Friday, November 22, 2024

What is Google TV and which devices have it?

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The name implies that it is a TV, but that is not always the case. Google TV, which builds on the Android TV operating system, is Google's modern TV user experience.

Google TV was the name of Google's first operating system for TVs, launched in 2010 and discontinued after less than four years in 2014.

In 2014, Google instead launched Android TV with a dedicated TV user interface and framework for streaming apps rather than relying on webpages. Android TV was a success, and in September 2020, Google introduced a modified user interface on top of Android TV called Google TV. So, we are back to the original name but in a completely new form.



What is Google TV?

Google TV is the user experience on top of the Android TV operating system. In practical terms, it means that all apps available for Android TV also work with Google TV devices. These apps have been TV-optimized by the developer and are separate from mobile apps for Android. In other words, you cannot expect an app for an Android smartphone to work on a Google TV (it is possible to sideload it and control it with a mouse or another device, but it is rarely a good experience).