The Google TV ecosystem is thriving, and Google is making sure the software side of things stays fresh with a revamped home screen that starts rolling out today.
Google TV New Features
For You Content Recommendation Tab
Google TV’s best feature is arguably it’s For You content recommendation tab, which highlights shows and movies from your various subscriptions that Google’s algorithm thinks you’ll enjoy.
Explore Even More
To improve the navigation experience on Google TV devices, Google has added a new section just beneath the Continue Watching row called Explore Even More.
Content Subcategories
This new section breaks your content down into four subcategories: Movies, Shows, Family, and Español. The first two are self-explanatory, while Family aggregates content with a PG rating or lower, and Español highlights Spanish-language movies and shows.
This update brings improvements to the navigation experience on Google TV devices. Instead of isolating the user account switcher button on the right side, Google has moved this functionality to the left edge so that it’s closer to the main home screen tabs.
Quick Access to Common System Functions
The settings icon nestled between Search and Google TV now gives you quick access to common system functions directly from the home screen.
Global Rollout
These features are rolling out globally to Chromecasts as well as Google TV devices from Philips, Sony, TCL, and other OEMs starting today.
Staged Rollouts
Knowing Google’s penchant for staged rollouts, it could be weeks before the revamped home screen reaches 100 percent of users.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Google TV has introduced new features to enhance user experience with its revamped home screen, including a new section for content subcategories and an improved navigation experience.
These features are rolling out globally, and users can access common system functions from the home screen. However, the rollout may be staged and could take weeks to reach all users.