A new version of the Android TV operating system will support a myriad of new features, including the ability to set custom shortcut buttons.
The feature, first spotted by the website 9to5 Google, was buried in a menu on the upcoming version of Android TV OS 14, which will roll out to supported Google TV-powered devices in the near future.
The menu option suggests new Android TV-powered devices will come bundled with a remote control sporting a “star” button or something similar to it. That button will allow users to create a custom shortcut or preset, which could launch a specific app or performing a TV-related task like switching inputs.
Currently, there are no remote controls on the market for Google TV or Android TV that sport a “star” button. But some Android TV devices, like the Onn Android TV 4K streaming puck sold at Walmart, do have a remote control with a TV button and various others, any number of which could make use of the new shortcut feature.
It is also possible that Google will launch a pro version of its voice-powered remote control for the Chromecast with Google TV and related devices that will allow streamers to swap their default remote with one that supports shortcut buttons. A similar pro remote control exists for Roku devices, which includes two shortcut buttons.
