Nova v1.1.1

Nova v1.1.1 is the public 1.1 release for Nova, a handheld-first Android game streaming client that understands the host instead of treating your PC like a dumb app grid.

This release upgrades the Polaris Library, launch flow, Command Center, NovaHUD, startup/recovery states, controller focus, release build guardrails, and public README story.

Highlights

• Richer Polaris Library: clearer game cards, launch detail sheets, active-session state, source badges, host recommendations, and controller focus.
• Clearer launch choices: Private Stream, Virtual Display, resume/watch, recommendations, availability, and next-launch tuning are easier to understand before starting.
• Command Center polish: in-stream tuning, overlay controls, NovaHUD toggles, reconnect state, safe disconnect, and explicit session-ending controls stay reachable during play.
• Lower-overhead NovaHUD: structured renderer samples and a fixed sparkline buffer reduce stream-loop allocation pressure while preserving legacy overlay compatibility.
• Better startup/recovery states: stream initialization, lock-screen unlock retry, stale host port recovery, reconnect/resume, and direct launch preflight paths are more reliable and readable.
• Controller-first focus polish: Nova's focus motion and D-pad surfaces are tuned for Android handhelds and TV instead of disappearing into pretty artwork.
• Build and release hardening: clearer native submodule preflight errors, expanded Baseline Profile coverage, bounded emulator smoke, and release APK assembly checks.

Install

Choose the APK that matches your device:

• Nova-Android-arm64-v8a.apk — phones, Android handhelds, and most ARM64 Android TV devices
• Nova-Android-armeabi-v7a.apk — Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer, and other 32-bit ARM Android TV devices
• Nova-Android-x86_64.apk — Android x86_64 devices and emulators

Checksum files are attached for each APK.

Validation

The release assets include ARM64, ARMv7, and x86_64 APKs with matching SHA-256 files. The release line was validated through lint/unit checks, CodeQL, public hygiene, release APK assembly, and Retroid/Polaris smoke evidence captured in the repo docs.

Notes

Nova still works with standard Moonlight/GameStream-compatible hosts. Polaris unlocks the richer Library, launch, watch, tuning, and session-state surfaces.

Full changelog: v1.1.0...v1.1.1

v1.0.10

Full Changelog: v1.0.9...v1.0.10

v1.0.9

Full Changelog: v1.0.8...v1.0.9

v1.0.8

Full Changelog: v1.0.7...v1.0.8

v1.0.7

What's New

• Adds a signed Nova-Android-armeabi-v7a.apk release asset for Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer, and other Android TV devices that expose only 32-bit ARM app support.
• Keeps the existing signed arm64-v8a and x86_64 APKs, with SHA-256 checksum files for all three public APKs.
• Recognizes the Steam Controller 2026 Bluetooth keyboard/mouse HID shape reported by Google TV (0x28de:0x1303) as controller input so Nova advertises a host gamepad and routes compatible D-pad/button events through the controller path.
• Updates README install guidance, Android TV compatibility notes, Fastlane metadata, and release docs for the new Google TV APK and Steam Controller compatibility behavior.

Install Notes

• Use Nova-Android-arm64-v8a.apk for most phones, handhelds, and ARM64 Android TV devices such as NVIDIA Shield.
• Use Nova-Android-armeabi-v7a.apk for Chromecast with Google TV, Google TV Streamer, and similar 32-bit ARM Android TV devices.
• Use Nova-Android-x86_64.apk for Android x86_64 devices and emulators.

Verification

• PR CI passed: public hygiene, lint/unit tests, CodeQL, Java/Kotlin analysis, hosted emulator smoke, and release APK assembly.
• Tag workflow passed for v1.0.7, including signing, uploading, and verifying the GitHub release assets.

Full Changelog: v1.0.6...v1.0.7

v1.0.6

What's Changed

• Migrate stream sync, computer persistence, and virtual controller to Kotlin by @papi-ux in #26
• Convert Nova 1.0.6 surfaces to Compose by @papi-ux in #24
• Convert quick menu to Compose by @papi-ux in #25
• Complete Kotlin runtime migration for Nova 1.0.6 by @papi-ux in #28
• Fix locked host overlay unlock action by @papi-ux in #29
• Merge Nova 1.0.6 Kotlin runtime migration by @papi-ux in #30
• Migrate touch contexts to Kotlin by @papi-ux in #27
• Harden Nova runtime task lifecycle by @papi-ux in #31
• Fix Polaris disconnect resume by @papi-ux in #32
• Polish Kotlin runtime hardening by @papi-ux in #33
• Expose runtime guards to CodeQL by @papi-ux in #34
• Close remaining CodeQL path alerts by @papi-ux in #35
• Polish Nova stream HUD labels by @papi-ux in #36
• Pin Netty for Android test tooling by @papi-ux in #37
• Add Gradle dependency submission workflow by @papi-ux in #38
• Add Kotlin optimization audit by @papi-ux in #39
• Route runtime cleanup tasks through lifecycle scope by @papi-ux in #40
• Extract video frame pacing policy by @papi-ux in #41
• Schedule controller button releases without blocking input by @papi-ux in #42
• Memoize library UI state mapping by @papi-ux in #43
• Modernize Gradle task wiring by @papi-ux in #44
• Verify dependency submission state by @papi-ux in #45
• Route cursor sync through runtime tasks by @papi-ux in #46
• Guard video metrics diagnostics by @papi-ux in #47
• Document audit follow-up closeout by @papi-ux in #48
• Document video baseline evidence by @papi-ux in #49
• Track HUD latency samples independently by @papi-ux in #50
• Log sanitized HUD session summaries by @papi-ux in #52
• Document current master HUD stream evidence by @papi-ux in #54
• Honor paired RTSP launch profile by @papi-ux in #53
• Prepare Nova 1.0.6 release by @papi-ux in #55

Full Changelog: v1.0.5...v1.0.6

Nova v1.0.5

Nova v1.0.5

Nova v1.0.5 is the first unified Auto Quality release for the Android client. It makes Polaris tuning feel less like a set of separate technical switches and more like one clear stream-quality system.

Highlights

• New Auto Quality experience: AI Optimizer and Adaptive Bitrate are presented as one coordinated stream-quality path instead of two separate toggles.
• Better launch decisions: Nova asks Polaris for the launch recommendation before the stream starts, then applies the profile Polaris is actually going to enforce.
• Quality preference support: users can prefer a higher-quality or higher-FPS starting point while still letting Polaris recover if the host, network, or decoder cannot hold it.
• Clearer live HUD state: the stream HUD can show target FPS, safe FPS, low FPS, 1% low, pacing issues, bitrate state, sync state, and whether Auto Quality is in a recovery or cached recommendation path.
• Bidirectional Polaris Sync: Nova can push its stream defaults to Polaris or pull Polaris' current profile back into Nova when users want manual control.
• Game profile controls: Polaris-backed game detail screens can expose per-game optimization state and profile reset tools when a game needs a clean slate.
• Better library and launch polish: game selection, launch state, reconnect/progress surfaces, and quick controls have been tightened around the Polaris workflow.

Why it matters

The point is to make performance and quality easier to balance. You should be able to start from the experience you actually want, then let Auto Quality explain and adjust when the session needs help.

APKs

• Nova-Android-arm64-v8a.apk for most Android phones, handhelds, and Android TV devices
• Nova-Android-x86_64.apk for x86_64 Android devices and emulators
• SHA256 files are included for both APKs

Paired Polaris release

For the best experience, use this with Polaris v1.0.13 or newer:
https://github.com/papi-ux/polaris/releases/tag/v1.0.13

• Polished NanoHUD: the compact overlay now shows FPS, target FPS, AI Auto Quality state, latency, bitrate, and a micro sparkline in the same visual language as the full HUD and stream strip.
• Command Center drawer polish: the in-stream quick drawer now matches the NanoHUD visual system with darker glass panels, tighter controls, and clearer Auto Quality state chips.

v1.0.4

Highlights

• Polishes Android TV support with cleaner launcher, focus, settings, library, and server library surfaces for Shield-style navigation.
• Improves Library and Server Library presentation with clearer game cards, source/runtime metadata, and streaming state badges.
• Refines Polaris Sync UX around bidirectional sync flows and Polaris-backed game metadata.
• Fixes API 21 compatibility for Nova game card focus colors.

What's Changed

• Polish Nova Android TV and Polaris sync UX by @papi-ux in #17

Full Changelog: v1.0.3...v1.0.4

v1.0.3

Highlights

• Added manual Wake-on-LAN MAC entry for hosts that do not report a MAC address.
• Documented Nova's bidirectional Polaris Sync flow: push Nova stream defaults to Polaris, pull Polaris' current stream profile back into Nova, or keep Polaris matched to Nova defaults.
• Includes the Polaris background-session and vulnerability cleanup work from the previous Nova update.

What's Changed

• Support Polaris background sessions and vulnerability cleanup by @papi-ux in #15
• Add manual Wake-on-LAN MAC entry for Nova 1.0.3 by @papi-ux in #16
• Document bidirectional Polaris Sync flow in the README by @papi-ux in 209c2c3

Full Changelog: v1.0.2...v1.0.3

v1.0.2

What's Changed

• [codex] Harden security alert surfaces by @papi-ux in #13

New Contributors

• @papi-ux made their first contribution in #13

Full Changelog: v1.0.1...v1.0.2