Google released the Chromecast with Google TV last year, which uses a customized version of Android TV. The modified software is still compatible with all Android TV shows, but it has deviated in a number of important ways, including how it is handled by multiple users. After many people were annoyed about its absence, parental control comes to the Google TV platform.
Android on phones and tablets has been offering robust multi-user support since the Jelly Bean days, but many of the features have never been transferred to the TV operating system. Android TV only has an optional limited profile, where certain apps can be hidden with a 4-digit PIN code. In this mode, the Play Store, most system settings and even some storage directories are completely blocked. The implementation of Google TV is slightly different, with limited support for more users based on Google Accounts, but secondary users can still not set up their own home screen, have separate app data or set up different streaming accounts.
Google TV Account Voter
The poor support for more users is certainly a problem with something that is usually shared by all people in a household, but Google is happily working on a (partial) solution. A company representative said in a support thread that Google TV will soon have ‘Kid Profiles’, which sounds like the original restricted profiles of Android TV:
Just wanted to post an update that Kids Profiles should start in the next month (or so). Limited profiles are indeed obsolete in [Google TV] and replaced by the new ‘Kids Profiles’ feature, which allows you to set up a safe space for children on Google TV. While on board, you can choose which programs you want to make available to your children. Youtube children are available by default, and other installed programs must be accepted by parents before being made available to the child. Leaving the child profile can be restricted by a PIN to prevent children from accidentally going back to the parent account.
It’s still not true support for more users, but it should at least address complaints from parents about children who can access any content on Google TV. We hope for a speedy implementation.
