“With Android 10, Google brings Android API level 29 along with several performance and security improvements to Android TV platform”
Google has released the Android 10 update for Android TVs with several security and performance improvements. In a blog post, the search giant wrote that it will be providing faster updates thanks to Project Treble on Android 10. The update also brings the new TLS 1.3 standard for data encryption. This will also improve the overall performance of the system. Along with that, Google also included Project Mainline support, which can be used to provide updates via the Play Store. This would mean that Google can directly update apps instead of waiting for OEMs to approve things.
The blog post doesn’t really dwell into the improvements or changes that Android 10 will bring to TVs. The Android 10 update for Android TV now targets API level 29, which is good news for developers. Alongside the Android 10 update, Google also spoke about its new ADT-3 developer device. This new reference device is meant only for developers and will be used to test the latest Android 10 update. Last year, Google released the ADT-2 device when it seeded Android 9 Pie for Android TVs.
ADT-3 developer device is basically a set-top box with a quad-core A53 processor, which is coupled with 2GB DDR3 RAM. The device supports 4K output at 60fps and comes with a HDMI 2.1 port. The set-top box has been certified to run all kinds of Google services and applications. It will also receive updates and patches directly from Google. The device will be used by developers to test apps and check compatibility with Android TVs. Google said that the device would be sold only to developers via an OEM partner. An exact launch date wasn’t given.
The Android 10 update for Android TVs isn’t really a big deal, but the new ADT-3 device is good news for the future of Android for TVs. It is possible that Google might release a self-branded set-top box in the near future, which could come with support for Stadia and other smart features. Google’s roadmap for Android TV reveals that the company is working on bigger things for 2020. The ADT-3 developer device could be crucial for Google’s Android TV goals.
