Why I won’t be making the jump from Chromecast to Google TV Streamer Leave a comment

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Abstract

• Apple affords higher worth.
• Google must catch up.
• Google TV Streamer could enhance over time.

The Google TV Streamer is Google’s newest foray into the streaming world, and it changed the outgoing Google Chromecast. As any person trying to retire my Chromecast 4K, I considered making the apparent choice of going for the Streamer, however there have been a couple of various things that gave me pause.

Whereas the Google TV Streamer looks like a superbly serviceable gadget, I might slightly 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 no less than, is that Google’s new streamer does not do sufficient to make me need to depart the acquainted territory of the Apple TV 4K, my favourite streamer available on the market. My present plan is to select up a more moderen 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’s going to keep till I get a TV arrange in my basement.

It isn’t fully Google’s fault, however there are some issues I must see from the corporate earlier than I can totally think about selecting up one other streamer from it.

Apple has higher worth to supply me

And Google floor to make up

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 shocking me with new options such as 21:9 support.

That is not saying Google cannot get there or is not shut, however as any person who has been rocking a first-gen Apple TV 4K, I do not see the worth in going for Google’s new gadget. 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 robust to make the leap to a completely new platform when the worth is that shut, and it is even harder when you could have subscriptions by Apple that you would need to cancel and swap over to Google. I perceive that it is one thing you need to sit again and take into consideration in case you do not personal any streaming gadget, 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.

For those who’re already within the Google ecosystem, a Google TV Streamer is smart, and the identical goes for Apple homeowners going for an Apple TV 4K.

It’d get higher over time

Timing is the whole lot

Whereas I do not suppose the Google Streamer has a spot in my residence as we speak, that does not imply it will not ever. In contrast to another Google merchandise that weren’t given the chance to mature, Google does 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 will not be proper now. So long as Apple affords a aggressive worth with Google, I do not see a cause 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 present 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 yet again.

The hope I’ve is that Google offers this gadget 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 hold constructing on the muse of the Streamer.

How the Google Streamer can win me over

Hope will not be misplaced

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 characteristic 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 does not. I am not an individual with numerous model loyalty, and I am going to go together with no matter the most effective product is.

I nonetheless do not personal one other Apple product, though I might profit vastly from an iPhone or iPad with my Apple TV.

The purpose is, there is perhaps some type of characteristic added to the Streamer, one which I am unable to even consider for the time being, that may show to be a tipping level. That is additionally a state of affairs the place the lower cost might come in useful. From the place I am sitting, there simply does not appear to be an enormous cause for me to ditch Apple and go to Google, even when I am shopping for a second gadget.

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, however it’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 gadget that you just’re proud of, then there’s nothing to fret about. I am positive it is a completely high quality little machine that does what you ask of it. The large 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’d give it one other look.