Smart TVs are always under criticism, especially when it comes to data protection. They should change, but not in that way. Google in particular is pursuing a different plan and is already setting deadlines for manufacturers. We’ll show you what’s coming to Smart TVs.
There is now a Smart TV in almost every household . The connection between TV and Internet has become indispensable, if only because of streaming services . But the smart devices have to change, but differently than you think.
SMART TVS: THIS WILL CHANGE IN THE FUTURE
Contrary to what you might think at first glance, this is not about data protection for Smart TVs. Since the investigation by the Federal Cartel Office in 2020 , the focus has repeatedly been on data collection – as this major case recently demonstrated again . Instead, it’s now about apps and storage capacity on the smart TVs themselves.
You want to save space and do that with a certain trick: Apps should come in a bundle, the so-called AAB (Android App Bundle). Google has announced, at least for its Android TV operating system, that from May next year all apps for Android TV must be offered as an app bundle for smart TVs. This means that commercially available APK files (Android Package) are no longer permitted. The argument for this is that those that are already pre-installed on a Smart TV take up too much storage space.
Absolute numbers show that you can save up to 20 percent storage capacity with app bundles on the Smart TV, as Google reports on its blog . App bundles are also faster compared to APKs.
NEW RULE FOR ALL APPS – EVEN THOSE ALREADY INSTALLED
In addition, from May 2023, Google will stipulate that apps must also be able to completely uninstall themselves. Mere archiving is no longer enough to free up storage space on smart televisions.
The measure affects not only apps that users want to reinstall on their Smart TV. Apps that are already on the smart TV also need to be converted from APKs to AABs. If developers do not comply with the new rule by May 2023, their apps are in danger of disappearing from the television home screen. As Google describes, the conversion of the app for developers is completed within three days on average.
Initially, the Android creator prescribed app bundles for Android apps on the Google Play Store. Here, developers had until 2021 to convert APKs to AABs.
