Android for TV (which used to be called Android TV) is the base OS layer.

The original launcher was called the Leanback Launcher. The second generation launcher was called Android TV. So you have Android TV on Android TV which got marketed as just "Android TV". (Totally not confusing, Google! /s).

Google TV is the third generation launcher with the recommendation engine. So it's technically Google TV on Andorid TV which is just marketed as "Google TV".

GTV is what has received a lot of backlash, and is written no so well.

The recent article said Google was deprioritizing Google TV. Which didn't clarify much since ot could just be referring to having their own product line of dongles (going back to just providing the OS to OEMs), it could be talking about killing the new launcher, or it could be a poorly worded statement about the actual Android for TV.

I doubt they would kill off Android TV since they aren't going to pass on all that user data.

Killing of their product wouldn't surprise me either given the general lack of support the CCwGTV got over the past 2 years.

Killing a fancy launcher that needs constant collaboration with all the streaming services wouldn't surprise me either.

TL;DR: which "Android TV"/"Google TV" being talked about depends on the context you are talking about: OS, launcher, or product.

Android TV (OS): alive and mostly likely fine

Android TV (launcher): updatedast year to be more lile Google TV, and essially no longer develeoped by Google.

Android TV (product): superceded by Google TV, but somewhat up to the vendor which version to use

Google TV (launcher/product): unknown status now

Once and for all. Android TV is the OS, and Google TV is the UI/launcher.

Android TV is what Google tv is built on top of

Don't buy a TV with it, then. Stick to devices you can easily replace, if things do go sideways.

Android TV is unlikely to be done away with anytime soon. And if things start to head that way it will be kind of obvious if you are paying attention to what is going on with the platform. And even if Google dumped the whole project out of the blue it would take years for the utility of existing Android TV devices to stop being something useful.

Google TV is more or less like Googles spin of Android TV. The interface is slightly different than what you get on a Nvidia Shield or Onn 4K for example.

Well, with lots of people moving to streaming, and the lack of good streaming consolidator apps like Roku, Prime or Google I would hate to see it go away. IMO it is far better than any other mainstream streaming consolidator.

Don't expect it to make sense. Anyone just needs to look to how Google handles chat (Gchat, Duo, Hangouts, Meet, Gmail chat) to realise they often just make it up as they go along.

There will always be hardware manufacturers looking for an OS with low R&D so don't expect Google's offering to go away, just evolve.

I have a Google TV device plugged into one TV and 2 others tvs with Android tv devices. They are very similar but android has less limitations. The Google is horrible if you want to connect Bluetooth soundbar or headphones for kicking your audio device off randomly. There are many forum discussions over the Bluetooth but not yet resolved and I've had the Google device for 3 years and done with it. Even the new generation device has the issue with Bluetooth. The android devices to me is about the same as having a laptop connected which you can do so muchore with compared to the Google TV devices. Also with android you can download so much more apps and tools outside of Google play store unlike the Google TV as far asni know you are limited to only Google Play store.

Unless Nvidia gets their most recent update failure together (it's been what, 9 months now since v9.1 dropped & the subsequent patches sucked?) it's going to be v8.2.3 for eternity.

Google TV is an ad-ridden launcher.

All of the above is correct, to some extent.

Android TV is slooooowly being phased out in favor of Google TV.

Google TV is Android TV, with a launcher new UI on top of it.

Google TV and Android TV offer slightly different user experience

Android TV / Google TV losing market share is a concern

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No immediate danger tho; the ad money is too good to let go.

Worst case scenario, it'll just sink into oblivion over the next few years.

#1 was supposed to happen by the end of 2022, but so far only the "Discover" UI happened.

Nothing to support #2 & #3.

#4 is true.

#5 is true, they are different. But they use the same OS.

Coming from someone who has both, androidtv = googletv with some addtiontional layout for the latter.

Its a rebranding and futurewise only googletv name will remain imo

And it works like a charm btw

Google seems to thrive on chaos with certain products. Not so great for consumers with endless changes to names and features and never quite knowing how long certain products will be around. Android TV is great--if Google doesn't break or kill it eventually.

With what happened to GoogleTV before becoming AndroidTV, whose ‘not bright’ idea was to use the GoogleTV name again.

Simple. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING NAMED GOOGLE

You can buy a simple android box that is Google certificated/certified and have access to all streaming apps on the Google play market. As well as alternative steaming options that are restricted from chromecast, apple TV, roku, etc.... I use both firetv cube and a $200 android box

https://tv4know.com/get-startet/

Android TV and Google TV are 2 different UI but YouTubers are the ones that confused you as they get paid to lie

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH NETFLIX AND PRIME VIDEO FOR THE UNITED STATES ONLY:

- AirTV Mini (More info at http://airtv.net/products )

- Directv Stream (More info at http://www.directv.com/stream/technology )

- Tivo Stream 4K (Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. More info at http://tivo.com/products/stream-4k )

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- Homatics Dongle Q (More info at http://homatics.eu )

- Nokia Streaming Box 8000 (More info at http://nokia.com/shop/streaming-devices/nokia-streaming-box-8000 ).

- Strong Leap-S1 (More info at http://strong.tv/en/products/ip-tv-receivers/leap-s1 )

- Youin (More info at http://weareyouin.com/en-es/p/you-box )

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- Chromecast with Google TV (Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. more info at http://tv.google )

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- Dynalink TV dongle (More info at http://dynalink.life )

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- Homatic Box R 4K Plus (AV1 hardware decoding. Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. Gigabit ethernet. WiFi 6. 4GB of RAM. 32GB internal storage. More info at http://homatics.com )

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- Nvidia Shield (The most expensive. Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. Gigabit ethernet. AI upscaling. Suitable for gaming. More info at http://nvidiashield.com )

- SkyStream Max (It's expensive. AV1 hardware decoding. 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. More info at http://skystreamx.com )

- Xiaomi Stick 4K (AV1 hardware decoding. Dolby Vision & Atmos certified. More info at http://www.mi.com/global/product/xiaomi-tv-stick-4k/ )

- Walmart Onn (More info at http://walmart.com )

CERTIFIED ANDROIDTV/GOOGLETV BOXES WITH ONLY PRIME VIDEO FOR THE US, EUROPE AND THE REST OF THE WORLD:

- Formuler GTV (Gigabit ethernet. Exclusive MYTVOnline2 app for IPTV. More info at http://formuler.tv/gtv )

WARNING!, ALTHOUGH MECOOL IS THE BEST OEM WHEN IT COMES TO RELEASING NEW DEVICES EVERY YEAR, THEY ARE THE WORST WHEN IT COMES TO RELEASING FIRMWARE UPDATES TO FIX BUGS AND ISSUES, IF YOU DON'T MIND ABOUT THAT, YOU CAN GET ANY OF THE FOLLOWING MODELS AT http://mecoolonline.com WHERE YOU CAN GET A 10% DISCOUNT WITH THE CODE "MECOOLBOX" AT CHECKOUT:

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- Mecool KD2 stick (AV1 hardware decoding)

- Mecool HomePlus KA1 (AV1 hardware decoding. Built-in speaker. DVB-T2/C tuner built-in variant)

For more info about all certified Android TV devices, head over to www.androidtv-guide.com website.