In this app Google Map TV can be used

I get stressed every time I turn on my television. A giant tech company is to blame.

Google TV, the TV operating system based on Android, is great in some ways: it works well on my TV, apps are available for each streaming service, and the interface is very customizable. It comes pre-installed on new devices from Sony, Hisense and TCL, among others.

The default home screen, however, is a mess. There's a row of your apps, if you squint, but the majority of the screen is taken up by ads for movies and shows that a company is probably paying to promote.

So I was delighted when I discovered AT4K, an alternative home screen for Google TV. Inspired by the Apple TV interface, this launcher only shows me thumbnails of the streaming services I use, and I can even deactivate them if I want. It's free, with no ads; There is a premium version that you can unlock for $5 and get some nice extras, but it's completely optional and the free version works great.

To get started, simply install the app from Google Play. You can do this in your browser, regardless of the device you are reading this article on. Or, if you want, you can launch Google Play on your smart TV and search for "AT4K." Either way, the launcher will load and the installation will start on your TV.

Everything about the AT4K is pretty clean. At the very top of the screen, in the right corner, there is a clock next to buttons for app settings, system settings, and connectivity settings. Below that is a row of boxes with thumbnails of the shows you're currently watching. Below is a row of five applications. Keep scrolling and you'll find the rest of the apps installed on your device, as well as icons for your various entries.

I recommend moving the streaming services and input devices you actually use to the top of the list, so you can access them quickly. To do this, select the app you want to move, then press and hold Enter. You will see a submenu.

The Move App option allows you to use the arrow buttons on your remote to move the app wherever you want. Repeat this process until the top row includes all of your favorite streaming services.

You can configure things further in the settings, which you'll find in the upper right corner of the screen (next to the clock). You can change the color palette if you're interested, but the main thing you need to configure is under Controls.

From here you can enable the app's access to accessibility permissions. This is somewhat of a workaround that allows AT4K to replace the default Google TV launcher. Follow the prompt and the appropriate section of Google TV settings will open, allowing you to grant AT4K the permission it needs. After that, you can configure the app to completely take over the default Google launcher. AT4K will launch when you turn on your TV and when you exit another application.

You may need to make other changes. For example, on my home television, pressing the Home button always took me to the Google Launcher; I was able to change this using Button Remapper, another free tool.

You can use the Application Manager, found in the Appearance section of Settings, to prevent certain apps from appearing on your Home screen. This is great if your TV, like mine, comes with a bunch of built-in apps and streaming services that can't be removed. Simply uncheck what you don't want to see and you won't have to look at these options anymore.

I really appreciated finally being able to control how my TV looks and works, and all for free. And the developer agrees not to add any analytics, ads, or trackers, which is nice to see.

You can even get a little more control if you're willing to pay $5 for the premium version of AT4K. The premium tier unlocks a few extra features, including a custom wallpaper, custom app icons, and the ability to add more apps to the dock. These are nice perks, but the real reason to pay is to help develop the app. Participate if you find the application interesting.