Having launched on the Shield TV, an Android-powered media streamer from graphics giant Nvidia, Apple’s TV app is now available on all devices using Google’s new Android TV software.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Modern Android TV devices can now run Apple’s TV app.
- The software brings Apple TV+ and more to Android fans.
- Supported on Android TV devices running 8.0 Oreo or higher.
Apple TV app launches on Android TV devices
Less than 24 hours after Nvidia announced that owners of its Shield TV device can now download the Apple TV app from the Play Store, Google has now confirmed that all modern devices running its Android TV software can now actually use Apple’s software.
The Internet giant has confirmed the development to 9to5Google.
Starting today, Apple TV is available for the ‘Android TV OS ecosystem,’ Google tells us. This means that any modern Android TV device can access the service. We’ve confirmed the app’s availability on a Hisense U8G television running on the standard Android TV platform. The app shows up in Play Store search and can be installed immediately.
Other supported Android TV devices include streaming boxes and sticks from companies like Xiaomi as well as TVs from TCL, Hisense and other brands.
There are no major restrictions to the availability either. Google tells us that any Android TV device running 8.0 Oreo or higher that’s not an operator-tier device has access to Apple TV starting today.
No matter how you look at it, this marks a significant expansion of the app.
Aside from Apple’s own iOS, iPadOS, macOS and tvOS platforms, the dedicated Apple TV app also works on compatible smart TVs from the likes of Samsung, LG, Vizio and others. In addition, Apple’s software supports Android-based Bravia TVs from Sony and Google’s latest Chromecast dongles powered by the Google TV platform.