So just like android phones we'll have to buy new TV boxes every 2/3 years due to lack of software support?

by DestroyerNile

Also android tvs will be really bad choice if this happens as we can't change anything once support drops so buying tvs every 2/3 years is ridiculous.

What are your views on this?

rtechr

Buy a Shield TV.

WhirrBuzzer

I'll update using the Google TV stick coming out soon.

BurtMacklin-FBl

You do know the device doesn't stop working once it doesn't have latest OS version, right? Unless you must have newest software, there is no reason to buy anything every 2/3 years. I have two nvidia Shields and I manually blocked updates a long time ago on one of them. Aside from adding new things and fixes, updates also break stuff. Usually once everything I need just works, I prefer no updates.

aandras

Stop buying h the shifty Chinese boxes. Nvidia Shields get updated even the 2015 box still gets support. Well past your 2 yr time frame

iwanturmoney

My Sony TV stopped receiving updates BEFORE I even purchased it... Only found out afterwards...

Br0kenRabbitTV

My nearly 6 year old Fire TV 2nd gen still gets updates, not strictly Android TV, but same with the Shield etc.. what box/es have stopped support?

jphooiveld

That's why I have a dumb TV and an external media player (mi box 3). It's a lot cheaper to replace that than a whole new TV. It's getting harder and harder to find dumb TV's though.

My mi box is now more than three years old but still doing fine. Only thing not officially supported is Prime video but I sideloaded it and it works fine. Replacement will probably be the new Google sabrina dongle if the reviews are any good. Otherwise I will just stick with the mi box.

PreppyAndrew

I agree though I would add.

  1. Hardware evolves over time. When the Nexus Player came out, 4K wasnt something most people could afford. 2)Do Android TV's not get monthly security patches via the play store?
  2. Android is a more secure sandbox by design versus say a Windows 95 or XP. There is significantly less risk on an old Android TV box not getting patched versus an upatched Windows XP machine.