topic Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant? in Android TV

When are we going to get Google Assistant?

newbix — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 05:29:24 GMT

I have a ZD9 and we was surpos to get the full Google Assistant update last year. But it's still not here.

https://www.theverge.com/2017/11/7/16617780/sony-android-tv-google-assistant

From Nov 17 2017

"Sony says the 2016 editions of the XBR - Z9D, XBR - X800D, X BR - X750/X700D, and all 2017 Sony Android TVs will have the full Google Assistant experience after downloading the software update, which is available today"

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Sean_Mc — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 09:38:46 GMT

Hi there,

Sorry, I've no details on this. I would suggest keeping an eye on the Sony website for the latest updates.

Best wishes,

Sean Mc

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Kuschelmonschter — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 09:57:16 GMT

From Nov 17 2017
"Sony says the 2016 editions of the XBR - Z9D, XBR - X800D, X BR - X750/X700D, and all 2017 Sony Android TVs will have the full Google Assistant experience after downloading the software update, which is available today"

This was only true for the U.S. GA will come to some parts of Europe in 2018. At least that's what Google said at the I/O conference, see here. I read somewhere that it will be part of Sony's Oreo update. But I can't find anymore where I read this.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Kuschelmonschter — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 10:03:20 GMT

@Kuschelmonschter schrieb:
I read somewhere that it will be part of Sony's Oreo update. But I can't find anymore where I read this.

OK, found the reference, see here, it is in German though, sorry for that...

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

davedoconnor — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 09:01:03 GMT

So am I right in saying that:

> if we have Amazon Echo (not made by Google), we can use it to control our Android TV (Google software).

> we cannot yet use Google Home (made by Google) to control our Android TV (made by Google) in Europe.

Is my understanding correct? As this seems crazy.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

newbix — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 10:25:24 GMT

@Kuschelmonschter wrote:
From Nov 17 2017
"Sony says the 2016 editions of the XBR - Z9D, XBR - X800D, X BR - X750/X700D, and all 2017 Sony Android TVs will have the full Google Assistant experience after downloading the software update, which is available today"
This was only true for the U.S. GA will come to some parts of Europe in 2018. At least that's what Google said at the I/O conference, see here. I read somewhere that it will be part of Sony's Oreo update. But I can't find anymore where I read this.

Thanks dude.

I see no reason why we don't have the update already.

We know that Sony hates doing updates as much as possible.

I'm thinking of sending my TV back under the "miss-sold" law.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Kuschelmonschter — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 17:10:37 GMT

I think that also Google has not yet made GA available in those contries. I don't think that it is related to Oreo at all...

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

stormyuk — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 10:33:12 GMT

Looks like we are not, 2018 models only? Maybe a blessing in disguise.

https://www.avforums.com/news/google-assistant-launching-on-2018-sony-android-tvs.15032

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Kuschelmonschter — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 11:59:03 GMT

Sounds weird. All Android TV sets since 2015 come with a voice enabled remote. So there is no excuse in not putting it on all sets. In fact, in the U.S., all ATV2 based models have been updated for Google Assistant, so all TVs since mid-2016.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

stormyuk — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:14:08 GMT

@Kuschelmonschter wrote:
Sounds weird. All Android TV sets since 2015 come with a voice enabled remote. So there is no excuse in not putting it on all sets. In fact, in the U.S., all ATV2 based models have been updated for Google Assistant, so all TVs since mid-2016.

Call me crazy but I would rather see the platform being improved in otherways, with performance tweaks and other such things than adding more bloat on top of what is already bloated which I know is very unlikely. Not something I am fussed about either way. Maybe in Europe its all about the 2018 models now, wasn't there another German article about the 2018 models also getting HDR10+?

Sony are probably just in holding mode for the old models now.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Kuschelmonschter — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:38:22 GMT

Call me crazy but I would rather see the platform being improved in otherways, with performance tweaks and other such things than adding more bloat on top of what is already bloated which I know is very unlikely.

I don't completely agree. While it is true that Sony Android TV is really bad with respect to performance and stability and fixing those issues should be #1 in priority, also the way we approach our media on Android TV is a total mess. We basically have to deep dive into every app in order to search and browse content. Wouldn’t it be cool to ask things like ‘show me new/top/recommended/most recently watched movies/TV shows’ and it would return results from any installed service? Content discovery done right… Or just say Play Stranger Things and the OS would pick the right app and continue from where you stopped watching. And I am not talking science-fiction here.

Maybe in Europe its all about the 2018 models now, wasn't there another German article about the 2018 models also getting HDR10+?

Nothing but fake news.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Kuschelmonschter — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 07:07:10 GMT

According to the latest news from today/yesterday, Google Assistant is only coming to some select 2018 Sony TVs in Europe, see FlatpanelsHD announcement. No clue who makes decisions over at Sony. Their management really needs to be replaced.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

stormyuk — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 09:11:45 GMT

Yup thats what the link I posted said.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

olders82 — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 10:36:23 GMT

I received the Google Assistant on my XE9005 yesterday. I'm running the 6.5603 firmware.

Assistant works OK but doesn't seem quicker than opening Netflix via the remote and is a lot slower than using my Google Home to cast to my Chromecast. Unsurprisingly it won't search or play Amazon Prime content.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Kuschelmonschter — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 16:25:24 GMT

How do you know that it is Assistant already?

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

olders82 — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 18:02:56 GMT

The logo has changed in the top left corner of the screen. When I selected it I was asked to setup the assistant.

I can now ask the TV to turn on my Hue lights or control my thermostat. Things I couldn't do with the old voice search .

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

newbix — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 09:58:37 GMT

@olders82 wrote:
The logo has changed in the top left corner of the screen. When I selected it I was asked to setup the assistant.

I can now ask the TV to turn on my Hue lights or control my thermostat. Things I couldn't do with the old voice search .

My ZD9 has the latest software v6.5603. I don't get asked to setup the assistant even after a TV reset!

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Kuschelmonschter — Sat, 23 Jun 2018 10:58:49 GMT

@Kuschelmonschter schrieb:
According to the latest news from today/yesterday, Google Assistant is only coming to some select 2018 Sony TVs in Europe, see FlatpanelsHD announcement. No clue who makes decisions over at Sony. Their management really needs to be replaced.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

Itom86 — Sun, 24 Jun 2018 11:03:05 GMT

Sony/Google just made the assistant available on my xd83 in the UK. It works perfectly with Netflix or YouTube, it can answer to certain questions. However, it can't open apps like Video app or BBC iplayer.

Re: When are we going to get Google Assistant?

stormyuk — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 07:19:14 GMT

@Itom86 wrote:
Sony/Google just made the assistant available on my xd83 in the UK. It works perfectly with Netflix or YouTube, it can answer to certain questions. However, it can't open apps like Video app or BBC iplayer.

How do you install this, I wonder if I don't have it because I have switched off auto updates?