Not quite a Chromecast and closer to the Apple TV, Google’s latest gadget is about home entertainment and the smart home.
One of Google’s most known and likely loved gadgets is going away, and we’re not talking about Android in general.
A regular recommendation from tech journalists for anyone needing a way to upgrade a TV to become a smart TV of sorts is set to disappear, as Google kills the Chromecast, replacing it later this year with something more like an Apple TV.
That’s essentially what the Google TV Streamer will be, and it doesn’t even have a similar name. There’s no “Chromecast” in the name, something that was taking a backseat in the last major release, the Google Chromecast with Google TV back in 2020.
Rather, Google’s latest will be less of the clever cut-cost USB-powered HDMI plug with smarts that the last Chromecast was and more of a desktop gadget, kind of like the Apple TV, but for a little less.
Google’s TV Streamer will connect Google TV and the smart home, as well as that AI thing Google keeps talking about, bringing together all three in a small box made to be plugged into a TV. There’s still a remote, voice search, and support for 4K with Dolby Vision, while Dolby Atmos support is provided for the sound, with support for both WiFi and wired Ethernet.
Inside, Google is saying the TV Streamer will be faster than the previous Google TV, thanks to a faster chip and more memory, and the storage will move to 32GB, as well.
There’s no price of release date for Australia just yet, but Google has noted Australians can expect it in spring, which basically mean September or October at this rate.
However, it also will be the only proper Chromecast-styled device from Google, as the company ends production of all other Chromecast models, a product range that spanned 11 years and over 100 million devices sold. Once an easy and inexpensive way to make any TV a smart one is now disappearing as Google focuses on models made for AI and smart homes.
It’s a sad moment, especially since the Chromecast was such a dependable option and recommendation, and now is just disappearing. More and more new TVs do support Chromecast and other wireless standards built in, so that’s something, but the Chromecast was one of the more reliable and trusted approaches for older screens to continue to be used.
We’ll be curious what the TV Streamer will be like, of course, but if you’re after a simple way to make a TV smart, you may need to look to Amazon’s Fire Stick range or Foxtel’s Hubbl, both of which will likely pick up the slack.
