Google announced a new version of its smart TV operating system Wednesday at the I/O developers conference. It adds features that bring it up to date with competing smart TVs (as leaks indicated), and also allows for handy new "Googlecast" capabilities tied to Android devices. You can mirror your phone's screen on the TV, send the video you're watching to the big screen (like with a Chromecast), or set family photos as a sort of TV screensaver. You can even select shows and control playback with Android smartwatches, in case both the remote and your smartphone are out of reach. TVs from Sharp, Sony and LG will be released with the new "Googlecast-ready" Android TV platform soon, though no models or prices were announced.
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— Devin Coldewey
