Elevating the Smart TV Experience: Android 14 TV Now Official

After a notable delay, Google has finally announced the release of Android 14 TV, even as Android 15 is already in its testing phase and nearing its official launch. This new version, built on the foundation of Android 14, unfortunately, does not support the majority of the new features being tested in Android 15.

However, Android 14 TV introduces several key features and improvements from its base version, including picture-in-picture mode, which can now be utilized on compatible televisions.

The update focuses on enhancing the user experience with several notable changes:

Improved Energy Saving Mode: A new power consumption mode has been added, allowing users to adjust settings to reduce the standby power consumption of their televisions.

Enhanced Performance Experience: System optimizations have been implemented to improve performance, offering users a faster and more responsive television experience.

Picture-in-Picture Mode: Supported by Android 14 TV, this feature allows users to watch content in a small overlay window while navigating other apps, provided their TV supports the function.

Accessibility Features: New functionalities include color correction, enhanced text options, and improved user navigation, making the TV experience more accessible and user-friendly.

These updates indicate a modest change in the Android TV landscape, possibly explaining Google's delayed rollout of the new version. As for Android 15 TV, there's yet to be any news on its development.

In addition to the software update, Google has released impressive data on Android TV's market penetration. The platform has reached a staggering 220 million monthly active devices, marking a 47% increase year-over-year. This growth underscores the rising popularity of smart operating systems in televisions, offering users an abundance of features.

However, the customization and addition of advertisements by some TV manufacturers on top of Android TV have been a point of contention, prompting a number of users to opt for Android TV set-top boxes. While installing a custom firmware on these devices might be slightly more cumbersome, it often results in a superior experience compared to the pre-installed Android TV systems on many televisions.