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Google TV

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Re: Google TV

#51

Post by crazygringo »

blakesterz wrote: post #4

Who is this website designed for? I'm on Chrome and it took me about a dozen presses of the space bar to get an idea of what Google TV is/does and then a bunch more to get some specifics and a price. I assume it looks different on mobile, maybe better / more useful? Remember the old book/saying "Don't Make Me Think"? (Krug, 2000. Wow, it's 20 years old now?!) This site made me think in ways that seem really unnecessa…

I don't mind scrolljacking when it's compelling.

My only problem is I've scrolled through the whole thing and I'm still not clear if Google TV is a website, a piece of hardware, a bundle of content, or what...?

It's clearly not just hardware because it says "Chromecast with Google TV". But then it definitely involves an app because it says "Use the app" and "Coming soon to smart TVs."

But I still am not exactly clear how it integrates with the streaming apps? In fact I have no idea whatsoever. Do I watch HBO and Netflix through Google TV? Or is Google TV just a glorified playlists app that lets me get recommendations across services, that then links out to watch them in separate apps? Is it a free app or a paid subscription service? Does it give me access to exclusive content? Or network TV?

I'm left with no idea why I would use this or not because I still don't know what it is.

Re: Google TV

#52

Post by theandrewbailey »

thedanbob wrote: post #19
blakesterz wrote: post #4

Who is this website designed for? I'm on Chrome and it took me about a dozen presses of the space bar to get an idea of what Google TV is/does and then a bunch more to get some specifics and a price. I assume it looks different on mobile, maybe better / more useful? Remember the old book/saying "Don't Make Me Think"? (Krug, 2000. Wow, it's 20 years old now?!) This site made me think in ways that seem really unnecessa…

I find this kind of scrolljacking presentation page incredibly annoying. I get it, it's beautiful and impressive, but it feels like a present that's wrapped with 15 different layers of paper.

I find it depressing knowing Google's track record for these kinds of things, and this probably won't be around in 5 years, at least under this name.

Re: Google TV

#53

Post by toby »

stickyricky wrote: post #20

This might be the wrong place to complain about this issue. But "smart" TVs need to be replaced with "dumb TV + set top box" bundles. As it is now, the best panels are obsolete after a year.

I bought my TV from Costco, it has Roku built-in and I think it gets the same software updates. The full integration has some advantages, like having a single remote that stops the playback when I turn the TV off.

Re: Google TV

#54

Post by Bedon292 »

Like many others, I got very confused by this branding.

Its a Chromecast (4k60 HDR HDMI Dongle) that is running Android TV (Which they appear to be calling Google TV). And a remote control with voice controls. [1]

Not sure I see any reason why someone should get this over an Nvidia Shield. Which at least has a track record of long term support. Certainly a lower price point though, so maybe a market there?

[1] https://store.google.com/us/product/chromecast_google_tv_spe...

Re: Google TV

#56

Post by benologist »

tracker1 wrote: post #46
pier25 wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My Nvidia Shield TV from 2015 is still doing great

likewise... been exceedingly happy with mine... though I'm on my third remote, went with a non-nvidia one this time.

Same. This recharger + 4 battery set has been invaluable with my remote.

https://www.amazon.com/Lithium-Battery-Charger-Rechargeable-...

Re: Google TV

#57

Post by evanextreme »

samizdis wrote: post #34
dougmwne wrote: post #17

Oh Google. So this is a reskin and rebrand of Android TV, launching for the first time on the new "Chromecast with Google TV". Not to be confused with a different Google TV from 10 years ago. It's unclear if they are sunsetting Android TV or supporting 2 branches of Android based TV interfaces. Side note, I have a TV with Android TV and it is chock-full-o-bugs. Only in the Google-verse.

Ars Article: Google merges Chromecast and Android TV with the “Chromecast with Google TV” https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2020/09/google-merges-chrome...

right, but that headline doesnt answer the underlying question. This chromecast runs Android TV, so what is Google TV? Is it an interface on top of Android TV, or the successor to Android TV as we know it? It says its coming to future TV's, so what about the Sony TV I just bought? There's so many questions about what this software even is.

Re: Google TV

#58

Post by qppo »

interestica wrote: post #23
blakesterz wrote: post #4

Who is this website designed for? I'm on Chrome and it took me about a dozen presses of the space bar to get an idea of what Google TV is/does and then a bunch more to get some specifics and a price. I assume it looks different on mobile, maybe better / more useful? Remember the old book/saying "Don't Make Me Think"? (Krug, 2000. Wow, it's 20 years old now?!) This site made me think in ways that seem really unnecessa…

It's designed for regular scrolling. Spacebar jumps break the flow. The goal here isn't to give you information fit for a short one-pager -- it's to create a story and bring you along. It works surprisingly well in Opera (chrome-based).

Scrolling it with a touchbar made me nauseous.

Re: Google TV

#59

Post by yesplorer »

blakesterz wrote: post #4

Who is this website designed for? I'm on Chrome and it took me about a dozen presses of the space bar to get an idea of what Google TV is/does and then a bunch more to get some specifics and a price. I assume it looks different on mobile, maybe better / more useful? Remember the old book/saying "Don't Make Me Think"? (Krug, 2000. Wow, it's 20 years old now?!) This site made me think in ways that seem really unnecessa…

I'm on Firefox mobile for Android and I had to scroll over and over with elements moving all over the place so I abandoned it to come and read comments so I can find out what it is really about.

Re: Google TV

#60

Post by roneythomas6 »

ketralnis wrote: post #32

I owned the Logitech Google TV which I bought for about $300 early in its lifespan. After about a year they shipped some really bad updates to it that made it so slow that it was essentially unuseable and removed several key features, and then never shipped another update to it again. Logitech and Google both lost interest in it and after not long all of the apps like Netflix and even Google's own Youtube stopped wor…

My Chromecast from 2013 still works.
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