Buy an Android smartphone and you’re lucky to get a few major software updates before the manufacturer abandons your device. The NVIDIA Shield TV may be the ultimate exception. First released in 2015, the Shield is still one of the most expensive Android TV boxes on the market, with prices starting at $179. But it’s […]
android tv
Google releases an Android TV dongle… for developers only
If you want to buy a Google-branded video streaming device, you currently have two options: the Chromecast or the Chromecast Ultra. But if you want a device with the more full-featured Android TV user interface, you need to go with third-party hardware. Since Google stopped selling the Nexus Player (which first launched in 2014), the […]
JBL Link Bar crams Android TV and Google Assistant into a soundbar
JBL launched a line of smart speakers with Google Assistant baked in last year. Now the company is going a step further with a new TV soundbar that not only works like a Google Assistant-powered smart speaker. It’s also an Android TV device that brings Google’s media streaming software to your TV. The JBL Link […]
This 4K Android TV stick probably isn’t the next Chromecast (but it looks pretty nice) – Updated
For some reason Google has two different smart TV platforms. You can buy a $35 Chromecast and plug it into your TV to stream music, videos, and other internet content, but you’ll have to use your phone, tablet, or computer as a remote control and navigation device. Or you can buy a device that runs […]
Amazon Prime Video app finally available for Android TV
Apparently Google’s threat to block YouTube from Amazon Fire and Echo devices is paying dividends. Amazon recently announced it would begin selling Chromecasts. And more than three years after Google’s Android TV platform launched, Amazon has finally released a Prime Video app for Android TV. That means you can now stream content from Amazon Prime […]
Aging Google Nexus gains support for Google Assistant
It’s been 3 years since the Google Nexus Player went on sale, but it’s still the only first-party Android TV box sold by Google (even if it was actually manufactured by Asus). While there are plenty of newer, more powerful Android TV devices on the market today, Google has continued to release software updates for […]
Closer look at NVIDIA Shield TV with Google Assistant and SmartThings Link
The NVIDIA Shield TV may be a few years old at this point, but it’s still one of the most powerful Android TV boxes on the market… and it keeps getting more versatile. Today NVIDIA rolled out software version 6.0, which brings support for Google Assistant and the option to plug in a SmartThings Link […]
Google Assistant comes to Android TV (starting with NVIDIA Shield TV)
Google is bringing its voice assistant software to its TV platform. The NVIDIA Shield TV is the first Android TV device to support Google Assistant, but Google says Sony Bravia TVs will gain the feature in the coming months. That will let you control TV features with your voice, ask questions, and perform plenty of […]
NVIDIA Shield TV gets a price cut to $179 (sort of)
Apple TV is joining the ranks of 4K media streamers this week. But the company’s kind of late to the party: Amazon, Google, and Roku already offer 4K TV boxes. And NVIDIA’s Shield TV has been one of the most powerful 4K-ready TV boxes since it launched more than two years ago. But The NVIDIA […]
Hack your Amazon Fire TV to make it run Android TV apps (among other things)
Amazon’s Fire TV devices may run a modified version of Google Android, but they don’t have Google’s Android TV user interface, access to the Google Play Store, or ability to stream videos from Google Play Movies. But it turns out you can add all of those features… plus support for USB TV tuners, the Android […]