\nTV operating systems have gone through a major transition over the last few years. There are still a number of companies using proprietary software, including Samsung and LG. However, a number of TV manufacturers are now opting to employ the help of a third-party operating system.
\nAndroid TV is one of those options. One that’s provided by Google.
\nIs Android TV the same as Android mobile?
\nThis is an app-based platform. In that sense, it is very similar to the version of Android running on your smartphone.
\nAndroid TV apps
\nAndroid TV users can download and install apps directly from the Google Play Store just like they do on their smartphone. Although not all mobile apps are available for the TV and the reason is the user experience.
\nAre all Android apps available on Android TV?
\nTVs are not typically designed with touch controls in mind. Unlike your smartphone, there’s no swipes, taps or gestures in use. Instead, TVs mostly rely on the use of a remote control.
\nAndroid mobile apps are built from the ground up with touch controls in mind. If those apps were made available on a TV as-is, users would find it difficult to navigate the app. In some cases, impossible.
\nDue to this, TV apps have to be optimized by developers before becoming available on a platform like Android TV. Optimization ensures all the things you can do with the smartphone version, you can also do with a remote control.
\nNot all developers have optimized their apps for the TV and therefore not all Android apps are available. The number of optimized apps has grown considerably over the years, but there’s still quite a few missing.
\nHow do I use Android TV
\nLike your smartphone, it all begins with the home screen. Often referred to as the 'leanback launcher,’ this is where you’ll find the apps you use most often.
\nIn more recent versions of the platform, apps have been replaced by what Google now refers to as „Channels.”
\nTechnically, nothing has changed as channels are still apps. The difference is simply how they are now displayed. Each app now has its own channel and this allows the user to see more of the app’s content.
\nPrime Video channel
\nOne way to understand the difference is to think of the channel design as an app equivalent of an electronic program guide. A way to see what’s currently available to watch. Instead of clicking to launch an app, you can click directly on a TV show or movie and start watching.
\nThe downside of channels is that less apps are visible on the home screen at a given time. This might mean the user has to scroll more often to see what else is on \u2013 again like an electronic program guide.
\nThe good news is this is a fairly customizable platform and users do have the option of telling the operating system what apps they prefer or use most often. In other words, you can fairly easily set the home screen to only show your favorite apps and nothing else.
\nApp channel customization
\nWhat are the benefits of Android TV?
\nOne of the clearest benefits of Google’s TV platform is the app support. While we just mentioned how there’s a lot of apps still missing, Android TV uses the Google Play Store. This is a great source for apps and every major app that gets released, is also released to the Google Play Store.
\nThis means 1000s of apps are already available and ready to download.
\nAndroid TV Google Play Store
\nSmart home users highly invested in Google Assistant will also find Android TV slots into the ecosystem nicely. Google Assistant is compatible with Android TV and newer versions of the platform actually come with Google Assistant built-in.
\nThis won’t interfere with your existing Google Assistant devices, but instead will provide an additional way you can launch the Assistant.
\nGoogle Assistant on Android TV
\nUsing the Assistant on your TV not only provides feedback to questions asked or the ability to control other smart home products, but also allows you to search the TV to find content to watch. As well as adjust some aspects, such as the volume.
\nWhat are the problems with Android TV?
\nAs already mentioned, one of the biggest downsides of Android TV is that not all Android apps are optimized for the platform. This includes some fairly major ones. The landscape is always improving but you may want to check if your favorite apps are supported before purchasing an Android TV device.
\nWhat might be another downside for some is the ecosystem in general. For example, if you are heavily invested in Amazon and its Alexa ecosystem, then this might not be the best option for you.
\nA third criticism of the platform is that there are no first-party products available. Google has yet to release its own Android TV device and therefore you will have to buy a product from a third-party. This can result in other issues such as manufacturer support and updates.
\nHow can I get Android TV?
\nAfter being officially unveiled during Google I\/O 2014, the first consumer-ready device was launched as the Nexus Player. The Nexus Player is no longer available to buy but the platform and number of devices have grown substantially since then.
\nThere are three main ways to get Android TV and will briefly go over the options now.
\nThrough your provider
\nOne of the newer ways to get Android TV is through an operator\/provider. For a long time, operators have provided customers with a set-top box. Recently, operators have been upgrading that experience by switching their set-top box over to an Android TV set-top box.
\nThese newer devices might not necessarily look like Android TV as they can be highly customized by the operator, but underneath it’s Android TV.
\nThis is still a fairly new industry switch, but you can expect to see more operators in different parts of the world releasing new devices powered by Google’s TV solution.
\nSome of the most recent examples in the U.S. include AT&T and its AT&T TV set-top box or Sling TV and its AirTV devices.
\nThrough your actual TV
\nOne of the easiest ways to get Android TV is actually through your TV. Over the last few years many TV manufacturers have chosen to use Google’s solution to power their latest products.
\nThe benefit of this approach is that there’s no need for any additional hardware. The TV itself runs on the operating system and the setup is minimal.
\nSome of the TV brands now offering TVs powered by Android TV include Sony, Sharp, Hisense, Philips, and Skyworth.
\nThrough a separate device
\nThe third way is to simply buy a separate streaming device. This way is not that different to the operator method as the most common option is a set-top box. The difference is the set-top box won’t be customized by the operator. Instead, it will run a more generic-looking version of the software.
\nThis also means you won’t have to worry about remaining subscribed to the operator’s service to retain access to the set-top box.
\nWhile set-top boxes are a common product, they are not the only option. Over the last few years, Google has been hard at work to bring the platform to new form factors and devices.
\nThis means you can actually get Android TV included in a wide range of devices, like a projector or even a soundbar.
\nWhat’s the most popular Android TV devices?
\nNVIDIA SHIELD TV
\nArguably, the most popular device is the NVIDIA SHIELD TV. This is a set-top box that can be easily attached to your TV and requires no additional purchase to use.
\nNvidia Shield TV
\nOne of the benefits of NVIDIA’s solution is that it comes with an emphasis on gaming. This is a high-performance set-top box and one that’s very well supported in terms of software and security updates.
\nThe NVIDIA SHIELD TV is available to buy from various retailers including Amazon. The NVIDIA SHIELD TV costs anywhere between $150 and $200 in the U.S.
\nFind our more about the NVIDIA SHIELD TV by reading our full review.
\nXiaomi Mi Box S
\nThe Xiaomi Mi Box S is not as powerful or as feature-rich as the NVIDIA SHIELD TV, but its major selling point is the price. This makes the Mi Box S one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get started with Android TV.
\nXiaomi MI Box S
\nThe Xiaomi Mi Box S is available from a number of retailers including Amazon. The Xiaomi Mi Box S costs $69.99 in the U.S.
\nFind our more about the Xiaomi Mi Box S by reading our full review.
\nOfficial vs unofficial Android TV
\nIt is important to note the difference between official and unofficial Android TV as this could impact on the experience.
\nThere are some boxes that are referred to as an 'Android TV box.’ This is because they do run on Android and they are a box that connects to your TV. However, this is not actually Android TV.
\nWhile these boxes do run on Android, they are not using the licensed version of the platform. This also typically means they are not designed to work with apps that have been optimized for the platform.
\nOfficial Android TV is a licensed product. Any device using the official version will likely make it clear on the box or in the product description. You can also check what official devices are available by heading over to the official platform website.
\nIs Android TV the best choice for me?
\nThere are a number of factors that might influence your decision. Arguably, one of the most important is your existing setup. After all, this is a smart TV platform and making sure it plays nicely with your other smart home devices will ensure the best experience possible. While Android TV is a great choice for anyone looking to switch to a streaming device, it’s not the only choice.
\nAmazon offers a number of devices that run on Fire TV OS making it a better option for those more invested in Alexa. Fire TV devices available from Amazon include TVs, dedicated set-top boxes and TV sticks.
\nThen there’s Roku OS. Like Google and Amazon’s solutions, Roku OS is another TV-optimized platform that provides access to many of the same apps and services.
\nRoku OS is also available to buy as a TV, set-top box or TV stick.
\nThe post What is Android TV? Everything You Need To Know To Get Started appeared first on Android Headlines.
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