Google TV: Better than Android TV… Depending on Where You Live

It’s not perfect, but it’s an operating system millions of consumers can live comfortably with for years

Google TV is, well, Android TV sporting a new user interface, but that does not mean that it’s unimportant. From most content providers’ points of view, in fact, it’s the exact opposite. (Image: Google)

So I’ve already reviewed the Sony X90J, I am putting the finishing touches on the review of the absolutely amazing Sony A90J and the first TCL TVs with a new operating system — the very same these Sonys depend on — have just been released in the US and are coming to Europe. It might be a good time to offer some thoughts on said operating system, then, no? This is none other than Google TV, of course, the successor — or, in some respects, the extension — of the Android TV platform that millions of TVs have been using for the past 6 years or so. Most Sony TVs, many TCL TVs and a number of Sharp, HiSense or Philips TV models will be using Google TV going forward — let alone media players from nVidia and Xiaomi — so… what should people be expecting of it?

Let’s start with what they definitely shouldn’t be expecting: a totally new operating system. Consumers familiar with smartphone operating systems may think of Google TV as a new “skin” for Android TV, meaning that it’s still the latter actually running in the background but with the former’s new, revamped graphics interface. The core components are the same, so Android TV app compatibility is a…