Google TV Streamer Announced as Chromecast Replacement and Rival to Apple TV 4K

[MacRumors]

Google has announced the Google TV Streamer, a new device that replaces the Chromecast and directly rivals the Apple TV 4K.

The discontinuation of the Chromecast marks the end of an era for Google's original streaming dongle, which has been a staple in the market since its launch in 2013. Over 100 million Chromecast devices were sold during its 11-year run. The Google TV Streamer is positioned as a high-end replacement for the Chromecast, promising to deliver a next-generation, AI-powered streaming experience while also functioning as a central hub for smart home devices.

The Google TV Streamer provides access to over 700,000 movies and shows through popular streaming apps like YouTube TV, Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV, as well as live TV with over 800 free channels. One of the standout features is the AI-powered content recommendation system, which uses Google's Gemini technology to curate personalized watchlists and provide detailed summaries, reviews, and season-by-season breakdowns of content.

The Google TV Streamer features a faster processor, double the memory, and 32GB of storage. It supports 4K HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.

The Google TV Streamer is available in two colors: Porcelain and Hazel, with the latter being exclusive to the U.S. Google Store. The device is intended to sit in front of the TV, rather than behind it, to improve connectivity with smart home devices. The Google TV Streamer supports Matter and includes a built-in Thread border router, which enhances the connectivity and response times of smart home devices like locks and motion sensors.

The redesigned voice remote features improved ergonomics with a textured back for better grip and an optimized button layout. It includes a customizable button that can be programmed to open a favorite app, switch inputs, or launch the Google Home panel. The remote also has a built-in "find my remote" feature, allowing users to locate it by voice command or by pressing a button on the back of the device.

The Google TV Streamer is positioned to rival high-end streaming devices such as the Apple TV 4K. While the Apple TV 4K offers similar features like 4K HDR and Dolby Vision support, the Google TV Streamer is priced more competitively at $99.99 compared to the Apple TV 4K's starting price of $129. The Google TV Streamer includes Ethernet connectivity as standard, but it lacks the additional storage options that the Apple TV 4K provides, with Apple offering both 64GB and 128GB models.

The Google TV Streamer is now available for pre-order, with shipping set to begin on September 24, 2024.

Article Link: Google TV Streamer Announced as Chromecast Replacement and Rival to Apple TV 4K

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Haven’t even used it and I can say that I still think the Apple TV is probably worth the extra $30.

 

[Graphikos]

The "Google TV Streamer". They are really good at product names, eh?

 

[Skyscraperfan]

I do not need AI to recommend me stuff. I prefer getting no recommendations at all and decide for myself what to watch.

All that AI hype starts to get annoying. If AI finds a way how to fight cancer, it becomes interesting.

 

[CarAnalogy]

The Google TV Streamer includes Ethernet connectivity as standard, but it lacks the additional storage options that the Apple TV 4K provides

This is the correct move. These things don't need large local storage. They do need fast, reliable connectivity. I hope Apple corrects this mistake. The few people who are using it to play Apple Arcade games can buy the more expensive version with more storage. Give everyone Ethernet as standard.

Also now that this is out, Apple needs to reverse judo and come out with the Apple TV Mini that's an HDMI dongle for $49.

 

[CarAnalogy]

I do not need AI to recommend me stuff. I prefer getting no recommendations at all and decide for myself what to watch.

All that AI hype starts to get annoying. If AI finds a way how to fight cancer, it becomes interesting.

Given that what AI is good at is ingesting a very large, specific data set and then clearly answering questions about that data, it may well help find out how to fight cancer. I sure hope so.

What's serving us ads isn't AI, it's the same old crap they've always used. "Recommendations" are recommended based on who paid for the ad, they don't care what we want. Maybe vague targeting by genre but that's about it.

That's why I don't understand how Google still makes billions out of this surveillance economy. They want to know everything about us, but the ads I see are all still for junk and scams or the obvious thing I was going to do without it being advertised at me in the first place. The ads are still bad after all these years.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

I own pretty much every streaming device besides Amazon’s. At the time the Chromecast was the best value and when I purchased my Chromecast 4K, I got them for half off at Walmart, so I paid $29.99 instead of $49.99

I personally like the UI on Chromecast and one thing Chromecast has that my Apple TV does not and I wish Apple has is the Roku Channel. Over the years the Chromecast has showed its age and has slowed down to the point Pluto TV doesn’t work properly.

I‘ll be getting the Google Streamer for sure and i’m waiting for the new Apple TV 4K to get released as well.

 

[v0lume4]

Google TV is such a pleasant OS to use. Out of Roku, Fire TV, and Google TV, it’s probably the most visually appealing.

Sadly, Google decided years ago to move to a “content first” UI which puts them on par with Fire TV in that regard. Read: scrolling banner ads. It’s really too bad. I still like the OS though.

I don’t own an Apple TV, but I understand the Apple TV doesn’t have ads? Is that right? Because I consider “suggested” shows ads.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Haven’t even used it and I can say that I still think the Apple TV is probably worth the extra $30.

I can't safely make that assumption anymore. Apple TV used to have two advantages. It was clearly faster, and it had no ads.

This device will probably be about as fast, at least for a while. And Apple themselves is lowering the bar on the ads. This device will probably have worse ads, at first. But let's see how much Apple shoots themselves in the foot on that one. This last quarter's services revenue is too powerful. They're going to have to figure out how to top it three months from now.

I'm guessing I'm going to be seeing even more of Messi's face where I don't want it.

 

[Kalzem]

Can it run SmartTube and other off the shelf apps? That's the real strength of Android TV versus Apple TV.

 

[Biro]

Both Apple and Google want you subscribe to any and all streaming services through them - not just via their device. No thanks.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Google TV is such a pleasant OS to use. Out of Roku, Fire TV, and Google TV, it’s probably the most visually appealing.

Sadly, Google decided years ago to move to a “content first” UI which puts them on par with Fire TV in that regard. Read: scrolling banner ads. It’s really too bad. I still like the OS though.

I don’t own an Apple TV, but I understand the Apple TV doesn’t have ads? Is that right? Because I consider “suggested” shows ads.

Right now it still definitely has the best interface. I've seen Rokus and Fire sticks recently and they are both riddled. Fire is by far the worst. They bury the app view and almost force you to browse their suggestions or search. Compared to that, the Apple TV is nice and clean.

The ads are in the Apple TV app, which they really want you to have front and center. That app itself is becoming more like the Fire TV interface as a whole. But the home screen so far is clean. We'll see how long they can resist junking that up. Hopefully at least one more year.

 

[krspkbl]

I do not need AI to recommend me stuff. I prefer getting no recommendations at all and decide for myself what to watch.

All that AI hype starts to get annoying. If AI finds a way how to fight cancer, it becomes interesting.

what if i told you that all streaming services have been using AI to recommend you things for many years now? "yeah i pick what i want" but if you have ever even slightly been interested by something recommended to you by netflix, apple tv, etc then you can thank AI.

I get what you're saying though...AI is the new buzzword and all the hype. It's silly but AI does exist and has been working away for a long time.

 

[brofkand]

Can it run SmartTube and other off the shelf apps? That's the real strength of Android TV versus Apple TV.

Presumably it runs Android unless Google is switching their smart TV platform to Fuchsia. I haven't heard confirmation either way yet.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Bummer

Chromecasts were uniquely capable, small, dirt cheap and even powerable by TV USB in some cases

Yet another box like an Apple TV (and priced like one) is of zero interest to me

 

[satchmo]

The "Google TV Streamer". They are really good at product names, eh?

Yeah, not the best when you're one letter removed from being a hot piece of turd.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Google TV is such a pleasant OS to use. Out of Roku, Fire TV, and Google TV, it’s probably the most visually appealing.

Sadly, Google decided years ago to move to a “content first” UI which puts them on par with Fire TV in that regard. Read: scrolling banner ads. It’s really too bad. I still like the OS though.

I don’t own an Apple TV, but I understand the Apple TV doesn’t have ads? Is that right? Because I consider “suggested” shows ads.

I have them all besides the Fire Stick so I can't comment on Amazon's UI but I personally like the Chromecast UI. I turned it off because it slowed down the Chromecast 4K so I changed it to make it look like my Apple TV interface by just showing apps. That said the Roku interface is pretty basic and doesn't get in the way by overloading you with information.

 

[Heat_Fan89]

Both Apple and Google want you subscribe to any and all streaming services through them - not just via their device. No thanks.

But you don't have to, I don't. There's plenty of free stuff available and more is being added.

 

[Ramchi]

If these proprietary TV boxes can replace the Set Top Boxes and become truly universal Set Top box, then I might consider this. Just like eSIM switching providers, these boxes should be able to choose the providers and use it. Otherwise, all Set Top boxes already come with their own OTT Apps and the TVs themselves have built in OS and OTT Apps which I am using (than the set top box, I have disconnected set top boxes and use only TV based OTT Apps for watching content - connected to the router wirelessly). To me this is just another unnecessary device with power cable and network cable hanging!

As someone mentioned, it may be useful for those are into gaming.

 

[alchemistmuffin]

The discontinuation of the Chromecast marks the end of an era for Google's original streaming dongle, which has been a staple in the market since its launch in 2013.

So how long before Google kills off the API used for Chromecast? My bet is within four months, and encouraging all users to switch to the Google TV platform.

 

[klasma]

Presumably it runs Android unless Google is switching their smart TV platform to Fuchsia. I haven't heard confirmation either way yet.

Fuchsia isn’t more than a side project for Google, keeping some of their engineers happy. It won’t turn up in anything anytime soon.

 

[azentropy]

Problem with boxes like these is you end up double paying because there are no "dumb" TVs anymore.

 

[v0lume4]

Right now it still definitely has the best interface. I've seen Rokus and Fire sticks recently and they are both riddled. Fire is by far the worst. They bury the app view and almost force you to browse their suggestions or search. Compared to that, the Apple TV is nice and clean.

The ads are in the Apple TV app, which they really want you to have front and center. That app itself is becoming more like the Fire TV interface as a whole. But the home screen so far is clean. We'll see how long they can resist junking that up. Hopefully at least one more year.

Yeah. Let’s hope Apple doesn’t cave like everyone else has. Even Roku’s ads have gotten worse. Nobody can resist the allure of some extra cash.

 

[Mr_Ed]

The "Google TV Streamer". They are really good at product names, eh?

True enough, but it’s not as if average consumers are not confused by names like “Apple TV” and “Apple TV+” 😁

 

[v0lume4]

I have them all besides the Fire Stick so I can't comment on Amazon's UI but I personally like the Chromecast UI. I turned it off because it slowed down the Chromecast 4K so I changed it to make it look like my Apple TV interface by just showing apps. That said the Roku interface is pretty basic and doesn't get in the way by overloading you with information.

Roku’s UI is still basic compared to the rest, I agree. It’s still “app first” instead of “content first.”

That said, the ads on Roku have gotten worse and worse over the past few years. They’re really seeing how far they can push it.

I stopped using Roku because the performance is just bad, frankly. There’s too much jank in the apps. And they don’t have Twitch which I sometimes watch.

Hey, how do you make Chromecast/Google TV show only the apps?