Android 14 upgrade brings more innovative features and energy savings to TVs

Today, our televisions are increasingly less used for watching TV at home. Instead, they have become multimedia screens full of applications and wireless connectivity possibilities. The latest smart TVs are almost like computers with large screens. Soon, they may become even better thanks to new software from Google. The new version of Android TV is based on Android 14. What features does it introduce?

Google has announced the new features that will be included in the Android 14-based software. TVs with this system will be more energy-efficient and effective and offer new functions. One example is the Picture-in-Picture mode, which allows you to display two contents simultaneously. For example, you can watch a series while having a less exciting game on a smaller window. If the action becomes fascinating, you can switch to a full screen with one move.

We can also use the Picture-in-Picture mode to work with several applications simultaneously, display the weather forecast, or use the Spotify player. There are plenty of options. An attractive solution is also the ability to display a smaller window with a control linked to the smart home system.

After the update, the performance of the Android OS and the whole TV will improve. This means faster startup of the device and individual applications. Users of devices with limited memory capacity, which worked slower with the previous system, will particularly feel the difference.

Google has also created an Low Energy mode, allowing reduced energy consumption. Using energy-saving mode, our device will still be visible in the Google Home system and ready to operate. Other modes allow even better management of energy and resources. In the Optimised Energy Mode, you can turn off many functions while retaining the ability to use Google Cast or Google Assistant.

The following novelties concern accessibility functions. There is an option for colour correction and several text options for visually impaired individuals. Navigating the menu and launching individual functions will become more accessible for people with motor impairments.

Improved accessibility in the new Android TV includes changes related to artificial intelligence Gemini. Our TV and its Android TV OS will be able to, among other things, create descriptions of movies, series, or TV programmes. Moreover, thanks to the capabilities of Gemini AI, we will see everything in our native language. However, if an "original" description exists for a given content, Google will keep that version.

The new software saves about 36GB of disk space because applications will be delivered in a new format.

Google reports that the Android TV OS is already available on over 200 million devices.