Set up a 3rd Party Android Tablet as AVA Touch Panel

Outcome

You can configure a 3rd-party Android in-wall touch screen as an AVA user interface. This article provides guidance on how to purpose such a device to feel as native to AVA as possible.

⚠️ Beware! 3rd-party touch screens vary widely, and you must thoroughly test whatever devices you specify for your clients. AVA can only support the software and devices that AVA creates and sells.

Setup Steps

Depending on the outcome that you need for your client, there are several custom setup areas that you can configure to make an Android touch screen feel more "AVA-like."

Every manufacturer creates their own flavor of Android, so steps may vary depending on the tablet you use.

Use a Google-certified Touch Screen

AVA strongly urges you use a Google-certified tablet so that you have the Play Store available. While it is possible to side-load the AVA companion app, side-loading does not keep the AVA app up to date automatically and panels that are not certified by Google could come with problematic software.

Install the AVA Companion App

Start by installing the AVA companion app on the tablet.

Use the tablet’s browser (e.g. Chrome) to go to ava.com/download.
Tap the Android button to go straight to the Google Play Store.
Install the AVA app.

You can also search for “AVA” in the Play Store, but there are a LOT of different AVA companies and apps out there.

Set AVA as Home App (Launcher)

The AVA companion app can be set to be the launcher for an Android device. This replaces Android’s native generic-looking launcher with a UI that looks similar to what you see on an AVA remote.

Here is a typical path for this process:

Access the Android Settings menu for the tablet.
Tap Apps & Notifications.
Tap Default Apps.
Tap Home App.
Switch from the tablet’s default app (typically “Quickstep”) to AVA.

The tablet will now use the AVA OS user interface instead of the tablet’s default launcher.

Enable Gesture Interactions

Most Android tablets use a navigation UI designed for more general Android use. Because this interaction model is not found on AVA remote controls, some find it less intuitive to use with the AVA OS user interface.

Switch to gesture-based interaction using this typical path:

Access the Android Settings menu for the tablet.
Tap System.
Tap Gestures.
Tap System Navigation.
Switch from 3-button Navigation to Gesture Navigation.

The tablet will now use gestures similar to the Cinema Remote for navigation. Examples: Swipe up from bottom edge to go to home, swipe right on bottom edge to switch to between apps.

Remove Wi-Fi Icon for PoE Devices (Disable Wi-Fi)

When connecting a tablet with Ethernet instead of Wi-Fi, hide the Wi-Fi icon from the Status Bar so that users don’t think that there is no network.

Typical path for doing this:

Pull down from top-center edge of tablet screen to reveal the Android Quick Access tray.
In the Quick Access tray, press and hold the Wi-Fi icon.
Disable the switch for Use Wi-Fi.

The tablet will no longer display the Wi-Fi icon in the Status Bar.

Enable Android Animations

The AVA companion app uses Android animations as part of the overall premium user experience. Some tablets come with animations disabled (often because of lower graphics processing power). If your tablet has the graphics power for animations but comes with animations disabled, you can enable them for a better looking user experience.