Google Basically Dropped Google TV

[dgstorm]

It looks like Google TV is pretty much "dead" as a development platform now. Google just announced that most of their Google TV devices will not be compatible with Android TV and will not be getting the OS at all. While there are a few that might get it, Android TV seems out of reach for most of them. Here's their statement,

Dear Google TV developers,

With the launch Android 5.0, Lollipop, Android TV is now fully launched, and we’re working closely with OEMs to release Android TV devices going forward. By extending Android to the TV form factor, living room developers get the benefits, features and the same APIs available for Android phone and tablet development. Going forward, we will focus our living room efforts on growing the Android TV and Google Cast ecosystem.

What does this mean for Google TV? Existing Google TV devices and all of the features of these devices will continue to work, and so will the apps you’ve developed for the Google TV platform. A small subset of Google TV devices will be updated to Android TV, but most Google TV devices won’t support the new platform. We expect to see an exciting lineup of Android TV devices in the coming year, including TVs from Sony, Sharp, and Philips, as well as other set-top and over-the-top boxes.

Thank you for being passionate developers creating great content and apps for the living room. With this shift, we encourage you to transition your living room development efforts to Android TV apps and Cast-enabled apps. While the Google TV libraries will no longer be available, we’ve made it really easy to transition apps to Android TV using familiar Android development tools, as well as our new Leanback support libraries. Learn more at developer.android.com/tv.

We can’t wait to see what you imagine and create for the living room!

- The Google and Android TV teams

Of course, for many proud owners of Google TV, the fact that it won't receive Android TV may not matter much to you. The device will still do what it was designed to do and can run current apps that already worked on it. Even with this official statement from Google detailing their intention to no longer support Google TV, that won't make the device suddenly stop working.

Enjoy it while you can... the future belongs to Android TV now though. Perhaps they can "wow" us with impressive new Android TV devices...

Source: Google TV on Google+

 

[Jonny Kansas]

Eh...I have 2 and haven't really used one since I moved the last time. I have one hooked up on my second HDMI input, but since the xbox one allows hdmi passthrough for my TV, I never switch inputs.

 

[jtpowell]

Sadly this has been a long time coming. Apps like Crackle abandoned and constant warnings from Google's own Play services have already started happening.