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 resolution of going for the Streamer, however there have been a couple of various things that gave me pause.

Whereas the Google TV Streamer looks as if a wonderfully serviceable system, I might relatively 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 at the very least, is that Google’s new streamer would not do sufficient to make me wish 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 getting older first-gen one the place my Chromecast presently is. From there, my Chromecast goes right into a field the place it’s going to keep till I get a TV arrange in my basement.

It is not solely Google’s fault, however there are some issues I have to see from the corporate earlier than I can absolutely think about choosing 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. Through the years, tvOS has matured into a really strong 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 someone 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 couple of extra options.

It is powerful to make the leap to a wholly new platform when the worth is that shut, and it is even more durable when you might have subscriptions by Apple that you would need to cancel and swap over to Google. I perceive that it is one thing it’s a must to sit again and take into consideration when you 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 every part you’d need.

It would get higher over time

Timing is every part

Google

Whereas I do not suppose the Google Streamer has a spot in my residence at the moment, 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 more likely to abandon the streamer. This implies issues that Apple is forward with, like 21:9 ultra-wide assist due to a late 2024 replace, could possibly be within the playing cards for Google.

Sadly for Google, that point shouldn’t be proper now. So long as Apple presents 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 return out with a streaming stick to pair with the prevailing Apple TV, however that is a dialogue for an additional 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 study one thing once more.

The hope I’ve is that Google provides this system time to construct up an viewers, one thing that is not all the time 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 hold constructing on the muse of the Streamer.

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How the Google Streamer can win me over

Hope shouldn’t be 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 due to options nothing else had.

There might 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 plenty of model loyalty, and I will go along with no matter the perfect product is.

The purpose is, there is likely to be some kind of function added to the Streamer, one which I am unable to even consider in the mean time, that may show to be a tipping level. That is additionally a scenario the place the lower cost may turn out to be 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, but it surely’s one other instance the place Apple comes forward.

I am not right here to yuck on anybody’s yum, and when you picked up the Google system that you simply’re proud of, 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 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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