Google TV may be Android's big push to dominate the living room, but it looks like Google is finally set to acknowledge that not everybody wants more than the bare minimum from their smart TV. A new "Basic TV" option to be added to Google TV will offer a more straightforward approach to old-school television features, rather than pushing things like apps and the Google Assistant.
The Amazon Music app is now available on Google TV and Android TV OS, bringing easier access to the streaming music service from TVs, consoles, and set-top boxes. It joins the exiting Amazon Music apps for iOS and Android phones and tablets, as well as Fire tablets and the web-based player.
Despite the popularity of smart TVs, there is currently no clear winner among the handful of smart TV platforms available. Google's Android TV may have the numbers but it doesn't have a wide lead against Samsung's Tizen-based platform, LG's webOS TV, Amazon's Fire TV, and the handful of other custom platforms on the likes of Roku, for example. LG, however, seems to have bigger ambitions and wants to corner that market by licensing its webOS TV platform to other smart TV makers.
Spotify is expanding, with the streaming music service announcing plans to launch in 85 new markets - and 36 new languages - as international availability spreads. It'll almost double the company's service footprint, taking it to nearly 180 markets in total, and is the broadest expansion to-date, Spotify says.
It's been a big couple of weeks for PlayStation's TV arm. Not only did PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures TV confirm who will play the leading roles in the TV series based on The Last of Us for HBO, but now the companies have decided to move forward with a show based on Twisted Metal. Details are still rather slim at the moment, but PlayStation Productions has decided on who will be writing the show.
Plex has surprised its users by quietly introducing a new Apple TV app integration, enabling users to view its free movies and TV shows in the Apple TV app. Before you get too excited, take note: The feature doesn't work with the content you have on your local server, meaning it is limited to the titles Plex provides for streaming.
Sonos will hold its next event on Tuesday, March 9, the company has confirmed, with rumors already circulating about just what the connected speaker company could have in the works. It's the first big product announcement from Sonos since the unveil of the Arc Dolby Atmos speaker bar, though this time around there's chatter of a set of Sonos headphones or another portable speaker.
Roku started out primarily as a maker of DVRs back when such boxes were still en vogue. It then moved on to producing set-top boxes dedicated to streaming services but those are now a dime a dozen. Since then, Roku has relied heavily on its advertising business to keep its name from being pushed into the background but it might soon need to find ways to attract more advertisers and users willing to sit through those ads. Unsurprisingly, its strategy is to create original and potentially exclusive content, a path that may have started with its acquisition of Quibi.
Last month, LG made a big splash with an almost inexhaustible number of TVs for consumers to choose from this year. From OLED QNED Mini LED, to NanoCell LCD, LG almost has a TV for every size, technology, and need. These TVs are starting to become available around the world this quarter and LG is taking a short breath to remind consumers what makes this generation of smart TVs special.
Roku, one of the most popular home streaming platforms, is finally getting a rechargeable remote control -- but the availability is limited and you may not be able to get one any time soon. The new remote is something you'll be able to recharge using a USB cable, eliminating the need to keep a supply of batteries on hand.
I don’t think it’s controversial to say that watching movies at home can be something of a nightmare when it comes to audio. Back when I was using only my TV speakers, it always seemed like the audio balance was very off - scenes that were primarily dialogue would be whisper quiet while action scenes would be blaringly loud. So, I set out to fix that issue by getting myself a soundbar, which did help quite a bit but didn’t solve it entirely. The quest to fix this issue permanently seems to lie with multi-speaker/surround sound setups, so I was hopeful that Vizio’s new M-Series 5.1 Home Theater Soundbar would do the trick.
Google TV is now a rather confusing name given it could refer to one of two things. It could, for example, refer to the new name for the Play Movies & TV app or it could be the new Google-specific interface for Android TV, specifically on the new Chromecast with Google TV. Despite its shared roots with Android, however, there are some things that are missing from the new Google TV that have some parents worried. Fortunately, Google will be pushing an update that partially addresses that, at least as far as parental controls are concerned.