Milestones in Google branding:<p>2010-05-20: <i>Google introduces Google TV</i> at Google I/O (<a href="https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/announcing-google-tv-tv-meets-web-web.html" rel="nofollow">https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/announcing-google-tv...</a> , <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASZbArr7vdI" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASZbArr7vdI</a>)<p>2014-06-24: <i>Google introduces Android TV</i> at Google I/O (<a href="https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/09/introducing-android-11-on-android-tv.html" rel="nofollow">https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2020/09/introducin...</a> , <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3dCUPeyhag" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3dCUPeyhag</a>), a rebranding of Google TV<p>2017-02-28: <i>Google introduces YouTube TV</i> (<a href="https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/finally-live-tv-made-for-you" rel="nofollow">https://blog.youtube/news-and-events/finally-live-tv-made-fo...</a>)<p>2020-09-30: <i>Google introduces Google TV</i>, which might be a rebranding of Android TV back to Google TV, but I'm not sure.
I owned the Logitech Google TV which I bought for about $300 early in its lifespan. After about a year they shipped some really bad updates to it that made it so slow that it was essentially unuseable and removed several key features, and then never shipped another update to it again. Logitech and Google both lost interest in it and after not long all of the apps like Netflix and even Google's own Youtube stopped working because of changes to the underlying services.<p>Will this be different? I doubt it. I'm not putting more money into Google hardware to find out that they'll break it and then lose interest.<p>Meanwhile my second gen Apple TV is working great.
Goodness me, this is an exemplary example of the type of website that I just cannot abide.<p>Style over content, and the presentation just plain getting in the way of the information, to the point that the user ends up leaving rather than finding out what the site is attempting to convey.<p>Awful. Just awful.
God bless the google tech lead whose promotion this iteration of google tv would end up supporting.<p>Jokes apart, I am not buying that <i>this time is different</i>. as much as it pains me to say, google needs a little power to the product managers to push through a consistent vision of consumer product side.
Wow, and on the heels of the disastrous price hike in Youtube TV because well gee those content guys are so MEAN they want all the dollarz. I also like Google Chat you know its like that thing we got rid of years ago, went through about six evolutions and came back to but without the interoperability with other systems that actually made the first one useful.<p>It makes me wonder if there is anyone working at Google who understands what the term "value added" even means.<p>Maybe they should just buy Roku and crap on that. After all Roku is moving into an analytics for sale company away from a streaming company. Why? Because everyone wants to be a portal but they can't afford to be with the studios demanding extortionate sums for their content. So instead of getting money for bringing you the content (because they have to pass on more than they can afford to the content owner) they sell their observation of people watching content to people who want to make content that people watch which is "their data" because it happened on "their device."<p>It makes me physically ill sometimes with how messed up this whole system came to be.
Oh Google. So this is a reskin and rebrand of Android TV, launching for the first time on the new "Chromecast with Google TV". Not to be confused with a different Google TV from 10 years ago. It's unclear if they are sunsetting Android TV or supporting 2 branches of Android based TV interfaces. Side note, I have a TV with Android TV and it is chock-full-o-bugs. Only in the Google-verse.
Almost a 1:1 copy of the Apple TV app just with a worse copy of website <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app" rel="nofollow">https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-app</a>, not new but ever so disappointing Google adds so little new to ideas they decide to adopt
Ok, maybe I'm the only one, but I'm actually excited about this.<p>It appears to be an aggregation service. Instead of individually searching across N platforms for content (hulu, disney+, youtube, crunchyroll, netflix, etc), you can now just use a single app (Google TV) which will allows you to search and stream across all platforms you are subscribed to.<p>Furthermore you can cast stuff directly to chromecast from Google TV as well as watch locally on your device.
I think the practice of killing off streaming services and projects that aren't "core" is a huge liability for Google. Why should I invest time and money in a service or product that might be killed off in a few years?<p>We need to reward companies that keep things alive for longer. I got an iPhone recently (over a somewhat cheaper Android) precisely because Apple provides OS updates for longer than any other smartphone maker. Sometimes over 5 years.<p>Especially as tech products have started to somewhat plateau in functionality, I value longevity over features or performance.
I detest turning on my TV and getting ads from the TV itself (recommendations). I detest it even more of there is some show/celebrity I don't want to see but every day for a week/month whatever it's shoved in my face.<p>I'm happy Apple TV (the device not the service) starts up with no ads. Android TV / Google TV is all ads (for shows). I managed to manually turn them off but now my is super ugly. You can't set a startup image or anything since it's reserved for ads. (well, short of writing my own launcher)<p>I don't know what I'm going to do for my next TV. I'd love to get a dumb TV but casually glancing through options it looks hard to find a dumb TV with high end features for a reasonable price. Most of the display oriented monitors seem to be 4x-10x the price and/or use 10yr old tech.
I was slightly confused by this as well but I think I got the gist. It's a chromecast interface/OS so that Google knows what you're watching on Netflix, Amazon Prime and other apps
Did Google manage to convince Netflix to allow them to monitor what you watch on Netflix? This is one of the biggest holes in Apple TV (the app, on Apple TV, the box) - it knows most of what you watch and can make recommendations for Hulu, HBO, Prime, etc. and manage your queue <i>except for</i> Netflix.
Google just deprecated Android TV as well: <a href="https://9to5google.com/2020/09/30/android-tv-replaced-google-tv-update/" rel="nofollow">https://9to5google.com/2020/09/30/android-tv-replaced-google...</a>
I was very confused then I remembered I was subscribed to _YouTube TV_ not _Google TV_.<p>Then I was confused again- is this an actual TV? Oh it's a dongle- no, wait, that's a Chromecast with Google TV.<p>Anyway, I guess this is a new content app like Hulu.
Talk about a product with a foot in the grave already.<p>It honestly makes me angry how much human capital was wasted on making this. Everything about this is a UX nightmare, from the scrolljacking site, to the apps-in-apps UI, to the abomination of a remote. This is such a waste.
This might be the wrong place to complain about this issue. But "smart" TVs need to be replaced with "dumb TV + set top box" bundles. As it is now, the best panels are obsolete after a year.
The inconsistency is the worst part about the scroll linked effects on this website. Sometimes scrolling causes a huge change to the content, almost like scrolling to the next slide in powerpoint. Other times scrolling simply moves the text a little bit.
"Chromecast with Google TV requires a TV with an HDMI port"<p>How come nearly all video dongles want you to plug them into an HDMI port on your TV? Wouldn't it make more sense to plug them in to an HDMI port on your A/V receiver?<p>Unless you have a fairly recent TV and receiver, the TV can only send up to 5.1 DTS or Dolby compressed audio to the receiver, due to bandwidth limits of ARC. You need a system with eARC if you want to handle more, like Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, and the like, or uncompressed 5.1.<p>Also, with all video sources going through the receiver, it is one less remote to deal with. The only function you need on the TV is power on/power off, and one of your other remotes almost certainly will know or be able to be taught the TV's on/off code.<p>Another advantage of that approach is that you don't have a need, after initial setup, to look at any of the control or setting or information screens of your TV, which means if you've got a Smart TV that has started festooning those screes with ads, you don't see them.
Is anyone else struck by how similar this looks to Apple TV? It looks like a straight up clone, down to the remote and interface. Only difference is that it looks like it dangles from your TV and has Assistant instead of Siri.
Like many others, I got very confused by this branding.<p>Its a Chromecast (4k60 HDR HDMI Dongle) that is running Android TV (Which they appear to be calling Google TV). And a remote control with voice controls. [1]<p>Not sure I see any reason why someone should get this over an Nvidia Shield. Which at least has a track record of long term support. Certainly a lower price point though, so maybe a market there?<p>[1] <a href="https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv_specs" rel="nofollow">https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv_spe...</a>
I know others have mentioned it but really the behavior of the scroll on this website is some of the worst I've seen in recent web design. It's completely inconsistent in how it behaves - sometimes it actually scrolls, other times it is shrinking and moving panes around on the screen. It's impressive that they were able to do it yes, but it is one of the most jarring experiences scrolling a website I've ever seen and did make me feel a bit dizzy and felt like scrolling wasn't actually working.<p>Maybe I'm just getting old lol
Why would I want the same dumb Google Assistant in my tv?!<p>It would help if they would put some actual effort into the services behind Google Home/ Mini let alone Google Assistant before expanding hardware options.
I'm really confused as to whether this is Google's blessed Android TV spin (like Android TV with a different home screen), or a rebranding of Android TV.
Actually makes sense from the perspective of Google's mission of "organizing world's information", as finding stuff to watch these days reminds of pre-google web.<p>Problem of course is that in practice Google nowadays is really about "organizing world's ads", so I am sure they will find more than one way to screw this up by insulting the intelligence of people using it.
FYI if you are planning to anyways pay for Netflix for the next 6 months then you can pick up one of these for effectively ~$10 through a bundle (<a href="https://store.google.com/us/config/chromecast_google_tv_netflix" rel="nofollow">https://store.google.com/us/config/chromecast_google_tv_netf...</a>).
Looking at the Samsung TV ads fiasco, First Gen Google TV, new Google TV, Apple TV,<p>It seems the whole TV viewing experience, both hardware and software is still mess, just like it was 10 years ago. I guess Steve [1] described it best, the lack of Go to Market Strategy.<p>I sometimes wonder why cant we build a Tuner that works on all International market.<p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2012/11/29/3704270/how-apple-can-build-next-generation-tv" rel="nofollow">https://www.theverge.com/2012/11/29/3704270/how-apple-can-bu...</a>
Why Google? Why? How is this different than Chromecast? What is the upgrade path from Chromecast.<p>There should be some law against Google launching products that invalidates existing products in their own lineup. Google PMs are high on adwords/adsense revenues trying to score points via product launches to get higher bonuses. That is an apt summary of Google's internal political economy.<p>Time to get an Apple TV and get off the Google ecoystem. <i>sigh</i>.
I had no idea Google has its own tld.<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.google" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.google</a>
I purchased Android TV devices for my family and I when Android TV was first released because Google claimed it was going to be the next big thing. The software development and app store seemed to basically be abandoned by Google shortly after. Even the apps for Googles own services (youtube) seemed to be thrown together and worked very poorly. I don't think I would ever consider Google for a service/device like this again...
Finally out of beta!<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9SK_M_nVWA" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9SK_M_nVWA</a>
I'm hoping this just means an OS update for those of us with NVidia Shield TV devices (or other Android TV devices). Better app/search integration would be nice, but I'm not giving up local/network playback options, and really don't want to see the apps languish (netflix, hulu, amazon prime, etc) too much.<p>Something, something, cold dead hands.
This webpage is worse than Apple ones for side scrolling and just bad at conveying information in general. The videos are too distracting, and it doesn’t seem to be very clear what the product is.<p>Not the page’s fault (maybe), but it kept triggering reader mode on my phone multiple times as I scrolled down.
The internet has come full circle: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9SK_M_nVWA&ab_channel=infinitesolutions" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9SK_M_nVWA&ab_channel=infin...</a><p>(Hoax video from 2007 about how to get Google TV)
I will openly admit to hating Google but found the scrolling effect on this website quite beautiful.<p>However, it would have to jump out of the TV and make me a bacon sandwich before I allowed Google to track what I was watching that evening.<p>Even then I would delete the app having ate the bacon sandwich.
I wonder when they would start shipping Google TV software on smart TVs.<p>Every high-end TV today comes with some sort of OS pre-installed. So a set-top box in 2020 is not a very popular device. Even Apple figured it out and released Apple TV app on most smart TV platforms.
Do we know if this is it for all future Chromecasts?
Because the only reason I'm using one is due to the lack of a remote, it lets me treat my TV like the big dumb monitor that it is.<p>If they're going all in on remotes, then I need to move back to DLNA.
Why do I need dedicated remote buttons for Youtube and Netflix if this thing is so smart? Regardless of the reason, why do I not get buttons for all the other apps it integrates with, or reprogrammable buttons?
I got motion sick while trying to read this webpage. Apparently scrolling counts as motion to the brain and all the crazy flying icons set it off. I don’t normally get motion sickness, either.
I've tried to click in the `live` menu item expecting to watch some live stuff, that actually started really well with a soccer game only to realize that this is not actually live at all.
I’m a bit sad they didn’t take Apple’s approach and use USB to recharge the remote. With Apple TV I just plug it into the wall once every 6-9 months for 30mins. No battery waste.
I have no idea what this is. Do they sell an actual TV? Or is it just a Chromecast-like dongle? Does it work on every TV or do I need a smart TV? What does it do?
I just got an email from Google saying<p>> The Google Play Movies & TV app on Android mobile devices in the U.S. is now Google TV.<p>I'm not in U.S., though, so I guess no rebranding for me...
"TV personalised for you.<p>Movies and shows are grouped in ways that reflect your interests."<p>I can't be the only one who _wants_ to be surprised, out of their usual bubble of interest, at least sometimes.<p>How can one tell this to all these "clever" things?
I can chromecast youtube to my TV already.<p>I have firetv dongle(two of them) that can run youtube too.<p>Roku is also pretty popular in this space.<p>Some also uses apple tv(not an Apple fan here)<p>what google tv buy me? what's its unique selling point? that was not very clear to me.
Ok, I'm asking: what features does this (or the apple one, or the nvidia shield, or the roku stuff) give you that can't be given by a Raspberry Pi + libreelec + kodi?
It looks like a shameless ripoff of Apple TV. I wouldn’t have been surprised if it were made by Huawei (or similar); but for Google to stoop to that level? Tsk tsk tsk
Who is this website designed for? I'm on Chrome and it took me about a dozen presses of the space bar to get an idea of what Google TV is/does and then a bunch more to get some specifics and a price. I assume it looks different on mobile, maybe better / more useful?<p>Remember the old book/saying "Don't Make Me Think"? (Krug, 2000. Wow, it's 20 years old now?!)<p>This site made me think in ways that seem really unnecessary.<p>Serious question, why is this site designed like this, I honestly don't understand the goal here. It's like a slideshow? People in general are so interested in this they do actually page through it? I feel like it took some real effort to finally learn things that should've been on page 1.
Great idea with 1 fatal flaw: it requires my TV to be connected to the internet. NOPE.<p>Besides the fact that many TV manufactures are owned by Chinese government subsidiaries, it's simply not safe to connect a TV to the internet. Who's collecting and selling the data? Why are they taking screen captures and sending them off to who-knows-where? Your TV spies on you[1].<p>Instead, my TV stays offline and I use an Apple TV. At least I know they're not selling my data to advertisers, and the experience is quite good.<p>[1] <a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/fbi-warns-about-snoopy-smart-tvs-spying-on-you/" rel="nofollow">https://www.zdnet.com/article/fbi-warns-about-snoopy-smart-t...</a>