Upgraded Smart TV software looks to be a bit of a thing at CES 2014, and Philips has chosen to follow the green-brick road by adding Android to its upcoming sets.
Slated to hit Europe and Russia some time between April and June 2014, the new Android-enriched TV sets will give users access to the compatible apps in Google Play as well as Philips' own existing Smart TV apps (which include things like iPlayer and catch-up TV in the UK, as well as some on-demand services, an EPG and music streaming).
Game on
Although we don't have a name, picture or any solid specs for the actual hardware that will launch with Android on board yet, Philips' Android line-up will use a "new powerful quad-core chip" which is intended to make your Google Play-based gaming experience all the better.
There's also the obvious benefit that Philips' upcoming TVs will work better with Android smartphones and tablets, although we're assured that iOS wireless sharing should still play nice with them too.
Maarten de Vries, CEO of TP Vision which owns Philips TV, says that 2014 will see most of its high-end sets come with the Android smarts, while "the majority of our Smart TVs will be Android powered" by 2015.