Google Surprises with Android TV 14 Beta, Overlooking Android 13 Entirely
In an unexpected move, Google has revealed a preview of Android 14 for TV, bypassing the Android 13 version entirely. The release coincides with the launch of Android 14 Beta 3 for Pixel devices, setting the stage for what users can anticipate from the upcoming Android 14 on their TVs.
Despite the surprise launch, Google has kept the major features of Android 14 largely under wraps. Little mention was made about the forthcoming release at last month’s Google I/O, and this silence continued with the launch of the beta for Android TV and Google TV devices, which debuted without any public documentation or fanfare.
Currently, the beta version of Android TV 14 can be accessed through an emulator in Android Studio. Google typically also offers a build that can be installed on its now-retired ADT-3 boxes, but this has not yet been made available on the Android Developers website. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to install the Android TV 14 preview onto a Chromecast at this time.
Google has previously released an update for the 4K model of Chromecast with Google TV, but the device has remained on Android 12. It seems the company has decided to forego plans for an Android 13-based update – not just for Chromecast, but for all Android TV and Google TV devices.
a new code change has shown that Google is “retiring” Android 13 for televisions entirely. This will be reflected in Android Studio by hiding the Android 13 emulator in a “non-recommended menu”, further discouraging developers from creating Android 13 images unless absolutely necessary.
The decision to leapfrog Android 13 and go directly to Android 14 might seem abrupt, but considering how swiftly Google released the beta preview of Android TV 14, it makes sense to move ahead to the newer version. This approach is not unique to Android TV, as Wear OS is set to follow a similar pattern, jumping from Android 11 to Android 13 in its upcoming fall release.
Although details about the new features of Android TV 14 remain sparse, one significant change has been spotted. It appears Android TV 14 will allow users to receive call notifications from compatible apps directly on their TV. While Android TV 13 was primarily centered on under-the-hood changes with new APIs and accessibility options, Android TV 14 could pack some major changes and features. There is optimism that Google and its partners will expedite the update rollout to their devices once the OS is publicly released.
Further information about the changes included in Android TV 14 is being actively investigated. Stay tuned for more updates in the coming days.
