For some months now, one of Google’s efforts has been to migrate all its TV-related services to Google TV, a platform/interface that in turn runs on Android TV. The next step could be to resurrect the Android TV remote control app.
Google TV app set to replace Android TV’s forgotten remote control
The Android TV remote control app is still functional, although it has not been updated for four years. 9to5Google has found indications that the idea would live on, but integrated within the Google TV app.
The Android TV remote control app is very useful, allowing you to use a touchpad to move around the interface or type with the mobile keyboard, as opposed to doing a lot of tapping on the limited remotes that come with TVs or devices like a Xiaomi Mi Tv Stick.
To work, the app connects to nearby devices using Bluetooth or that are on the same Wi-Fi network and, although it still works well today, some parts are a bit outdated, such as the text input box. After all, the app never made it past version 1.1.0.
It seems that, at least, the concept of remote control from the mobile is not going to disappear, but a change of place. Within the APK of the latest version of the Google TV app, there are indications that it will include the remote control function, without needing another additional app. It is not yet functional, although at the moment it seems more or less the same as the small remote control app.
This is inside the Google TV app, which is, in turn, the reincarnation of Google Play Movies, although it has only been renamed to Google TV in some countries. This means that you will not need to install another app to control Android TV, as Google TV (or Play Movies) is preinstalled on all Android phones with Google services. Of course, if you have it disabled because you did not use it, you will have to re-enable it.
