Google TV’s ‘magic’ button debuts, launching any app of your alternative

What you want to know

• A so-called “magic button” has been rumored to be within the works for a Google TV distant since 2020, and it may be custom-mapped to a selected motion.
• Rumors intensified late final 12 months, when traces of the brand new button and distant appeared within the Android TV 14 Beta. 
• Now, the button lastly arrived on Walmart’s new Onn 4K Professional streaming field, which makes use of Google TV.

There have been rumors and leaks that Google labored on a customizable Google TV distant button for years, however now it’s lastly debuting on a streaming field. Nevertheless, it is not a brand new Chromecast. Although there are reviews {that a} refreshed Chromecast with Google TV 4K is on the way in which, the so-called “magic” button launched first on Walmart’s new Onn 4K Pro Streaming Device. It is an improved Onn streaming field that retails for $50, contains an Ethernet jack, and contains a refreshed distant. 

Now that the Onn 4K Professional Streaming System is beginning to hit the palms of early patrons, we’re studying extra concerning the magic button and its capabilities. AFTVNews obtained one of many earliest items, pulling the curtain behind the {custom} button, which is formed like a star. On the Google TV distant for the Onn 4K Professional Streaming System, this star button lives proper throughout from the ability button on the high of the distant. 

The primary time you press the star button on a Google TV distant that features it, a brand new display will seem in Google’s TV OS. “You’ll be able to press the [star] button to open a favourite TV app or carry out an motion,” the immediate explains. “Select the kind of shortcut beneath.”

Proper now, the star button seems to have solely two choices: You’ll be able to map it to open an app of your selecting or have it swap gadget inputs in your TV. Primarily based on Google’s wording, nevertheless, extra makes use of for the star button could come sooner or later. If you wish to change its operate after the preliminary setup course of, you are able to do so in settings. Moreover, holding the star button will allow you to decide a brand new app project for it from anyplace.