Latest news with #Streamer
Android Authority
14-05-2025
- Android Authority
No Gemini on the Google TV Streamer begs the question: Why buy 'Made by Google'?
Joe Maring / Android Authority Yesterday, during The Android Show, Google announced a bunch of Gemini improvements that are coming to its hardware and software fleet. One of these is the integration of Gemini in Google TV, with Google promising better video recommendations and answers, and… that's it. Obviously, I expect more from Gemini on the largest screen in my home, like simpler smart home commands without having to remember exact device names or command structures, and proper Gemini Live conversations with visual cues coming straight onto the TV. Google hasn't detailed these — maybe it will during I/O later this month? — but it did tell us that Gemini is coming to a TCL Google TV first. There's no known launch time for Google's own TV Streamer or other Google Home/Nest devices. As an owner of all of these across my home, I feel more than snuffed by this. Not the first time Google skips its own devices, but it still hurts Rita El Khoury / Android Authority Ever since Google started venturing into the hardware game with the Nexus, Chromecast, Nest, and Pixel lines, there have been countless examples of a new OS update, firmware version, or feature coming to non-Google devices first. Circle To Search on the Galaxy S24 series and Wear OS 4 on the Galaxy Watch 4 are just some recent examples. That is to say that there's no written guarantee that you'll get the latest and greatest features first when you buy Google hardware, but the expectation is that, more often than not, you'll be one of the first people to have them. I was hoping that the Streamer would continue to be the first in line for new Google TV features. When the Google TV Streamer launched, it was the first — and only — Google TV unit with the smart home panel. It was also one of the few ones with the new favorite (magic) button on the remote control and the ability to find the remote by voice command. Having these gave me the wrong assurance that it would get more of Google TV's rollouts first, and one of those features I was hoping to see soon was Gemini. I'd love to have my TV guide me through a recipe while I cook, without me having to look down at my phone's tiny screen. Or to give me gardening advice or travel tips when I'm researching these on YouTube on my big screen and not finding the correct answers. Or to help me find music for my mood without asking for specific artists or playlists. My colleague C. Scott Brown got a demo of a more helpful Gemini on Google TV early this year, and it got me genuinely excited for this better assistant on my TV. Alas, my Google TV Streamer won't be getting Gemini anytime soon, at least according to Google and the 'no launch timeline' answer that it gave us. Buying the Google TV Streamer isn't a de facto choice like the Apple TV is for Apple fans or Fire TV boxes are for Amazon shoppers. No, in order to buy a Google TV Streamer, you'd almost have to go out of the usual ways and actively seek this specific box. That's why it's annoying to see Google shun it in favor of a partnership with another brand. The Streamer has a large proportion of enthusiasts who actively chose it and would love to test Gemini on it — at least more than any TCL unit ever would. Clearly, there'd be more Google and Gemini enthusiasts willing to test out the feature and push it to its limits on the Streamer than among those who'll pick up whatever TCL Google TV unit the integration will first launch on. But we don't get to do it. That's without mentioning the lack of a planned rollout for Nest Audio and Hub. I'm not sure what the hold-up is there, especially since it's a voice interface and Gemini's voice interface has been quite solid for months now. Is it even worth picking 'Made by Google' hardware anymore? Ryan Haines / Android Authority If you're not guaranteed early access to the latest features, then what's the point of picking Google hardware over another brand? Walmart makes cheaper Google TV boxes, Samsung makes great smartwatches, and there are dozens of brands that can make better cameras and more powerful hardware than Pixel phones. And all of them will likely have better after-sales servicing and support, too. So, what's the point of going with Google's hardware when the alternatives are, objectively, better? I admit I've asked myself this question a thousand times over the last few years, and the answer is becoming less and less clear with time. There was a certain aura to Google's hardware that's slowly fading because of sudden cancellations (Nest Secure), planned obsolescence (stripping away features from the Fitbit Versa/Sense and dumbing down the Nest Hub), botched long-term support (Pixel 4 battery snafu), and arbitrary limits around which device gets which feature first. And as much as I love Pixel Drops, I admit that it sucks to see new features take months and months before they trickle down to last year's hardware. Add on top of that Google's not-so-small obligation to keep its partners happy (see: Galaxy Watch models getting Wear OS versions first, and now TCL TVs getting Gemini first), and it's almost like every reason I had for picking up a Made by Google phone, watch, speaker, set-top box, or smart home gear is moot. Or at least not as black-and-white as it used to be. There's a big part of me that still gravitates towards Google's hardware — I won't deny that. I like the company's design language, its simplicity, and the fact that most things 'just work' together in an Apple-esque way. I love the niche feeling of owning something that not everyone has, of tinkering with it and trying to push it to its limits. Plus, the chance of getting new features first is still higher than any other Android brand out there, which is crucial for my line of work. But I'm no longer drinking the Kool-Aid, and I reckon the odds of picking non-Made by Google hardware are higher now than ever. Fool me once…
Black America Web
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
10 Artists Prince Actually Respected (And Even Admired)
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE On the anniversary of Prince's passing, we're looking back at the rare list of artists the Purple One genuinely showed love to. Prince was a once-in-a-generation creative force who operated on his own frequency. He guarded his art. His privacy. And, his praise…so when he did give it up, it meant something. RELATED: Prince Doc Canceled At Netflix, Estate Will Work With Streamer On Alternative He wasn't afraid to call folks out, go toe-to-toe with the industry, or protect his legacy at all costs. But every now and then, someone would break through that filter. From protégés and collaborators to fellow game-changers, these are the artists who earned Prince's respect, and in some cases, his mentorship. 10 Artists Prince Actually Respected (And Even Admired) was originally published on
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Yahoo
Following recent problems, Chromecasts are getting a free update to Android 14 – here's what that means
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Chromecast HD and 4K are getting Android 14 The update is mostly security patches and bug fixes It's probably time to buy the Google TV Streamer It hasn't been a great week so far for Chromecast and Chromecast Audio users: the 2015 versions of both devices have been suffering from what appears to be a server problem that won't let users Cast audio and video to them. So it's nice to report some good news. Google is now rolling out the Android 14 update for Chromecast with Google TV devices. As Android Police reports, Google discontinued the Chromecast line-up in 2024 in favor of the new Google TV Streamer. But Google did promise that while the older devices can't match the new Streamer in terms of hardware capability (the Streamer is also a Thread hub for smart homes), it still intended to bring them the Android 14 update. Don't expect a massively different experience when you install the update: almost all of the changes are under the hood. The main reason to want this upgrade is to plug any security holes that could leave your device vulnerable to villains. The updates vary in size depending on your device – the download is between 743 and 809MB – and it ups the operating system from Android 12 to Android 14. The update includes the January 2025 security patch and the usual changes for "system stability and improvements". It also adds support for the Google TV Streamer remote control's Find My Remote feature and button customization. This could be the last update for the 4K version, which is expected to stop getting security updates from September 2025; the HD Chromecast will get another two years of updates until its end of life in 2027. The Google TV Streamer is now finally worth buying in the UK Everything you need to know about the Google TV Streamer Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: it's the ultimate box fight
