Details of Google’s Android TV project have slowly trickled out in recent months, giving us an idea of how the software will work and even letting us get an early peek at the effort. Those of you that are hungry for more will soon get your wish, as a new report claims that Android TV will be officially introduced in the near future.
Sources speaking to GigaOm say that Google will announce Android TV at its I/O conference at the end of June. Android TV is said to be more of a platform to be used on other companies’ hardware rather than Google’s own, giving users easy access to online media services and Android video games.
The main feature of Android TV is said to be something internally referred to as “Pano.” Pano will reportedly allow apps to show individual bits of content in card-form on the home screen of the device. This will allow users to easily browse through movies, TV shows and more. Once a card is clicked, the user can start viewing the content or hit a link to visit the publisher’s other apps.
It’s not yet know which manufacturers will be behind the first Android TV devices. However, Google is expected to announce some hardware partners at I/O that could have devices on shelves some time in the coming months.
Android TV isn’t Google’s first attempt to take over the television. Google TV made its debut way back in mid-2010 and, while it appeared on several TV sets and other types of hardware, it never really gained much traction with consumers. It remains to be seen if Android TV will be any more successful, but the software sounds fairly attractive and easy to use. Plus, smart TVs and other devices are more popular now than they were in 2010, so Google may have better luck this time around.
What do you think of this Android TV rumor? Are you looking forward to the platform’s official debut?
