Android TV Boxes: What Are They and What Can They Do?
Android TV boxes are becoming increasingly popular. They’re perfect for cord cutters, anyone looking to boost their TV’s smart features, everyone using Kodi and Plex to access their own devices, people traveling a lot and more.
Yet what’s a Android TV Box? What apps do Android TV boxes have? What are the features of Android TV Box ? And who would buy a TV box on Android?
What’s a Android TV Box?
An Android TV system is either a set-, or a dongle that attaches to your TV. Using the box to play games, streaming videos & network TV shows on.
“Android TV Box” isn’t a definitive word. They come in many different shapes and sizes and are capable of many diverse capacities. The only thing they both share in common is their desire to run an operating system on TV.
Android TV is the variant of the Android operating system intended to run exclusively on televisions. It’s been available since it replaced the now-defunct Google TV in the middle of 2014.
The Android TV operating system is somewhat fractured, as is the mobile edition of Android. Plenty of makers of Android TV boxes have changed the OS to suit their own desires and needs. Even the operating system for Amazon’s Fire TV is a widely modified version of the Android TV OS.
And as for the smartphone edition, owing to the unpredictable upgrade times, there are several different launches in circulation.
Google launches new apps daily, although these can take a long time — in certain cases, years for all the users — to filter out over — the-air upgrades from a manufacturer.
Google TV Platform is also integrated into smart televisions. Sharp, Sony, Samsung, and Hisense have all used Android TV OS at different times to control the smart capabilities of their televisions.
Finally, the most common backend for Kodi boxes is the Android TV OS. A Kodi box is a set-top box which boots directly into the Kodi app for those who aren’t aware. And no, don’t worry — Kodi boxes won’t get you into trouble with the regulations. If you would like more detail, we’ve clarified the legality of Kodi Boxes.
How to Find Content on Android TV Boxes
While using the Android name, the Android TV box Interface holds no similarity to its equivalent for smartphones.
Your applications are shown around the screen on scrolllable ribbons. You will set up your favourites on most Android TV boxes, as well as deeper down the list see recommended content from your devices in additional ribbons. Android TV boxes aren’t widget friendly.
What Can You Watch on Android TV?
Anything Which is Available on the Google Play Store. Though, if you’re an Android smartphone user it’s not the Google Play Store that you’re going to get used to. y
The catalog of available applications is extremely modified. To be included in the play store’s TV edition, an apps developer will make their apps Android TV-compatible. This means there aren’t many apps coming from smaller developers.
All the applications you’d like to see are still there. You can watch and stream Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Crackle, YouTube, HBO Go, Cbs, Espn, BBC iPlayer, MLB.TV and many more. Some of the applications come up against geo-restrictions.
Is Other Content Available on Android TV Boxes?
Android TV isn’t just about video streaming. Music apps such as Spotify and Pandora, video players such as VLC, and numerous utility apps such as file explorers and sideload launchers are available.
However, games are the most popular type of alternative content available on Android TV. Some Android TV boxes — most prominently the Nvidia Shield — also provide alternative app stores where games as varied as Grand Theft Auto and Sonic the Hedgehog can be downloaded and played.
What Other Features Do Android TV Boxes Have?
That is where it starts to get turbid. The numerous manufacturers of Android TV boxes have designed different features into their devices. Before the final purchase of the android tv box, it becomes essential to go with the best android tv boxes review which helps to get the knowledge of all possible options of android tv box with all important features.
Many of the apps you may find on Android TV boxes include:
Built-In Chromecast Compatibility: You can beam Chrome search straight to your TV from your computer, laptop or desktop.
Google Assistant: Low- to high-end devices are gradually providing integration with the Google Assistant. Often, it’s in the form of set-top boxes that still listen. Other times, you need to trigger the wizard through remote control of your Android TV unit.
Additional Ports: Again, the condition differs considerably between system and system. You may find USB ports, SD card slots, and Ethernet ports for a wired internet connection, depending on the vendor.
You can connect keyboards, mice, game controllers, and other peripherals through the USB ports.
Bluetooth: If you have a Bluetooth-enabled Android TV unit, you can use the interface to plug it into your computer, mouse, laptop or other device.
Who Should Buy an Android Set-Top Box?
Android TV is my favorite Smart TV operating system. I used Roku, Amazon Fire TV and a number of alternative smart TV operating systems, and I’m still returning to the Android option. It’s highly recommended if you want simplicity, accessibility and customization with other Google applications and services.
With the large variety of price points, you can conveniently mount a luxury Android TV set-top box on your main TV, and then use cheaper Android TV dongles on other TVs throughout your house to get a good user experience at a fair price in your house.
You can checkout some of the best android tv box available on market that you can get right now
It could be that Apple customers want to steer clear.Android TV doesn’t fit well with Apple’s suit of apps as you would imagine
