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WebView in Tizen TV App (Xamarin.Forms)

Hi Team,

We have a web view in Tizen TV app built with Xamarin.Forms which loads some URL. Url is loaded into the webview however contents rendered inside the webview(URL) doesn't accepting the remote control input for navigation with left, right, down, up, ok etc..

 

Q1 - Does Tizen TV app supports navigation, selection in webview from remote control? i.e. interaction from remote control.

Q2- There is default browser app on Tizen TV. if we load any url into the default browser, i guess navigation/selection works with remote control. how does it supports it?

Q3-If we have some elements on the page like button, image, label, listview and grid. we have observed that only button takes the automatic selection/navigation inputs from remote control but other controls/elements doesnt.

Q4- If we just package the website into Tizen TV app. will it be passed in the verification process by Samsung?

do we have to write the code in app to handle these interactions with remote control? 

Your comments are highly appreciated !

 

Thanks You.

 

Responses

8 Replies
Tizen .NET

Hi,
Unfortunately, Xamarin.Forms.WebView is not supported on Samsung TV. You can check the limitations of Xamarin.Forms API
To launch the default browser on TV, please use AppControl API. In the default browser, operation by remote control is possible.

// app code
var control = new AppControl()
{
    Operation = AppControlOperations.View,
    Uri = "URL"
};
AppControl.SendLaunchRequest(control);

Plus, the required privilege should be declared in tizen-manifest.xml as follows:

<privileges>
    <privilege>http://tizen.org/privilege/appmanager.launch</privilege>
</privileges>

Regarding verification process, it would be better to get the support provided by the tv seller site.

Thanks.


 

Mickelle Dsouza

Thanks for immediate reply !

It’s strange that documentation(the limitations of Xamarin.Forms API) says ‘Application will fail to launch’ for WebView with Tizen TV. However, I am able to launch application and url is properly loaded into the webview on Tizen TV emulator.

Any comments on this?

Also,

Q3-If we have some elements on the page like button, image, label, listview and grid. we have observed that only button takes the automatic selection/navigation inputs from remote control but other controls/elements doesnt.

Do we need to handle the keys from remote control in our code to have navigation/selection for other controls? If yes, don't you think its an overhead to app developer to handle and manage the navigation or selection with tv remote control?

 

Thanks in Advance !

Tizen .NET

Even if it is supported on TV emulator, it is not supported on Samsung TV. 
What version of Xamarin.Forms do you use?
When checking it with Xamarin.Forms v4.6.0.800, some controls such as Button, Entry, and ListView can have focus, so navigation is possible with the remote control. (FYI, not all UI controls can have focus.)
In addition, there are Tizen-specific APIs related to focus.

 

Mickelle Dsouza

Hi,

Thanks for your valuable inputs so far !

I have tried using App Control API to launch the default browser app on TV Emulator. However, i am getting runtime exception "AppNotFoundException". i.e. Browser app is not found on the TV Emulator.

Do we need to do any specific setting in the app to run it on emulator? or emulator does not support it.

Please let us know how to test it. Thanks !

 

 

 

Mickelle Dsouza

Thanks ! It is helping a lot.

I am using Xamarin.Forms v4.6.847 i.e. Latest one. Yes that's true navigation and focus works for button, Entry and Listview.

also, i guess native tools are not supported for TV app. right?

our requirement for now is to just wrap the website into TV app either through WebView(XF) or Iframe(Web).

Which toolset(Native, Web, Xamarin.Forms) will help us to achieve our requirement? also, accept input from remote. 

Can you please share your view how we can proceed on this? 

 

Also, it would be better if we have a quick call with support. can you please share the support contact details.

Thanks a lot for your help !

Tizen .NET

Tizen native app is not officially supported on Samsung Smart TVs. 
I don't know the exact situation of web app on Samsung TV, so I suggest you to get technical support.
(Due to the Xamarin.Forms.WebView/security limitation of Tizen .NET app on Samsung Smart TV, I personally suggest web app solution for your needs.)
Please get techincal support from developer.samsung.com site.
Thanks.

Mickelle Dsouza

Hi,

Thanks for your valuable inputs so far !

I have tried using App Control API to launch the default browser app on TV Emulator. However, i am getting runtime exception "AppNotFoundException". i.e. Browser app is not found on the TV Emulator.

Do we need to do any specific setting in the app to run it on emulator? or emulator does not support it.

Please let us know how to test it. Thanks !

Tizen .NET

It seems that the default browser app is not provided on TV emulator.

I'll check it again with TV SDK team.