That's what happens when you just give something a name, throw it out there and expect other people to raise it. If Android TV were a child, Google would be a deadbeat dad. Every once in a while they throw out an update that gets us all excited then they go silent. It wouldn't be so bad if the OS weren't so good. Too bad we can't call child protective services on them so somebody can make them do better by it.

Should have left it called Google TV. But then again, Chinese manufacturers could still say Google box and would confuse the majority of the population.

China is the problem here.

They should at least make a recognizable logo to make people distinguish chines boxes from official ones.

I fear that ship has sailed.

The best they can do is just get more and more devices out there that have true Android TV.

Nah, I blame this naming blunder on Google. For years "Android TV" was being used as a generic term, and Google was already using "Google TV". Remember, this wasn't just the shitty Chinese companies, but all the failed startups like OUYA who tried to blaze a trail. People were allowed to say they had an "android device" and if you had one for TV then the natural term was "oh look, an android tv box".

So Google, being able to use any name they want, continued their history of confusing names and tried to clam "Android TV". They could have kept using Google TV, or expanded on the Chromecast brand (yeah, not the same, but as a TV brand it is far more recognizable), or any number of options to help it stand out . Instead, they fumbled. That's on them.

People who load Android boxes with every illegal stream service under the sun aren't going to care about what you say they can or can't call their box.

It's a bummer when they are losing the market to Fire TV, which is based on their OS.

This has been the "Android Experience" for a long time now. That is the beauty & ugliness of Android. You really can't tell people to get an Android and expect them to have the same experience as you. You should specify the device and version. Again that is the downside, but also the beauty of it. There is so much flexibility in the market that a vendors implementation can vary greatly. This has been Android before Android TV.

I for one welcome the less expensive hardware and hope that there are some well implemented gems out there. That means more competition and is better for us consumers in the long run.

I think it would be appropriate for Google to rebrand the platform entirely to something that is trademark-enforceable. (Which, come to think of it, Apple did once. Remember "iPhone OS?")

People have no idea what they buy. A coworker knows I'm into phones and stuff so he was asking me if I could help him set up his new Droid. It's a Galaxy S8. Android/android tv/Droid/Chinese junk box. I showed someone my Shield TV and he asked me if it's like a hacked fire stick.

They should have called it "tvOS for Android" and stolen another good Apple idea ;-)

I heard a rumor a long time ago that they were going to change it but I'm wondering if that was just someone interpreting the upcoming "Home" branding incorrectly.

Yeah the way Android was set up, it gave little care for copyright and trademark. Google would need to use alternate types of branding to signify what is legitimate, like saying it includes Google Cast or Google Assistant (soon).

But it may be too hard to fight the branding of Android TV.

I am curious how many people get the two confused and purchase the wrong one.

The price paid to be open source

Android OS is open source that's what makes it great. Anyone can improve on it. But for genuine Android TV the only boxes right now that have it are the Nvidia Shield and the Mi Box. I talk about it on my youtube channel. A lot of ppl been getting ripped of buying cheap Android Boxes with Android 4.4. I started my channel to help ppl not get ripped off. Greedy resellers are getting the attention of the Cable and Satellite companies.

Here's my Youtube channel www.youtube.com/HonestFreds