

New chromecast tv#
Saying "go the Yankee game" took me straight to ESPN on YouTube TV regardless of what app I was currently using, a feature Alexa couldn't match despite integrating with Sling TV. Google's digital helper was much more responsive than Alexa, Siri and the Roku remote's still-unnamed assistant. In my few days of using the new Chromecast, I really enjoyed having access to the Assistant, which can be summoned by holding down the button on the remote. The best part of the Chromecast with Google TV isn't the remote or interface, but the way it ties in Google's Assistant. Google A helpful, if not perfect, Assistant YouTube TV integrates well with Google TV. I also could never get picture-in-picture to work, despite it at one point being listed in settings as being available for Sling TV. Google Stadia is also available, for those who have opted into Google's vision for cloud gaming.

New chromecast android#
I liked it a lot better than the old Android TV interface found on the TiVo Stream 4K, Nvidia Shield and Sony televisions, which grouped content by app provider and required a lot of vertical scrolling to get to the apps or shows you wanted.
New chromecast software#
In general, I found that the software wasn't quite as snappy as Amazon's platform, but it largely did its job fine. The interface at times did hiccup when switching apps and returning to the main menu, sometimes displaying a blank bluish screen as it appeared to be refreshing content. The For You section is the default home page, and I found it did a nice job, quickly allowing me to see what's on now from the channels I watch, resuming shows I was watching on a number of different services, and displaying movies and TV shows I might like. Below are tiles filled with content that changes depending on which tab you're in. A bar at the top features tabs for search, a personalized For You section, live TV (currently available if you subscribe to YouTube TV), as well as tabs for movies, TV shows and apps. At first glance, it's more like the menus on Amazon's Fire TV, with prominent rows of shows and movies, rather than the app-centric home pages of Roku and Apple TV. In addition to the new name, Google has given Android TV an interface overhaul. (Google's included power brick is 7.5 watts.) It is possible that many TV USB ports, even those on sets that are just a couple of years old, won't be compatible. Google says this will vary based on your TV, with the company saying that "at least 5 watts" is the minimum requirement.

New chromecast plus#
The requirement of wall power, something the Roku Streaming Stick Plus and Fire TV Stick 4K don't need, wasn't an issue for me since my TV was near an empty outlet, but could be for those who have fewer open setups or want something more minimalist. The Chromecast Ultra, for instance, could still stream in HD when powered via USB, though 4K streaming required power from a proper wall adapter. Other Chromecasts were able to at least partially power the device using a TV's USB port, even if it meant certain, more power-hungry features were disabled. When I connected it to my TV via USB power, an error message appeared, instructing me to connect to the wall adapter instead. You need to use the included power brick with the Chromecast. While Google hasn't fixed all of the quirks that bothered us a year ago, it has since added Apple TV Plus, support for Google's Stadia gaming service and profiles to an already strong foundation.Īfter reviewing all of its major competitors in 2021, we are awarding the Chromecast with Google TV an Editors' Choice award. 27, 2021: One year into the Chromecast with Google TV and Google's new flagship streamer still continues to be one of the best streaming sticks on the market. If you're into the Google ecosystem, subscribe to YouTube TV or simply want to try a new way to discover TV shows and movies, the Chromecast with Google TV is an excellent choice. And I like Google TV better than Fire TV, which has too many ads and worse search results. It's not as simple or rock-solid as Roku, which is $10 cheaper, but it's certainly more capable, especially for voice. The Chromecast with Google TV is priced to compete with two of CNET's favorite 4K streamers, Roku's Express 4K Plus and Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and I can report it does so handily.
