All of the software capabilities of Google TV Streamer’s most recent model will soon be available on all Google TV devices, according to an announcement made by Google. This update includes a variety of enhancements such as a smart home control panel, a dedicated sports page, and innovative Gemini-powered features.
These upgrades will be available on all Google TV-enabled devices, including Google TVs, Chromecasts with Google TV, and third-party Google TV streaming devices, such as the Onn streamer found at Walmart. According to Google, the updates will be introduced over the next few weeks.
A notable addition for smart home enthusiasts is the brand-new Home panel. Accessible through a tile in the quick settings menu, this control panel allows users to manage devices connected to Google Home directly from their TV remote. It offers convenient options like turning lights on or off, dimming or brightening them, initiating a “Movie Time” automation, and adjusting the thermostat. Moreover, the Home panel allows you to livestream footage from connected cameras to your TV. For example, when someone rings your video doorbell, a picture-in-picture notification will appear on your screen. Currently, this feature is exclusive to Google Nest doorbells, but Google mentioned that other compatible video doorbells will be able to send notifications as well.
In addition, a brand-new Sports Page is being introduced to the “For You” tab in Google TV, just in time for the football season. This page is designed to gather all your sports-related content from various streaming services, including YouTube highlights, providing personalized recommendations for fans. However, this feature will be available only in the United States.
Google is also incorporating several AI-driven features powered by its Gemini technology, which were initially announced with the Google TV Streamer, into the Google TV ecosystem. These features will include show summaries, reviews, and season-by-season guides to assist users in deciding what to watch. Additionally, ambient mode is receiving an enhancement, enabling the creation of screensaver art using generative AI technology.
For those using Google TV Freeplay, Google has increased the number of free channels to 150 in its free ad-supported TV (FAST) option. This feature is exclusive to the US and now includes an updated channel guide that allows users to browse by genre and topic.
Google also shared that Google TV has now become the leading streaming platform worldwide, with over 270 million monthly active devices. The platform is expanding to new markets, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. In collaboration with more hardware brands, Google TV will be featured on an even broader range of devices, such as Asus smart monitors, projectors from brands like Epson, XGIMI, and Vankyo, as well as art TVs from Hisense and TCL.
