TLDR
- Google is discontinuing its Chromecast device after 11 years
- The new Google TV Streamer will replace Chromecast, priced at $100
- The Google TV Streamer features AI capabilities powered by Gemini
- It has improved specs including 32GB storage and 4GB RAM
- The device will be available starting September 24, 2024
Google announced it will stop making its popular Chromecast streaming device. The company is replacing it with a new product called the Google TV Streamer. This new device will cost $100 and go on sale September 24, 2024.
The Chromecast first came out in 2013. It let people add streaming features to any TV with an HDMI port for a low price. Google sold over 100 million Chromecasts in the past 11 years. But now the company wants to make a more advanced streaming device.
The new Google TV Streamer is bigger than a Chromecast. It’s shaped like an oval and is 6.4 inches long. Inside, it has more powerful parts. These include 32GB of storage space and 4GB of memory. It also has a special chip that lets it use Google’s AI technology called Gemini.
One of the main new features is AI-powered content summaries. The device can give overviews of TV shows, including full plot summaries and reviews. It can even break down content season by season. Google says the AI will help suggest shows and movies across all of a user’s streaming subscriptions.
The Google TV Streamer supports high-quality video and sound, including Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. It has an HDMI 2.1 port and a port for wired internet. It also works with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The device comes with a new remote control. The volume buttons are now on the front instead of the side. There’s also a special button users can set up to do things like control smart home devices or open their favorite streaming app. If someone loses the remote, they can press a button on the back of the streamer to make the remote beep.
When not being used to watch TV, the Google TV Streamer can show screensavers. Users can have it create images using AI or show their own photos from Google Photos.
The new device also works as a smart home hub. It supports Matter, a new technology that helps smart home devices work together. Users can control things like lights and thermostats through their TV screen.
Google will keep selling existing Chromecast models in stores that already have them, but only until they run out. The company has stopped making new Chromecasts. Chromecasts that people already own will still get software updates to keep them working and secure.
The Google TV Streamer costs more than a Chromecast, which was about $50 for the 4K version. It’s priced the same as an Apple TV 4K, but it costs less than some other high-end streaming boxes like the Nvidia Shield TV Pro.
Google started taking pre-orders for the new device on August 6, 2024. It will come in two colors: white and green. The company says the Google TV Streamer is part of its plan to “evolve the smart TV streaming device category” by adding more features and AI capabilities.
