We were all shocked when Google announced that it would stop making Chromecast with the arrival of the Google TV Streamer. Luckily, there are still some devices in stock and the company will continue to support them for the time being. The latest update includes the smart home dashboard, among other things.
All Google TV devices, including Chromecasts, third-party streamers, and of course the new Google TV Streamer, will have access to a few new features in the coming weeks. According to the tech company, this operating system will feature a smart home control panel, to monitor all your IoT products from the television.
Thanks to the panel, users will be able to manage everything they have connected to Google Home from their Smart TVs. This way, they will be able to turn the lights on or off, adjust the thermostat and much more from the comfort of their sofa. It is also ideal for viewing live images from smart surveillance cameras installed at home.
More updates with Google TV
The Google Home smart home control panel on Google TVs isn’t coming alone. The US brand will also add a sports page and a few artificial intelligence (AI) features powered by Gemini.
Unfortunately, the former will only be available in the US (at least for now). However, sports content enthusiasts will be able to enjoy the new “For You” tab if they turn to a VPN, for example. This sports page will feature related personalized recommendations, and even highlights from YouTube.
Luckily, AI features do seem to be rolling out outside the US. So, we’ll soon be able to enjoy the benefits of Gemini from a Google TV, via Chromecast or any other device. Smart new features include program summaries and ratings to help you choose what to watch.
In addition, artificial intelligence in televisions that work with Google TV will also allow you to further customize the interface. The ambient mode has received an update that is able to create wallpapers with generative AI, based on our requests. This way, when you are not using the TV and it turns on the screensaver, you will see a unique landscape adapted to what you like.
Devices with Google or Android TV are growing
The news of the update that Google has prepared coincides with a huge growth in the number of televisions that have one of the company’s operating systems. According to a report by the firm, there are more than 270 million devices that are activated “monthly.”
More and more brands are using Android TV software, and some have already switched to Google TV, such as Hisense and TCL. Added to this are the streaming players that use these systems, making them the preferred interface for many.
According to the analysis shared by Google, the increase in the use of its television software is 80% compared to the numbers for 2023. At the beginning of last year, when they launched the last update, there were 120 million users who activated Google TV or Android TV. In just over a year, the increase in use is surprising and we hope that with the smart home control panel, the new sports content section and the artificial intelligence functions, it will still grow much more.
