Published on October 15, 2024 Vincent Paquette
Google is sort of revamping its Chromecast by offering its Google TV Streamer. Dedicated to “streaming” applications, this “TV box” allows us to enjoy our films and shows in 4K on our television. We can also project images from our phone there as well as control our home automation devices via Google Home.
Enhance your television using Google TV Streamer – photo-credit">francoischarron.com
Since 2013, Chromecasts have found their way behind many people’s televisions.
Inexpensive, a Chromecast allows us to stream content from our phone, tablet or computer to our smart television.
However, the use was not always the easiest for some. This is why Google released a version with a remote control a few years ago.
We could always continue to “cast” our entertainment from one of our devices, but we could also navigate the Google TV interface to consult our favorite entertainment applications.
Google therefore continues to refine its product, but gives it a completely new name and a completely new form with its Google TV Streamer.
What is Google TV Streamer used for?
Just like Chromecasts, the Google TV Streamer is going to be a device that allows us to access online streaming entertainment.
YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV, HBO Max, Paramount+, all the major apps for watching movies and shows are there.
Right through the Google TV interface, we can access our favorite entertainment. – photo-credit">Google.
There are also the most popular music applications like Spotify, Tidal, Deezer, etc.
In short, the device is not really different from Amazon Fire TV Sticks or Roku devices.
The goal of the Google TV Streamer remains to offer us a way to watch content on our television without subscribing to cable.
It will also allow us to compensate for a smart television whose system is slow. Rather than changing TVs completely, we simply add it to our TV to get a new, faster entertainment system.
What’s new in Google TV Streamer
If you were used to Chromecast, the first thing you notice is that the Google TV Streamer takes on a completely different look.
A Chromecast in the shape of a TV box
Gone is the concept of a key that you plug into the back of the television, it is now a small box that you attach to the TV cabinet. A “TV box” as our French cushions would say.
This can also pose a problem if we hang our television on the wall…
The Google TV Streamer completely changes its look compared to the Chromecast. – photo-credit">Google.
Still, this allowed Google to put a better processor and 32GB of memory.
So, not only is the device fast, but you also have more space to install applications.
There is a USB-C port on the back to supply it with electricity. An HDMI port to connect it to our television, then an RJ45 Ethernet port if we want to connect it to the wired internet.
A revisited smart remote control
The concept of the remote control has also been somewhat revisited. It keeps the same shape as the previous generation Chromecast, but the button layout has been redesigned.
The Google TV Streamer remote control has been slightly redesigned. – photo-credit">Google.
We find a button dedicated to the Google Assistant which will allow us to search for content via our voice, but also to control our home automation devices.
It is also possible to ring the controller if we ever misplace it in the slots of our chair.
Gemini’s AI invites itself into our TV
We are in the era of artificial intelligence, so it is not so surprising to see that Google has integrated its Gemini artificial intelligence.
This will be used to help us find content, obtain summaries of films or shows, but also to create images!
Indeed, we can generate crazy images for the moments when the device goes to sleep.
It’s funny, but it remains more of a gimmick than anything else. Especially since it is only available, for the moment, by configuring the device in English.
Fully integrated Google Home
If you are a fan of Google home automation devices, then you will be happy to learn that you can manage them directly from our Google TV broadcaster.
Not only that, but we will actually be able to see the video feed from our Nest cameras, but also see if someone rings the doorbell via our Nest doorbell.
You can view the feed from our Nest cameras directly from the Google TV Streamer. – photo-credit">Google.
Is the Google TV Streamer a good buy?
In short, the Google TV Streamer is a good evolution of Chromecast.
It remains an excellent device for accessing our favorite web applications and for listening to streaming content on our television.
On the other hand, it gets complicated when you look at the price…
How much does a Google TV Streamer cost?
The Google TV Streamer sells for $129 online. That’s $90 more than the previous generation Chromecast.
And it gets worse, since at this price we don’t even have an HDMI cable which is supplied with the Google TV Streamer! We must therefore plan an additional $10 to buy a 4K HDMI cable.
Is Google TV free?
As for Google TV, we must understand here that it is the ecosystem of the device that allows us to access different web applications.
Google TV is therefore not a television channel.
Since this is the Google TV Streamer system, you obviously don’t have to pay to use it.
Verdict on the Google TV Streamer
When we compare with the last generation of Chromecast, the step is steep in terms of price.
However, this remains the price on the market for a good streaming box while the Roku Ultra is also sold at this price and the Fire TV Cube sold to him for $189.
The Google TV Streamer remains an excellent device for giving a second life to our television and will be a device to consider for anyone who uses the Google home automation ecosystem at home.
Google TV Streamer
129$
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The device was donated by Google for testing.
