices at all.

    Personally, I think the app is brilliant—it does what it’s supposed to do, and it does it well. Graphically, there’s a lot that could be done, but honestly, I don’t want to overcomplicate it. Users should only need to see the app once, when setting up the clock, and then just enjoy it. I’d really miss the clock if it disappeared.

    I hope Google continues to trust me and allows the app to overlay other apps. The code is fully open, and while Google thoroughly checks every small update—which I think is a good thing—I appreciate their diligence.

  • The clock that stays — on your TV or Android device. KloqTV

    A new version is coming (currently under review) that will also run on Android 16. Since the app seems to be popular on phones and tablets, I decided to treat it to this update. The mobile view has also been slightly optimized, and a small bug has been fixed. I’ve further optimized the computing performance—always saving power :smiling_face: It should also help mitigate certain driver issues on low-end devices.

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    Well, I can finally talk about it... 😄

    A childhood dream has come true for me!

    As a huge fan of the cult classic Emerald Mine, I always dreamed of bringing that magic back in my own way. With the incredible support of Holger Schemel and many talented level designers from the community, I was able to create a new game for Bruuxer, written in modern code and designed for Android TVs.

    And here's the part I'm looking forward to the most: after more than 30 years, my parents will be able to play their beloved "Chäde Chäde" game again! 😁 Anyone who grew up with Emerald Mine knows exactly what that means. I honestly can't describe how excited I am to see their faces when the first rocks start falling and the first diamonds are collected. At almost 80 years old, I hope they're still as quick and determined as they were back in the day. ❤️

    One of the best things is that nearly 6,000 levels created by the amazing Emerald Mine community over the years are available to play. That's enough digging, puzzling, and diamond collecting to keep even the most dedicated cave explorer busy for a very long time!

    If everything goes according to plan, Google should release the update sometime in the middle or towards the end of this week.

    It has been a long and sometimes challenging journey, with plenty of late nights, debugging sessions, and moments of frustration. But looking back, it was absolutely worth it. I'm genuinely proud of what has been achieved.

    A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this possible.

    Have fun to all the Emerald Mine veterans who remember the good old days, and to those who are about to discover why we spent countless hours exploring caves and collecting diamonds back then. 💎⛏️

    Stay retro, keep digging, and enjoy the adventure!

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    🛠️ Tech Talk: A quick peek under the hood of Bruuxer
    A few people have asked me why Bruuxer feels smoother than older TV browsers and how I manage to push out updates and new features almost weekly. The short answer: Bruuxer is written 100% in pure, modern Kotlin.
    Many TV browsers in the Play Store carry around years-old legacy Java code. While Kotlin doesn't magically make website rendering faster (that part is still handled by the Android WebView / Chromium engine), it makes the app itself vastly better.


    Here is the difference you actually notice when using it:
    🛡️ Far fewer crashes: Thanks to its architecture, Kotlin prevents many typical app crashes (the infamous NullPointerExceptions from the Java era). Browsing is simply much more stable.
    🚀 No UI stuttering: Thanks to "Kotlin Coroutines" (highly efficient, lightweight background processes), the user interface runs buttery smooth. While websites load or popups are blocked in the background, the app doesn't freeze for milliseconds.
    📺 Better TV controls: Modern Android APIs combined with Kotlin make it much easier to cleanly code the complex navigation with the D-pad (remote control arrows) and UI focus states, avoiding that clunky, unresponsive feeling.
    ⚡ Fast updates for you: Because the Kotlin codebase is extremely compact, clean, and maintainable, I don't have to dig through "spaghetti code." If you report a bug in the forum or suggest a great idea (like the recent Drag Mode), I can often implement it within days and push an update.
    In summary: Under the hood, it's running the same engine (WebView) as other browsers, but the car built around it isn't a rattling old bus—it's a modern sports car. 🏎️💨


    A huge thank you to everyone who is actively testing and providing feedback!


    P.S.: 2 major updates are coming! One should be released very soon (it's currently under review by Google), and the other one is already in the works! 🤫

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    henkie just let me know if there’s anything else you’d like changed in the game!

    SAM and everyone, I’ve made some more optimizations to Space Bruuxer!

    • Added a new spaceship class.
    • Tweaked Power-Ups and difficulty settings.
    • Fixed the browser’s scroll behavior (the page used to jump back up while scrolling down).

    Let me know what you think! The update (v40 / 1.3.10) is currently under review in the Play Store—hopefully, it’ll be published soon!

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    The new game is on its way! Space Bruuxer v1.3.9 (v39) is currently under review in the Play Store – it should be available soon. Have fun playing! 😊

    If you have any suggestions for improvements or feedback, feel free to share! Balancing the game so it’s neither too easy nor too hard is quite a challenge, but I’m working on it. Thanks for your support!

  • Z12 power on issue HDMI-CEC

    Answer from a Frieden:


    Your setup behaves exactly as expected with these three devices:

    Starting the TV → everything starts ✅

    Starting the Z12 → only the TV starts, soundbar remains off ❌

    This clearly tells us: 👉 The TV can function correctly as a CEC master 👉 The Z12 cannot trigger a complete "System Audio Control + Power On"

    Why this happens (technical but understandable):

    Panasonic TX-65FZC804 Very clean CEC implementation

    Acts reliably as a CEC master

    When powering on, it sends:

    • Active Source
    • System Audio Mode Request
    • Power On to ARC devices

    ➡️ Therefore: Turning on the TV = soundbar + Z12 also power on

    LG DS80QY (ARC, not eARC) Only responds to CEC commands from the TV

    Ignores:

    • CEC Power-On from external players
    • Indirect start sequences

    ➡️ Unfortunately, this is typical for LG soundbars.

    Formuler Z12 (the culprit) When starting, it sends:

    • Active Source ✅
    • TV Power On ✅

    But does not reliably send:

    • System Audio Mode Request
    • Wake Audio System

    ➡️ Result:

    • TV powers on
    • TV assumes: "Audio stays off"
    • Soundbar receives no start signal

    The Z11 could still do this, but the Z12 no longer can (due to firmware/Android CEC stack).

  • Z12 power on issue HDMI-CEC

    Since I’ve 'only' developed a small browser (Bruuxer), I’ve realized how complex things can get. Firmware is something the manufacturer can handle, but it’s definitely not easy to manage all the components, think of everything, and ensure compatibility. Plus, you’d still need drivers for those components, which are likely provided by the component manufacturers themselves. And then there’s the issue of HDMI-CEC—there isn’t just one universal standard; every device communicates differently.
    What I’ve figured out so far is that the HDMI-CEC signal from the Z12 should be able to turn the TV and soundbar on/off. The TV, once it receives the signal, shouldn’t need to send an additional signal. The problem is, the soundbar just doesn’t understand the Z12’s signal—only the TV does. Correct me if I’m misunderstanding something!

  • Z12 power on issue HDMI-CEC

    Apparently not. My Panasonic TV does turn off when I power down the Z12, but it doesn’t seem to turn off the soundbar. However, if I turn off the Panasonic directly, it shuts down both the TV and the soundbar. Previously, the Z11 seemed to handle this.

  • Z12 power on issue HDMI-CEC

    banderso21 I’ve tried everything now: disabled HDMI-CEC everywhere, restarted, reconnected, enabled HDMI-CEC in different orders, powered off for 5–10 minutes, and toggled it on and off again. Unfortunately, nothing works. The Z12 just doesn’t seem to communicate with the soundbar—it’s like the TV isn’t recognizing HDMI ARC. The only thing left to try is changing the order of the connections. I read somewhere that someone connected the setup box to the soundbar first and then to the TV. But I’m not sure if that would make a difference?

    Two different Z11 devices (one of which had never been connected before) can wake up the soundbar.

  • Z12 power on issue HDMI-CEC

    I have an issue with the Formuler Z12 regarding HDMI-CEC power on.

    I replaced a Z11 with a Z12 in the exact same setup.
    The Formuler box is connected to a Panasonic TV, and the TV is connected via HDMI ARC to an LG soundbar.

    Problem:
    When I turn on the Z12, the TV powers on, but the soundbar does not.
    If I turn on the TV first, then everything powers on correctly.

    I can turn everything on using the Z12 remote, but I don’t understand why it doesn’t work as expected. Also, changing habits is difficult for the female users in the household 😉 — they want to turn everything on with the top-left power button, not the top-right one.

    The HDMI cables were not changed, because I had similar issues before with the Z11, but once I replaced the cables back then, everything worked fine.

    This is really frustrating, and I don’t understand why it behaves like this.
    Is there any app or tool that shows how HDMI-CEC is configured or which devices are detected? But it probably won’t work without root access and manufacturer info...

  • Bruuxer – Browser & Retro Games for Android TV (Remote-friendly)

    Hello everyone 👋

    after my first app KloqTV, I’d like to introduce my second hobby project that I’ve been working on in my free time: Bruuxer.

    The idea behind Bruuxer is intentionally simple:
    A free, relaxed and completely ad-free Android TV app that lets you browse the web comfortably — and enjoy a few retro games when there’s nothing interesting on TV.

    Bruuxer is now available on the Google Play Store 🎉

    What is Bruuxer?

    Bruuxer combines a TV-optimized web browser with a collection of small retro games, all designed to be used directly on your television.

    Important: Controls & Remote Usage

    Bruuxer is built specifically for classic TV remote controls:

    • Heavy use of color buttons (red, green, yellow, blue)
    • Support for media keys (play, pause, rewind, fast-forward)
    • Use of number keys (with alternative mappings)
    • No mouse or touch input required

    Note:
    The app also works with very minimal remotes (e.g. some TV sticks), but with reduced comfort.
    For the best experience — especially in fast-paced games — a remote with color buttons is recommended.
    (IR remotes may occasionally introduce slight input delays.)

    Browser Features

    • 🌐 TV-optimized web browser
    • 🔒 Privacy first:
      All data (history, cookies, settings, passwords) is stored locally on your device only
      → no data is sent to external servers
    • 🚫 Built-in ad blocker (blocks ~90% of ads)
    • 🕶 Incognito mode
    • 📱 QR code feature:
      Open a page on your TV, scan the QR code, continue reading on your phone
    • ⚡ Native Android WebView
      → fast loading times & excellent compatibility

    Included Games

    All games are fully playable using your TV remote:

    • 🎮 Connect Four
    • 🐍 Snake
    • 🧱 Bruuxout (retro brick breaker)
    • 🏃 Bruuxee (jump-and-run – still in development)
    • 🧩 Bluukee (puzzle game)

    Compatibility

    Developed and tested on Formuler Z12,
    but works on all Android TV and Google TV devices.

    Links

    👉 Help and discussion here on board

    Thread

    "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    Hello everyone,

    After releasing my first app KloqTV, I would like to present my second hobby project that I have been working on in my free time: Bruuxer.

    The idea behind it is simple: to create a relaxed, free, completely ad-free Android TV app that lets you browse the web comfortably — and enjoy some entertainment when there is nothing interesting on TV.

    Bruuxer is almost ready for release on the Google Play Store. As many of you know, Google now requires a closed testing phase with real users…
    Help
    richi207
    December 7, 2025 at 2:16 PM

    👉 Bruuxer (new):
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.richnerapps.bruuxer

    👉 KloqTV (first app):
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.richnerapps.kloqtv

    Feedback, ideas and testers are always welcome 🙂
    Best regards
    Richi

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    Thank you very much iceman

    I’ve made a few small improvements.
    They were only minor tweaks, mainly to fix some logic that wasn’t fully consistent.

    The main issue was that I initially had too few real testers, so I now have to wait another 14 days. It’s quite difficult to find testers who are willing to test an Android TV app and who are not discouraged by having to share their email address or worried about installing the app correctly.

    Fortunately, I’ve been able to recruit some new testers recently. I integrated their feedback into the app yesterday and today and also mentioned in the update notes that these improvements are based on tester input. This has helped both me and the app a lot.

    One of the new improvements is that the mouse cursor speed can now be adjusted (v19 (1.1.19)). :smiling_face:

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    Bad news;

    Again 14 days:

    More testing required to access Google Play production
    We reviewed your application, and determined that your app requires more testing before you can access production.
    Possible reasons why your production access could not be granted include:

    • Testers were not engaged with your app during your closed test
    • You didn't follow testing best practices, which may include gathering and acting on user feedback through updates to your app

    Before applying again, test your app using closed testing for an additional 14 days with real testers.
    For a full list of reasons, and to learn more about what we're looking for when evaluating apps for production, view the guidance.

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    Okay, Graphene Builder is officially buried.
    Instead, a new game called Bluukee Bomb will be coming soon.
    It’s a block-based game with a twist, designed to avoid any legal issues.

    Of course, it’s fully playable with a TV remote:

    • D-Pad left / right / down: move
    • OK: rotate
    • Up: remove a “Bluuk”
    • Button 1: hard drop

    It should reach the testers very soon 😉


    Edit 1

    Here the sound for the new Game

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  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    I wanted to add another game similar to Block Game.

    However, you quickly run into many legal issues with that. So I had to come up with something different. It was a lot of work, and to be honest, I’m not fully convinced by the result yet. What do you think?

    Since I’m a trained chemical laboratory technician, I tried to turn the idea into something new – a game that only has a loose similarity to the original concept, but is legally safe.

    I’ve put the app logic into a separate container so you can test it. Should I continue working on it, or is it too complex and not really fun? It would definitely need more work, but at the moment it doesn’t excite me as much anymore.

    You can test it here (PC). Use the up arrow key to rotate, and the left / right / down arrows to move:

    Graphene Builder

    I’d really appreciate your feedback on whether I should continue developing this game.
    Thanks a lot!

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    Yes, unfortunately. I thought so too. I built and tested the app on Formuler boxes as well, so it should run best on those.

    I also understand that not everyone wants to share their email address. These days you always have to be cautious… maybe people are worried that something could be built in, or who knows. And becoming a tester isn’t exactly user-friendly either – Google makes almost everything easy for phones, but for Android TV… well.

    I’ll keep going anyway. I’ve already spent more on other hobbies, and so far it’s been fun 🙂

    It just makes the timing a bit tight with my vacation plans and the release.

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    Hi iceman

    If you open the link on a PC, you can select “Other devices”. I don’t really understand why. On my phone it was always like that too – I could only select the phone itself. But from a PC, it works. Otherwise, let me know. (See image)

    (this only works if you are logged into the Play Store on your PC and you are already added to my tester list.)

    Play Store:
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.richnerapps.bruuxer


    Closed Testing:
    Sign in - Google Accounts

  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    So far, 7 out of 12 people have installed the app.
    At the moment, it should be installable on all devices running Android.

    Even though the app is primarily designed for Android TVs and TV boxes with a remote control and does not make much sense on phones without a remote, you can explicitly support me by installing it on any Android device. I would really appreciate that 🙂

    The app also runs stable on other devices and does not cause crashes.

    So if anyone would like to help me reach the 12 testers, I would be very grateful.
    Thank you very much to everyone who supports this project!


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  • "Bruuxer” – Free Android TV Browser with Retro Games (Ad-Free)

    Hello everyone,

    After releasing my first app KloqTV, I would like to present my second hobby project that I have been working on in my free time: Bruuxer.

    The idea behind it is simple: to create a relaxed, free, completely ad-free Android TV app that lets you browse the web comfortably — and enjoy some entertainment when there is nothing interesting on TV.

    Bruuxer is almost ready for release on the Google Play Store. As many of you know, Google now requires a closed testing phase with real users before an app can go live.
    That’s why I’m currently looking for testers!

    What can Bruuxer do?

    TV-Optimised Web Browser

    The core of the app is a browser designed specifically for navigation with a TV remote.

    • Privacy First: All data (history, cookies, settings) is stored locally on your device only.
    • Ad Blocker: An integrated ad blocker removes around 90% of ads.
    • Incognito Mode: Browse without leaving any traces.
    • QR Code Feature: Found a page on your TV but want to continue reading on your phone? Simply press the QR icon and scan the code to open the link on your smartphone.
    • Built on Native WebView: Fast loading times and excellent compatibility thanks to Android’s built-in WebView engine.

    Retro Games Included

    To keep things fun, Bruuxer also includes several small games, all fully playable with your TV remote:

    • Connect Four – the classic strategy game
    • Snake – quick and easy entertainment
    • Bruuxout – a paddle game (a classic retro-style brick breaker)
    • Bruuxee – a small jump-and-run adventure (currently still in development)

    Compatibility & Recommendation

    Bruuxer was developed and tested on the Formuler Z12, but it works on all Android TV and Google TV devices.

    For the best experience — especially in fast-paced games — a Bluetooth remote control with colour buttons is recommended. (IR remotes may cause occasional input delays.)

    Want to help test? (Testers needed!)

    Since Bruuxer is currently in Closed Testing, I need your help to get the app approved for the Play Store.

    If you’d like to test the app early and give feedback, please send me a short private message with your Gmail address.

    Note for KloqTV users

    I cannot guarantee that testers from my previous app are automatically included. Please send me your Gmail address so I can make sure you are added.

    Testing will begin in the next few days.
    I truly appreciate every bit of support and feedback — it means a lot for a small hobby project like this.

    Best regards
    Richi