Skip to main content

Google TV rolls out its first updates

dualview_2Google TV has had a challenging start. With content providers jumping ship and wary reviews, it seemed like maybe the product launched just a little too early. But it’s rolled out the first round of updates, and while they aren’t going to solve any of the device’s major problems, they certainly bring a few new things to the table and highlight a bit of what Google TV is capable of. Here’s a short roundup of what’s in store.

  • Updated Netflix app lets you access and watch Netflix’s entire library without any help from your PC.
  • On the Netflix note, you can now actually watch movies instantly. Before the update, you had to use a separate device in order to add content to your instant watch queue and now, you really can just go through the catalog and choose “watch instantly.” On the flipside, if you prefer a physical DVD sent to your home, you can now do that as well.
  • Dual view is being introduced, and will let users watch TV and browse the web at the same time on a remarkably clean and user-friendly interface. It also allows you to move and resize your browser window.
  • There’s a new remote control app for Android, which also uses integrated voice search if you don’t feel like pressing any buttons at all.

Check out the video for a little more insight and some previews of the updates.

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Samsung may have indefinitely delayed its Android 15 update
Android 15 logo on a Google Pixel 8.

We have bad news for those who were eagerly anticipating Samsung’s Android 15 update and One UI 7 Beta -- it’s been indefinitely delayed. The news comes from noted leakers IceUniverse and Chun Bhai, who posted that “there are still no plans to launch it in the near future.” Chun Bhai additionally said the update is “delayed indefinitely.”

Apparently, Samsung is having a lot of issues getting the update up and running despite a number of leaks that have shown an exciting new array of visual changes and features, including a redesigned camera interface, a variety of new skins, and a feature inspired by Apple’s Dynamic Island. This news follows an earlier delay toward the end of July when Samsung delayed the release of the Android 15 beta because it decided to focus on the public release of One UI 6.1.1 for the Galaxy S24 series.

Read more
Google showed me its AI future for Google Home, and it blew me away
The Google Home logo on a Pixel phone.

Google's making a few announcements today ahead of its big Pixel event next Tuesday. In addition to revealing the new Nest Learning Thermostat and the Google TV Streamer, Google is also providing a sneak peek at some big Google Home and Google Assistant changes. And they're all really impressive.

We'll start with the Google Assistant. Google has revealed a new voice for the Assistant, and it sounds significantly more natural than the current one. It's difficult to describe in writing, but the gist is that the Assistant's voice now sounds more like a human and less like a robot. The Assistant takes natural pauses while speaking and has inflections in its voice.

Read more
The Google Play app on your Android phone is getting a huge update
Google Play on the Oppo Find N2.

The Google Play app on your Android phone is about to get its biggest update in a long time. The announcements came earlier today, with Google saying its end goal is to transform the user experience on the Google Play app, to turn it into more than just a place to download apps.

To do this, Google is implementing various changes and new features, including curated spaces, the ability to list specific interests when searching for new apps and games, and new privacy and app recommendation controls. Let's dive into some of them.

Read more