Hands-on: Android TV is smart television versatile – Nutech

Google wants Android not only on tablets and smartphones, but many more devices. Android TV with the biggest screen of the living room to be conquered.

Actually, it’s weird that the operating systems of our TV’s still not working as well as those of our phones. With smart TVs, you can download apps by now, but the performance is often poor and confusing user experience.

Google has a unique position to solve these problems. More than a billion people already use monthly Android, as the company made during I / O available. Android TV shows that the operating system with relatively small changes an excellent future outside the tablet and smartphone.

Appearance

Android TV brings the home screen, as we know from Android to your TV. The system shows several rows of large icons, with the focus on the top films on demand can be viewed. Currently, there especially movies from Google Play Movies, the movie store from Google, but there may also Youtube videos or videos from other sources between them.

Below this is a row of apps. In the current test version of Android TV are household names like Netflix, TED and Youtube already present, but this number will undoubtedly grow. For example, many music services like Spotify or Google’s own Play Music, are not yet as Android TV app available

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There is also a separate row for games, where names like Need For Speed: Most Wanted and Minion Rush to find. The tiles that represent apps and content are sorted based on personal recommendations and how often the user has opened them.

The menus can be called up by pressing the Home button on the remote control or a special app. If the user watching live TV, the menus appear over here, all is not preserved much of the live image.

Voice Control

Above the film and apptegels is a bar that can be used to do searches. As with many other new Android products, such as wear and car, voice control is an important part.

On Android TV is the search function quite smart. It can not only be sought movies or apps, but also for things like “best movies of 1998″ or “movies starring Angelina Jolie.” It is still unclear how this will work in Dutch. Android is currently limited handle Dutch voice control, but according to spokesman Mark Jansen is underway to expand. Supporting more languages ​​as soon as possible

Performance

Android TV looks clear and calm. The menus are simple but more on a TV is not necessary. Presumably, most people will eventually use a limited number of apps on their TV, so it is especially important that they are easy to find and they work well.

We demonstrated the system during I / O on a small set-top box is not actually available to consumers, but is intended for developers who want to develop apps.

The control is via a generic Xbox-like controller, which also will not be offered for sale. Also, it is possible to control. Android TV with a smartphone, or tablet-app This consists only of darts, a back and home button, and a microphone to give. Voice commands

will also support Google Cast without a single Chrome Cast need to be plugged in the TV and set-top boxes that use Android TV . This allows the TV to send a handy feature that Chrome Cast already made a popular product before.

videos and music directly

test hardware Android TV

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the test hardware, the performance in the menus on the generally excellent. Startup apps and switch between different applications went very quickly.

Well games showed that there was considerable occurred. Graphical games looked good, but the framerate was not good and touches the controller delays were recorded on the screen. We hope (and assume) that this will be resolved as Android TV actually appears on the market. If Android TV achieved good gaming performance, will make it possible for many people a console superfluous.

Novelties

An app like that of Netflix shows that Android TV is not necessarily a lot of input to current smart TV systems. The appearance of Netflix’s exactly the same as all other smart TVs.

The difference is therefore mainly in the speed, clarity and completeness of the system. Gaming on smart TVs is hardly possible, and the use of voice commands is also new. Furthermore, it is particularly useful in a time many different applications can be searched for movies, while users of smart TVs normally go through all kinds of different applications need to scroll.

The only system that comes close in terms of functionality of Android TV is LG’s WebOS (hands-on). However, this system has the disadvantage that there are apps to be written. Specially Android TV also run existing Android apps slightly adapted for the TV interface. That will make it much more attractive for developers to support the system.

Updates

Google developer Sascha Prüter furthermore late NU.nl know that Android TV at the same time will get the updates phone and tablet versions of Android. The limits of the capabilities of Android TV so are not fixed at the moment you an expensive new device brings in the living room.

This Android TV is not just an upgrade of existing smart TV systems, but it also creates a whole new infrastructure in order to keep providing your TV. Functions That is very welcome because you often use the same TV years.

Well, there are probably limits to adding new functionalities. Prüter says there are minimum specifications laid down where Android TVs to meet. This is to ensure that all the games on TVs and set-top boxes work well. It is obvious, however, that television programs in this area will be run as games get better graphics and add updates new opportunities it quickly.

This need not be a disaster, but it would be really boring if we all have to upgrade because the operating system has become as regularly now after a few years with smartphones to slow our TV a few years case. It is hoped that Android TV will be more robust in the long term

Preview:. Clearly navigation with Android Car

By: NU.nl / Jeroen Crane

Picture: NU.nl / Jeroen Crane