Google has been a significant player in the streaming device market, and its latest offering, the Google TV Streamer, marks a notable shift from previous models like Chromecast. Released on September 24, 2024, the Google TV Streamer is more than just an upgrade in design; it introduces several key features and improvements that set it apart from Google’s earlier streaming devices. Here’s a detailed look at how it differs.

Set-Top Box Design

Unlike previous Chromecast devices, which used a dongle design that plugged directly into a TV’s HDMI port, the Google TV Streamer adopts a sleek set-top box form factor. This means the device now rests on your entertainment console, connecting to your TV via a separate HDMI cable. While this might require more space, it provides a more stable and durable setup, particularly in environments where the hanging dongle design could be less ideal.

Increased Performance and Storage

The Google TV Streamer comes with a faster processor, boasting a 22% increase in performance over previous Chromecast models. This results in faster app loading times and smoother navigation. Additionally, the device has doubled its memory to 32GB, allowing for more apps to be installed without running into storage limitations. This is a significant improvement, particularly for those who want to keep several streaming services and apps installed simultaneously.

4K HDR and Dolby Atmos Support

While the Chromecast with Google TV supported 4K streaming, the Google TV Streamer takes it a step further by enhancing its visual and audio capabilities. It supports 4K HDR, Dolby Vision, and Dolby Atmos for immersive sound and visuals. This brings it in line with high-end streaming devices like the Apple TV 4K and Roku Ultra, ensuring top-tier performance in both picture quality and audio.

AI-Powered Features

One of the most exciting new features of the Google TV Streamer is its AI integration through Google’s Gemini technology. This AI enhances the viewing experience by providing AI-generated overviews of movies and TV shows, season-by-season breakdowns, and personalized recommendations based on your preferences. It can also generate custom screensaver art for your TV using AI, making the device not just functional but also aesthetically appealing when not in use.

Smart Home Integration

A major step forward with the Google TV Streamer is its role as a smart home hub. It supports the Matter protocol and comes with an integrated Thread border router, enabling seamless control of smart home devices like lights, thermostats, and security cameras. Through the new Google Home Panel, users can monitor and manage their connected devices directly from their TV, making it easier to interact with your smart home without leaving the couch.

Redesigned Remote with “Find My Remote” Feature

The Google TV Streamer introduces an improved remote design, which is larger and more ergonomic than its predecessor. The remote now includes a customizable shortcut button, allowing users to program it to launch their favorite apps or smart home controls. Additionally, the device comes with a “Find My Remote” feature, a much-welcomed addition for anyone who frequently misplaces their remotes. By pressing a button on the streamer or using voice commands through Google Assistant, the remote emits a chime, making it easy to locate.

Conclusion

The Google TV Streamer is more than just a streaming device – it’s a smart home hub, a personalized entertainment assistant, and a step up in performance and design from Google’s previous devices. With improved AI features, better smart home integration, and enhanced video and audio quality, it is a worthy upgrade for users looking to streamline their smart home and entertainment experiences in one device.

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In a recent legal battle, Alphabet’s Google has been found guilty of violating a software developer’s patent rights related to remote-streaming technology. A federal jury in Waco, Texas, handed down the verdict on Friday, ordering Google to pay $338.7 million in damages to Touchstream Technologies, a New York-based software company also known as Shodogg.

The lawsuit was filed by Touchstream Technologies from New York, which is now $338.7 million richer

The lawsuit, filed in 2021, alleged that Google’s popular Chromecast and other devices infringed upon Touchstream’s patents, which pertain to the technology that allows users to stream videos from one screen to another. The technology was reportedly invented by Touchstream’s founder, David Strober, in 2010, with the goal of seamlessly “moving” videos from small devices like smartphones to larger screens like televisions.

According to Touchstream’s complaint, Google had a meeting with the company in December 2011 to discuss their technology but later showed no interest. Surprisingly, Google introduced its Chromecast media-streaming devices in 2013, which Touchstream claimed were copied from their innovations and infringed upon three of their patents. Additionally, Touchstream alleged that Google’s Home and Nest smart speakers, as well as third-party televisions and speakers with Chromecast capabilities, also infringed upon their patents.

Google’s spokesperson, Jose Castaneda, responded to the verdict, stating that the company will appeal and firmly asserting that Google has always developed its technology independently and competed based on the merits of its ideas. On the other side, Touchstream’s attorney, Ryan Dykal, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, affirming that they believe in the strength of their case.

This legal battle is not an isolated incident for Touchstream, as earlier this year, they filed similar complaints against major cable providers, including Comcast, Charter, and Altice, also in Texas. Those cases are still pending resolution.

As the legal drama unfolds, industry experts and technology enthusiasts alike are keeping a close eye on the outcome. The ruling may have significant implications for the tech giant, potentially affecting the development and release of future products, and could also set a precedent for future patent infringement cases in the technology sector.

The appeal process will undoubtedly be closely monitored, and both companies will prepare to defend their positions vigorously. In the end, the final verdict may shape the landscape of intellectual property rights in the sector of digital streaming.

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(Via)

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Google is set to launch a new Chromecast device in India soon. The new Chromecast with TV (4K) will be launching in the country in the arriving days, as the product was found listed on Flipkart (popular e-retailer in India).

As the name suggests, the new Chromecast with TV arrives with 4K support and has been listed on Flipkart with a price tag of 6,399 INR (roughly 80 US Dollars). Furthermore, the Flipkart listing also reveals certain launch offers for the product as well. Customers that have a Citi credit card or debit card can claim a 10 percent discount up to 1,500 INR. The same offer is also offered to customers that own a Bank of Baroda card as well.

A previous report had claimed that Chromecast with Google TV was set to launch in India and certain other regions this year. So, it seems like this was the product in question. Notably, the new Chromecast device supports 4K along with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos support. It offers 8GB of internal storage and the Search Engine giant is also offering a number of applications and features.

Similar to previous Chromecast models, the new 4K enabled version also has a traditional HDMI port that helps connect to regular TVs. Notably, the device will also be bundled with a remote that has a dedicated key to access Google Assistant.

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Google launched the Chromecast with Google TV in late 2020. It is the company’s first streaming device with an operating system. It ships with Android TV with Google TV interface, hence the name. Over a year later, a report now says that the search giant is working on a lower variant of this product.

According to Protocol, Google’s upcoming streaming device will be officially called Chromecast HD with Google TV. As the name suggests, it will be limited to 1080p output instead of 4K. The product is said to be codenamed Boreal.

Talking about specifications, the TV accessory will be powered by an Amlogic S805X2 SoC consisting of an ARM Mali-G31 GPU. Unlike the current model, the forthcoming one will have support for AV1 video decoding.

Further, the device will arrive with 2GB RAM. As mentioned earlier, users will be only able to stream in Full HD (FHD) quality at 60FPS.

As far as price is concerned, the yet-to-release Google Chromecast HD with Google TV is said to cost lower than the Google Chromecast with Google TV, which retails at $50. To differentiate between the two, the search giant has already started selling the current model with a 4K sticker (via 9To5Google) on its retail box.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming streaming device from Google? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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After the October release of Android 12 on the latest Google Pixel devices, the TV version of Android 12 has finally managed to exit beta testing. On November 30, the official release of the Android TV 12 was announced for developers, indicating that the update may soon go live on your smart TVs.

So what new features made it into the final cut for Android TV 12?

The Android TV 12 focuses on improving user interface elements when viewing the interface on the 4K TVs. Till now, the main interface was only rendered in 1080p and when selecting something to watch, it switches to 4K, causing some “lag.”

The new update brings new background blurring to “easily enhance the visual separation of different UI layers.” There’s also a new refresh rate setting for a “smoother viewing experience.” Applications can also check playback settings and change the frame rates based on what’s being viewed. Google is also including support for HDMI CEC 2.0.

Another significant feature coming with this new update is related to privacy control. Google is now implementing microphone and camera indicators that appear on TV. These are the same indicators found on smartphones when an app uses a camera or microphone. This feature is for those who don’t want the microphone or a connected camera always being active and will grant complete control over them.

Beyond Google’s announcements, we did find a few more minor tweaks to Android TV and Google TV that will come with Android 12. The biggest of these is a feature called “Quick Connect.” Available under the “Network and Internet” section, Quick Connect for Android TV generates a QR code that mobile users can scan. The scanned code on the phone will lead to the Android TV’s Wi-Fi connection page allowing users to handle the text input from the mobile itself.

If you are interested in trying out the Android TV 12, You’ll need an ADT-3 — Google’s development box for the platform — to get it up and running today. The update is available for manual download here.

Unfortunately, there’s no word of this update hitting Google’s Chromecast dongle, which is still running Android TV OS 10 and hasn’t seen any updates in a few months.

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Devices running on Android have traditionally been able to control volume on Chromecast through their own volume rockers. But now, legal issues have compelled Google to remove this basic feature entirely from gadgets that run Android 12 OS.

Previously, users could simply connect their Android devices to Google’s Nest Hub or smart TV and were able to control the volume directly from the physical volume buttons. However, this feature was found to be surprisingly missing in the latest Android 12 Beta. While it was initially believed to be a simple unintended bug, but a thread on IssueTracker has revealed otherwise. Rather than being a missing feature or bug, the omission is confirmed to be removed on purpose.

Users had hoped again that this feature would be brought back in Android 12 Beta 5. Although, the feature is still officially missing. According to a @MishaalRahman, the company is facing legal issues that has prevented it from adding this feature in the latest version of Android operating system. As of right now, it is currently unknown what the legal issue actually is, but the search engine giant is currently entangled with Sonos in the courts.

Android 12 quietly disabled the ability to change the volume of a cast session by pressing the volume key on any screen. This will be re-enabled in Android 12L, but what's interesting is *why* it was disabled. A Googler said it was due to "a legal issue."https://t.co/LaM4CvIBBi pic.twitter.com/ARs6JjOTU2

— Mishaal Rahman (@MishaalRahman) November 2, 2021

For those unaware, we had reported on Sonos suing the major brand for allegedly stealing many of its wireless speaker technology patents that can be found in its Nest products. In other words, it might be an issue related to that, although, Google has yet to offer a comment on the matter. So stay tuned for more, as we will be providing updates when any notable developments surface regarding this matter.

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Google recently unveiled its Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro premium smartphones powered by its own Tensor chipset and will go on sale this fall. Prior to that, the company is expected to launch its Pixel 5a 5G smartphone later this month.

Now, it appears that there’s a new device planned to launch in the coming weeks or months from the search engine giant. An unknown device from Google has been approved by FCC, which is described as a “Wireless Streaming Device.”

While there’s a possibility that this is a new Chromecast dongle with model number GJQ9T as it’s similar to the model number used in last year’s device. However, Chromecast is described as an “Interactive Media Streaming Device” and not a “Wireless Streaming Device” which could be something new from the brand.

It could be a new NestCam device from the company but Google has already announced its latest Nest Doorbell and new Nest Cam last week, and this mystery streaming device hasn’t been announced or hinted at. So, it’s unlikely to be a product under the Nest lineup.

We expect to know more about this new device in the coming weeks and hopefully, it’s a newly revamped Google Chromecast. To know what the device is and what’s interesting about that, we will have to wait a bit longer.

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Last month, it was rumoured that Google will be launching the Pixel 5 on September 30. Indeed, the tech giant has now confirmed that the flagship smartphone will be launched on September 30th. The event which would be a virtual one will commence at 2PM ET / 11AM PT.

Apart from the Pixel 5 smartphone, Google may also take the wraps off a new Chromecast, and a new smart speaker according to the invitation sent out. The invite reads; “We invite you to learn all about our new Chromecast, our latest smart speaker, and our new Pixel phones.”

The Pixel 5 was first officially announced during the launch of the Pixel 4a. The post put out back then stated that the Pixel 5 will have 5G support. The phone will be available in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia when it launches.

However, this is the first time the company was confirming it will launch a new Chromecast and Google-branded smart speaker. Google had confirmed the existence of a Nest smart speaker back in July after the leakage of an image of the speaker.

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Earlier this year, Google was reported to be working on a streaming device. The same report also said that the search giant may rebrand “Android TV” to “Google TV”. This device in question is codenamed “Sabrina”, which has leaked several times over the past few months.  Now, new leak sort of reveals it’s marketing name.

The new information about Google Sabrina streaming device comes from Artem Russakovskii of Android Police. The founder of the publication tweeted that this upcoming device is listed as “Google Chromecast with Google TV” in Target’s retail system for $49.99.

This new leak not only confirms the name of the forthcoming Google streaming device but also rebranding of Android TV to Google TV. Previously, it was said that the search giant may launch it under Nest branding but that does not seem to be the case. Actually, it is good that Google is sticking with “Chromecast” branding as it is popular among consumers for years.

Further, the listing also reveals the colors Sabrina will be available in. They are “Rocky Candy”, “Summer Melon”, and “Summer Blue” respectively.

Previous findings of this device have revealed its content-based UI different from the current-gen Android TV, hardware specifications, and certain software features.

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Streaming has become the most popular way to consume content. Smart TVs and streaming devices play an important role in the rising popularity of OTT platforms. A recent report on TV and video streaming devices across 27 major countries by Strategy Analytics reveals that Samsung not only leads in streaming device market share in these regions but its operating system Tizen, a gateway to streaming services also top the chart.

Though this report was published on September 2, it is worth noting that it is for Q1 2020.

Streaming Devices

According to Strategy Analytics, Samsung was the leading streaming device brand in the first quarter of 2020 in 27 major countries with 14% of devices in use. Whereas, second and third positions were held by Sony and LG with 12% and 8% market share respectively.

Further, Hisense, TCL, and Amazon tied at fourth position with 5% market share each, followed by Nintendo and Microsoft at fifth position with 4%.

Interestingly, in sixth place with 3%, there were a total of seven brands such as Skyworth, Google, Vizio, Sharp, Roku, Philips, and Xiaomi. Also, with 2% in seventh place, there were four brands like Apple, Changhong, Panasonic, and Konka.

Whereas, the ninth position was captured by Haier, Toshiba, and Insignia with a 1% share. The remaining 9% was held by others category, which includes brands with negligible market share.

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Streaming Platforms

Talking about streaming platforms, once again, Samsung lead in these 27 markets with 11% share with its Tizen OS. But the second position was held by platforms of both LG and Sony namely WebOS and Sony Playstation with 7% share each.

Roku TV OS and Fire OS tied at third position with 5% market share, followed by Android TV and Microsoft Xbox in the fourth place with 4% share.

Google Chromecast came at fifth position with 3% share while Apple tvOS and Firefox OS clashed with each other in the sixth place with 2% market share. The remaining 49% was occupied by platforms in the others category.

Takeaways

One thing is obvious from this report that the leading streaming device manufacturers also top the chart in streaming platforms if they have any. Also, a plethora of TV manufacturers gained some share in the devices category. Most of them use Android TV but still, Google’s streaming platform only accounted for 4%.

Anyway, this report only includes data from 27 major countries. Even though, the number of active devices in these regions is an astonishing figure at 1.14 billion.

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Last month, there were reports making rounds that Google could launch a new Chromecast Ultra device in the market which will be based on the Android TV operating system. Now, more information about the device has surfaced online.

Dubbed as Google Sabrina, the upcoming device is an Android TV dongle. It has a pebble-like design which is a bit taller than the current Chromecast device. From the leaked images, there’s a big “G” branding on the device and it’ll be made available in three color options — Black, White, and Pink.

The device will also come with a new Remote Control and from the images, it seems like it’s very similar to the Daydream View. Apart from the ring-based navigation on the top, there are six buttons — back, Assistant, home, star/favorite, play/pause, and volume mute.

Another interesting detail leaked online is the revamp of the Android TV interface based on the content. Some reports point out that the Android TV could get renamed to Google TV which this new device gets launched.

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The upcoming product, which is codenamed “Sabrina”, is reportedly powered by an Amlogic chipset and will come with support for Dolby Audio. While some reports suggest Nest branding for the device, the retail name still remains under the wrap.

The leaked images show that the home screen on the software has a top bar where the search field is present on the top-left corner. Then you get options like For you, Movies, TV, Live, Apps, and My Library. The layout looks quite similar to the current layout of the Play Store on Android TV.

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(Source)

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According to multiple reports, Google could be soon launching a streaming device by rebranding Android TV to either Nest or Google. It is expected to be a successor to the current-gen Chromecasts with remote control. 

Google Chromecast was popular during its early days. But its demand has now faded away with a rise of better competitor products from Amazon and Roku. However, Google’s Android TV platform is doing fine with a partnership with multiple TV manufacturers and cable companies.

But it does not have a flagship streaming device under its own branding. This is what Google is expected to change with a new mystery device.

As per the sources, this upcoming streaming device from the internet search giant will focus more on content than apps. But it will do come with Play Store for apps. Additionally, it is also expected to support Google Stadia, the company’s cloud gaming platform.

Whatever it is, it could have gone official at Google I/O 2020. Unfortunately, that is not happening due to global pandemic. Instead, Google will only live stream Android 11 Beta launch on June 3.

Even if it goes official sometime later this year, it can get delayed due to supply chain issues.

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(Via)

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Google has now launched the new Chromecast 3 in India, which was originally unveiled earlier this month. It is the successor to the Chromecast 2 that was first launched in September 2015.

The new third-generation of the Google Chromecast comes with the same round design with fixed HDMI cable and micro-USB power port. It has the same design aesthetics match the rest of the devices of the Made by Google family that includes Google Home, Pixel phones, Daydream View headset, etc.

The Google Chromecast 3 comes with an improved hardware that is touted to perform around 15 percent faster than the previous-generation model. The newer version also supports 60fps video streaming at full-HD (1080p) resolution.

The new model is also a bit ticker than the previous-generation device and loses the magnetic connector that was useful for managing the HDMI cable. There are more than 800 apps that are compatible with the Chromecast. It uses Wi-Fi connectivity to play online content on your TV and the casting feature can be used through an Android or iOS device.

The Google Chromecast 3 is priced at Rs. 3,499 in India, which roughly converts to $48, and is available in Charcoal color exclusively through Flipkart. We expect it to soon be available through Google Store and other online marketplaces in India.

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As an introductory offer, the company is also offering a free one-year subscription to Sony Liv and six months of ad-free streaming on Gaana. Flipkart is also offering Rs. 100 cashback when purchasing the new Chromecast using a PhonePe account. Similarly, customers using an Axis Bank debit or credit card can avail a 10 percent instant discount.

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Google will announce a number of new devices at its October 9 event. While the focus is on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, there are other devices such as a new PixelBook or Pixel Slate has new reports have revealed, the Google Home Hub which has a screen, and more. There is also supposed to be a new Chromecast which was spotted earlier this year at the FCC.

A Reddit user was able to get his hands on a unit ahead of its release thanks to an error by Best Buy. The Reddit user who goes by the name GroveStreetHomie was sold the new version of the Google Chromecast by a Best Buy store. Below is his narration of what went down:

I went to Best Buy earlier to pick up a Chromecast for my new TV, then I noticed the packaging and design was different from my first one. I thought it was just a design refresh taking queues from the Chromecast Ultra. Then when I was at the cashier, they couldn’t scan the item because it wasn’t in the system yet because the release date is on the 9th of October (Same day as the 2018 Google event) but I guess they put it out too early. But since I already had it in my hand and was the same price as the 2nd generation Chromecast, they let me have it under the old SKU.

The new Chromecast comes in black but now has a matte finish instead of gloss. It also ditches the Chromecast logo for the “G” Google logo used by the Pixel phones. GroveStreetHomie also says it is slightly thicker and the HDMI cable doesn’t magnetically stick to the base of the device anymore.

If you were looking forward to a Type-C port for power, sorry to burst your bubble but Google is sticking to MicroUSB again.

The device doesn’t work yet according to the owner. It requires a new version of the Home app which has not yet been released. Since the device will formally be announced on October 9 and go on sale on the same day, the update should arrive then too.

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The Chromecast lets you stream content from your Android phone, iPhone or other devices to your TV. It doesn’t have a remote so you have to control it using the source device. If you don’t like the Chromecast, there is a chance Google will announce a Chromecast-like device with Android TV pre-installed and a dedicated remote. However, it will most likely sell for a higher price.

(Via)

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