Google: AndroidTV needs some love

by tarv_us

Trying my hardest to move my friends and family over to the Android ecosystem. Still using Apple TV, but everyone has their Android phones. TV is the last step over here.

SET TOP BOXES

There is no good ~$100 set top box option at the moment. Why?

Nexus Player . Discontinued and out of stock. Can find some on ebay at a premium. This is the only option.

Forge TV . Almost ordered one of these. I even still run an Ouya in my kids room, was going to replace it. This box does not run NETFLIX. Never mind then, it's not an option.

Fire TV . Almost a good alternative. They don't ship to Canada, so again the only option is to buy off ebay at a premium. It also does not have the Google Play store, and that's the point of this whole thing now, isn't it.

Shield TV . Too expensive to compete with the sub ~$100 options. I'm a Shield TV owner myself and it's amazing, however I'm not putting one in the kids room with the 27" tv.

APPS

Not much selection in the store. I know you can side load lots of apps, but who want's to use apps that don't properly support the remote.

Netflix is a solid app, aside from the incompatibility with the Forge TV.

Hulu is just ok. The interface is clunky but it does do the job. The phone and tablet versions of the app are way ahead.

Shomi is not available. Apparently this is important in Canada... well my parents use it anyway.

Amazon Video . No app. I suppose they are hogging it for Fire TV anyway.

There are fantastic apps of course. Kodi, Plex, etc.

VENTING

Frustrating to see the potential and be held back by what seem to be minor issues. Marketing seems to be a huge issue for Google, people just don't know how much better this product is than what they are currently using (Apple TV, WD TV Live, China Android Box).

Here's hoping ^this ^^doesn't ^^^fizzle ^^^^out.

EDIT: I love Shield TV.

bintasaurus

I almost agree with all your statements except one....

Shield TV to expensive...I think it's cheap for what you get,it's a wonderful box

GazaIan

Shield TV . Too expensive.

Oh but believe me, its absolutely worth it. That little box is fucking insane, and easily one of the best purchases I've ever made. Its fucking wonderful. Granted I bought might for US$150 during black Friday, but if I had to buy another at US$200 I would absolutely do it again. This thing does everything with ease.

blusky75

You can Chromecast shomi. I know , some people would rather have a fully fleshed out ATV app with a lean back interface, but it's an option.

Otherwise I agree on all your points, especially with the lack of asus nexus player availability. I own a shield and my wife would kill me if I bought a second one so I have to revert to spending $150 on a 2 year old nexus player when one could have been bought for 50 bucks not so long ago.

A real shame too since I think Android TV walks all over the roku and latest apple TV. Kodi compatibility is important to me

Aquifel

Amazon Video. No app. I suppose they are hogging it for Fire TV anyway.

There is an app but, it's reserved exclusively for Sony Android TVs. We were briefly able to take it off of a Sony TV and put it on to regular Android TV boxes but, the app/framework was quickly updated and that functionality was broken.

Several months after this was discovered, amazon released and partially followed through on a press statement with their plans to remove Smart TV devices that did not have Amazon Video support from amazon entirely. Specifically, this only affected google-branded devices (Nexus Player/Chromecast) and Apple TVs. If you search for any of these items on amazon today, the first result is likely to be an Amazon Fire TV stick.

The best theory is that they locked it down because they didn't want to give google (or apple) a cut of Amazon Video sales on Android TV devices, which, if the app was downloaded via the play store, they would be required to do. No confirmations of course but, it's a pretty solid theory.

Good call on the forge TV, even beyond Netflix, it's a miserable box. I'm just waiting for the Shield TV to go on sale to outfit the rest of my TVs, thankfully, picked up 2 nexus players while they were cheap.

tl;dr: Yeah, Amazon is probably hogging Amazon Video for the Fire TV, it does suck.

CoolCriSyS

I agree completely. It's the same thing we saw last time with Google TV. They just let it go stagnant and die.

Btw, I am really happy with my Shield and it's absolutely worth the price if you do any gaming whatsoever. Nvidia did a great job with that machine. They seem to be the only ones trying to take advantage of the Android TV software.

Cacafuego2

Well put. Sums up my observations pretty well.

Andrroid

Google generally isn't in the business of making hardware for profit. They care about their ecosystem, their userbase. You mention a lack of set top boxes, but Android TV is not limited to boxes, nor do I believe this is their primary focus either. In a few years, all new TVs will be smart tvs, and Google is clearly angling to have their OS on as many as possible. They added 6+ TV OEM partners at CES 2016.

We may see another Nexus STB at I/O this year, who knows. As for other OEM Android TV STB? Thats not really their responsibility. They can't control Razer flopping the Forge anymore than they can control Nvidia's pricing model. Mind you, the Shield is well worth its cost; its a premium device at a premium price. As for Fire TV, its not Android TV at all. It runs FireOS.

On to Apps. Android TV is basically in a chicken/egg situation, much like basic Android was (5) years ago. The difference this time (and the difference between Google TV and Android TV) is that the Android ecosystem (devs/apps) already exists. They just need a bit of a nudge. I expect that as more users buy Android TV powered smart tvs, we will see this change. The landscape next year could look very differently.

Finally, and I have said this before, keep in mind how Google does things. They invest in a ridiculous amount of new concepts, platforms, etc every year. However, their initial investment is often quite low. My interpretation of their strategy is that they see if the product takes off organically/if consumers are ready for it. If it does well, they double down and invest more. If it doesn't, they discontinue/abandon and often redesign, rebrand, and release down the line to try again. Google TV was ahead of its time. Android TV has arrived a time when the living room is evolving. Google has already seen great success with chromecast. I expect them to leverage that success and the success of Android. Android TV will likely be to smart TVs what Android is to mobile phones. Set top boxes are just an addition.

wizardgand

Don't forgot that when comparing Nexus to Shield to think of some things that people often forgot. I bought 2 Shields, and 2 nexus players (for my mom).

The shield is obviously faster in hardware but look at some features the nexus doesn't have.

Wired Ethernet port
USB ports for external storage or keyboard/mouse, or controllers
gamepad. This has rechargeable batteries and headphone jack
optional remote. Remote has headphones and recharges (no batteries)
Comes with USB and HDMI cables

That's everything else that is included over the nexus. Even if it's just a netflix box, you get recharagble remote and headphones on that remote which is a huge thing for me.

Then all the other features of Shield which is basically game related. I bought 2 for a second controller and another box in the bedroom. But I do all my gaming on the shield and packed up my PS4.

newtonfb

March Madness just releaed there app for basically every platform there is EXCEPT android tv. Watchespn still doesnt have an app. Multiple network stations still dont have an app. Its just sad that Google isnt pushing more developers to making the app Android tv compatible. There is no excuse, especially when most developers have an app already for android phones and tablets. I love my shield, but for the average person it cost way to much. I cant recommend it when there are 10x the apps on Roku for 3rd of the price.

troublebrewing

Bought a second Nexus player just to have back when it was $50. I don't have a shield but these Nexus players are by far the best set top box I've ever used. Couldn't recommend them highly enough.

fleker2

Google is definitely focusing on TVs. Android N is bringing a lot of features and apps/games are definitely being built.

It's a new, niche platform. Devs just need some incentives and requests to port their apps.

caseyrain

I've owned all sorts of different Android and Android based devices, and the Nexus Player is one of my most-used devices. It's crazy how much we use it in my house. Literally every day. You should be able to find one for cheap, just keep checking eBay.

iammanlyman

If it matters, I bought two Nexus players at Best Buy less than a month ago (I also have a couple n'Vidia Shields). Supply has been a little spotty when it comes to the Nexus Players, and it's odd - it really is. But, it's not like Google is exiting the streaming market - no way. So, I think it's likely you'll see the next incarnation of the Nexus player in the next few months.

YESWAYHONEY

The nexus player is discontinued? I can still see it in the australian store.

oZiix

ShieldTV is a true living room set top box. I bought a Apple TV 4 last week. Then a shieldtv 4 days later then sold my Apple TV the next day. The Apple TV is to expensive for what you get.

For another $50 you can get the 16gb shieldtv and then use adoptive storage. It requires some reading but if they are just looking for a box and leaving the external attached then it should be no issue.

On my Apple TV I had all the same apps I have on my shieldtv +kodi. and you get convenience of being able to cast from your phone or use controller/remote.

The entry device is chromecast. No Amazon app is no ones fault but Amazon. AppleTV App Store has a lot of apps but it's a lot of trash in there. You end up grabbing the same apps you normally would on all these devices. There isn't any real "gems" that separate apples offering.

The shieldtv also has me getting a s7 edge next week and dropping my iPhone. I've been with iPhone since 3G.

Picture of my boxed up Apple TV 4 ready to be sold off included. http://i.imgur.com/6hqYnLw.jpg

trophyguy

Hulu is just ok. The interface is clunky but it does do the job.

I actually like it on the NP better than my Roku 3 for notifications of new shows. I dont see NEW on the Roku Hulu app unless I look at a particular show.

Amazon Video. No app.

You me, and most others with a NP feel the same I bet.

I get tired of having apps not work properly on the NP so I had a change to get a Roku for $0, so I had to. Apps on there work well vs on the Nexus. Why does Google let these standalone boxes just die a slow death?

WazWaz

Just put a Chromecast in the kids room.

cnastyu

You are right on. I have an ATV4 and the comparison between TVOS and Android TV is like night and day. Android TV is a terrible interface, apps are just nonexistent and it is such an archaic set up where you have to side load apps? Huh????

Get out of here with that.

I have an Nvidia Shield and the ATV and the Nvidia only gets turned on for sports on Kodi. Everything else is run through the ATV as the app selection is fantastic, great interface, and a great device. The Shield is a great device as well but crippled by AndroidTV