Why I will not be making the soar from Chromecast to Google TV Streamer

The Google TV Streamer is Google’s newest foray into the streaming world, and it changed the outgoing Google Chromecast. As anyone seeking to retire my Chromecast 4K, I thought of making the apparent determination of going for the Streamer, however there have been a number of various things that gave me pause.

Whereas the Google TV Streamer looks like a superbly serviceable system, I would relatively not hop onto the primary iteration of one thing, even when it is constructing off the stable Google TV OS. What it largely comes all the way down to, for me at the least, is that Google’s new streamer would not do sufficient to make me need to go away the acquainted territory of the Apple TV 4K, my favourite streamer in the marketplace. My present plan is to select up a more recent Apple TV 4K and put my ageing first-gen one the place my Chromecast at present is. From there, my Chromecast goes right into a field the place it will keep till I get a TV arrange in my basement.

It isn’t completely Google’s fault, however there are some issues I have to see from the corporate earlier than I can totally take into account selecting up one other streamer from it.

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Apple has higher worth to supply me

And Google floor to make up

Apple / Pocket-lint

Apple has been refining the Apple TV 4K since 2017, and the unique Apple TV dates again even additional than that. Over time, tvOS has matured into a really stable piece of software program, and it is nonetheless stunning me with new options such as 21:9 support.

That is not saying Google cannot get there or is not shut, however as anyone who has been rocking a first-gen Apple TV 4K, I do not see the worth in going for Google’s new system. Value is an enormous issue right here, and at $100, it is actually not that far off from the $130 Apple TV 4K that has a number of extra options.

It is powerful to make the leap to a wholly new platform when the value is that shut, and it is even harder when you’ve gotten subscriptions via Apple that you would need to cancel and swap over to Google. I perceive that it is one thing it’s important to sit again and take into consideration if you happen to do not personal any streaming system, however that is not the case with me.

Pocket-lint’s assessment of the Google TV Streamer paints it as underwhelming, however notes that it is an improve over a Chromecast. It is a feature-rich product that helps all the fashionable HDR codecs, the audio codecs, and streams in 4K. For most individuals, it does all the pieces you’d need.

It would get higher over time

Timing is all the pieces

Google

Whereas I do not assume the Google Streamer has a spot in my house at this time, that does not imply it will not ever. In contrast to another Google merchandise that weren’t given the chance to mature, Google would not seem more likely to abandon the streamer. This implies issues that Apple is forward with, like 21:9 ultra-wide assist because of a late 2024 replace, might be within the playing cards for Google.

Sadly for Google, that point is just not proper now. So long as Apple affords a aggressive worth with Google, I do not see a motive to ditch the Apple TV 4K. This hole may widen much more if Apple decides to come back out with a streaming stick to pair with the present Apple TV, however that is a dialogue for one more day. It took me some time, however I’ve come to understand the Apple interface, and I do not actually really feel like ditching it to be taught one thing over again.

The hope I’ve is that Google offers this system time to construct up an viewers, one thing that is not at all times the case with the corporate — Stadia being an example. Contemplating how Chromecast caught round for so long as it did, I’ve religion Google will preserve constructing on the inspiration of the Streamer.

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How the Google Streamer can win me over

Hope is just not misplaced

9to5Google / Pocket-lint

Earlier than I grabbed an Apple TV 4K, I had by no means owned a single Apple product, and I by no means actually thought of getting one. What received me over was Dolby Atmos on Apple Music. I used to be searching for a service that would present what my encompass sound setup was able to, and it did simply that. To place it merely, I used to be received over by Apple because of options nothing else had.

There could come a time when Google has a function that I can not miss, however that is not the case proper now. I can not consider a lot the Google Streamer does that the Apple TV 4K would not. I am not an individual with a number of model loyalty, and I will go along with no matter the most effective product is.

The purpose is, there may be some form of function added to the Streamer, one which I can not even consider in the mean time, that may show to be a tipping level. That is additionally a scenario the place the cheaper price may come in useful. From the place I am sitting, there simply would not appear to be an enormous motive for me to ditch Apple and go to Google, even when I am shopping for a second system.

Whereas it isn’t an enormous deal for me, the Apple TV 4K having extra storage than the Google TV Streamer is an enormous promoting level for lots of people. Google may simply make up floor there with a future iteration, nevertheless it’s one other instance the place Apple comes forward.

I am not right here to yuck on anybody’s yum, and if you happen to picked up the Google system that you simply’re pleased with, then there’s nothing to fret about. I am certain it is a completely wonderful little machine that does what you ask of it. The large factor giving me pause is the pricing, and if Google may slash it down a bit extra, or add extra options to it, then I might give it one other look.

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