Android mastered the world of smartphones. Google’s mobile system offers thousands of games and applications, and a lot of possibilities. Search engine giant wants to be everywhere in watches, cars and TVs. Android TV is already in stores. Check to see if it is as powerful as its smartphone version.
Google TV and Chromecast – Google fight for a large room
Android TV is not a new idea to Google ‘ and, although the first TVs appeared on the market only in 2015, and debuted late last starter Nexus Player. The company from Mountain View already in 2010 unveiled Google TV, also operating system based on Android. Their devices with this system presented Sony and Logitech, they were available mainly in the US market. Do not they have achieved greater success, and for Logitech was one of the products for which fell into financial problems. The Google TV was available only a few applications, the main attraction was so properly YouTube. Equipment capabilities were limited.
Display main Android TV
In 2013, Google made another approach to introducing television to sell Chromecast. This device like a USB flash drive plugged dimensions of the back of the TV with the HDMI connector. Chromecast also does not offer too many opportunities, mainly used for streaming media from the internet with the support smartphones and computers. The advantage is however the price of just $ 35. Google so far has sold more than 10 million such devices.
The ambitions giant, of course, are much greater. Therefore, in 2014, during Google I / O we first heard about Android TV. It is a system for televisions and set-top (ie. Set-top boxes) operating system based on Android 5.0 (or later). Google prepared a special interface that we can serve comfortably remote. On the other hand, developers can create applications based SDK for mobile system and only be adapted to television. T about it makes Android TV has really huge potential. At the premiere of equipment with him but we had to wait a little longer.
TV Sony, Philips and Nexus Player
In October 2014 Nexus debuted Player costing $ 99. It is not, however, available in Poland, and the United has strong competitors in the form of Fire TV with modified through Amazon’s Android and Apple TV. Android TV is primarily Smart TV platform in TVs by Sony and Philips in 2015. The first such televisions began to appear in Poland in June. The cheapest 40-inch Philips PFH5500 costs slightly more than 2 thousand. In less than 3000 buy Sony KDL-43W755C. Both manufacturers have a whole range of TVs with this system. Philips has experimented last year with Android, but this is not the Android TV, you should have this in mind when deciding to purchase.
In the next year for sale in Poland come into televisions Sharp based on the Android TV. Google’s system will be also with Grundig. Do not expect it on devices from Samsung, LG and Panasonic. These companies are expanding their systems accordingly Smart TV Tizen, Firefox OS and WebOS. may soon appear broadly starters from Android TV, meanwhile, are enjoying enormous triumphs on the so-called Allegro. Android dongle , but from China and without “the anointing” Google but about them later.
Home Screen is the heart of the Android TV
Android TV interface is radically different from what we know of mobile devices. It is fully adapted for TV and even conventional pilots. To handle enough buttons left / right, up / down and select button and reversing. This navigation is very simple and clear. All we need is displayed on the main screen that appears immediately after start up.
At the very top is a voice search option to the built-in microphone litte remote control. Unfortunately, for example, TVs Sony W7 like we do not have the remote control included. We can possibly make use smartphone. Android TV can not find the Chrome web browser (but we can install another), but some of the information you can search by voice, there are also cards from Google Now. Of course most options’ll get when you log into the system using our Gmail / Google.
In search engine is a panel recommendations, containing both TV channels, VOD rental movies from Google Play, or videos from YouTube. Then we find sections of the recommended applications by the manufacturer, sections of the source image (individual HDMI ports, USB media, etc.) as well as more applications, games and finally settings. At the present moment in the Android TV missing more personalization options screen, we have to rely on what Google has prepared. Plus it is that manufacturers can not use their own overlays, as it may provide additional recommended applications. Thanks to Android TV has a consistent look across all devices.
Google Play – the real wealth
The biggest advantage over other Android TV Smart TV platforms have access to the Google Play store. In the case of competitive software developers need to create games and applications designed for TVs, up to now, each manufacturer had its solutions and fortifications, making these applications was very little. In practice, only Samsung with its grand scale could strongly support the developers. In the case of Android TV programmers benefit from the same tools used to create applications for smartphones and tablets. Part of games and applications requires virtually, any adaptation of other small changes and now are free to act on TVs.
Playing on a TV without a console
In practice, this means that applications on Android TV at any moment could be thousands. In addition, Google Play is considerable freedom when it comes to applications. So there is no problem with downloading web browsers and advanced media players. The shop displayed only compatible applications, so we do not waste time experimenting with programs that will not run.
Android TV as a gaming console
No future, and the present is to play on TVs with Android. Titles are really a lot and what is important are divided into those which we play with the remote control and those which connect the gamepad . With Sony and Philips TVs compatible with the majority of pads available on the market . In practice, this means that Android TV replaces all of the mini-consoles, and therefore that the quality of mobile games is getting better and play it on TV more interesting.
We can play even a few people
Cast, ie the implementation of Google Chromecast
All the options mentioned earlier Google Chromecast were also on Android TV. This means that with any, the TV can “to cast” page of Chrome, YouTube videos and multimedia content from other applications Cast function of both the smartphones with Android and iOS.
streaming video from other devices is not a problem
In practice it so that browsing on the tablet YouTube find interesting movie. If you want to watch it on the big screen cast to click an icon on the tablet. The TV starts immediately YouTube app and start playing, which you can control with your tablet device. This feature YouTube runs on many other platforms Smart TV for Android TV is extended to third-party applications transmit sound from smartphones, or pages from Chrome.
Android TV looks promising
This is the best incarnation of Android we have ever created by Google. That’s because the company has retained control of the interface. Manufacturers do not create their own overlays and Android TV everywhere looks the same. At the present moment especially the Polish application catalog is quite poor but this should soon change. Plus it is that TV manufacturers have moved services such as ipla or player.pl with their old Smart TV platforms, so that we do not run out right from the start.
Android TV also struggling with stability, there are currently especially in TVs Sony can experience cropping, or even a system crash. These are, however, problems of age dziecięceg about. Both Google and the producers are aware of this fact because at the moment there are updates for errors. There’s a good chance that Android TV will not repeat the disaster of Google TV, and soon will be really an important player in the market Smart TV.
A different view on Android on your TV
Android TV is not the only incarnation of the green robot on the big screen. Prior to the official Google TV platform manufacturers of equipment from China they took matters into their own hands and prepared the cheap snap-powered Android system. Their undoubted advantage is the price. The cheapest HDMI dongle system based on Android 4.2 buy for a little over 100 gold, spending $ 400 we can count on a powerful quad-core processor and support for 4K .
Alternative Android dongle
Rather, these devices are not products for the average Kowalski. A normal user can have problems with their service right out of the box. On the other hand gadżeciarze, more technical people will find them a range of applications. It is primarily media players coping with the majority of files, subtitles, program library management homely as KODI whether Plex etc .. Let’s agree, however, that most useful where there are used films from sources which infringe copyright. Doubts also leaves the interface of these devices are often unsuited to the TV and the miserable quality. Among the most famous are those starters from companies and Measy Ferguson. If we are conscious users and have the patience to properly configure these starters we’ll be pleased with them, in other cases better to opt for ready-made Smart TV platforms including Android TV.
The power of mobile system on a large screen
Google search app store, play it all makes Android TV today is virtually the most advanced Smart TV platform. The most advanced mobile system went on TV where it can not be a revolution but lets start using multimedia features and is not limited by this only to watch movies from VOD services. At the same time the system is much simplified relative to what we have on smartphones, so easy to use even a classic remote control. When you buy a TV but first let’s focus on image quality Smart TV platforms are constantly evolving and directing them is not a good choice. Android TV only gaining momentum. This is his first months on the market, soon we will see whether it will be as strong as its smartphone version.
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