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Switching (Video) Streams TCL Goes With Google TV in New 5- and 6-Series Television Models By Michael Heiss TCL’s Smart TV lineup is expanding with the introduction of the brand’s new 6- and 5-Series models, powered by Google TV. Mention the phrase “Roku TV” to most consumers and their answer will most likely include TCL as the brand. While there are more than a dozen Roku TV brands, TCL has by far been the most popular, regularly ranking in the top four best-selling TV brands, often as high as second. However, it is less well known that TCL has also sold sets in their 4- and 3-Series lines powered by Android TV. If you don’t follow these things closely, Google TV is the latest version of Alphabet’s TV user interface, first introduced with their Chromecast with Google TV product. Eventually, it will likely replace the original Android TV as the “smarts” behind smart TVs from Sony, Hisense. Android TV also currently powers external streaming products such as the Nvidia Stream and with a slightly modified UI TiVo Stream 4K and Sling’s AirTV Mini. For now, both Google TV and Android TV will co-exist in the market. Google TV’s Easier Interface The original Android TV still lurks underneath the hood, but what Google TV brings to the fore is a new, easier-to-understand interface. The look is cleaner and more modern, and it is simpler to search for your favorite programs or to find new ones. Viewing Google TV on the new generation Chromecast running Android TV 10 and the Nvidia Shield with the latest updated version of Android TV 9, the main differences are the elegance of the toplevel search and select functionality. Perhaps the most noticeable visual difference is that with Google TV the selectors run
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Residential Tech Today | Nov/Dec 2021
Google TV, seen here on a new TCL 6-Series model, shows the available, downloaded apps crisply at the top of the screen.
horizontally as elegant words across the top of the screen, similar to what you see on an Apple TV. Android TV runs them horizontally on the left side of the screen with a larger font for the words and an icon. Google TV also does content recommendations and an integrated Live TV channel guide that are accessed via voice or menu control. Of course, all Android/Google apps, services, and the content will continue to be available through the Google Play Store Other Google Features Does it really make a difference? As with anything visual, that’s up to you as the viewer. What is perhaps more important than interface are the additional features available as a TV that
is part of the Google/Android ecosystem. Thanks to a built-in far-field mic array, you can now issue commands to the set as well as control Google Assistant-enabled devices in the home. Smart speakers or Android phones may also control the sets, as can the remote’s built-in mic. Since these sets do take advantage of Android apps, one key distinguishing feature will be the ability to connect a camera directly to the set for video calls. According to TCL, the camera will work with many popular apps, but Google Due is the only one that they recommend. Similarly, the sets have been tested with multiple webcam products, but TCL
