Back then, "Google TV" was its whole own OS initiative. This was years before Android TV was a thing. But Google TV had far less wide-ranging industry support than Android TV has today. And Google TV needed industry support, because it was literally just an OS platform (like Android TV) rather than something Google was able to push by shipping its own hardware. No third parties interested in integrating the platform? No point.
This go-around, "Google TV" seems to be just some first-party Chromecast hardware running an OEM skin over Android TV OS. Much lower CapEx. Far easier to justify as a Google project.
(And it's a logical strategic move, too. A lot of smart TV manufacturers are shipping crap Android TV implementations that plaster advertising everywhere; and the advice everyone gives to get around that is to get an Apple TV, because Apple's tvOS doesn't force ads on you. That gives the Apple ecosystem a foothold in otherwise-Google-ecosystem homes and businesses. Google is likely willing to spend a lot of money to prevent Apple getting that foothold.)
Oh boy, let me tell you about my LG Google TV (55GA7900). It was awesome when it was brand new, I really enjoyed being able to install various apps (this is pre-roku days where it wasn't common place). After a couple years, they moved on to Android TV - but everything still worked and they still pushed out some occasional updates. Well, a few more years went by and it became EOL. LG pushed out one final update which fixed a few things and disabled the update feature altogether (Android 4.2.2). Well guess what? The update was junk and made it where you could not scan for over-the-air channels. The scanner would just crash and no channels would be found. There was no way to go directly to a channel or manual add channels - scan only. So here I was with a smart tv that couldn't even watch TV over the air. I'm sure LG was also to blame, not just Google, but I sure wouldn't buy or recommend a google TV. Looks like they are now switching back to Google TV and the poor folks who were duped into getting an Android TV will be the next to experience abandonment.
IMO, Apple TV has been one of the strengths of the iOS ecosystem over Android. Chromecast has a lot of good integrations, but the dongle’s lack of a standalone UI with independent controls made it awkward for communal living room use. Looks like this could be a strong competitor and the price greatly undercuts Apple. I’m excited to try it out.
The BIG difference here is that Netflix is fully integrated with the search/queue/discovery experience, along with all of the other major streaming services like Prime. Apple hasn't managed to land that one yet – having access to their content baked into the experience is a huge advantage, let alone not alienating Netflix as Apple did in the past with the TV app: https://9to5mac.com/2019/03/18/netflix-apple-video-service-t...
I've had an Apple TV for about 2 years. Last year I bought a Chromecast (against my better judgement) for my parents because their "smart" TV apps are awful. I would've bought them an Apple TV but they didn't want me spending that much on them, unfortunately.
But long story short, like you're saying the Apple TV's UX is on another level from the (previous) Chromecast since it lacks its own UI and controls. It's definitely one of the painpoints that I've noticed my parents having difficulty with.
Whereas Apple TV has an easy to use UI (other than individual streaming apps sometimes making their own media player UI, like Disney+ and Amazon Prime, which are awful).
The Netflix offer is difficult to ignore if you already have the Netflix standard plan, it essentially makes this device cost only $12.05 ($12.99 * 6 = 77.94 - $89.99).
That kind of offer isn't itself surprising, but it being available to existing Netflix subscribers is unusual.
Is it just me or is Google consistently awful at product marketing? They've already had a Google TV that they killed. They've also already killed Chromecast Audio. Now this thing is called "Chromecast with Google TV". I think consumers are going to be confused.
The ability to bundle in 6 months of Netflix for $40 is so random. Why not offer a YoutubeTV bundle? Where is the product synergy?
It's nice that Stadia will come later but that the fact that it's not available at launch is a huge missed opportunity.
The integration with Google search and Nest devices looks so awesome. An easy to access platform independent watchlist is quite convenient.
I am surprised that they gave a button to Netflix as well on the remote. Though it does make sense considering YT and Netflix is what I use mostly on even Fire TV when not watching sports.
On a side note, anyone else get janky behavior trying to scroll on the homepage here? It feels like a janky/simpler version of what you see for the Apple product pages.
Yeah, the initial scrolling experience was insufferable. I had to resort to using pagedown and eventually just grabbing the tiny scrollbar instead of my mouse scrollwheel to make any sort of useful progress, and even then it was made difficult by absurdly "long" animations and visuals instead of actual information. The thing that really got my goat is how areas shifted in contrast for entire pages for single sentences of text.
It feels like there were maybe two to three paragraphs of text total on that page. I want to read the text. I do not want flying, fading out images all over the place.
This low-information-density design trend is an incredibly user-unfriendly experience for desktop users.
I still have the Sony TV with built in Google TV, which is a brick now, because I can't update it anymore and google has abandoned it. Not doing the same mistake again.
Yeah, screw this. I already have a 2018 900€ Android TV from Sony and it really frustrating to a point this whole OS just makes me angry. It is really bad.
I've been a long time Roku user, who didn't like chromecast because I prefer a UI and a hardware remote.
The advertising suggests it organizes all services into one screen. That is promising. But I am willing to bet it only covers certain streaming services and wouldn't cover Plex (or apps like it).
Oh weird! Yes it seems like it will be coming in 2021. I bet that the latency of new Chromecast was too high and they'll need to spend 6 months optimizing before they can get it down where it needs to be, which means the 2 teams must have been almost blissfully unaware of each other.
This sounds like typical Google where the development of this product and Stadia were so separated that they completely missed the huge opportunity. What a frustrating miss. Stadia has been advertising like crazy and you'd need to buy the EOL Chromecast Ultra to play on a TV and they'll miss one of their strongest cross-promotions going into the holiday season. They could have been undercutting PS5 and Series X with a $50 device that played the same AAA games with the Bluetooth controller you already own. This company is a zombie.
Compared to LG webOS, which I already have, this doesn't seem to bring any value. LG already has the headline features here: voice search and find content across apps. I can search for a title by voice and my LG TV shows me which app offers that title. I have Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Google Play, YouTube, etc. And I can cast to the TV from YouTube on my phone.
On top of that I really appreciate how efficient webOS seems to be. Since the apps are just HTML/JS the updates are very unobtrusive, sometimes downloading a few kilobytes only. Not at all the horror show that is Android app updates.
It seems to have multiple streaming services (I see The Boys from Prime, stuff from Disney, stuff from Netflix, etc) is that correct? Or do you need to go into Crave/Prime/Netflix to see the respective shows?
Not sure about this but I’ll mention The FireTV stick will show you shows from multiple services without entering those apps. And any given show/movie has a “more ways to watch” Option to show where else it’s available (such as when a specific app has it for free). I can also watch HBO shows directly in the firetv’s native viewer without entering the HBO “app”
Headsup, for me (Mainland europe), this instantly redirects to the general google store homepage, which is currently selling the 'nest audio' product above the fold.
Does this mean the old Chromecast and all its functionality is EOL soon? Given Google's track record I don't see them supporting it for much longer.
Chromecast is nearly perfect for me because I don't need to clutter my TV or a device with apps I could always just use my phone apps that already were logged into everything to play videos.
> “But while Android TV is the foundation of the new Chromecast, the whole experience feels very new. Because unlike TVs from Sony and set-top boxes from Nvidia and other brands that run the traditional version of Android TV, Google has created a new “Google TV” layer atop the operating system that completely replaces the old home screen experience.”
[+] [-] animationwill|5 years ago|reply
I bought it as a gift for someone once and they cancelled it and deleted the SDK.
[+] [-] derefr|5 years ago|reply
This go-around, "Google TV" seems to be just some first-party Chromecast hardware running an OEM skin over Android TV OS. Much lower CapEx. Far easier to justify as a Google project.
(And it's a logical strategic move, too. A lot of smart TV manufacturers are shipping crap Android TV implementations that plaster advertising everywhere; and the advice everyone gives to get around that is to get an Apple TV, because Apple's tvOS doesn't force ads on you. That gives the Apple ecosystem a foothold in otherwise-Google-ecosystem homes and businesses. Google is likely willing to spend a lot of money to prevent Apple getting that foothold.)
[+] [-] Splendor|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] tehlike|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] josteink|5 years ago|reply
Would that be a first?
[+] [-] animationwill|5 years ago|reply
... so now my post looks inaccurate
[+] [-] move-on-by|5 years ago|reply
More info on Google TV: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV
[+] [-] shajznnckfke|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] owenwil|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] spike021|5 years ago|reply
But long story short, like you're saying the Apple TV's UX is on another level from the (previous) Chromecast since it lacks its own UI and controls. It's definitely one of the painpoints that I've noticed my parents having difficulty with.
Whereas Apple TV has an easy to use UI (other than individual streaming apps sometimes making their own media player UI, like Disney+ and Amazon Prime, which are awful).
[+] [-] unknown|5 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] scarface74|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] AnssiH|5 years ago|reply
The current article link (https://store.google.com/product/chromecast_google_tv) just goes to Google Store homepage for me (Finland).
[+] [-] ValentineC|5 years ago|reply
@dang, could we please change the thread link to the one above?
[+] [-] Someone1234|5 years ago|reply
That kind of offer isn't itself surprising, but it being available to existing Netflix subscribers is unusual.
[+] [-] StringyBob|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] strawberrypuree|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] kin|5 years ago|reply
The ability to bundle in 6 months of Netflix for $40 is so random. Why not offer a YoutubeTV bundle? Where is the product synergy?
It's nice that Stadia will come later but that the fact that it's not available at launch is a huge missed opportunity.
[+] [-] actuator|5 years ago|reply
I am surprised that they gave a button to Netflix as well on the remote. Though it does make sense considering YT and Netflix is what I use mostly on even Fire TV when not watching sports.
[+] [-] gondo|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] pmastela|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] Bahamut|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] McGlockenshire|5 years ago|reply
It feels like there were maybe two to three paragraphs of text total on that page. I want to read the text. I do not want flying, fading out images all over the place.
This low-information-density design trend is an incredibly user-unfriendly experience for desktop users.
[+] [-] anderspitman|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] unknown|5 years ago|reply
[deleted]
[+] [-] blakesterz|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] crowbahr|5 years ago|reply
If you use smooth scrolling by middle mouse click then movement it works OK.
[+] [-] usaphp|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] TulliusCicero|5 years ago|reply
The real solution is that the smarts should be in a Chromecast or Apple TV or Roku, that way it's easy to replace or upgrade.
[+] [-] appleflaxen|5 years ago|reply
probably not worth the time it would take, but this kind of behavior from companies like google is just so toxic.
[+] [-] Farbklex|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rhino369|5 years ago|reply
The advertising suggests it organizes all services into one screen. That is promising. But I am willing to bet it only covers certain streaming services and wouldn't cover Plex (or apps like it).
I'll read reviews with interest.
[+] [-] uptown|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] koiz|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] nickthegreek|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] glennpratt|5 years ago|reply
https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/29/21494161/google-chromecas...
[+] [-] futureshock|5 years ago|reply
This sounds like typical Google where the development of this product and Stadia were so separated that they completely missed the huge opportunity. What a frustrating miss. Stadia has been advertising like crazy and you'd need to buy the EOL Chromecast Ultra to play on a TV and they'll miss one of their strongest cross-promotions going into the holiday season. They could have been undercutting PS5 and Series X with a $50 device that played the same AAA games with the Bluetooth controller you already own. This company is a zombie.
[+] [-] jeffbee|5 years ago|reply
On top of that I really appreciate how efficient webOS seems to be. Since the apps are just HTML/JS the updates are very unobtrusive, sometimes downloading a few kilobytes only. Not at all the horror show that is Android app updates.
[+] [-] dubcanada|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] animationwill|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] josteink|5 years ago|reply
Not sure where to find the real product page.
Edit: Link: https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv
[+] [-] foepys|5 years ago|reply
Chromecast is nearly perfect for me because I don't need to clutter my TV or a device with apps I could always just use my phone apps that already were logged into everything to play videos.
[+] [-] criddell|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] seppin|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] cobookman|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] benjaminl|5 years ago|reply
It is a rebranding and the new direction of Android TV. (https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/09/google-merges-chrome...)
> “But while Android TV is the foundation of the new Chromecast, the whole experience feels very new. Because unlike TVs from Sony and set-top boxes from Nvidia and other brands that run the traditional version of Android TV, Google has created a new “Google TV” layer atop the operating system that completely replaces the old home screen experience.”
From https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/29/21494298/chromecast-googl...
[+] [-] Klathmon|5 years ago|reply
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.and...
[+] [-] actuator|5 years ago|reply
[+] [-] ignoramous|5 years ago|reply
Chromecast with Google TV is more in line with Apple TV, FireTV, and the now discontinued Nexus TV.
[+] [-] amaccuish|5 years ago|reply