Chromecast

If you're using a device with Google TV, today's the first day you'll be able to use Apple TV+, officially. You might've been able to side-load the app before, if you had the extreme urge, but now it's out for real. Chances are you're using a Chromecast with Google TV device, and on this device you have a slightly smaller selection of apps available to you than you would with Android TV - but that's changing fairly quickly.

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Google TV is now a rather confusing name given it could refer to one of two things. It could, for example, refer to the new name for the Play Movies & TV app or it could be the new Google-specific interface for Android TV, specifically on the new Chromecast with Google TV. Despite its shared roots with Android, however, there are some things that are missing from the new Google TV that have some parents worried. Fortunately, Google will be pushing an update that partially addresses that, at least as far as parental controls are concerned.

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The device called "Chromecast with Google TV" is now one of an elite few devices in the world to have access to all major video subscription services. Of course, that'll only really interest you if you're subscribed to or plan on being subscribed to all the major streaming video subscription services - but still! Imagine having a single dongle dangling from the back of your TV with the ability to access all the services!

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Although Google Play Music and YouTube Music have existed side-by-side for a couple of years, the latter became rather controversial after Google decided to replace the former with it. Not everyone has been happy with the transition, with some missing core features available from Google Play Music. To its credit, YouTube Music is slowly adding those features and has today opened two more doors that could put it on par with Google's old music streaming service.

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Google did more than just announce a new Chromecast this week. It also muddled once again its narrative for one of its most confusing ecosystems next to messaging: entertainment. Both a platform on its own and a custom experience on top of Android TV, Google TV brings another name and brand to Google's already messy products and services lineup which is bound to become even more confusing soon. But as if to show that everything is really connected, Google is now offering a free Chromecast with Google TV for those signing up for a new YouTube TV account.

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This week Google held its annual big Fall event with devices like the Google Pixel 5 and the new Nest Audio. In this event they revealed the newest iteration of their smart TV platform, Google TV, built on Android TV. They also revealed that they have another Google Pixel 4a - this time with 5G and a surprisingly different bit of industrial design.

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Back in September, Microsoft launched Project xCloud game streaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Project xCloud allows players to stream certain Xbox One games to their Android device, giving them a way to play console-quality games on mobile phone with no big downloads needed. It's a nice perk for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, to be sure, and apparently it works on more than just Android phones.

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The new Chromecast is Google's most powerful media dongle and finally addresses the issue of the missing remote, but all I could think about when I first saw it was... why did they make it in three different colors? On sale from today, the $49.99 streaming adapter can be had in Snow, Sunrise, and Sky, which seems a weird decision when you consider you'll probably only get to enjoy those finishes for a couple of minutes before you plug it in behind the TV.

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Google has a new streaming gadget hoping to get one of your TV's coveted HDMI ports, and the Chromecast with Google TV promises smarter suggestions and less "ugh, what should we watch" confusion in return. Announced during Google's big Pixel 5 event today, 2020's revamped Chromecast also adds a voice-powered remote control and a new interface built on top of Android TV.

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Today we're taking a peek at Google's newest iteration of their smart TV experience. This new version is called Google TV, not to be confused with the old product (also called Google TV, defunct for quite a few years now), this new Google TV system is built on Android TV, making the best of the features that work, and modifying and improving those that have not worked to Google's satisfaction.

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If you thought Sony bungled up its PlayStation 5 pre-orders, then you might find yourself face-palming over this Google mess. To be fair, overeager retailers may have been the ones that jumped the gun with the PS5 brouhaha and they may be to blame yet again for pushing the "sell" button too early. It appears that both Home Depot and Walmart have already started selling the Chromecast with Google TV, a.k.a. "Sabrina", two days before Google even has the chance to fully reveal what it is.

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Google has scheduled an event at the end of the month but, by the time it rolls around, everyone may already know everything it has to say. From the Pixel 5 to the pillow-like new Nest speaker, Google's hardware line up has been leaking left and right. While there's still room for some of the finer details, these pair of leaks for a new Nest product and a new Chromecast pretty much confirm at least how Google's upcoming smart home devices will look on shelves or on your drawer.

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