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Best Android TV boxes and sticks in 2024
Android TV boxes and sticks can make your 'dumb' TV smart. Here are the best options to consider right now.
Android TVs are readily available on the market right now, but you don't necessarily have to splurge on a new TV just to get all the smart features. If your regular old "dumb" TV still has some years left in it, then you can consider buying a new Android TV box or a stick to get all the fancy new smart features, complete with the new and updated Android TV platform.
Google TV gets a performance boost thanks to latest update
Google's rolling out a new update for Google TV that will improve performance and also free up some storage space.
Even the best Google TV streaming devices can use some improvement, and thankfully, Google has been providing a consistent stream of updates for its platform and devices, making it one of the best media streaming devices out right now. With its latest update now rolling out, Google intends to deliver a smoother experience for users by increasing the performance of devices, while also freeing up storage space.
Google TV's free built-in channels are now widely rolling out in the US
The free channels are available on all Google TV and Chromecast with Google TV devices.
The cost of streaming content has risen steadily in recent years, with most services now costing way more than they did during the pre-pandemic days. However, while the paid platforms get most of the press, there's a ton of ad-supported content that can be streamed for free. Google TV is one such platform that recently expanded its bouquet of free content by adding hundreds more channels from new sources like Plex, Tubi, and Haystack. Now, just a couple of weeks after that announcement, the free channels are reportedly starting to roll out to users in the United States.
Google TV now has over 800 free TV channels and a revamped Live tab
With over 800 TV channels, you're bound to find something to watch.
It looks like some of the best streaming devices are getting even better. If you're a Google TV user, you're in for a treat, as the platform is now expanding its free TV offerings to 800 channels. Going forward, users will have access to more TV channels than ever with an easy way to view them all thanks to a newly revamped Live tab. The new Live tab will be a one-stop shop for all things TV, integrating multiple services into one channel with programming from Pluto TV, and newcomers like Tubi and Plex. Users will no longer have to navigate to multiple apps just to find something to watch and can do it all from one location.
Google TV revamp adds landing pages, offering an easier way to access your content
Google TV is making it easier to find the movies and shows you love by consolidating the content into new landing pages.
For the most part, TV interfaces were pretty boring before the introduction of smart TVs. Thankfully, now, most TVs offer a choice, allowing you to stick to a more basic menu system produced by the manufacturer or utilize a smart TV interface from brands like Google. Over time, Google TV has bolstered its feature set, providing an all-in-one experience, and giving users an easier way to access all of their content. Today, the company is making things even easier by introducing four new landing pages to its platform, giving users a seamless way to access content.
Google will unveil its next-gen flagships, the Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro, at an upcoming hardware launch event next month. The company will also launch the highly-anticipated Pixel Watch and new Nest smart home devices alongside the latest smartphones. In addition, recent leaks suggest that the company could also launch a new Chromecast device, reportedly called Chromecast with Google TV (HD), at the event.We recently learned that the upcoming Chromecast with Google TV (HD) could ship with Google TV based on Android 12 and feature an Amlogic S805X2 SoC and 1.5GB of RAM. Furthermore, an unreleased software build for the device has revealed that it will support AV1 decoding and virtual A/B seamless updates with compression. While Google hasn't officially shared any details about the Chromecast with Google TV (HD) so far, leaker SnoopyTech has now claimed that the device will be available for $40 in the U.S.
The upcoming 'Chromecast HD' will reportedly ship with Google TV based on Android 12
A leaked software build for the upcoming Chromecast HD reveals that it will ship with Google TV based on Android 12. Read on to learn more.
Google has announced a hardware launch event for October 6. At the event, the company will introduce the new Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, Google Pixel Watch, and "the latest smart home devices." Although the company has not revealed any details about the smart home devices it will showcase at the event, recent leaks suggest that the lineup might include a new Chromecast HD.
Google TV live content partners revealed in new leak
By decompiling the latest Google TV APK, new information has been discovered, with the service gearing up to offer ad-supported live TV.
Google TV is about to get a huge upgrade in the form of its own live content. While it's unclear when the service will be available, new information sheds light on what kinds of channels will be available when it does.
How to watch Google Play movies and TV shows on the Amazon Fire TV
Bought a bunch of content from Google on your Android phone but want to watch it on a Fire TV? No problem, here's what to do.
Google Play sells movies and TV shows on your Android phone or tablet. The Amazon Fire TV runs a version of Android. So surely you can watch your Google-bought content on it, right? Slow down a little. The answer is yes, you can, but not without a little workaround.
The rebranded Google TV app finally arrives on iOS
Google has finally launched the Google TV app on iOS. The new app replaces the existing Play Movies & TV app. Read on.
When Google launched the rebranded Google TV app on Android back in 2020, it wasn't accompanied by an iOS release. iOS users were stuck with the old Play Movies & TV app. But that finally changes today as the company is bringing the new Google TV app to iOS.
Google TV finally rolls out multi-user profile support
Google TV is finally getting support for multi-user profiles, allowing everyone in your household to create a personalized space.
Google TV, the new interface that runs on top of Android TV, is finally getting support for multi-user profiles. The feature was first announced last year and was supposed to roll out to everyone by 2021. However, Google later told us that it was delayed and would arrive in the "coming months." While the company did not share a definite timeframe at the time, you'd be glad to know that it's finally rolling out now.
Revamped Google TV app with new 'Highlights' feed is now rolling out widely
Google is now rolling out its updated Google TV app with the new "Highlights" feed and a bunch of other changes.
The Google TV app was revamped earlier this year with Material You tweaks and a new 'Highlights' tab. This new tab essentially showcases YouTube videos, news, reviews, and other articles related to the movies and TV shows you're interested in. The revamped 'Highlights' feed is now rolling out widely with the latest Google TV update, but the update sadly doesn't include all the Material You design changes.
Android TV's “expanded” picture-in-picture mode is here with Android 13 Beta 2
Android 13 introduces a new expanded picture-in-picture mode that allows developers to create longer and wider PiP windows on Android TV.
During the excitement of a new Android 13 beta release, it's quite easy to forget that phones (and tablets) aren't the only things getting upgraded. While the initial Android 13 beta for Android TV was a bit underwhelming, the latest version includes something that users have been wanting for quite a while -- a revamped picture-in-picture mode.
You'll soon be able to cast content from different services directly in Google TV
Google is making it easier than ever to cast movies and shows from your phone to your TV by bringing a cast button directly into Google TV.
Soon, the Google TV app on your phone will be able to cast content directly to your Android TV without the need for third-party apps. This should be a major step in streamlining the viewing experience at home, since you can easily find the content you want to watch in one place and then start casting directly from there.
Google TV's redesigned "Ambient Mode" screensaver with personalized cards starts rolling out
Google TV's revamped Ambient Mode screensaver with personalized cards is rolling out to users. Read on to know more.
Last year, Google announced new glanceable cards for Google TV’s ambient mode that display even more content and useful info when your TV is ideal. The new cards were scheduled to roll out to everyone in December last year. But for some reason, they never saw a wider rollout, with only a handful of users getting the new screensaver experience. But at long last, the feature is finally starting to make its way to more users.
The first beta of Android 13 for Google TV and Android TV is here
The first beta of Android 13 TV is now out, allowing developers and power users to get a sneak peek at the new smart TV interface.
Thanks to developer previews and beta releases, we already know quite a lot about Android 13. However, most of the changes we have documented so far have been about smartphones and tablets. Info about what the next version of Andriod brings for TVs and streaming devices has remained few and far between. But that changes now as Google has released the Android 13 Beta for TV, giving us our first look at the next version of the Android TV platform.
Chromecast with Google TV is still a great Chromecast dongle that does what it says on the box
The Chromecast with Google TV is still a great Chromecast dongle, even if it's not the best streaming stick you can get. Read about it here.
The Chromecast with Google TV has remained the best Chromecast dongle on the market, offering 4K HDR streaming support, a voice remote with a dedicated Google Assistant button, new personalized recommendations, and the ability to control connected smart home devices. It has an updated design over its predecessor and packs a quad-core Amlogic S905D3G chip, 2GB of RAM, and 8GB of onboard storage. When it launched, there were a number of bugs and other problems that soured the experience. But over time through updates, the Chromecast with Google TV has become an excellent addition to a standard television set. While it's not the most powerful device, it costs $49 new -- a pretty great price.
Google Play Store will soon get rid of the Play Movies & TV tab
The Play Movies & TV section will soon be removed from the Google Play Store, with the Google TV app serving as your new one-stop-shop.
In addition to being home to millions of Android apps, the Google Play Store is also a place where you can buy movies, ebooks, and audiobooks. But it seems you won't be able to purchase or rent movies from the Play Store in the future.
The Google Home app used just to be the setup and remote control tool for Chromecast players, which included a tab for discovering new shows and movies that were playable on a Chromecast. When that app slowly morphed into Google Home, the page of content recommendations eventually went away, but now Google is bringing it back in another location: the Google TV mobile application. The app is also receiving a few other design tweaks.
Google Home for iOS gets Android TV remote with latest update
The latest update for the Google Home app on iOS brings the Android TV remote feature to iPhone users. Read on to learn more.
Google rolled out a new virtual remote feature to the Google TV app back in September last year. The feature made its way over to the Google Home app for Android in November, giving users who don't use the Google TV app access to a virtual remote for their Android TV and Google TV devices. Sadly, the feature didn't make it to the Google Home app for iOS at the time. But Google has now started rolling it out for iPhone users.