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Android TV and Google Cast coming to a bevy of new devices
During I/O 2016 Google took a moment to recap all the new features Android N will soon bring to the table, alongside the announcement that a new ‘beta-quality’ Android N preview is arriving now. While Android N is mostly aimed at smartphones and tablets, in a new blog post Google wanted to remind us that Android N will be affecting its Android TV and Google Cast-capable devices as well.
As far as Android TV is concerned, Android N brings new features including picture-in-picture mode, new recording APIs for recording live TV, and high dynamic range that supports the next frontier in 4K video. With Google Cast, Android N further improves the feature’s overall performance.
In addition to reminding us about how Android N will help these product categories, Google is also taking the time to introduce a few new devices. Without further ado, let’s take a look.
Android TV
Sony has been an important player since the Google TV days and they haven’t slowed down with Android TV. The whole Bravia Smart TV 2015 line-up ran Android TV, and this year they have 4K panels running Google’s software all over the place. Now Google is reminding us their whole 2016 Bravia line-up will also come with Android TV.
In addition, Sharp‘s Net Player is also on its way. Not to mention RCA’s first Android TV unit, as well as a 4K set-top box from Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi. In Europe, Android TV is coming to the market thanks to companies like Beko, Grundig and Vestel.
The Search Giant also took a minute to let us know some new apps are in the works. Here are some of them:
- CNN
- Comedy Central
- MTV
- Freeform
- Nickelodeon
- Spotify
- STARZ
- WATCH ABC
- WATCH Disney Channel
- WATCH Disney Junior
- ESPN
Google Cast
The Google Cast fun may start with the Chromecast and Chromecast Audio official devices, but it sure doesn’t end there. This is a feature the tech giant has made available not only for Android TV devices, but also a selection of other products.
Today we learn TV sets from Magnavox, Philips, Polaroid, Toshiba and Westinghouse are getting integrated Chromecast capabilities.
Wrapping up
Exciting, right? I am a huge fan of Google Cast. It’s simple and smart enough for most people’s needs. It’s also a very affordable solution. And now it may be considered even cheaper, as the next TV you buy may already have Cast functionality included!
Keep it tuned for more details from Google IO. We are grabbing all the news for you, and have some of the team in Mountain View getting all your hands-on goods.