Googles new streaming TV gadget is a great alternative to Roku or Amazon Fire TV – CNBC

Chromecast with Google Television

There are a lot of apps you can download for Google Television, but you actually have to understand what youre looking for due to the fact that theres no dedicated “store” to browse through them all in one place. This can be kind of difficult if you just desire to download the Peloton app.

I actually like that voice button since it synchronizes right into Google Assistant, similar to a Fire TV can tap into Amazon Alexa. You can ask the weather and your TV will reveal you the projection. Or, if you have a Google Nest video camera like I do, you can pull up a video eat your screen. Google Assistant can tap into all sorts of things, like Maps to show you where the nearby coffee shop is. Unlike Amazon Fire TV, however, you cant look for things from the voice remote.

Google.

It also makes recommendations based upon motion pictures or programs youve enjoyed. Best of all, it doesnt have any advertisements like Roku or Amazon do.

Similarly, the “Library” tab is laid out truly strange. Those all appear if youve purchased a bunch of motion pictures through the Google Play Movies shop (now simply called Google TV) on an Android phone. However its simply a long horizontal list of what I own. I d prefer a complete page of movies and television programs provided in alphabetical order. This might easily be repaired with software changes.

Heres what you need to know about it.

Finally– and I understand Im in a really small portion of users who cares about this– the Chromecast with Google TV doesnt formally support Googles Stadia video game streaming service yet. You can get it to work with messing around, but its not rather there yet. Google is working to include this at some point next year.

Google

The brand-new $50 Chromecast with Google TV is Googles first real rival to the Roku and Amazon Fire Television..

All of this is easy to navigate with the remote. Theres a button to browse by voice, a home secret, a back key, an omni-directional circular bar for moving through apps, and dedicated buttons to launch YouTube and Netflix. You can likewise alter television inputs or adjust the volume from the remote.

The “Live TV” page is great if you register for YouTube TV, considering that it shows a standard menu of shows that looks extremely comparable to what you d discover on a cable television box. And you can tape unlimited shows with a YouTube TV membership and pull them up on your TV or any gadget with the YouTube television app. I had a few days where the channel I was enjoying would freeze, however it might have simply been a slow web connection where I had it placed.

Google.

Whats bad about the Chromecast with Google TV.

Google.

The Google TV software has 7 menu alternatives at the top of the screen that are truly simple: Search, For You, Live, Movies, Shows, Apps and Library. I like that the “For You” page draws in films and television shows from memberships you spend for, like Hulu or Netflix, which you dont need to open those apps to see what may be popular in any of them.

Google.

Chromecast with Google TV remote.

Previously, the Chromecast let you play material on your computer system, however you needed to pick material on your phone. Now it has a whole brand-new software application experience, that makes it feel a lot more like a Roku, Amazon Fire TV or an Apple TV. It indicates Google might lastly have the ability to take some market share far from leaders Amazon and Roku.

It brings a lot of features that never ever existed on a Chromecast in the past, like a full remote and brand name brand-new Google television software that makes it easier to discover films and TV programs. And it connects into all sorts of services, like Hulu, HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+ and more.

Chromecast with Google Television.

The new Chromecast is super easy to use. You simply plug it in to your TVs HDMI port– every modern-day TV has one– and turn it on.

There are other things some people will appreciate, too, like 4K assistance and Dolby Atmos for much better surround-sound. I utilize it on a 1080p television and dont have Dolby Atmos speakers here, so I dont use those features, but its fantastic to have in a gadget that costs $50.

Chromecast with Google Television.

Chromecast with Google TV.

Whats excellent about the Chromecast with Google TV.

Should you purchase the Chromecast with Google Television?

Chromecast with Google Television.

If youre looking for a new streaming TV, you really cant go wrong here. Youll benefit even more if you utilize the Google Television app on a phone to add movies and TV programs to your watchlist, which then sync to your TV.

If you already have and like Amazon Fire Television or Roku, those are still terrific platforms with their own strengths. But if youve been searching for something various, the new Chromecast with Google TV is remarkable.

Google.

Now it has an entire brand-new software experience, which makes it feel a lot more like a Roku, Amazon Fire TV or an Apple TV. The “Live TV” page is great if you subscribe to YouTube TV, considering that it shows a standard menu of programs that looks extremely comparable to what you d discover on a cable box. And you can record endless programs with a YouTube Television membership and pull them up on your TV or any gadget with the YouTube TV app.– and I know Im in a really small percentage of users who cares about this– the Chromecast with Google Television does not formally support Googles Stadia video game streaming service. Youll benefit even more if you utilize the Google Television app on a phone to include films and Television programs to your watchlist, which then sync to your TV.