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I have multiple Chromecast devices at home because they were such cheap streaming hardware. RIP.

Google TV Streamer is a $99 set-top box that replaces Chromecast, coming Sept.

The Google TV Streamer is a 4K set-top box coming in September that’s more expensive than the Chromecasts that it replaces.

9to5google.com

Google is no longer making Chromecasts and will let inventory run out

With the launch of the Google TV Streamer, Chromecasts are no longer being manufactured. The first Chromecast was announced in 2013...

9to5google.com

120 euros btw, lol.

 

[Complistic]

 

[Thaedolus]

Meh. I have one hooked up to my 15 year old dumb TV but almost anything you buy these days is snappier and easier. I can cast to my C1 or use its built in apps for streaming

 

[BobLeeSwagger]

Chromecasts are shit anyways. Rather have something similar to an Apple TV box

 

[spons]

The Google TV Streamer has the same hardware as the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, so it's still much slower than the latest Apple TV.

 

[gothmog]

The Thread radio and find my remote thing are pretty nice features to add. Not sure it is worth 2x the price but you know those are going to be discounted during holiday sales.

 

[West Texas CEO]

 

[Trogdor1123]

If you are spending that much just spend a touch more for an AppleTV. Far better experience. We used fire sticks and chromcasts in the past and they don’t even come close.

 

[RagnarokIV]

Shitty Google spyware vs superior AppleTV.

 

[YCoCg]

It costs that much?? A Nvidia Shield isn't that much extra and you get soo much more power.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

If you are spending that much just spend a touch more for an AppleTV. Far better experience. We used fire sticks and chromcasts in the past and they don’t even come close.

I'm really trying to understand the target audience for this.

No one with ANY apple products to start with.

People who don't like their built in tv operation system but think Google TV is an upgrade, but are cheap, but not super cheap (roku/fire tv)?

Even if this had the best Youtube and Youtube TV experience, I'm not sure it would be worth it.

If they were smart they'd give at least a month of YTTV away for free with it. That's a 65 dollar value.

 

[Mr Reasonable]

I'm surprised they make these, I would assume every tv has this functionality built-in.

 

[K' Dash]

I'm surprised they make these, I would assume every tv has this functionality built-in.

My TVs have Google TV and they stop getting updates pretty fast, leaving you with a sluggish experience, apps hanging up, not loading at all.

It's better just to connect a 4K chromecast with google TV... or an Apple TV for the best experience.

 

[Quasicat]

Is Android TV still an advertising mess? I had an Nvidia Shield for Plex and the main screen was nothing but ads which was really annoying. I moved onto an Apple TV and love it so much more.

 

[jshackles]

This just looks to be a straight upgrade to the newest Chromecast Ultra, which I have and enjoy. The nice thing about the Ultra is that it's super easy to hack. Hopefully this box keeps it's "pixel-like" qualities and is similarly easy to hack. The addition of an Ethernet port alone makes it a worthwhile upgrade for me personally.

Is Android TV still an advertising mess? I had an Nvidia Shield for Plex and the main screen was nothing but ads which was really annoying. I moved onto an Apple TV and love it so much more.

Yes, although you can typically install alternate launchers that mostly remedy this issue. I'm partial to FLauncher.

FLauncher - Apps on Google Play

Open-source Android TV launcher

play.google.com

 

[Bojji]

Shitty Google spyware vs shitty Apple spyware.

Fixed.

 

[JCK75]

Our schools have moved to all chromebook and chromecasts are our go to for casting those.. removing the cheap dongle options is an insane mistake.

 

[Trogdor1123]

Fixed.

Not entirely wrong but the Apple stuff is significantly less and definitely less intrusive.

 

[ZoolNL]

Google… stop acting like an idiot…

 

[FunkMiller]

The only real reason for this over an Apple TV is for hacking, and for sideloading.

Which are two pretty big reasons, to be fair.

 

[apocaliptic]

I use Google TV. My Sony TV has it built in. Only ads and Youtube is even worse now. The only thing that I like about it is installing IPTV, Plex and countless of android apps from Github. More ads google shows me, the bigger my not to buy list increases.

 

[nbcjr]

mibox is the best android streaming hardware

 

[Diddy X]

I have my TV hooked to my pc which makes it a Genius TV.

 

[Soltype]

I use Google TV. My Sony TV has it built in. Only ads and Youtube is even worse now. The only thing that I like about it is installing IPTV, Plex and countless of android apps from Github. More ads google shows me, the bigger my not to buy list increases.

You can turn on app only mode, and that cleans it up a lot.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

 

[ForAcademicPurposes]

I'm good you sons of money grubbing bitches.

 

[eddie4]

Media PC hooked up to TV with media remote, running kodi through VPN with IPTV channels and other addons, etc. I don't need anything else.

 

[MayauMiao]

WTF Google. I was hoping to replace my old Android box with next gen Chromecast.

 

[Dural]

If you are spending that much just spend a touch more for an AppleTV. Far better experience. We used fire sticks and chromcasts in the past and they don’t even come close.

I bought an AppleTV last year because of comments like this. Never been a fan of the Firestick interface so don't use those but I do like the GoogleTV interface and had used it for years. Moving from the GoogleTV to AppleTV, the apps that I use are all worse (Youtube, Plex, and StartupShow). The interface for Youtube and Plex just aren't nearly as good as what I'd become accustomed to on GoogleTV. I also have some issues with files not playing at full speed through Plex due to the container they're in (I think it's 4k HDR video in mp4 containers), so I have to force them to transcode when they should play natively. But it is much faster than my old GoogleTV device and it doesn't have all the stupid ads. Why couldn't Google have used an old Tensor APU for this since they're increasing the price? The new APU is barely better than the old Chromecast w/GoogleTV and that's nearly 4 years old, pathetic. If Nvidia ever comes out with a new Shield I'd instantly buy it.

 

[Drew1440]

I'm surprised they make these, I would assume every tv has this functionality built-in.

Depends on the smart TV middleware, some that run Roku/Tivo or Amazon's FireTV OS lack Chromecast support.

Is Android TV still an advertising mess? I had an Nvidia Shield for Plex and the main screen was nothing but ads which was really annoying. I moved onto an Apple TV and love it so much more.

Sadly yes, with the home launcher promoting Disney's latest slop. Thankfully my Sony TV is old enough you can revert the launcher to the factory installed version which removes the ads.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Roku does a nice job, so does the att&t osprey box no issues with it, took a peak at fire stick it was slow.

 

[Boaty McBoatface]

Lol I threw my pos chromecast in the bin when the shit didn't work once. Never buying a google device again, trash products and company.

 

[Ozriel]

Really wish Nvidia could be arsed to make a new Shield TV box.

 

[poppabk]

If you are spending that much just spend a touch more for an AppleTV. Far better experience. We used fire sticks and chromcasts in the past and they don’t even come close.

I use both firetv sticks and apple TV and they are pretty similar to be honest.

 

[dottme]

I can see people buying to have a smart home hub. But I think most of the stuff outside of HomeKit goes out in the web, so not as useful as an Apple TV used as an HomeKit hub.

 

[Trogdor1123]

I use both firetv sticks and apple TV and they are pretty similar to be honest.

I can’t agree. It was always night and day for me but to each their own.

 

[poppabk]

I can’t agree. It was always night and day for me but to each their own.

I mean ultimately they play shit - the only difference is getting to the stuff. Firetv is slightly jankier and more ads, but also shows reccomendations a lot better and plays a lot better with other services. Apple have buried any of that stuff within their own app and it's not as good.

 

[Valonquar]

Playstation & Plex done.

 

[nickplaysgames404]

my only question is....will my chromecast still work or are they gonna shut the servers off for it and it's just gonna become a paperweight?

 

[Trogdor1123]

I mean ultimately they play shit - the only difference is getting to the stuff. Firetv is slightly jankier and more ads, but also shows reccomendations a lot better and plays a lot better with other services. Apple have buried any of that stuff within their own app and it's not as good.

It’s a fair point. And I also concede that side loading is a big perk for some folks.

I find the recommendations on Apple TV are better and being to cross between apps to watch your next show, instead of going in and then searching, was better too. The hardware is on a totally different level too. The ads are so much less on an AppleTV too. It also makes tv calibration a super easy process (this feature on fire tv too? I’m assuming so now).

That being said, fire sticks are not bad at all. Please don’t get me wrong. I have 2 still and would recommend them 100% as a great value in entertainment. I also don’t think they are too janky either and they get better with each major update. They integrate with Alexa too which is a nice perk.

But, if you have the money (and it’s really not too much more) get the AppleTV imo, especially if you are in the Apple ecosystem.