If you’ve purchased devices such as the Chromecast with Google TV, you might have noticed how you are no longer able to customize its home screen to use a different launcher, as the option to customize the TV launcher is completely removed from Google-certified TV boxes.
As in the case of older Android TV boxes, you have not been welcomed with the option of “Change Launcher” in the Settings Menu. Therefore, you will now have to deal with a lot of movie and game suggestions as well as sponsored rows that are not completely tailored to your interests, a screen that is cluttered and is not dynamic.
What is the reason behind Google making such a change?
The core reason –
monetization, data collection, and content control.
Google TV’s launcher restriction is a problem, but that issue usually does not stem from frustration. Their core goal is to build a more sophisticated and monetized integrated ecosystem.
The Google TV home screen is not just a sleeveless presentation of your applications, it is a content hub that position data to yield a revenue driven environment.
Curate material and suggestions –
The entire interface is designed to draw you to new films, shows and live TV channels. These suggestions are based on your viewing history and now an important part of it is how Google gives importance to its media and advertising partners.
Advertisement –
Sponsored materials and advertisements now appear in the “tab” tab for you and other major rows on your home screen. By controlling this location, Google ensures a consistent user experience and a reliable revenue stream from advertisers and content providers.
data collection –
By placing you within their ecosystem, Google can collect valuable data on your viewing habits, which in turn helps them to refine their search algorithms and improve their advertising targeting.
It is far from the old Android TV, which was a more open, app-centered platform. With Google TV, the focus moved from a simple launcher to a full material to the Discovery platform, with the launcher its main component.
What if you want to change your home screen from time to time? ,
Use a non-certified or generic Android TV device –
Many generic Android TV boxes or old Android TV devices allow you to install and set a custom launcher as a default. These devices do not have a Google certification ban, so you have more freedom to customize.
However, you can miss the integration of some official Google TV features or Google services.
