Ahead of next week’s scheduled “Made by Google” event, which is expected to promote the company’s next generation of Pixel hardware and AI tools, Google is already unveiling new products, including a fourth-generation Nest Learning Thermostat with Matter support, and the anticipated 4K HDR Google TV Streamer — a $99.99 set-top box and successor to the Chromecast. The new entertainment hub — shipping September 24 — reportedly provides significantly better performance; integration with Google Home, Thread and Matter for improved connectivity across devices; and new Gemini AI functionality.

“The sloped, low-profile device comes in two colors: porcelain (white) and hazel (dark gray),” reports The Verge. “Unlike the Chromecast, which could be hidden away behind your TV, the Google TV Streamer is designed to sit underneath it and be seen — without standing out from your other home decor. Part of why Google designed it to be placed out in the open is because the device includes a Thread border router and connectivity support for Matter.”

Interestingly, a new key feature is access to a Google Home panel that will appear on the right side of the TV screen when activated from the remote, providing users with control of their smart home devices, cameras and other hardware.

The dongle design has been abandoned, so an HDMI cable will be required. “Google TV Streamer’s arrival marks the end of the Chromecast line,” TechCrunch writes. “With more than 100 million sold over an 11-year life, it was a good run.”

“Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos are both present like before, and you can still cast content to the Google TV Streamer,” The Verge explains. “This also has to be among the first streaming devices to be powered over USB-C. Other tech specs include HDMI 2.1a, Wi-Fi 5, gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth 5.1.”

According to the blog announcement, “Google TV Streamer offers access to 700,000+ movies and shows through streaming apps like YouTube TV, Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and more, in addition to live TV with 800+ free channels.” The device also “uses Google AI and your preferences to curate content suggestions across all of your subscriptions” and enables you to “build watchlists with recommendations for every member of your home.”

The remote features “devoted buttons for Netflix and the Google Home panel,” explains TechCrunch. “There’s also a button built directly into the TV Streamer that will send out a chime from the remote when it inevitably gets lost.”

In addition, new Gemini tech on Google TV will provide “full summaries, reviews and season-by-season breakdowns of content,” notes the blog post. The device “offers an improved processor, double the memory and 32GB of storage for faster app load times and smoother navigation than the previous generation Chromecast.”

The Google TV Streamer is currently available for pre-order on the Google Store and will be available from other retailers in September.

Related:
The $99 Google TV Streamer Is the Chromecast Successor I’ve Been Waiting For, ZDNet, 8/6/24
New Gemini-Powered Streaming Box Is Here to Take on the Apple TV 4K, TechRadar, 8/6/24
Google TV Streamer Is Bigger, Faster, and More Expensive Than Chromecast, Digital Trends, 8/6/24
The Nest Learning Thermostat Gets Its Biggest Upgrade in Over a Decade, The Verge, 8/6/24
The Nest Learning Thermostat Is Smarter and Sleeker Than Ever, Google Blog, 8/6/24