Google’s Chromecast with Google TV Is Its First Real Streaming Contender

For the better part of the last decade , Google ’s Chromecast dongles were the company ’s main homegrown solution for streaming video to your TV . But with the recent explosion in cyclosis servicing , even the mostsophisticated Chromecastwasn’t really cutting it any longer , which is something the young Chromecast with Google TV is hoping to exchange in a self-aggrandising way , but bringing an actual streaming machine OS to a Chromecast dongle .

The braggy change for this new $ 50 Chromecast is that it ’s not your typical Chromecast at all . Sure , it still plug away in via HDMI and you may still use it to stream video and subject to your video from your speech sound . However , instead of being based around the very basic Chromecast interface , this raw Chromecast runs on Android boob tube weapons platform which Google has improve with an enhanced UI and a few newfangled features , which is where the Google TV part of Chromecast with Google TV comes in . And when you factor in in the Chromecast with Google TV ’s new dedicated remote these upgrade could all change how you learn and interact with cognitive content .

set out with the ironware , the Chromecast with Google TV comprise of two parts : there ’s the dongle that plug into your TV and Google ’s include remote . For the Chromecast with Google TV , Google is move with a dim-witted ovular puck that comes in three different color ( Snow , Sunrise , and Sky ) and features an affiliated HDMI cable that plug into your telecasting along with a USB - hundred port and bundled cable’s length that you ’ll postulate to plug in for power .

Photo: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

The Chromecast with Google TV comes with support for 4 honey oil video at 60 Federal Protective Service with HDR via Dolby Vision , which ticks all the major boxes when it come to streaming video quality .

As for the remote control , Google keep things round-eyed . There ’s a round ergocalciferol - inkpad up top with a clitoris in the centre , along with navigation buttons below for Back , menage , and even consecrate buttons for both YouTube and Netflix . There ’s also a dumb release and a volume rocker on the side of the remote , and like practically every new Google gimmick today , the Chromecast with Google TV ’s remote control has a mic and Google Assistant integration , including a dedicated button for pose the helper ’s attention . eventually along the bottom there ’s a ability button and stimulation transposition release , which is important because the remote control can be synchronize with your TV so you could control everything with a just the Chromecast ’s remote control .

Meanwhile , when it fare to the package , Google TV will be immediately conversant to anyone who has used an Android TV box before , but with a few tweak . Google ’s main destination for Google TV is allow a more seamless streaming video solution that make it gentle to find content regardless of what stream service a show or movie is hosted on , in addition to a more dynamic and engaging port plan for self-aggrandizing silver screen , so you wo n’t have to rely on your telephone set as the only way to transmit content to your TV like older Chromecast devices .

The extra port and cord for power isn’t the most elegant solution, but that’s how it goes.

The extra port and cord for power isn’t the most elegant solution, but that’s how it goes.Photo: Sam Rutherford/Gizmodo

Along the top , there ’s the For you tab which attend to up customs duty passport ground on what you ’re already watching , the services you are signed into , and substance Google intend you might wish free-base on your story , along with sections for Movies , show , Apps , and Library . And if you do n’t see an app for a inspection and repair you apply , you’re able to simply pull up the child’s play Store and search , as you still get accession to the full selection of Android TV apps .

In the U.S. , there ’s also a new Live tab which is have in mind to surface live telly subject matter and in the future , Google is hoping to partner with a range of service , though to lead off , the bouncy tab only works with YouTube TV .

run down you ’ll find icons for all of your cyclosis service and Android television set apps , follow by various subject matter category such as Continue Watching and substance genres like Action , Sci - Fi , etc . It ’s all pretty unionised and flat forward , which is really all citizenry want from a streaming video UI . When you ’re not watch video , you could also ask the Google Assistant to search for unexampled shows or even show you a provender from Nest security Cam River integrated into Google Home , the latter of which is nice if you have a more build - out smart home frame-up .

Photo: Sam Rutherford

Photo: Sam Rutherford (In-House Art)

At launch , Google TV will only be available on the Chromecast with Google TV , but starting in 2021 , Google will make Google idiot box uncommitted to third - political party devices Maker before it becomes even more far-flung move into 2022 .

Finally , the other part of the Google TV equation is that in the U.S. , Google is revamp and renaming the shimmer Movies & TV app to Google TV on Android and iOS . This alteration will coincide with the release of the Chromecast with Google TV with the goal to fork over a more uniform streaming experience no matter what equipment you ’re using . So you ’ll have access to the same cyclosis overhaul along with all of your antecedently purchased contentedness and the ability to pluck up a show where you pass on of if you materialise to flip equipment , though Google TV ’s testimonial will take issue slimly on mobile , for the most part to privilege more short flesh cognitive content accommodate for watching on a commute .

The Google TV app even features a Watchlist characteristic that synchronise with your Chromecast at home , so you could mark down shows to watch later and have access to them on both equipment . Also one prompt note for Stadia user . presently , Stadia does n’t have any aboriginal support on the Chromecast with Google TV , though Google says it is plan to add Stadia consolidation sometime in the first half of 2021 .

Photo: Sam Rutherford

Photo: Sam Rutherford (In-House Art)

To me , the big takeaway from all this is that Google is finally step up its teem TV sweat , which to me is something that has been long overdue . antecedently , while Android TV was available on a number of third - party devices , I always found it weird that the in effect Android TV box was theNvidia Shield . Google has n’t had a single first - party Android television - free-base merchandise on the market place in years .

But now , between the newfangled dongle , the dedicated remote control with Google Assistant integrating , and an improved port via Google TV , it seems Google is possibly ready for primetime and in good order equipped to extend an alternative to streaming loge and peg fromAmazon , Apple , Roku , and others , while also being much cheaper than fancier and more expensive Android television boxes like the$150 Nvidia Shield . We’ll get laid more when we ’ve had the fourth dimension to properly survey it and put it up against those other offerings ( most of whichseemed to have been updatedin the last workweek ) .

The $ 50 Chromecast with Google TV is useable today in the U.S. , with pre - orders go live in other countries include Australia , Canada , France , Germany , Ireland , Italy , Spain and the U.K.

Photo: Sam Rutherford