Google's latest TV effort ties in smartphone, tablet integration
Tech Industry
[MUSIC]
Today were announcing Android TV.
[NOISE] So this isnt a new platform, that's kind of the point.
Were simply giving TV the same level of attention as phones and tablets have traditionally enjoyed.
We want you to be able to leverage your existing skills and investment in Android and extend them to TV.
There's now one Android STK for all form factors.
So today, I'm gonna use the Android TV App on my phone and the best way to understand Android TV is to just see it in action.
So what you're about to see is hot off the press and really just an early look at the TV support that we're adding to the L Developer preview.
So in L, we added what we call the TV input framework to Android.
So it enables Android based TVs to handle video from sources such as HDMI, TV Tuners, and IP TV receivers.
And the UI provides a unified view of your channel in a familiar channel hopping UI with the channel information on the top.
Now, if you wanna do something different, just like every other Android device, you press Home.
And you'll notice that Home overlays on top of the content, so I can keep watching while I browse.
But unlike phones and tablets, with behaviors more task based, we designed Home to be a super simple lean back experience.
Because TV, unlikes computers or mobile devices, they're primarily entertainment interfaces.
Users don't expect or want complexity from their TV.
As I scroll down you get immediate access to your applications, ordered by how often you use them.
Scroll down again.
You get access to your Apps also ordered by usage, order.
Now if I scroll back up to the content recommendations.
You can see this is a quick way for me to watch content.
The recommendation system is completely open.
Any App can publish to it and it's ranked according to your usage pattern.
So for example I'm currently binge watching Game of Thrones, I am actually.
And I'll automatically be presented with a recommendation for the next episode like so.
With Android TV we have decided to build a core search functionality directly into the experience powered by voice.
So for example, I could just simply say.
Breaking Bad.
Google interprets the results and gets me results for the popular TV show.
Now with one click I can then watch it on Google Play Movies & TV or any other service I have installed.
If I scroll down, you'll see information on cast members.
Scroll down again, I get related search terms.
Also YouTube clips at the bottom.
Now, I can also pivot on cast members, so for example, I can click on Anna Gunn.
I'll get that nice material transition, I'll get information on the actress.
Scroll down I can get movies and TV in, shows that she starred in, even YouTube clips of interviews with the actress.
Now the power of Google comes into it's own for more abstract queries.
So for example I can just say Oscar nominated movies from 2002.
Google will interpret that query and of course get me all my Oscar nominated movies.
And so from here of course one click i can watch it, now search course is backed by Google knowledge graph so i can also ask it questions.
So for example i can say something like, who played Katniss in The Hunger Games?
And of course the answer is.
Jennifer Lawrence played Katnis Everdeen in The Hunger Games.
Developing for TV means creating a ten foot user experience.
So called because that's typically how far you're standing from or sitting from the screen.
In [UNKNOWN] we've expanded the, the platform to support a lean back experience with new framer classes that help you to quickly and easily build fluid, cinematic ten foot user experiences.
With Android TV, we enable you to take your games to the biggest screen in your house and the games are getting really good.
So for example, let me fire up one of my favorites, which is Leo's Fortune with this gamepad.
And this is a really fun game.
It's, it's kinda typical of a modern Android game.
It's got great gameplay, it's got great graphics, fast and fluid.
I also like it because our lead [UNKNOWN] designer's name is Leo.
He's not quite as cuddly as this guy but I could see him in handlebar mustache.
anyways, another advantage of Android TV is you can tap into Google play games to share achievements and leaderboard with friends.
You can even play multiplayer games with your fiends, playing from any device.
So, for example, I can launch MBA Jam, which is a really great game and play a multi-player game with my friend Allen here on the sofa.
Let's try that, so he's playing on his tablet, I've got my game controller, it's [UNKNOWN], so we have a bet on the first person to score, is me.
Okay, first on to two.
Okay, let's go, so the first person to two, has to buy the other person beer tonight.
Let's go.
Oh.
Hopefully I can actually score.
I'm from Ireland so I don't really understand this game.
Android TV enables us to bring Googlecast to more TV's.
So for example, imagine Alan was visiting my house, and he wants to share his new favorite jam with me.
He can just fire up play music on his phone or tablet and cast it directly to my TV.
The store will open officially in the fall with a launch eval, packed with some of the best content available today for Android.
Tailored of course for TV.
So that was a quick overview of Android TV.
