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"Google took the wraps off Android TV today at its Google I/O event in San Francisco on Wednesday, which was back in April after an early leak.\nInitial reports indicated that the system would be a set-top box, similar to devices like the Roku, Amazon's Fire TV and Apple TV, but Google didn't announce or highlight any new set-top box on Wednesday, instead focusing on the software components of the system. \nSee also: 25 Other Names Google Considered for Android L\nVisually, the system's menu consists of a number of rows that allow you to easily scroll up from the bottom of the television.\nBut the key to Android TV is that it comes with voice control. This allows the user to, for example, speak a query like \"find Oscar nominated actors\"; then, a selection of viewable content will show on the screen, fitting the parameters of your spoken query. The function works to surface content like live television shows, videos on Google Play and on YouTube. In a way, this is like having Google Search on your television.\nYou can also use your Android mobile device and even your Android watch as a control pad for the system.\nAndroid TV also includes full Google Cast support, so it allows you to use it in the same way as the Chromecast. All 2014 Sony and Sharp 4K televisions will support Android TV.\nThe company unveiled Backdrop as well, which lets you set custom themed screen images while you're not watching TV or playing games. Usage of Chromecast has increased by 40% since its launch, Google said, and developers have created more than 10,000 Google Cast apps. \nFurthermore, you will no longer need to be on the same Wi-Fi network to use Chromecast, meaning you can use it with anyone's television. The system will use \"a number of factors\" to detect when a Chromecast is in the room and will offer a PIN access code for user authentication.  \n\n\nGoogle IO 2014 Keynote\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA view of the Google I/O Developers Conference on June 25, 2014 in San Francisco.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAttendees work on a laptop computers during the Google I/O Annual Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on June 25, 2014. \n\nImage: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAudience members settle in for the Google IO Keynote at the Google I/O Annual Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on June 25, 2014. \n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMatias Duarte, Vice President of Design discusses Android L with has over 5,000 new API's, and takes a radical new approach to design.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps for Google Inc., speaks during the Google I/O Annual Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on  June 25, 2014. \n\nImage: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSundar Pichai, senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps for Google Inc., speaks during the Google I/O Annual Developers Conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on June 25, 2014. \n\nImage: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA demonstrator waves a sign in protest of Google during the Google I/O Developers Conference at Moscone Center on June 25, 2014 in San Francisco, California. \n\nImage: Stephen Lam/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhile the Moto 360 smartwatch won't go on sale until later this summer, Google said Samsung Gear Live is \"joining the Android family,\" starting on Wednesday, too.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nIt was also announced that the voice-enabled Android Wear platform, which lets users talk to wearables similar to Google Now, is now available in API for developers to built.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nA presenter demonstrates Android Auto on stage during the Google I/O Developers Conference at Moscone Center on June 25, 2014 in San Francisco, California. \n\nImage: Stephen Lam/Getty Images\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGoogle announced the Android Auto SDK as well; the company is releasing a full set of APIs for audio and messaging applications. \n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGoogle launched the next phase of its in-car initiative, Android Auto, on stage at its annual developers conference, Google I/O. The system is completely voice-enabled.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWith Android L, there are special tools to keep work and personal apps separate. Data separation ensures the two environments don't interact, similar to what BlackBerry 10 does.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTeased back in April thanks to an early leak, Google took the wraps off Android TV today at its Google I/O event in San Francisco.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGoogle said it wasn\u2019t abandoning Chromecast, announcing a feature Wednesday that allows devices to control Chromecast though a cellphone connection in addition to Wi-Fi. An update to Chromecast will allow a broader range of apps to be displayed on televisions.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nUrs Holzle discusses Googles Cloud Platform at Google I/O 2014 in San Francisco on June 25, 2014.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nEllie Powers discusses how Nike and Adidas will work with Google Fit. Fuelband will share its data with the Fit hub, and the app will also be able to import data from it.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAnd to finish off the keynote, Sundar Pichai announces that everyone attending gets a G Watch or a Gear Live and a Moto 360 when they become available.\n\nImage: Mashable, Kurt Wagner\n\n\n\n\n\n\nHave something to add to this story? Share it in the comments."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2014/06/25/google-android-tv/>