ANDROID TV
Android TV is Google’s dedicated Android-based media streamer menu system,
DQGLW¶VGL̆HUHQWWKDQWKHKHDYLO\PRGL¿HGYHUVLRQRI$QGURLGXVHGLQ$PD]RQ¶V
)LUH79SURGXFWV7KH$QGURLG79SRZHUHG1YLGLD6KLHOG79ZDVWKH¿UVW
SODWIRUPWRR̆HU1HWÀL[.FRQWHQWRXWVLGHRID79ZLWKWKH1HWÀL[.DSS
built in, and it remains a powerful system. It also features Google Assistant,
putting it on the same footing as the Fire TV with Alexa and the Apple TV
with Siri. Android TV devices are all compatible with Google Cast, so you can
use your smartphone or tablet to stream content to it just as though you
had a Chromecast.
*RRJOHKDVQ¶WPDGHD¿UVWSDUW\$QGURLG79PHGLDVWUHDPHU\HW LQVWHDGLWKDV
focused on Chromecast devices and left Android TV to other companies. Nvidia
and Sony have both come through on this with the Nvidia Shield TV and several
+LVHQVHDQG6RQ\VPDUW79V7KDQNVWRIDU¿HOGPLFURSKRQHVVRPH$QGURLG
79GHYLFHVVXFKWKH6KLHOG79FRQWUROOHUDQGWKH6RQ\¶VKLJKHQG79VR̆HU
hands-free Google Assistant, letting you control them entirely with your voice.
APPLE TV
The Apple TV as a media streamer is likely on its way out. The announcement of
WKHQHZ$SSOH79DSS$SSOH79DQGWKHDYDLODELOLW\RIERWK DORQJZLWK
$LU3OD\ RQYDULRXVVPDUW79DQGPHGLDVWUHDPLQJSODWIRUPVOHDGVXVWR
believe that Apple is planning to phase out the Apple TV itself and rely on other
companies’ hardware for accessing its content stores and libraries.