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| Android TV Web Browser App Now Available |
There
are a number of reasons why you might buy an Android TV device like the
Nexus Player. Some of the benefits include the ability to have an
android platform on your home TV, the ability to sync media like your
music, games and movies and the ability to play android games on a much
bigger screen. However, there are also a number of reasons as to what
you might want to wait before picking up an Android TV device.
One of the biggest reasons that you might opt to wait is the infancy
of the platform. We have already reported how the availability of
compatible apps is limited, with only a small amount of apps being
ported over to work on Android TV devices. Well, a prime example of one
of the type of apps which is missing suitable compatibility is web
browsers. Even Google’s Chrome has not yet been optimised to work on
Android TV. Of course, you can simply sideload a browser app like Chrome
to your Nexus Player. However, the lack of compatibility means it will
be limited in a number of respects. Not to mention, likely to be
unstable and buggy resulting in stalls and force crashes. Well, this
week saw a new app being released specifically for Android TV.
‘Web Browser for Android TV’ is exactly that, a web browser for
Android TV. As its functionality is designed to work on the big screen,
it won’t be a surprise to learn that it does work better than the other
side loaded alternatives. That said, it is still not the easiest app to
navigate. Web Browser does allow for basic navigation of the internet
and does employ the use of mobile and desktop websites. The app also
supports video playback, as well as being able to store favorites and
backtrack through your history.
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| Android TV Box : Menu |
The
app also works reasonably well with the remote control, GamePad and the
Remote Control App with a movable mouse cursor which is present on the
screen.
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| Android TV Box : App on Google |
However,
after first downloading, the URL bar only seems to accept the Remote
Control App as a means of input, as default. Therefore, when you try to
navigate to the address bar with either the physical remote control or
GamePad, you are prompted to “
use phone keyboard to enter text” as default.
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| Android TV Box : Use Phone Keyboard |
There is a couple of ways to circumvent this issue though. The first is to simply
download the app.
Once you do, the navigation is fine and all text can be inputted.
What’s more, is that a neat workaround (if you do not want to keep using
your phone as the remote control) is to use the phone control to go to
Google. Once there, bookmark the page. From then on, Google will appear
on your homescreen and this can be clicked through using the physical
remote control and GamePad. Once you make you way to Google from then
on, the Google search bar will automatically activate the onscreen
keyboard.
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| Android TV Box : Setting onscreen keyboard |
Alternatively,
if you head up to the menu in the right-hand corner and click on
“Settings”, there is an option there to activate the “Soft keyboard”
which will then allow direct interaction with the URL using the physical
remote control and GamePad.
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| Android TV Box : Soft keyboard setting |
Otherwise,
if you have been waiting for a better web browser than the sideloaded
options then maybe you will want to give this one a try. Until Chrome
becomes more naturally compatible with Android TV, this might be your
best option. If you are interested in giving this third party option a
try, then hit the link below.
Cr.Android Headline,
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