Simple Google TV Streamer upgrades might flip it into a real Apple TV competitor

Google’s long-awaited and much-anticipated replace to its Chromecast lastly got here alongside late final yr. The aptly-named Google TV Streamerwas a major enchancment on its predecessor, with quicker efficiency and an improved design. Nevertheless, it was launched to a reasonably crowded streaming device market.

It has been nearly six months, providing loads of time to mirror on its strengths and weaknesses. There’s a lot Google TV Streamer can present for the devoted content material client, however there are some areas it may possibly enhance. This is what Google wants to repair as a way to high Apple TV, Roku TV, and the numerous others preventing on this saturated business.

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1 Wi-Fi improve will probably be wanted

The spec is just not prepared for the longer term

Maybe the most important situation with Google TV Streamer is that it does not assist Wi-Fi 6. As a substitute, it is nonetheless working with Wi-Fi 5, which completely can assist 4K HDR streaming, however it’s nonetheless inferior to the next-generation know-how. Wi-Fi 6 is quicker. To paraphrase Nigel Tufnel, “Nicely it is another, is not it?”

The primary purpose streamers would need to make the most of Wi-Fi 6 is as a result of it operates higher in crowded environments. When lots of people are doing a number of issues on the identical community on the identical time, a greater model is useful. You is likely to be streaming one thing in 4K whereas additionally in your telephone or iPad and for those who stay with different individuals, they could all be doing the identical factor. Even for those who aren’t often experiencing points with buffering in the meanwhile, it isn’t unreasonable to suppose they could happen sooner or later sooner or later. It is particularly irritating as a result of Google’s rivals in Apple TV and Roku TV each supply Wi-Fi 6 and are higher prepared for the longer term.

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2 Urged content material wants work

Google ought to be higher at curation

It is so arduous to flee the exhibits and films that streamers and studios need you to observe. It is by no means so easy that you’re going to flip in your TV and really see one thing you would possibly need to like that is not additionally one thing the TV desires you to observe. There is a very blurred line between a service’s recommended titles and its marketed or sponsored ones, and I feel Google is eager on this. There are merely going to be exhibits that streamers need you to observe, and they are often really helpful to you underneath the guise of being fashionable or new. Nevertheless, there may be nothing about my viewing historical past that means I’m interested by Reacher, together with the historical past of me watching half of the primary episode, turning it off, and by no means returning once more.

The algorithm is rarely going to be that good, partially as a result of it is designed to emphasise what’s trending and assist a streamer’s large titles. Google TV Streamer, with all its emphasis on being the customizable, personalised system of the current and future, is not able to assist somebody who enjoys a number of totally different content material throughout varied providers. It is a servant of too many masters within the streaming world.

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3 There’s approach an excessive amount of YouTube

Cease attempting to make it occur

I recognize that YouTube exists, and I see that there’s worth for some customers, however it’s not a service I ever need to be casually shopping. There’s nothing on YouTube I need to encounter or have recommended to me. It is simply not a part of my leisure consumption matrix. I’ll browse Netflix and others, however I am not looking for out random clips prefer it’s some unhinged social media platform.

Google TV actually desires me to observe YouTube. With a number of carousels devoted to YouTube on my dwelling web page, Google TV wastes a number of area and creates a complete a part of its system that I’ll simply by no means go to. I am not scrolling all the way down to see what YouTube clips I is likely to be interested by, and I am definitely not clicking on something; nevermind that the recommended content material can be simply absurd. That there’s additionally a fast launch button on the distant for YouTube is a whole waste.

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4 An excessive amount of muddle, info, and icons

Cease blocking my path to viewing

There’s such a factor as an excessive amount of info, and Google is proving that with all that it tries to cram right into a title card. Once you click on on a present or film, there’s a bunch of stuff that comes up, together with an AI-generated description and a bit of Google opinions. Each of those should be addressed.

Whereas I perceive the necessity for summaries of titles, that Google is utilizing synthetic intelligence to provide you with them is just not excellent. Summaries fluctuate in each size and accuracy, and require you to click on on a field as a way to reveal the whole thing of the data. Netflix, in the meantime, tends to get it proper in only a sentence of two. The Google Evaluations, in the meantime, are fully superfluous. I can not think about much less of a waste of time than scrolling by means of a whole bunch if not hundreds of user-submitted opinions to find out whether or not you’ll watch a title (studying for amusement is one thing I can see for those who’re actually bored).

Each of those additions are a part of a cluttered interface that simply has an excessive amount of occurring for it and might use some cleansing, if not customization. No less than all of the details about actors, characters, and associated titles requires scrolling down; there’s much more info there, however I am completely satisfied it does not greet you straight away.

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5 Worth may be extra accessible

The associated fee is simply too excessive for Google TV Streamer

One easy repair Google could make for its streamer is to decrease the value. At $100, it is on par with Roku’s top-tier streaming system and cheaper than Apple TV, however it’s nonetheless dear in comparison with many different choices out there, and it lacks the options to command such a value. Notably with respect to Apple TV’s complete streaming system that features a slew of integrations with different services and products, Google wants so as to add some higher options to make the funding value it.

A part of what you are paying for is connection to different Google merchandise and the power to manage your good dwelling. If you do not have a number of Google Residence providers and units, nonetheless, the value undoubtedly is not value it. And even for those who do, I am undecided many individuals are extra inclined to make use of their TV for operations than their telephones. It should want some upgrades and enchancment to justify the value tag transferring ahead, particularly as opponents transfer to higher their merchandise as properly.

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Google TV Streamer has rather a lot occurring, and far of it’s useful to the typical cord-cutter. Nevertheless, a excessive price ticket and a few annoying options make it powerful to justify the funding. There’s loads of time and room for enchancment.