Here’s everything new in Google TV 12 on the Chromecast [Gallery]

Chromecast with Google TV will finally get an Android 12 update, and the new Chromecast (HD) gives us an early glimpse of what the platform will bring to Google’s big-screen experience. 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 have already said, system updates are not Main Source for new features or changes for Google TV and Android TV. Rather, the most meaningful changes come from updates to the launcher or apps. Still, there are a whole host of new features coming with Android 12 for Chromecast with Google TV, and they’re live first on Chromecast with Google TV (HD), which ships with the update installed.

Block access to microphone and camera

One of the core changes in Android 12 is better privacy with the microphone and camera. Android 12 now always indicates when the microphone or camera permissions are in use by showing a prominent green dot in the corner. While this Android 12 feature probably won’t get noticed for their camera half on Chromecast with Google TV, it’s definitely a welcome change to show microphone access. Google TV already had an indicator UI, but this version is much more eye-catching and works more consistently across the OS.

Aside from an ad, there is now also a way to block access to the microphone and/or camera in Android 12. On Google TV, you can find this under Settings > Privacy under the “Microphone” or “Camera” sections. On either side, you’ll also see a list of apps that tried to access those permissions.

“Match content frame rate”

Another new feature that you will find on all Android TV OS 12 devices is support for the system to adjust the frame rate of the content displayed. This is available on Google TV with three options – seamless, non-seamless, and completely disabled. Chromecast (HD) has the first option enabled by default.

What do these options do? Google explains as follows.

Seamless:

When the app requests it, your device will adjust its output to the original frame rate of the content you’re watching ONLY if your TV is capable of a seamless transition.

Not seamless:

When the app requests it, your device will adjust its output to match the original frame rate of the content you’re watching. This can cause your screen to go black for a second when exiting or entering a video playback.

Never:

Even if the app requests it, your device will never try to match its output to the original frame rate of the content being viewed.

text scaling

Another option you’ll find in Google TV 12 on Chromecast is text scaling. While it has long been available in Android on phones and tablets, the option is now available on TVs as well. Text scaling can be found under Settings > Display > Text scaling with four options from 85% to 115%. Below is a comparison of the smallest text versus the largest text options.

You can now block surround sound

Google TV 12 also brings more control over sound formats. In the previous update, you could choose between Automatic, which used whatever sound formats your device reported as approved, or Manual, which forced sound formats as a user-accessible option. There’s also now a “None” option that can turn off surround sound entirely.

“Quick Connect” for WiFi

You’ll also find a new network setting in Google TV 12 on Chromecast called “Quick Connect”. As Google confirmed to us last year, this aims to make it easier to connect your Android TV (a Chromecast in this case) to Wi-Fi from your smartphone.

As far as we can tell, this requires your phone to also be running Android 13 – at least it doesn’t work on Samsung devices running Android 12/L, but we were able to find the option on Pixel devices running Android 13.

TikTok will be installed during setup

This change is most likely exclusive to Chromecast with Google TV (HD), but we found that TikTok was one of Google’s bundled apps on the device. It is installed as part of setup, although you can prevent installation during setup.

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

So this is all new in Android 12 for the Chromecast with Google TV, but when is the update coming for the 4K model?

At the moment, there’s no confirmed timeline for when the Chromecast with Google TV (4K) will receive its Android 12 update, but it should arrive via a traditional OTA upgrade in the not-too-distant future.

What about Android 13?

However, this is Android 12, and smartphones are now getting Android 13. When is this update coming for Google TV? what’s new Much of this remains to be seen. Early hands-on time with Android TV 13 has shown that there isn’t much new, and Google has yet to release the final version of the update by the end of September 2022.

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