Google TV to Roll Out New, Faster Switching Between Bluetooth Headphones and TV Speakers
Soon, Google TV users won’t have to dig around in multiple settings menus to change the audio output from their TV to a Bluetooth headset.
Using wireless Bluetooth headphones is one of the best listening experiences out there. You can get up and move around while you listen to your chosen content, and for TV watchers who prefer to get audio through a Bluetooth set it means being able to do chores and housework while enjoying their favorite show on streaming. Viewers with a Google TV-powered device have had a tough time using Bluetooth headphones with their device, but a new report from 9to5 Google suggests that’s finally about to change.
- Google TV will roll out an update that will allow devices using the operating system to pair with Bluetooth headphones with ease.
- Currently, Google TV users have to go through several layers of settings menus to switch audio output to a Bluetooth device.
- There has not yet been any official word from Google on whether the update will roll out to all new and existing Google TV devices and TV sets.
Can You Hear Me Now?
The report indicates that Google TV revealed a new audio switching feature at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Using a TCL QM8 smart TV powered by the Google TV operating system, Google showed the CES audience how to access audio settings in the Quick Settings menu going forward, instead of forcing them to go through multiple layers of menu before finding their Bluetooth audio options.
This automatic audio switch is a pretty standard feature for most devices that work with Bluetooth headphones, such as mobile phones. The report from 9to5 Google seems to indicate that Google TVs new feature won’t automatically cause Bluetooth headsets to pair with the TV set as soon as they’re activated, but it will be much easier to pair them using the Quick Settings menu.
It’s not currently known when the Bluetooth switching feature will roll out for all Google TV customers. It’s a good bet that it will be available on all new and existing Google TV-powered devices at some point in the near future, but no dates or official lists of devices the quick-switch feature will come to a Google TV set near you have been confirmed.
What Other Features Are New on Google TV?
There haven’t been a wide range of major updates to Google TV in the past year, but the company is always making small tweaks and updates to ensure the user experience is as good as possible. In May of 2023, Google TV began putting unused apps into hibernation to free up space and make loading times faster, as well as shorten the TV wake-up time.
Just a few weeks ago, Google TV made another small change in the name of making it easier for customers to find free streaming channels on their device. Google TV’s Live tab houses hundreds of free ad-supported TV (FAST) channels, and now new “Recents” and “News” subcategories help audiences move to a previously-watched channel or a news network quickly.
Soon, viewers watching those live TV channels will be able to switch the audio output for those channels from their TV speakers to their Bluetooth headphones with just a couple of remote clicks. It should make for a better user experience on Google TV devices, which is something all smart TV and streaming device manufacturers are striving for.