Google TV Streamer Integrates Home and Entertainment in Refreshed Design

Google’s new “smart home hub” is meant to let you control your home from your couch.

Google’s new “smart home hub” is meant to let you control your home from your couch.
Google has unveiled its next generation streaming device, the Google TV Streamer, which comes with AI integration and a remote finder for $100.  While the Chromecast’s successor costs more than the average streaming device, it also does more: The Streamer is both an entertainment device and a smart home hub for devices such as lights, window shades, thermostats and home security cameras. The Streamer also has Gemini-enhanced search capabilities, which can also curate recommended titles for watchlists. The Google TV Streamer is compatible with Google Home and Matter devices, and can control an array of appliances directly from the menu on your TV, as well as programming routines for them. The device will also be able to display your Google Photos in a slideshow, serving as an ambient mode while not directly in use. Users can verbally ask the device, via the remote or a separate Google Home device, to show photos from a specific time period or location to call up certain images. The Streamer is 4K HDR, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos-enabled. It’s more powerful than the most recent Chromecast with Google TV  and offers more storage capacity at 32GB. It also runs Google TV. Google’s Gemini AI search eliminates the need to search content through specific apps and will recommend titles based on your streaming subscriptions and preferences.  At $100, the Google TV Streamer now competes with other premium devices, including the Roku Ultra ($100), AppleTV 4K ($129) and the Nvidia Shield TV ($150). The Google TV Streamer’s feature set is commensurate with the competition in regards to video capabilities, smart home integration and the remote finder. Yet, it doesn’t appear the device is appealing to the gaming market in the way the Apple and Nvidia streamers have. The Google TV Streamer is available for preorder online. It’ll be available in stores beginning Sept. 24.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/google-tv-streamer-integrates-home-and-entertainment-in-refreshed-design/