Playing devils advocate, this is a good thing and here's why. This doesn't mean previously created devices will stop working in April. This doesn't mean 2021 products running atv won't be available in April. This means new devices released after April need av1 decoding to get atv. That's great! That means manufacturers will be forced into using newer SoCs instead of simply repackaging or at best die-shrinking old ones. We want av1 to take off. It's better than HEVC and is royalty Free. Also, this is just a rumour, so relax.
Rather annoying the Chromecast with Google TV, released only just before Christmas will be out of date in a few months.
Clearly there is a "Chromecast with Google TV ULTRA" in the works......
... and who am I'm kidding? I'll be the sucker that buys it.
Also user tracking and ads everywhere are another two requirements.
The grand design is making ADTV uglier and closer to Fire OS TV.
Oof:
As far as AV1 support on Android TV today, it’s already starting to expand. This codec requires newer hardware for the decoding process which is why products that lack support, including Chromecast with Google TV, can’t simply get a software update to bring it. Notably, Sony’s new Bravia XR lineup which runs Google TV supports AV1 decoding, as does the latest Amlogic S905X4 chip that’s being used in more streaming boxes.
I've got a 2019 Shield TV Pro, and was wondering if there'd be a new one this year (given that Nvidia has released models in 2015, 2017, and 2019, 2021 seemed like a good bet for a new one).
I guess this made that a whole lot more likely.
So I’m confused about how much this will affect me personally. Almost two weeks ago I dropped at little over $250 on a shield pro and CCwGTV, and sold my fire devices. So now I have some questions.
Will my devices be obsolete soon? —will they continue to still get android version updates, but just no support for AV1?
What does this actually mean in terms of usability on “older” devices?
Did I waste my money?—should I return? (But damn I just sold my fire devices, so if I should, wth should I get)
A lot of Android TV S905x4 based devices about to hit the market I guess.
And I literally just bought a new philips tv which of course doesn't support it. What do you guys think? I could still return it.
It is sad that the new Chromecast with Google TV does not support this new AV1 codec.