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Chromecast with Google TV

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Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#11

Post by move-on-by »

Oh boy, let me tell you about my LG Google TV (55GA7900). It was awesome when it was brand new, I really enjoyed being able to install various apps (this is pre-roku days where it wasn't common place). After a couple years, they moved on to Android TV - but everything still worked and they still pushed out some occasional updates. Well, a few more years went by and it became EOL. LG pushed out one final update which fixed a few things and disabled the update feature altogether (Android 4.2.2). Well guess what? The update was junk and made it where you could not scan for over-the-air channels. The scanner would just crash and no channels would be found. There was no way to go directly to a channel or manual add channels - scan only. So here I was with a smart tv that couldn't even watch TV over the air. I'm sure LG was also to blame, not just Google, but I sure wouldn't buy or recommend a google TV. Looks like they are now switching back to Google TV and the poor folks who were duped into getting an Android TV will be the next to experience abandonment.

More info on Google TV: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_TV

Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#12

Post by shajznnckfke »

IMO, Apple TV has been one of the strengths of the iOS ecosystem over Android. Chromecast has a lot of good integrations, but the dongle’s lack of a standalone UI with independent controls made it awkward for communal living room use. Looks like this could be a strong competitor and the price greatly undercuts Apple. I’m excited to try it out.

Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#13

Post by pmastela »

actuator wrote: post #4

The integration with Google search and Nest devices looks so awesome. An easy to access platform independent watchlist is quite convenient. I am surprised that they gave a button to Netflix as well on the remote. Though it does make sense considering YT and Netflix is what I use mostly on even Fire TV when not watching sports.

I did not notice until you pointed that out. I'd be willing to pay extra for a remote without the YouTube and Netflix buttons.

Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#14

Post by mercora »

does somebody here know if you could install live tv providers like you could do with the usual Android based devices? i am specifically talking about this[0] app. It probably highly depends on the availability of the app store or sideloading...

[0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.hedekonsult...

Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#15

Post by throwaways885 »

move-on-by wrote: post #11

Oh boy, let me tell you about my LG Google TV (55GA7900). It was awesome when it was brand new, I really enjoyed being able to install various apps (this is pre-roku days where it wasn't common place). After a couple years, they moved on to Android TV - but everything still worked and they still pushed out some occasional updates. Well, a few more years went by and it became EOL. LG pushed out one final update which…

Google TV is software which runs on Android TV devices made by Google. It's not a replacement of Android TV. It's akin to Windows Media Center running on Windows XP.

Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#16

Post by josteink »

actuator wrote: post #8
cobookman wrote: post #2

Is Google TV rebranded Android TV?

I think Google TV is the name of the device. From the launch livestream it looks like the same software will come to other Android TV devices as well.

So Google TV is a device which runs Android TV, which obviously supports Chromecast, because any Android TV device supports that, and lets you run apps such as YouTube and consume a US-only service called YouTube TV, just like any other Android TV device.

What’s unique about this? It sounds entirely underwhelming.

And I especially say that as someone who enthusiastically bought a Nexus Player, only to get rid off it a few weeks later.

Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#17

Post by clintonb »

move-on-by wrote: post #11

Oh boy, let me tell you about my LG Google TV (55GA7900). It was awesome when it was brand new, I really enjoyed being able to install various apps (this is pre-roku days where it wasn't common place). After a couple years, they moved on to Android TV - but everything still worked and they still pushed out some occasional updates. Well, a few more years went by and it became EOL. LG pushed out one final update which…

I had that TV years ago. I went through three of them before giving up and buying a Sony. Mine crashed every couple hours. LG sent a repair person to replace the main board. This fixed the crashing, but broke the tuner.

Given this happened twice, I sensed there was an issue with the complete model line and bailed. I actually boycotted LG products for a few years as a result of this experience.

Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#18

Post by animationwill »

dubcanada wrote: post #10

It seems to have multiple streaming services (I see The Boys from Prime, stuff from Disney, stuff from Netflix, etc) is that correct? Or do you need to go into Crave/Prime/Netflix to see the respective shows?

Not sure about this but I’ll mention The FireTV stick will show you shows from multiple services without entering those apps. And any given show/movie has a “more ways to watch” Option to show where else it’s available (such as when a specific app has it for free). I can also watch HBO shows directly in the firetv’s native viewer without entering the HBO “app”

Re: Chromecast with Google TV

#20

Post by basch »

throwaways885 wrote: post #15
move-on-by wrote: post #11

Oh boy, let me tell you about my LG Google TV (55GA7900). It was awesome when it was brand new, I really enjoyed being able to install various apps (this is pre-roku days where it wasn't common place). After a couple years, they moved on to Android TV - but everything still worked and they still pushed out some occasional updates. Well, a few more years went by and it became EOL. LG pushed out one final update which…

Google TV is software which runs on Android TV devices made by Google. It's not a replacement of Android TV. It's akin to Windows Media Center running on Windows XP.

Google TV was a predecessor to Android TV. Source I have one of each in the house, but also the wiki article in the post you replied to. Google TV may have run on top of Android, but it was its own Shell. The OS was still useful until a youtube update killed youtube on it. The TV came with a full keyboard on the remote.

The new Google TV is more akin to iPad OS and iOS splitting, where the TV and Phone variant can have their own identity, but from the looks of it, its starting out as just a single android app, and not a full on shell fork.

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