Google is planning to launch Android TV, its latest attempt to break into the living room that will provide a complete platform for media, apps and games, according to a new report.
Picture source: The Verge
The move puts Google in direct completion with AZPPle TV and Amazon’s recently launched FireTV, as well as its own Chromecast.
Citing ‘docuiments it’s seen’, The Verge reports that the new system promises a simpler experience based on a set-top box.
It’s unclear whether Google plans to build Android TV set-top boxes itself, or to offer the platform to third-party manufacturers.
According to the leaked documents, a scrolling “card” interface will surface apps, movies and games. Apps are already in the works for Vevo, Netflix, Pandora and games, as well as Google’s own tools such as Play Movies and YouTube.
Content suggestions will be made directly on the home screen; rather than highlighting apps such as Netflix, Android TV will suggest TV shows, for example. You’ll also be able to resume watching a show that you paused on another device, such as a smartphone or tablet.
To control it all, the Android TV set-top box will come with a remote that can be used as a game controller, and will also support voice recognition. The platform supports Hangouts, suggesting that hardware will also include a camera to use the video-conferencing tool.
The Android TV report comes as Google is finally having smart TV success with the £30 Chromecast. Sundar Pichai, Google’s head of Android and Chrome, last year suggested that the two products will target different markets.
Low-cost Chromecast will help push basic internet TV into the living room – essentially acting as a “web media player” – while Android TV will also support gaming, Pichai suggested. Android TV will include Chromecast’s ability to “fling” content from the web to a TV, but will also offer direct streaming of on-demand systems such as Netflix.