We’ve seen many Android TV boxes for sale which claim to offer ‘all of the sports channels’, subscription free.The TARDIS arrives on an extinct volcanic island. My mate told me about this TV box that lets you watch Sky Sports for free… If you’re less sold on an Android TV’s gaming credentials, then the Asus-made Nexus Player, which costs £80, will likely suit.
Alternatively, you can even stream your PC games firect from your home rig. You can play remote PC games on your TV via the Shield TV if you’ve got GeForce Experience and if not, there’s plenty of Nvidia-enhanced Android titles like Half-Life 2 and Portal to blast through. If you ask us, you can’t go wrong with an Nvidia Shield TV, especially if you’re a gamer. If you want to access paid TV from the likes of Sky, then you’ll be better off with the likes of a Now TV device. The following on-demand video streaming services are available on Android TV, among others: Our personal picks for the best Android TV games include: Great news, as you can get some great titles on Android TV, including the likes of Leo’s Fortune and Grand Theft Auto games.Īmazon is keen to emphasise the gaming credentials of its Fire TV box, so it’s likely that Google wants to compete with one of its biggest rivals here. Most people will probably use the device to watch Netflix or YouTube videos, but Android already has the ability to play games and works with a range of Bluetooth controllers. Time will tell if it’ll kill off Apple TV, Fire TV, webOS and the rest… Can you play games on Android TV? This little streaming stick has gone down a storm – finally a Google TV success story.īack in 2012, we predicted that Android TV would kill off Google TV. Admittedly, it was more of a curio for developers to tinker with, but for many it represented another failed attempt for Google to break into living rooms. It also tried its hand with the Nexus Q, which didn’t even end up shipping in the end. Despite critical success, the device failed to sell well. Google did release its eponymous Google TV around two years ago and Sony had a device – the £200 NSZ-GS7 – that ran this platform. So users can find content on their mobiles or the Chrome browser and flick it over to their Android TV, no worries. Like Chromecast, Android TV also doubles as a streamer with its Cast feature. Sony, Sharp and other manufacturers have packed Android TV into their smart tellys, so you don’t even need to buy a separate streaming box to enjoy the service. Naturally, you’ll also be able to watch regular TV, if that floats your boat. If you’ve got Netflix, Blinkbox or Prime Instant Video installed on Android TV and you ask it to look for films starring Cate Blanchett, Android TV should look through all of those to see what’s available. Android TV will rely on the Google Play Store to deliver content, but the search will also comb through third party streaming services such as Netflix when relevant. And of course, you can search by typing or by using your voice, Google Now-style.Īs well as TV shows and movies, Android TV lets you play games, much like PlayStation TV and Amazon Fire TV do. You can even make very specific requests along the lines of “Sundance Film Festival Winners 2009”.
With full Google support, Android TV’s best feature is its recommendation engine that comes up with suggestions for content based on keywords such as “Kevin Spacey movies”.
Has Google finally got it right with Android TV? What does Android TV do?Īs its name suggests, Android TV is based on the same Android software found on mobile phones, but tweaked to work on TV streaming devices.
Here’s everything you need to know about Android TV, including the best Android TV devices, a look at the best Android TV apps and how to get started. This home entertainment service is a telly addict’s dream, as it makes searching through on-demand TV services easy as pie, with the power of Google search at your fingertips (or the tip of your tongue, using voice control). It’s hard to believe, but Android TV was unveiled almost three years ago.
What is Android TV? How does it compare with Chromecast, Apple TV and the rest? And what’s the best Android TV streaming device out there right now? Here’s our full Android TV explainer, with all you need to know.