Google is rolling out a refreshed homescreen for Android TV to make it look a lot more like Google TV. First in North America, Germany, France and Australia. Soon in other regions too.
Android TV morphs into Google TV
Even if you are not getting the Google TV update on your current Android TV device, you will still be getting a refreshed user interface that looks a lot like it, including three new tabs: Home, Discover, and Apps.
Here is the current Android TV homescreen versus the new Android TV homescreen that Google is rolling out starting this week.
Old Android TV (left) and new Android TV (right)
- "At the top of your screen, you’ll see three new tabs: Home, Discover, and Apps. The Home tab continues to be the same home screen you are familiar with for quick access to your favorite apps and channels. And the Apps tab gives you a dedicated space to access all of your installed apps," explained Google "New to Android TV, we are launching an all-new Discover tab that features personalized recommendations based on what you watch and what interests you, in addition to what’s trending on Google! The Discover tab brings together movie, show, and live TV recommendations from across your apps and subscriptions and organizes them just for you."
Confused?
If you are confused, here is a quick overview: In 2021, Google will start the process of rebranding 'Android TV' as 'Google TV', which includes a revamped homescreen that first showed up in the new Chromecast device. The devices will still run Android even if they are called Google TV.
However, existing Android TV devices will not necessarily get the Google TV update and it would appear that this update for Android TV is designed to address the situation – you are not getting everything but you are getting something. It is not an Android update, according to the company. It sounds more like a server-side change.
What you are seemingly not getting is the 'For You' tab from Google TV. The new live TV integration and Watchlist features do not appear to be included either.
Google said that Android TV's refreshed user interface is rolling out now to all devices with the "standard Android TV homescreen" from partners in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany and France. It will "roll out to more countries in the coming weeks".
Here are some additional photos of the new Android TV homescreen.
