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Android TV bug gave users access to strangers' Google Photos
On a good day, Android TV, Google's Android OS for TVs, allows users to display photos from their Google Photos albums as screensavers. That's a nice perk -- when it doesn't potentially share your private photos with strangers. Over the weekend, a disturbed Android TV owner took to Twitter when he realized, through the Google Home app, he could access a massive list of random accounts, as well as photos they'd added to their Google Photos albums.
JBL delays Link Bar release yet again
If you pre-ordered JBL's $399 Link Bar last August, you could end up waiting almost a year for it to arrive -- or possibly longer. Pre-order customers were originally told the all-in-one soundbar, TV box and Google Assistant speaker would ship in October. That didn't happen, and last month, unknown delays pushed shipping to spring. After pre-order customers noticed another ship-date change, Android Police confirmed with JBL that "in-market availability is now planned for mid-to-late summer."
PlayStation Vue makes its Apple TV debut
You can already find PlayStation Vue, Sony's proprietary streaming service, on most every device in your living room. It's native on the Playstation 3 and 4, available on Android TV, Roku boxes, Fire TV and Stick, not to mention compatible smart TVs. You can also find it on Android and iOS devices as a mobile app, which can be streamed to Chromecasts. Today, that ecosystem grew a bit more with the announcement that Vue is now available on Apple TV as well.
Philips' new OLED TV has built-in, super colorful ambient lighting
If you've been waiting your whole life for a TV that offers a 4K resolution, an OLED panel and Philips' funky Ambilight technology, you're going to love TP Vision's newest 55-inch set.
UK police seize thousands of Android streamers modded for piracy
Set-top boxes help deliver streaming services like Netflix and Now TV into our homes, but they're also giving rise to less-than legal methods of watching films, TV shows and sport. As manufacturers have embraced the open nature of Android, enterprising users have found ways to install apps that facilitate piracy, which has become a business in its own right. This week, a number of police forces conducted raids on sellers of "pirate" Android streamers, confiscating thousands of units in the process.
NVIDIA Shield TV review: the best Android set-top box you can buy
Never let it be said that Google gives up on ideas that don't pan out the first time. Remember when it tried invading our living rooms with clunky, disappointing set-top boxes? And then when that very same software went on to find a life right on smart TVs? Think of all that as a prelude to where we are today -- Google TV has given way to Android TV, and now NVIDIA's cooked up an interesting spin on a formula that's nearly a year old. The Shield TV's gaming cred and sleek design make it far and away the most interesting Android TV setup we've seen to date, but does that mean it's worth your hard-earned cash? The short answer is "yes," but the Shield only shines brightest if you've got the right sort of hardware already in place.
Android TV will display video apps as traditional channels
For Android TV, 2015 could turn out to be a breakout year -- at least that's what Google hopes. But how does the search giant plan to reach those heights? One way is by expanding its home entertainment platform's support for live TV programming, with a new feature called Android Channels. What this lets users to do is view video-streaming apps on the same program guide as traditional channels, including those from ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and other broadcast networks. If you're familiar with the Xbox One, you'd know that Microsoft's console offers similar functionality.
A taste of something great: five days with NVIDIA's Shield Android TV
I wanted to watch The West Wing, so I asked for it. I wanted to play Asphalt 8 on my TV, so I downloaded it. I wanted people to see me playing a copy of Street Fighter X Tekken I didn't (strictly speaking) own, so I broadcasted it. All of these little interactions -- some mundane, some seemingly strange -- are what make using NVIDIA's Shield Android TV box such a tantalizing experience. At its very core, it's not all that different from the Nexus Player we saw last year, with an added veneer of NVIDIA gamer-friendliness. It's that extra dose of ambition, though, that makes the Shield the most interesting Android TV box you'll find out there right now. I've had the thing hooked up to my TV for five days and haven't completely put it through its paces yet, but read on for a taste of what it's like having a Shield-powered living room.
Sling TV brings its cord-cutter app to Android TV devices
So far, Dish has done an exceptional job of launching its internet television service, Sling TV, on most major mobile and stationary platforms. And now Android TV is the latest to offer support for the cord-cutter app, joining others like iOS, Roku, Xbox One and, of course, Android in doing so. At the moment, Sling TV on Android TV really just means being available for the Nexus Player, although there are many devices launching soon with Google's newly minted ecosystem on board. Sling TV also announced ESPN Deportes (the Spanish version of ESPN) has been added to its channel lineup, which it will be including as part of the Latino-tailored, $5-per-month Deportes Extra pack.
Sony's latest Bravia TVs will come with YouView built in
When Sony announced its new Bravia TVs at CES, it wasn't just the razor-thin form factor that had attendees leaping for joy. At last, Sony had thrown out its own software efforts in favour of Android TV, Google's burgeoning TV platform. Now, we've found out that Brits are going to get something just a little bit different. Starting this summer, Sony's 2015 Bravia TVs will run two different platforms in the UK: Android TV and YouView. Exactly how these offerings will co-exist isn't clear, but the advantages are obvious; with YouView, Sony now has a proven platform that lets Brits watch both live TV and catch-up services such as BBC iPlayer and 4oD. Everything is accessible from a single guide, so for newcomers it's easy to scroll back and watch shows without launching separate apps. However, we're keen to see Sony's implementation. If you're forced to bounce between YouView and Android TV to access different apps, it could be an awfully confusing and irritating experience.
Sony's new TVs are thin... very thin
When visitors see your new Sony Bravia, the answer to their first question will be "4.9mm," because that's how thick these new TVs are at their thinnest point. If, however, your friends and lovers aren't impressed, then you might have to wheel out some other facts about your new home entertainment setup. The top-of-the-line XBR 900C 4K TVs come in 55-, 65- and 75-inch flavors, and gain a new X1 4K processor, which upgrades the picture quality of any 4K source and enhances the dynamic range and color.
Google finally agrees that Apple's 'walled garden' is a good idea
Apple's App Store is "big brother" and the Google Play Store is the wild west where anything goes, right? Not anymore, as Google is implementing a very Apple-like screening process for all new Android TV apps before they land on the digital marketplace. As Android Police reports, Google's new content guidelines note that apps will have to make it through quality control before being tossed up for sale on the Play Store, marking a dramatic shift in thinking and a silent agreement that Apple's "walled garden" approach to content might be the way to go after all. "Before distributing apps to the Play Store on Android TV devices, our team reviews apps for usability with a DPAD (apps) and Gamepad (games only) and other quality guidelines," Google's Android TV app policy notes. This will of course mean only legitimate and functional apps will find their way to the Android TV section of Google Play -- quality of published apps is something the Android platform has struggled with in the past -- but also that developers hoping to push their apps to Android TV will get to experience the joys of a testing and approval queue.
Google I/O wrapup: Razer microconsole, Android TV
Google's I/O 2014 conference unveiled plenty of goodies for tech-heads and gadget lovers, including a few nuggets for all of the video game enthusiasts out there. Engadget helps us break it down:
This is what Plex looks like on Android TV
Hot on the heels of all the Google I/O announcements today, the good people at Plex have let us know that a new version of its app is on the way for the newly launched Android TV. Plex for Android TV isn't a rehash of the Google TV app, but a whole new creature built for the new system. Coupled with Android TV's lovely new UI and features like voice control, Plex says users will have access to all-new ways to enjoy their media. We have to admit we're seriously excited to get our hands on yet another way to get Plex into our lives. None of this is available just yet, of course, so while we wait, have a peek at some screens of what the new system will look like.
MK802 Android 4.0 Mini PC hands-on impressions
There must be something in the water in hardware-designer land. Small is en vogue, it seems, and to say we've been intrigued about this latest twist on diminutive form factors would be an understatement. So far, Android has largely (though not exclusively) kept itself firmly in the palms of our hands. But, increasingly it is popping up in places we never even thought about. For the uninitiated, that thing above -- the Chinese-made MK802 -- is a complete "mini PC" that's about the size of a USB flash drive or card reader. It has a 1.5GHz Allwinner processor, 512MB of RAM and 4GB of onboard flash storage. You can get at these internals via two USB ports (which can also power the device,) and pump the result out to a display via HDMI. If that 4GB of memory isn't enough, you can expand it via a microSD slot. All good and well, but what would you do with such a thing? Plenty is the answer. This not only makes any HDMI display a PC, it also ushers in a new type of portability. Bring your Netflix over to a friend's house without needing your phone, or never worry about using public PCs again. All of these niche uses give the MK802, and its kind, lots of potential. But what is it like in real life? Shimmy past the break to find out.%Gallery-157130%
HCI Roommate III puts Android powered TVs in hospitals
Many companies have tried their hand at Android-powered TVs and set-top boxes outside of the Google TV ecosystem before, but HCI's Roommate III is apparently the first line destined for the sterile environment of hospitals. These 22- to 42-inch wall mounted LCD HDTVs run an unspecified flavor of Android that supports apps, web browsing, and a built-in whiteboard. Things like accreditation status, outcomes studies, and incidence of medical errors will probably still be our main concerns in picking a hospital, but if these displays catch on then our doctors can describe our next elective surgery with the help of Google Body.
Turkish company builds 65-inch Android 'tablet' with Honeycomb, 1080p support (video)
Want Honeycomb on your TV? You can take your chances with a Google TV-enabled set from Sony, or you can get the full Android experience by adding a connected tablet to your HD mix -- if Istanbul-based Ardic gets its solution out the door, at least. The Turkish company's prototype uses a 10-inch Android Honeycomb-based tablet to power a 65-inch LCD with 1080p support for basic gestures, like pinch and zoom. The display currently has two touch sensors, but a version with four sensors is on the way, which will bring multi-touch support. The tablet is powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 2 SoC, and includes 1GB of RAM, 16GB of flash memory, dual cameras, HDMI, USB, microSD and 3G and WiFi connectivity. A dock enables instant connectivity with the OEM TV, including HDMI for video and audio, and USB for touch input (a wireless version is in the works as well). The devs customized Android to support 1080p output, and it appears to work quite seamlessly, as you'll see in the embedded video. And this isn't simply another goofy demo or proof of concept -- the Turkish company is in talks with education and enterprise customers and hopes to bring this setup to production as a more power- and cost-efficient interactive whiteboard alternative. The company eventually hopes to offer displays in a variety of sizes, that will all be powered by a pocketable device, such as a smartphone, but watch in wonder as the 65-inch proto we have today struts its stuff in the video after the break.
RCA does Android on TV without Google's help (video)
Just like the slew of tablets that have found their path to store shelves without official blessing from Google or access to the Android Market, RCA has chosen to go its own way People of Lava-style with this prototype Android TV, due out later this year. Obviously very early in development, it was unfortunately devoid of apps other than Picasa and a simple weather widget, and used pretty standard remote keys to guide a mouse arrow around the screen and keyboard. You can check out the video after the break to confirm, but with the official Google TV products already experiencing their own growing pains it's tough to get behind a lone challenger. RCA plans to show off some 3D products and Blu-ray players at its booth to go along with this and its mobile TVs, we'll see if we're more impressed later on this week.
People of Lava launches Scandinavia Android TV, melts home theater hearts and wallets
After teasing us with its cool hardware and even cooler name last spring, Swedish TV maker People of Lava has now launched what it claims is the world's first Android-powered TV -- that is if you don't count Korea's Smartroi TV running Android 1.5. Its top-of-the-line 55-inch models cost a wallet-singeing 40,000 Swedish Krona (or roughly $5,820) and ship with Android 1.5 along with widgets for Google Chrome, Facebook, YouTube and Google Maps. They also have access to an app store which currently only includes 20 titles, but could grow to more than 1,000 by the end of the year -- since according to marketing director Martin Ljunggren, the store should import any app now in the Android Market that's scalable to a TV screen. That's a feat we're curious to see given Android's difficultly scaling apps even to tablet screens -- but hey, what do we know? In terms of sales, People of Lava hopes to move $29 million dollars worth of Scandinavia units in 2011, in both Sweden and niche US and UK markets. Overall that's great news for the tech savvy well-to-do, but considering Mountain Vew's focus on Google TV, we're not sure how long these Android TVs will be around.
Google TV set to launch this year, Samsung considering Android for its TVs
As you're probably well aware, the Wintermute-like intelligence known as Google has designs on your television. Not only is Samsung contemplating Android for its sets, but Eric Schmidt has stated that its Google TV service is on track for launch this autumn (as a beta, undoubtedly). Finally, Maps on your plasma! Unfortunately Samsung's plans are far less certain, with company President Yoon Boo Keun offering little more than a "[w]e will have to see, but we are reviewing," when asked whether the OS will make a suitable platform for couch potatoes the world o'er. According to Yoon, about half of the company's 3-D TVs rock web browsers, a figure that will only increase over the next couple years. We only hope that if they do go with Android, the implementation is better than that of some of their handsets.
