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 someone trying to retire my Chromecast 4K, I thought of making the apparent choice 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 wonderfully serviceable machine, I would somewhat not hop onto the primary iteration of one thing, even when it is constructing off the strong Google TV OS. What it largely comes right down to, for me a minimum of, is that Google’s new streamer would not do sufficient to make me need to depart 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 the moment 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 think about 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 strong piece of software program, and it is nonetheless shocking me with new options such as 21:9 support.

That is not saying Google cannot get there or is not shut, however as someone who has been rocking a first-gen Apple TV 4K, I do not see the worth in going for Google’s new machine. 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 robust to make the leap to a wholly new platform when the value is that shut, and it is even harder when you’ve subscriptions by 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 in case you do not personal any streaming machine, however that is not the case with me.

Pocket-lint’s evaluate 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 trendy HDR codecs, the audio codecs, and streams in 4K. For most individuals, it does the whole lot you’d need.

It would get higher over time

Timing is the whole lot

Google

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

Sadly for Google, that point just isn’t proper now. So long as Apple provides a aggressive worth with Google, I do not see a purpose to ditch the Apple TV 4K. This hole might widen much more if Apple decides to come back out with a streaming stick to pair with the prevailing 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 once more.

The hope I’ve is that Google offers this machine 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 just isn’t 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 might 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 am unable to miss, however that is not the case proper now. I am unable to consider a lot the Google Streamer does that the Apple TV 4K would not. I am not an individual with quite a lot of model loyalty, and I will go along with no matter one of the best product is.

The purpose is, there may be some kind of function added to the Streamer, one which I am unable to even consider in the intervening time, that may show to be a tipping level. That is additionally a scenario the place the lower cost might come in useful. From the place I am sitting, there simply would not appear to be an enormous purpose for me to ditch Apple and go to Google, even when I am shopping for a second machine.

Whereas it is not 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 might simply make up floor there with a future iteration, but it surely’s one other instance the place Apple comes forward.

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

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