Google TV is a platform launched by Google for smart TVs and smart sticks. Wait, doesn’t Google already have an Android TV? And what about the Google TV app? Google is most criticized for its complicated and confusing naming, so this time we are going to explain it carefully and understand these many TV services.
Are Google TV and Android TV the same? What’s the difference?
First and foremost, Google TV is still Android at its core, just like Android TV. The easiest way to think about Google TV is as a new Android TV. per unit Google TV devices are essentially Android TV, but Android TV devices are not Google TV. Google TV is conceptually similar to interface layers like Samsung One UI. For example, Samsung phones with One UI still run Android, they just look different from stock Android. The difference in TV software is that One UI is for Samsung devices, while Google TV works on devices from every manufacturer.
Two different main homepages
Names aside, the biggest difference between Google TV and Android TV is the main homepage. Google has completely revamped the main homepage experience to feature recommended content as the standard. Recommendations (advertisements) for movies and TV shows and other content are curated from the streaming services you subscribe to. The entire setup process for the new device has been significantly improved over time. Setup is now handled not on the TV but through the Google Home app. During the setup process, Google will ask you to select a streaming service so that it can customize the homepage recommendations.
Another key component of the main Google TV homepage is the Watch List. You can add movies and TV shows to your watch list using Google Search on your phone, tablet, or computer, then easily click to watch them from the Library tab on the main Google TV homepage, and they’re also available on the Google TV app. Yes, there’s an app called Google TV, formerly Google Play Video, which is still the place to rent and buy movies and TV shows in the Google ecosystem, but now it’s also added to your streaming services and watch list. Search for anything and Google TV will tell you where to watch it.
Will Android TV be updated to become Google TV?
Most of the latest Google Play-enabled TVs and streaming devices now come with Google TV. However, there are still some great Android TV devices out there, like the NVIDIA Shield TV, so will they eventually be upgraded to Google TV? Devices like the NVIDIA Shield TV, Xiaomi streamers, and Sony TVs still run what’s called Android TV, but they do receive an updated, more Google TV-looking main homepage. In any case, whether it is Android TV or Google TV, the experience is basically very similar.
Source: KOCPC Chinese