Most people are very familiar with Android, Google’s operating system that dominates the smartphone world. Did you know there is an Android version for TVs though? If not, don’t feel bad. Android TV has a history and is gaining serious attention thanks to partnerships with high-profile TV manufacturers such as Sony, Philips and TCL. Here’s what you need to know about Android TV.
What is Android TV?
Android TV is a version of Google’s Android mobile operating system specifically configured for TVs. It focuses on helping you discover content you can enjoy on your TV, whether it’s through one of your subscription services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or your own personal media collection through media center software.
Because of this focus, Android TV looks very different from Android. Instead of being greeted by a screen full of apps or widgets like search, weather or stocks, your device’s media apps are displayed as “ribbons”, a series of horizontally scrolling suggestions and recently viewed content from a particular app. For example, the Netflix app will display a thumbnail strip of your current, next episode, and recommended shows and movies.
Android TV has access to the Google Play app store, where you can find thousands of apps designed specifically for the 10 feet experience of Android TV; This means you won’t have trouble reading small text or just trying to navigate apps.
Built into every version of Android TV, Google Assistant gives you voice control of all your smart home products, as well as your TV content. Google’s Chromecast technology is also included, allowing you to cast videos and initiate screen sharing from compatible smartphones, browsers and apps.
Like Roku OS, Amazon’s Fire TV OS or Apple’s tvOS, Android TV supports a wide variety of TV features such as 4K UltraHD, HDR and Dolby Atmos. Whether you can take advantage of these features will depend on the device on which Android TV is installed. The hardware must support these features for Android TV to allow you to use them.
How do I set up and use Android TV?
While it’s possible to use basic Android TV features without a Google account, a Google account is required if you want to download additional apps or use Google Assistant. When you first set up your Android TV device, you will be asked to enter your Google account. If you already have another Android device like a phone or tablet, you can use it to speed up the setup process.
