Chromecast with Google TV is lastly set to get an Android 12 replace, and the new Chromecast (HD) offers us an early take a look at what the platform will convey to Google’s big-screen expertise. Right here’s everything new in Android 12 for Google TV on Chromecast.

What’s new in Android 12 for Chromecast with Google TV?

As we’ve mentioned earlier than, system updates aren’t a main supply of new options or modifications for Google TV and Android TV. Somewhat, the most significant modifications come from updates to the launcher or via apps. Nonetheless, there are a very good variety of new options that include Android 12 for Chromecast with Google TV, they usually’re stay first on the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), which ships with the replace put in.

Block microphone and digital camera entry

Considered one of the core modifications in Android 12 comes in the type of higher privateness with the microphone and digital camera. Android 12 now at all times reveals an indicator when the microphone or digital camera permissions are being utilized by displaying an simply noticeable inexperienced dot in the nook. Whereas this Android 12 function most likely gained’t be observed for its digital camera half on Chromecast with Google TV, it’s undoubtedly a welcome change for exhibiting microphone entry. Google TV already had an indicator UI, however this model is way more noticeable and works extra constantly throughout the OS.

Past simply an indicator, there’s additionally now a strategy to block entry to the microphone and/or digital camera in Android 12. On Google TV, you’ll discover this in Settings > Privateness beneath the “Microphone” or “Digital camera” sections. On both web page, you’ll additionally see a listing of apps which have tried to entry these permissions.

(*12*)

“Match content material body charge”

One other new function you’ll discover throughout all Android TV OS 12 units is assist for the system to match the body charge of the content material being displayed. That is out there with three choices on Google TV – seamless, non-seamless, and off fully. On Chromecast (HD), the first choice is enabled by default.

What do these choices do? Google explains as follows.

Seamless:

If the app requests it, your system will match its output to the unique body charge of the content material you’re watching, ONLY in case your TV can carry out a seamless transition.

Non-seamless:

If the app requests it, your system will match its output to the unique body charge of the content material you’re watching. This will likely trigger your display screen to go clean for a second when exiting or coming into a video playback.

By no means:

Even when the app requests it, your system won’t ever attempt to match its output to the unique body charge of the content material you’re watching.

Textual content scaling

An alternative choice you’ll discover in Google TV 12 on Chromecast is textual content scaling. Whereas it’s lengthy been out there in Android on telephones and tablets, the choice is now additionally out there on TVs. You’ll discover textual content scaling beneath Settings > Show > Textual content scaling, with 4 choices from 85% to 115%. You’ll be able to see a comparability of the smallest textual content to the largest textual content choices under.

Now you can block encompass sound

Google TV 12 additionally brings extra management over sound codecs. In the earlier replace, you might choose between “Automated,” which might use any sound codecs that your system reported as accepted, or “Guide,” which might power sound codecs as a user-accessible choice. Now, there’s additionally a “none” choice that may flip off encompass sound fully.

“Fast Join” for Wi-Fi

You’ll additionally discover a new community setting in Google TV 12 on Chromecast referred to as “Fast Join.” As Google confirmed to us final yr, that is designed to make it simpler to attach your Android TV system (in this case, a Chromecast) to Wi-Fi out of your smartphone.

From what we will inform, this requires that your smartphone can also be operating Android 13 – at the very least, it doesn’t work on Samsung units operating Android 12/L, however we have been capable of find the choice on Pixel units operating Android 13.

TikTok is put in throughout setup

This alteration is very seemingly unique to the Chromecast with Google TV (HD), however we discovered that TikTok was one among Google’s included apps on the system. It’s put in as part of the setup, although you’ll be able to cease it from being put in throughout setup.

When will Chromecast (4K) get Google TV 12?

In order that’s everything new in Android 12 for the Chromecast with Google TV, however when will the replace be coming to the 4K mannequin?

Proper now, there’s no confirmed timeline for when Chromecast with Google TV (4K) will get its Android 12 replace, but it surely ought to arrive in the not-too-distant future by way of a conventional OTA improve.

What about Android 13?

That’s Android 12, although, and smartphones at the moment are getting Android 13. When will that replace come to Google TV? What’s new? Quite a lot of that is still to be seen. Early hands-on time with Android TV 13 revealed there’s not a lot new, and Google has but to launch the ultimate model of the replace as of late-September 2022.

Extra on Google TV:

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