The company said that over the next few weeks, Google TV device owners will be able to buy or rent content directly from the Google Play store, while purchases made on other devices will be automatically sync up to Google TV, which will undoubtedly make GTV-enabled devices much more useful, if not entertaining.
Buying and renting videos has been available through Android-based devices for months now, so it is a bit surprising we are only now getting a fully functional digital media store, hence this update would allow Google TV users to access the Play app store as well as download and view content from the Play television and movie services.
According to the company post explaining the details said, “Google Play titles will also be discoverable through our TV & Movies app, which brings recommendations for shows and movies available on live TV and apps like Netflix, Amazon, and now Google Play,” says Google TV Product Manager Ambarish Kenghe introducing the update.
He further added, “You will be able to buy or rent content directly through the Google Play Store on Google TV, and purchases you have made on other devices will also be automatically available on Google TV,” Kenghe said in a blog post.
As a matter of fact, the new functionality is something that Google TV competitors have offered for a while. Amazon Instant Prime, which is available on a variety of devices, lets customers watch past video purchases and either buy or rent new ones. And, of course, you can buy or rent videos via the iTunes store on Apple TV or buy new music.
According to the company, the addition of television support comes as part of a larger update by Google for its Play application store. “For developers, this update also enables many other Google Play features including auto-updates, subscription billing, and smart app updates,” Kenghe notes. “Google Play gives you one place to find, enjoy and share your favorite entertainment with millions of songs and thousands of movies and TV shows for sale, and adds to the millions of entertainment options available for you on Google TV through YouTube, TV & Movies, Search and the full web through Chrome.”
Among other things, the Play service, formerly known as the Android Market, serves as Google’s primary media and application matketplace and competes with rival offerings from Apple and Amazon. While Google has been seeking to expand the Play brand, the company has also struggled to keep malware off of the service.
However, Google has long struggled with Google TV, but that has not stopped hardware manufacturers from investing in the platform. Earlier this summer, Vizio introduced its first Google TV-powered set-top box product, which let users experience live TV, streaming content, and cloud gaming from OnLive. Sony also announced plans for a Google TV set-top box around the same time.
Finally, the Google TV update begins rolling out today and should continue over the next few weeks, the company said.