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Google wants to bring Android to everything from phones and watches, to cars and smart television sets. First off, in the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that I am somewhat biased when it comes to smart TV platforms, so let’s get that out of the way. I think most, if not all smart TV platforms on the market are downright terrible, but that’s just me. Google thinks it can do better and I am inclined to believe that it reallycan do better, or at least I hope it can, both as a consumer and a tech enthusiast.
So what is Android TV? Many people confuse it with Google TV, a defunct platform released in 2010. It was developed by Google, Sony, Intel and Logitech, but it never gained traction. It was officially replaced by Android TV in mid-2014, and this new platform is a lot more exciting for consumers and developers alike.
Unlike Google TV, Android TV is much closer to standard Android. It runs Android 5.0 (at least in the initial launch version) and can be used on new TVs, as well as on standalone devices. This is good news since Android TV will end up on inexpensive Android TV boxes and sticks, bringing the same user experience to millions of old TVs. In fact, the first device to feature Android TV is not a TV at all, it is Google’s Nexus Player. This also addresses one of the biggest complaints levied against various smart TV platforms in the past: lack of consistency. Android TV should bring a nearly identical user experience to all compatible devices.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, It Will Be Streamed
As far as new features go, Android TV also introduces support for Google Cast. You may be familiar with Google Cast from the Chromecast stick. The technology is already supported by hundreds of apps and services, with more on the way. Google Cast allows Android TV devices to receive streamed content from a range of devices. Implementation is straightforward using the Google Cast API, and you will find all the info you need on the Google Cast dev site.
Does this mean Google wants to turn cable companies into “dumb pipes” and simply use their bandwidth rather than content? Not really, but anything is possible, especially as smart TV platforms proliferate.
However, streaming is not Google’s only trump card.
Android TV also creates new opportunities for communication, gaming, home automation and much more. Android TV could become a hub for all sorts of connected devices, running Android or other platforms. You could use it to see who is at the door, adjust your air conditioning or connected thermostat, maybe even sync your RGB LED lightbulbs with your TV while watching some 80s action classics.
Granted, some of this stuff may sound gimmicky, but Android TV is not for gimmicks; it won’t be a niche platform like Android Wear or Android Auto. Not long ago, only enthusiasts bought smart TVs and smartphones, but feature phones and traditional TVs are all but gone at this point. Android TV will end up on TVs in millions of homes; there’s really no doubt about it.
This is good news for Android developers since the user base is sure to grow fast, thus mitigating the risk of tackling a new platform for Android TV app development.
Android TV – What’s Under The Bonnet?
As far as hardware goes, we will see Android standard FHD screens (1080p) and UHD (3840x2160). There is also a good chance some manufacturers will also bring Android TV to curved 21:9 units sometime in the future, but for the time being the focus will be on 16:9 panels. UI designers need to keep this in mind.
Since it’s based on Android 5.0 (API level 21) and uses ART, most Android TV hardware will feature 64-bit processors. The Nexus Player is based on an Intel Atom processor, a lot of upcoming Android TV’s will sport MediaTek’s MT5595, while Nvidia’s Shield console, which I already covered in a previous post, uses the Tegra X1 processor. Intel’s and Nvidia’s System-on-Chip (SoC) offerings are based on 64-bit CPU cores, while MediaTek employs 32-bit Cortex-A17 and Cortex-A7 cores.
All Android TV hardware will have to support HEVC and VP9 decoding, and chances are most of these chips will be capable of handling several non-UHD streams at once. Delivering UHD content at 60 frames per second should not be a problem, either. Fast, dual-band wireless is on board as well, providing enough bandwidth for UHD streams.
Android TV hardware platforms will rely on a lot of middleware and will comply with multiple broadcasting standards to cover every region and market.
There is nothing exotic about the hardware and developers don’t have much to worry about. A lot of Android 5.0 DNA ensures a smooth transition on the software front, but are some things to keep in mind.
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