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Updated on December 10, 2021
Coming this fall is Google’s latest effort at competing with Apple TV, Roku, and video game consoles: “Android TV.” Unlike previous efforts Google TV and Chromecast, Android TV will be an operating system rather than a specific set-top box brand name. Smart TV makers will be able to embed it into their sets, while third-party set-top box makers (Asus, etc.) can use the operating system.
Similar to Android and Roku/Apple TV, it’ll come with an easy-to-use interface with support for Chromecast. It’ll also come with its own app store, complete with using the same programming tools as Android-proper.
More details can be found at these two articles:
Google Introduces Android TV, Its New Platform For Smart TV Apps And Navigation | TechCrunch
More on Android TV (TechCrunch)
Google TV, of course, was a flop for Google. One reason might have been stuff like this hideous Sony remote control, something only someone completely clueless would find “usable.” (Sony apparently had never heard of cell phones with slide-out keyboards, which would’ve been a vastly more logical design choice…) Chromecast, meanwhile, has been a success, thanks to being easy to use (by actual humans) and cheap (at $35).
I wonder how successful Android TV will be going up against Apple TV, Roku, video game consoles, and existing smart TVs…not to mention Google’s own Chromecast.
