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The Google TV app may be the next to receive a modern new widget

In December of 2022, the Google TV app finally got its long-awaited Material You redesign. A complete redesign was implemented, with a lighter grey background and pill-shaped icons in the app’s bottom navigation bar. Although there is plenty of content that you clearly enjoy, the TV app has not been updated to include any of your preferred features. But that may soon change, since the business appears to be developing a widget for the Google TV app’s home screen.

On their Pixel 7 Pro running the Android 13 QPR2 beta, Google TV is now a selectable Widget option. The 4×5 widget could be placed on the home screen, but all it showed was a search bar that read “Google TV,” with additional search and remote controls available on each side. Once the widget is tapped, the main menu of the Google TV app is displayed, making it obvious that the app is still in the planning stages.

Its 4×5 aspect ratio means the widget may provide content suggestions from a wide variety of Google TV channels. Similarly, Netflix has a 3×2 widget that suggests shows and movies you might like.

The Google TV widget cannot be shrunk in its present iteration, however this may change in the future. Also, it appears that other Android smartphones cannot load or use it.

Widgets are coming to more than just the Google TV app. The Contacts app is currently undergoing testing with a Material You-inspired 3×2 widget. There was a sighting of the widget in November of 2022, but after then, nobody has seen it. These widget updates might be introduced in March with the upcoming Android 13 Feature Drop.

Google spent much of 2022 adding Material You-style widgets to its apps including Google Translate, Play Books, and Google Drive. Since the forthcoming Pixel Tablet will feature a larger display, the business may be updating its widgets to emphasise the Material You aesthetic.