Tag Archives: Google TV

Blast off into Entertainment Space on your Android tablet

Tablets are the perfect device to stay entertained, whether you’re watching a movie from your bed, playing games on your daily commute or reading a book while you travel. The screen is bigger than your phone, but more portable than your TV.  In fact, over the last year, we’ve seen over 30 percent more people start using Android tablets compared to the prior year.


As a versatile device with many different capabilities, whole families often share the same tablet. Last year, we introduced Kids Space as a way for your kids under 9 to learn and have fun with recommended apps, books and videos on Android tablets. And for the rest of the family members, we’re now bringing you a new Android tablet experience that places the entertainment content you love front and center.


Entertainment Space is a one-stop, personalized home for all your favorite movies, shows, videos, games and books. You’ll save time and avoid having to hop between apps to try to figure out what to do, whether it’s to watch, play or read. Once you sign in to your subscription apps, Entertainment Space will show you your content in one place and tailored for you. And if you want to share your tablet, everyone in the family can have their own personalized profile. 


Hit play on the latest movies, TV shows and YouTube videos

In the Watch tab, you can move between your streaming services, find movies and TV shows to watch, rent or buy from Google TV and view recommended videos from YouTube. With the Continue Watching row, you can also easily hop back into a show you were watching last night. And, if you’re not sure what to watch next, Entertainment Space will surface your personalized and trending recommendation rows from Google TV, Twitch, Hulu and many additional services.

Entertainment Space Watch Tab

Discover movies, TV shows and YouTube videos in the Watch tab.

Discover the next action-packed game

Build empires. Slay dragons. Save the universe. With the Games tab in Entertainment Space, a world of fun and adventure awaits your discovery with Google Play Games. Jump back into your favorite games in the continue playing row, or explore new games recommended for you. And to help you start playing more quickly, select games in Entertainment Space are available to Instant play – so you can try a game without downloading it.

Entertainment Space Play tab

Explore or hop back into your favorite games in the Play tab.

Bring your favorite books together, and find the next one too

Whether you’re looking for your next read or already have a stack of books on your virtual nightstand, the Read tab is where you’ll find your next chapter from Google Play Books. If your eyes get tired but you want more stories, you can find audiobooks in this section, too. Check out free sneak peeks before committing, plus see books with discounted prices and recommendations based on what’s trending and what meets your tastes. 

Entertainment Space Read tab

Find your next book and audiobook in the Read tab.

Starting this month, Entertainment Space will be available on Walmart onn. tablets. And later this year, Entertainment Space will roll out globally on new and select existing Android tablets from Lenovo™, Sharp and more.

Get ready for Hollywood’s big night with Google

Sure, spring is nice, and there’s so much to celebrate in the winter but my favorite season is easily awards season! 2021 marks 93 years of Hollywood’s annual film celebration, and this year’s Academy Awards will be a combination of in-person and virtual.


Ahead of the big night every year, my friends and I try to watch all of the new nominees, along with some of our favorite past winners. With the help of Google Search, we’re able to keep track of everything we want to watch, as well as check titles off once the credits roll. Starting today, you’ll find a brand new carousel of 2021 nominated movies when searching for “what to watch.” And on Google TV, we’re featuring collections that highlight nominees and 20 years of award-winning women.

Oscars on What to Watch

During my movie list-making, I decided to take a look at Google Trends to see what  “Best Picture” winners have piqued our interest. And the award for most-searched goes to: 1997’s romantic drama about a maiden voyage across the Atlantic...with two hits from the 70s as the runners-up.

Google Trends Oscars

Best Picture winners from 1927 - 2020 ranked by global Google Search interest from 2004 to March 2021

Check out this visualization of how classic flicks have been searched over the years. 

Oscars Google Trends GIF

And here’s how fans across the U.S. have been searching for this year’s best picture nominees. 

Google Trends Oscars 2021

But Hollywood’s big night isn’t only about the movies — it’s also about the celebrities. Here’s what Google Trends revealed about our searches for award show stars. (Spoiler Alert: Leonardo DiCaprio is the most searched “Oscar snub” since 2004 in the U.S.)

Most-searched “How many Oscars does … have” since 2004 US

  1. Leonardo DiCaprio

  2. Meryl Streep

  3. Tom Hanks

  4. Denzel Washington

  5. Brad Pitt


Most-searched Oscar duos since 2004 U.S.

  1. Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper

  2. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez

  3. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet

  4. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner

  5. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt


Most-searched Red Carpet celebrities since 2004 U.S.

  1. Jennifer Lawrence

  2. Lady Gaga

  3. Angelina Jolie

  4. Jennifer Lopez

  5. Billy Porter

Search “Oscars” to stay up to date on this year’s nominees throughout the show. The list of winners in each category will be updated in real time and you’ll also find live clips, top stories, and other trending content. Starting Sunday April 25 at 5 p.m. PT, you’ll also be able to find ABC’s live stream in Search. 


To hear some predictions ahead of the red carpet, ask Google Assistant, “Hey Google, what are your Oscar predictions?” or “Hey Google, who do you think is best dressed at the Oscars?” Assistant also has the full list of nominees, of course, and plenty more to talk about. You can even join in on the fun at award night by asking, “Hey Google, give me an award.” 


Grab the popcorn...it’s almost showtime!

Source: Search


Google TV for everyone in the family

It’s Saturday morning and my son is pointing at the TV, cheerful as ever. The “You’re Welcome” music video from Disney’s “Moana” is playing for the tenth time. As a new father, I’m always thinking about the role technology will play in my children’s lives. From Google Kids Space on select Android tablets to teacher-approved apps in Google Play, we’ve already made a lot of progress in helping our kids explore online, but the work isn’t over.

That’s why today, we’re taking our first step in delivering family features on Google TV with the introduction of kids profiles. Setting up a profile for each of your kids is easy: You can add an existing Google account for a child or create a new profile with just their name and age.

With Google TV, we thought about what families need from the biggest screen in the house. I personally want to be able to find my shows and movies, without being overwhelmed by my kids' content. At the same time, I want to be able to manage my kids’ screen time and know that what they’re watching is appropriate for them. Read on for some of my favorite features of kids profiles.


TV — for you and your kids

Parents will be able to pick which apps to add to their child’s profile. Kids profiles will feature rows with recommendations from kid-friendly apps, so your kids can easily find what to watch. And with Google Play Family Library, you can share access to TV shows and movies you’ve already purchased on other devices (“Moana” on repeat is absolutely an option).

Kids profile on Google TV

Kids profiles on Google TV are designed with young viewers in mind and feature bright colors and fun illustrations. The backdrop can be customized to a kid-friendly theme — like “Under the sea,” “Dinosaur jungle” or “Space travel.” In the coming weeks, we’ll also be introducing avatars so your kids can pick a profile picture based on their interests.

Theme selector

Screen time management

“It’s time to turn off the TV” is often met with moans and groans. With on-screen parental controls, you’ll be able to manage your kids’ screen time by setting daily watch limits and a bedtime schedule. When it’s almost time to turn off the TV, your kids will be greeted with three countdown warning signs before a final “Time is up” screen appears and ends their watch time. (And you’ll  always have the option to add some extra bonus time when it’s not a school night.) To prevent your kids from switching to your profile, you can turn on profile lock so only you can make changes with your PIN.

Screen time limits

You can also manage some content controls on Google TV right from the Family Link app to help make sure your child’s TV time aligns with the digital ground rules you set for your family across devices, such as their Android phone or Chromebook. From your phone, you can see how much time your kids are spending in their favorite apps, block and unblock apps, control app activity and more. 

Support for kids profiles on Google TV will roll out on Chromecast with Google TV and other Google TV devices in the U.S. starting this month, and globally over the next few months. The TV is the largest, shared screen in the home — and we plan on finding more and more ways to make Google TV work for the whole family. Stay tuned!

Apple TV+ is now available on Google TV

Starting today, the Apple TV app, including Apple TV+, is now globally available on the new Chromecast with Google TV, with more Google TV devices to come. To access the Apple TV app, navigate to the Apps tab or the apps row in the For you tab.


Google TV gives users with subscriptions to Apple TV+ the ability to tune into award-winning original shows, movies and documentaries from the world’s most creative storytellers. You can enjoy Apple Originals, including series like “Ted Lasso,” which was recently nominated for two Golden Globes, “For All Mankind” season two debuting tomorrow, “The Morning Show” and “Servant,” as well as movies like “Greyhound” and “Palmer.” The Apple TV app also gives you access to your library of movie and TV show purchases from Apple, as well as personalized and curated recommendations and Apple TV channels. And with Family Sharing, up to six family members can share subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Apple TV channels.


With Google TV in the U.S., you can browse Apple Originals in your personalized recommendations and search results. And with Google Assistant, you can also use your voice to ask Google to open the Apple TV app or play an Apple Original title. If you aren’t ready to watch right away, you can add Apple Originals to your Watchlist for later. These features will roll out globally in the coming months.


The Chromecast with Google TV is packed with the latest technology—it streams crystal-clear video in up to 4K HDR at up to 60 frames per second and now has a voice remote. The remote has a dedicated Google Assistant button that helps you find something to watch, answer everyday questions like “how's the weather?” or dim your compatible smart home lights with just your voice. It also eliminates the need for multiple remotes thanks to programmable TV controls for power, volume and input. 


In addition to Chromecast with Google TV, the Apple TV app will also be available on Google TVs from Sony and TCL. We plan to roll out to more Android TV-powered devices in the coming months.

We can’t heartly wait for Valentine’s Day

This year, we want to bring a little sparkle to your Valentine’s Day — literally. 

Today’s Google Doodle shimmers with glitter, which the artist created using glue and stop motion photography. If you want to let someone know you care, let the Doodle be an inspiration and try making your own card – my personal preference is the more glitter, the better. If you’re struggling with finding the right words for your Valentine, you aren’t alone: Searches for “what to write in valentines day card” increased by 400 percent in the U.S. this week.
Valentine's Day Doodle

Of course everyone celebrates Valentine’s Day differently — maybe cards aren’t your thing. A few other consistent searches showed up in Google this year. Classic gifts are still a go-to: “Valentine’s chocolate” and “Valentine’s flowers” saw search increases this week (in fact, searches for “where do they sell flowers near me” spiked more than 3,950% this week). Take a look at how they compare across the country.

Valentine Flowers and Chocolate

Instead of sticking to the tried-and-true, perhaps you’re looking to express yourself a bit more...visually. Say, with a heart-shaped...something! Here are the most popular searches for “heart-shaped…” items by state. It looks like people in Texas are tacoing about love this year, while over in Illinois, they’re sharing a pizza of their heart.

Heart Shaped Trends

These Google Trends aren't the only thing that’s heart-shaped: Search for “Valentine’s Day” on Google and you’ll get a sweet(heart) surprise. 

And if you’re looking to tell someone how you feel this holiday, Google Assistant can help you spread the love. Here’s a list to get you started:

  • “Hey Google, read me a love poem.”

  • “Hey Google, play romantic music.” 

  • "Hey Google, turn up the love” for some light jazz, and if you have color-changing smart lights, they’ll light up in red and purple tones.

  • “Hey Google, show romantic dinner recipes.”

  • “Hey Google, serenade me.”

  • "Hey Google, play a podcast about relationships.” 

  • “Hey Google, tell me a fact about love” to learn about love in the animal kingdom.

  • Or ask, “Hey Google, do you love me?” for some help creating your own poem.

You can even treat yourself to a romantic movie night — or nights, no judgement here. Google TV is featuring Valentine’s Day collections until February 21, so you can settle in and browse through "Rom-coms you love," "Ugly cry: Sad love stories" or “Black love stories.” These collections are available on your Chromecast with Google TV or in the Google TV app on Android devices in the U.S.

No matter what your plans are this year, we hope you have a great Valentine’s Day — and sorry for all the heartfelt puns...I know I can be pretty coronary.

Source: Search


Huddle up: Here’s your guide to football’s biggest day

As the returning champs take on the hometown team this Sunday, you may be feeling a bit nostalgic for the days when we could pack into sold out arenas. But don’t worry, some game day traditions live on. We have a few trick plays up our sleeve to help you plan your at-home game day experience.

Say “Hey Google” to get into the football festivities

Google Assistant is prepared to help you brush up on your football facts, help you in the kitchen, share live scores and more. Here are some questions to get you started:

  • “Hey Google, who’s going to win the big game?” 

  • “Hey Google, help me talk like a football fan.”

  • “Hey Google, give me facts about football.” (Spoiler alert: One tip Assistant shares is that no team has ever won the big game three years in a row.)

  • “Hey Google, set a pizza timer” or “Hey Google, set a timer for chicken wings” for game-day themed timers as you cook your favorite grub.

Google TV is game day-ready 

On Sunday, you can tune in on your Chromecast with Google TV or in the Google TV app on Android devices in the U.S. to catch the game. Stream away the day from kick-off to the final play with a subscription to CBS All Access (the game is also available via CBS broadcast and via mobile on the CBS Sports app).

Ready, set, (ads) blitz on YouTube 

AdBlitz is YouTube's annual home for both in-game and digital-only advertisers to showcase their Big Game ads. It’s a one-stop shop for fans to discover and watch their favorite Big Game ads before, during and after the game. You can find ads, teasers, extended cuts and more  at youtube.com/adblitz . The top ads with the most accumulated views by February 15 will be awarded bragging rights for the rest of the year!

Search’s stats sheet

As people prepare for the biggest football game of the year, a few interesting search trends have emerged. For starters, check out these maps showing regional interest in the teams and their quarterbacks:

Most Searched SBLV Teams
Most Searched SBLV Quarterbacks

And it looks like no one wants to fumble during the halftime show; here are the most-searched lyrics from this year’s performing artist: 

  1. Blinding Lights

  2. Save Your Tears

  3. Wicked Games

  4. Heartless

  5. The Hills

Here’s a Search trend that returns time and time again: Search interest for “seven layer dip” spike every year ahead of the game, but that’s not the only popular snack. Check out what each state is cooking up:

Super Bowl LV

That’s all for our pre-game coverage, but if your team is crowned the champion, you’ll want to look them up on Search for a congratulatory surprise! And if you want to stay up to date on the score during the big day, search “Superb owl” on Google (It’s sure to be a hoot.)

The best of Google, now in new devices

Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, technology should work for you. This week during a virtual CES and Galaxy Unpacked, we were introduced to a lineup of new products that do exactly that, all with the best of Google built in.


Whether you're heading out or staying in, there's something new for you to get excited about.


When you’re on the go

The new Galaxy S21 series comes with a more cohesive Android experience and updates that make it easier to stay in touch with friends and family. From your phone, you can now mirror Google Duo to your Samsung TV, so video calls feel a little more like the real thing. With the Messages app, you can use Rich Communication Services (RCS) to chat over Wi-Fi, know when messages are read, share reactions as well as high resolution videos, and enjoy a more dynamic communication experience with features such as Smart Actions and spam protection (varies by carrier and market availability). A single swipe from your home screen will give you the option for personalized content with Discover, while our screen reader TalkBack has been revamped so that people with blindness or trouble seeing their displays can use spoken feedback and gestures to navigate their phone without having to look at the screen (varies by carrier and market availability).


We’re also working with Samsung to make it easier to manage smart home products from your device. You can control Nest devices, like Nest thermostats, cameras and doorbells, from the SmartThings app on Galaxy smartphones and tablets. See all your connected devices on one screen by tapping on "Devices" in the Quick Panel of the Galaxy S21. Starting next week, SmartThings will also be available in Android Auto, so you can do things like turn off your kitchen lights from your car’s display as you pull out of the driveway.


For parents who want a productive tablet that can easily be shared with their kids, the new Lenovo Tab P11 comes with Kids Space, our new kids mode that features recommended apps, books and videos to help kids under 9 learn and have fun. 


And to get help from your wrist, new Wear OS by Google smartwatches keep you connected wherever you are. For Android phone users in the U.S., you can send texts and make calls on Fossil's Gen 5 LTE Touchscreen Smartwatch without your phone. And Michael Kors Access Gen 5E MKGO and Gen 5E Darci smartwatches are a fashionable option for keeping track of your health and wellness, staying in touch with friends and family and even making payments.


You’ll even be able to leave your phone in your pocket when you’re outside. New headphones, including the JBL Tour ONE and Tour Pro+ and Kenwood WS-A1G come with help from Google. Simply press the earbud to send a message, access your calendar or change songs.


Of course, for those times when you’re perfectly happy...


Hanging out at home

Google TV will be available on 2021 smart TVs from Sony and TCL. Google TV is a new entertainment experience that brings together movies, shows, live TV and more from across your apps and subscriptions and organizes them just for you. You can ask “Hey Google, find action movies” or “show me sci-fi adventure TV shows” and browse a wide selection of content with your voice. In fact your voice can be used in all sorts of ways: Your LG TV (from 2019 models) can now be controlled by a Google-enabled smart speaker in 15 countries and six languages. You will also soon be able to control your Verizon Fios set top box by voice when connected with a Google-enabled smart speaker or Smart Display. And to do more on your TV, you can stay connected with your loved ones with one-on-one or group video calls with the Duo app on Samsung TV (an optional USB-camera needed).


New connected lights from LIFX, Nanoleaf and Yeelight now work with Hey Google. These new devices support Seamless setup, which makes it possible to connect compatible smart home devices directly through the Google Home app and a Nest speaker or Smart Display without the need for an additional hub or bridge. 


If you’re looking for an assist with cleaning up around the house, you can just say “Hey Google” to control the Smart MEDION’s vacuum cleaner MD 19601. To help more manufacturers bring voice capabilities like this to their smart home devices, we also recently launched the Authorized Solution Provider program. Our certified partners Tuya and CoolKit can now help manufacturers  build smart home Actions for Google Assistant. 


Whatever new device you pick out, Google will be there to help you get things done and get the most of your tech.

Source: Android


The Apple TV app is on its way to Chromecast with Google TV

As a quick follow-up to welcoming Apple Music to Google smart speakers and displays, we’ll be bringing more of your favorite entertainment into one place with the launch of the Apple TV app on the all-new Chromecast with Google TV. With the addition of the Apple TV app, Chromecast with Google TV users can access Apple TV+ (you’ll need a paid subscription). This makes the Chromecast with Google TV one of the only streaming devices with all the major video subscriptions.


As an Apple TV+ subscriber, you can tune into award-winning original shows, movies and documentaries from the world’s most creative storytellers. This includes titles like “Ted Lasso,” “The Morning Show,” “Defending Jacob,” “Greyhound” and “Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special.” Also on the Apple TV app, you can access your library of movie and TV show purchases from Apple, as well as enjoy personalized and curated recommendations and Apple TV channels. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share subscriptions to Apple TV channels


With Google TV, you’ll be able to see Apple Originals in your personalized recommendations and search results, making it even easier to find your favorite shows and movies. And, you’ll be able to save them to your Watchlist to catch up on later.


We will roll out the Apple TV app on Chromecast with Google TV early next year, and even more devices powered by Android TV OS in the future.

Use Google TV to create your perfect holiday movie queue

As it starts to get colder outside, there’s nothing better than snuggling under a blanket with a warm cup of peppermint hot chocolate and enjoying a holiday movie marathon. That’s my recipe for a perfect December evening. 

Every year, I watch as many holiday movies as I can—and in the age of streaming, that can be a challenge. With so many options and so many places to discover them, the only problem is figuring out what to watch and in what order. This year, though, I have the solution: creating a Watchlist on Google TV. 

Whether you’re using the Google TV app on Android (in the U.S.) or watching on the new Chromecast with Google TV, you can use Google TV to find and make your movie list. It’s designed to make it easier to find what you’re looking for, so you don’t get all grinchy trying to figure out what to watch or what app something is available on. So, whether you're watching solo or with your loved ones, here’s a guide to building your perfect holiday Watchlist and making your movie night (or month) tradition even better. 

Step 1. Start with search. On Google TV, you can find what to watch by searching for “holiday movies” and see a list of results from your favorite apps or what’s available for rent and purchase in Google Play. With Chromecast with Google TV, you can also ask Google with the voice remote to help show me “romantic holiday comedies” or “movies with reindeer.” 

Step 2. If you need some inspiration, check out this list of the top 15 most-searched holiday movie titles: 

  1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 

  2. The Grinch

  3. Die Hard

  4. Jingle All the Way

  5. Home Alone

  6. Love Actually

  7. It’s a Wonderful Life

  8. A Christmas Story 

  9. Miracle on 34th

  10. This Christmas

  11. Happiest Season

  12. Elf

  13. The Holiday

  14. Scrooged

  15. Gremlins

You can search for the specific title or even find a handy row with these movies, called “Most-Searched Holiday Movies 2020” on your For You tab.

Step 3. Once you have a title picked out, you can either watch right away or save it for later. To build your Watchlist for the holidays, just pick the titles you want and open the details page, you can add them to your Watchlist from there. As easy as that, you’ll have the movie saved to your Watchlist. The best part is that if you feel suddenly inspired and you’re not at home or your phone isn’t nearby, you can add movies to your Watchlist from Google Search (you'll need to check for availability) on your other devices, and they’ll be in one place when you’re ready to binge.

Step 4. When settled on your couch and ready to press play, you can access your queue of holiday movies on your Google TV devices. On the TV, you can find your Watchlist in the Library tab whenever you need it; in the Google TV app on Android, look for the Watchlist tab.

So grab the remote, hit the couch and settle in for a holiday movie marathon.