Katarzyna Petru
Google quietly released a new version of the Google TV Home launcher, marked as version 1.0.852105632. Although the Mountain View giant rarely publishes detailed changelogs for minor fixes, this update is significant for everyone. The new release focuses on eliminating bugs that have been irritating users worldwide for some time.
What does the new version of GoogleTV fix?
The analysis of changes conducted by foreign technology sites (including 9to5Google) and user reports point to several key improvements:
No more stretched thumbnails: The most important change is the correction of incorrect scaling of preview graphics from YouTube. Until now, on many devices, thumbnails were unnaturally stretched – the new version restores their proper proportions.
Error transparency: In the "Accounts and profiles" menu, a "Report history" section has appeared. It allows users to check the status of submitted error reports, suggesting that Google wants to engage the community more in fixing the system.
Better space management: Some tiles on the home screen have been subtly reduced in size, making the interface seem less cluttered and allowing users to see more content without scrolling.
Foundation for Gemini: The code contains additional preparations for the AI functions of Gemini, which are expected to become standard for managing smart homes from the television by 2026.
How to download the new update?
The update should automatically appear in the Play Store on your television within the next few days. However, it all depends on the brand of television you own. If you don't want to wait, the file is already available on the APK Mirror website.
Note: Manually installing APK files is a solution for more advanced users. It requires permission to install apps from unknown sources and manually transferring the file to the TV. If you are not skilled in such operations, we recommend patience and waiting for the official automatic update.
Looking for a new TV with Google TV?
If your current equipment is struggling to handle the latest versions of the system smoothly, it’s worth considering an upgrade to a newer model. Google TV performs best on devices that are designed with this ecosystem in mind.
Before making a purchase, be sure to check our rankings
[Ranking: Recommended 10 TVs from Sony]
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