Have you ever sat in your La-Z-Boy recliner, popcorn in hand, and a cocktail at the ready, using the remote to navigate your 60-inch Ultra HD television and thought, “This is too much work”? Well, it appears you’re not alone because Sony has decided to lower the effort bar even further for smart TV owners.
On Thursday, November 8, Sony Electronics announced that Google Assistant is available on select 2016 and 2017 smart TV models — specifically, 4K HDR models with Android TV. Voice search was already supported on Android TV (so long as you had a compatible remote with a dedicated microphone button), but now users are privy to a whole new host of commands, some specific to Google apps (like Youtube).
With a single button press, you can tell Google Assistant to do a wide array of stuff, including the regular smart TV fare (opening apps, searching for content, playing specific shows or movies) and a smattering of other stuff normally associated with digital assistants like Alexa or Siri (checking the weather forecast, answering trivia questions, etc.). Perhaps the most notable feature: Google Assistant can control all your smart home devices via Android TV — as long as they’re all on the same network, of course — supporting more than 1,000 total devices across more than 150 brands. That means you can now control your thermostat, lighting, smart locks, and more, all from the comfort of your couch.
If your house is filled with smart tech, you’ve probably already devised and implemented a way to make it all work together. Still, you can never have too much control over your home, and if you are already in possession of a supported TV (2016 models: XBR-Z9D, XBR-X800D, XBR-X750/X700D; all 2017 Sony Android TVs), you might as well take advantage! Sony’s 2017 lineup of 4K TVs has impressed us, putting the Japanese company’s products in the conversation for best TVs, alongside brands like LG and Samsung.
Earlier in 2017, Android TV got a big overhaul with the release of Android Oreo (or “Android O”), making it even easier for users to find their favorite content. Google Assistant has already been integrated into dedicated Android TV devices, like Nvidia’s Shield TV.
Instagram is making its way to yet another screen, and this time, Apple TV is getting a taste of the Reels rabbit hole. The company has launched a dedicated Instagram app for Apple TV, bringing Reels, longer videos, and live shows to the big screen. So, if watching one quick clip on a phone somehow turns into an hour of scrolling, there's now a much larger screen for that.
Instagram brings Reels and more to Apple TV
Audio-Technica, a brand well known for making some of the best studio and professional headphones on the market, has just come out with the ATH-AWX7000, which the company itself claims to be its "finest headphones ever." The new flagship closed-back headphone has debuted at an eye-watering price of $3,799. It combines hand-finished Japanese woodwork with a newly developed 58mm driver.
The earcups are made from Kiso cypress, a prized wood historically used for Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples. Each housing is finished by hand with traditional Echizen lacquer, which brings out the grain and is expected to darken over time. The frame and sliders are finished in a deep navy kachi-iro shade traditionally associated with samurai.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.