August 6th, 2024

Google TV Streamer: Our new entertainment and smart home hub

Google has introduced the Google TV Streamer, a $99.99 device replacing Chromecast, featuring 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, smart home hub capabilities, and access to over 700,000 movies and shows.

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Google TV Streamer: Our new entertainment and smart home hub

Google has announced the Google TV Streamer, a new streaming device that replaces the Chromecast, priced at $99.99 and available for pre-order. This device offers a next-generation streaming experience with access to over 700,000 movies and shows, personalized content suggestions, and an ambient mode that transforms an idle TV into a display of art or memories. The Google TV Streamer features improved performance with 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos, along with faster app load times and enhanced connectivity through Matter and a built-in Thread border router. It also serves as a smart home hub, allowing users to control various smart devices seamlessly. The device includes a redesigned voice remote with customizable buttons and improved ergonomics. Users can also utilize voice commands to locate the remote. The Google TV Streamer is designed to integrate smoothly into home decor and is set to enhance both entertainment and smart home experiences.

- Google TV Streamer replaces Chromecast, offering enhanced streaming capabilities.

- Access to over 700,000 movies and shows with personalized recommendations.

- Improved performance with 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos.

- Functions as a smart home hub with Matter support and a built-in Thread router.

- Redesigned remote with customizable buttons and voice-activated remote location feature.

Creating My Own Linux-Based Smart TV

Carl Riis introduces "EarlGreyTV," a Linux-based Smart TV project using an old laptop with Debian Linux and Sway. He details hardware setup, remote control options, content casting, and highlights customization benefits for tailored TV experiences.

Custom Linux powered smart-TV breaks free from ads and tracking

Software engineer Carl Riis introduces EarlGreyTV, a customizable, ad-free Smart TV project using Linux and Firefox on an old laptop. Offers enhanced control, an 'air mouse,' and CEC adaptor for seamless operation. Demonstrates user-focused Smart TV technology.

Imperfect, Linux-powered, DIY smart TV is the embodiment of ad fatigue

Smart TV users are turning to EarlGreyTV, a DIY Linux-powered project by blogger Carl Riis, to escape ads and privacy issues. Running Debian Linux, it offers a unique, customizable TV viewing experience.

Android Cross-device services rolling out: Call casting, Internet sharing

Google is rolling out Cross-device services for Android, featuring Call casting and Instant hotspot. Users can set up device groups for seamless connectivity, available on Android 11 and later.

We’re ending production of Chromecast

Google is discontinuing the Chromecast after 11 years and over 100 million units sold, introducing the Google TV Streamer while continuing support for existing devices with updates.

12 comments

By @Takennickname - 7 months

I hate it.

"Doesn't stand out in your home" - The chromecast wasn't even visible, so this is a clear downgrade. Why would they even bring it up.

I wanted to love Google Home. I don't have Apple products, and the Alexa app was horrible. But alas, it was Googled. It became such a clusterfuck of convolution that it's not even usable for me anymore. I was using it on my Google Apps email, which I switched from to a regular gmail (because youtube premium wasn't available on Google Apps, neither was Google Home integration with my calendar), and now I can't move my devices to my new account.

All of this, on top of the fact, that Google has proven to be the least trust worthy company when it comes to managing users' data (arguably tied with Meta). I can't wait until my house starts shouting ads at me, or 24/7 listening 'to improve ad quality' becomes standard.

Take me back to IRC and phpbb.

By @rawgabbit - 7 months

This seems like the next version of the "console wars". Instead of Xbox vs PlayStation, it is now Apple's Homekit versus Google <insert name here>.

With Google's reputation as a PII devouring monster to feed its advertising business, I know which home automation hub I will choose.

By @Thaxll - 7 months

The Chromecast Ultra released 8 years ago was already able to play 4k hdr with dolby vision, where is the giant leap in performance?

By @crustaceansoup - 7 months

The "Chromecast with Google TV (4k)" is $50 to this device's $100. $50 is a really attractive price point, $100 immediately feels less like a casual buy. The previous device was also a nice tiny dongle, not requiring any real estate (great for the "TV hanging on the wall with no console" types), while this is a set top box. This feels like a huge step back for new purchasers.

It's not going to drive upgraders either?

More memory, better chipset - These are weird, hard sells for normal people. The previous device could already play 4k HDR streams as well as anything. It improves loading times of apps? So what? You can download more apps? Most TV apps are sized on the order of tens of megabytes, why do I need more storage?

AI features. I don't want any of these, who wants any of these? AI summaries: Shows already have summaries, but now I guess I can have them written by a machine instead. AI screensavers: You have to be kidding, that's not a selling point. I also assume all of this could have been a software update on the old device since it's probably on-cloud.

Smart home features. Again, they could just been a software update? And who wants to turn on their TV and browse through their Google TV's interface to get to their smart light controls or whatever? We have phones and we have voice assistants already.

I just can't understand this. Am I missing something?

By @wantsanagent - 7 months

"Google is today proud to announce both the advent and the sunsetting of Google TV Streamer. 'We expect fans to love this product for the next 8 months' says product manager Greg Kalhani 'Afterwhich the product will, sadly, be removed and customers will be refunded their money.'"

By @atum47 - 7 months

Can I watch all those wonderful YouTube Shorts on it?

By @icehawk - 7 months

Is it too cynical to wonder how long of a lifetime this product line has given google's track record?

By @ortusdux - 7 months

The $100 price point seems strange to me. For many, things in the $20-$50 range are an easy impulse buy. This is now just barely in the $100-$200 range, which puts it up against Apple's and Nvidia's offerings.

By @xnx - 7 months

Related discussion here: 3 hours ago, 468 comments: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41171060

By @bitshiftfaced - 7 months

Seems like the advantages over Chromecast are:

* Remote

* Ethernet option

* Able to play AppleTV

* An app that organizes media and looks like it keeps track of what's on all of your paid streaming services.

They're going more into the direction of Roku, which is easier for boomers and up to use because it works more like what they're used to already.

By @matthewfelgate - 7 months

Can't Google come up with a better name than "Google TV Streamer"?! Give me a break...

Using AI to predict what people want to watch won't work.

I use Chromecast and what I want is a rechargeable remote control.

I want a decent user interface that makes it clear what I have selected.

Voice control I find absolutely useless.