Google TV versus Chromecast

[quietlybrilliant]

I have a basic question: Does Google TV offer anything that Chromecast does not offer, or does Chromecast completely supersede Google TV?

In other words, is there still a point in spending extra money on Google TV functionality in a new TV?

 

[Aquila]

I have a basic question: Does Google TV offer anything that Chromecast does not offer, or does Chromecast completely supersede Google TV?

In other words, is there still a point in spending extra money on Google TV functionality in a new TV?

Google TV is it's own device, with access to the play store, it can run apps (not all apps, but some), has a browser etc. Chromecast received streamed content controlled by your connected devices. The end results in terms of watching a movie, listening to a song, etc. may be similar, but the methodology is pretty different and the experience is as well.

 

[quietlybrilliant]

Are there still any advantages to having a Google TV device though?

One thing that seems super promising about Google TV is the ability to control Netflix and Youtube videos directly from my Android phone and tablet, without streaming to the TV (which would suck up lots of batter power) because the TV has its own Android system. Will the same be possible with Chromecast or does Chromecast always stream via wifi?

 

[Aquila]

Are there still any advantages to having a Google TV device though?

One thing that seems super promising about Google TV is the ability to control Netflix and Youtube videos directly from my Android phone and tablet, without streaming to the TV (which would suck up lots of batter power) because the TV has its own Android system. Will the same be possible with Chromecast or does Chromecast always stream via wifi?

Chromecast is directed by your device, but it is pulling it's data from the cloud, not directly from your device. That gets weird when you have them sync'd (such as youtube, if you're actively controlling it), but if you start a Netflix movie, you don't have to have it playing on your device for it to play in the cloud. I can see advantages to having Google TV over Chromecast, but not in a way that would justify having both, and they're really at two very distinct price points, so I view Chrome as the more practical version for most mainstream homes, with Google TV being for a user who wants a bit more control over the entire system. GTV will provide options that Chromecast does not, and have ways of providing the same features as Chromecast, in a way, but not in the same way. If that makes sense...

 

[bworley50]

I have a Sony Google TV and I have a Chromecast. I do not use CC w the GTV. The GTV has a full chrome browser and more apps use GTV than CC right now. GTV has a full qwerty. One interesting thing about CC. I played Nemo on my main tv in the house from Google Play movies on my phone. I left my house wirh my phone to go to the store (way out of wifi range) and when I git back it was still playing! My Sony GTV is better than CC, but CC may include all that in the future. I don't know. You can control YouTube from your phone to GTV just like CC.

 

[quietlybrilliant]

I suppose what I really wonder about is the "CC may include all that in the future" statement, i.e., if I wanted to make a long term investment for a good HDTV now whether it makes sense to factor in Google TV or whether a year from now it might be a dinosaur.

I have a Sony Google TV and I have a Chromecast. I do not use CC w the GTV. The GTV has a full chrome browser and more apps use GTV than CC right now. GTV has a full qwerty. One interesting thing about CC. I played Nemo on my main tv in the house from Google Play movies on my phone. I left my house wirh my phone to go to the store (way out of wifi range) and when I git back it was still playing! My Sony GTV is better than CC, but CC may include all that in the future. I don't know. You can control YouTube from your phone to GTV just like CC.

 

[Aquila]

I suppose what I really wonder about is the "CC may include all that in the future" statement, i.e., if I wanted to make a long term investment for a good HDTV now whether it makes sense to factor in Google TV or whether a year from now it might be a dinosaur.

I think gtv gives you more control over the experience and more options, etc. One could almost imagine cc as gtv lite. As far as a year from now? Not sure what each project will do. Also, keep in mind that gtv routes your cable TV through it and makes that content searchable, etc while the cc requires its own HDMI input channel and functions only as cc.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Aquila]

I guess Jerry wrote it up in the main blog today The basics: How Google TV differs from Chromecast | Android Central

 

[Kamin]

I have been enjoying my Asus cube. It is awesome. I had a friend record some shows and burn them to a USB drive. Plugged it into my Cube and good to go. Watch them without a hitch. I got a Chrome dongle to check it out. I think it should be mostly baked into the next iteration of Google TV. Make it easy peasy.

 

[Kamin]

Also I've been able to sling YouTube bids to my Cube without a hitch so the issue with YouTube and Chrome seems unfortunate.

 

[Devlyn16]

Amazon instant video is available for Google TV bit not for for other Android devices [unless you count the kindle]

 

[PlanetPluto7]

Google TV has a lot of ways to play media from your other machines including your personal videos, music and pictures. Chromecast can't for now except a less than ideal chrome browser tab.

- - - Updated - - -

Google TV has a lot of ways to play media from your other machines including your personal videos, music and pictures. Chromecast can't for now except a less than ideal chrome browser tab.

 

[bworley50]

Yes. Waiting for Google+ functionality to play uploaded personal content. Someone tell Google to get on it.

 

[quietlybrilliant]

Who claimed that Chromecast didn't work with GoogleTV and that the functionality would come "soon"?

Mine seem to work on my GoogleTV, however with some hickups e.g., when playing YouTube videos.

 

[Craig King]

This is really apples and oranges isn't it. I mean they are really to very different things. The closest comparison I have seen is the reference to CC being a GTV light. I really think the whole point of the CC is to allow remote control and access from your peripherals. So to allow tabs, phones and anything else you have to put content on the TV indirectly. The Google TV is a directly attached TV Appliance that is controlled directly by a keyboard and such. Heck a Mini-PC is a much closer comparison then the GTV then the CC is.

What I can't wait for is the ability to integrate functionality on the tab to add additional info based on what is being cast. Like companion functionality to the content. Think of it like being able to display movie details and added features while streaming it on Netflix.

Don't forget that Most GTV appliances are between 150 and 200 while the CC is 35$. For me I would love the extra functionality of the GTV, but don't see it at that price. It needs to be half that. The CC is great at the price point considering the other options.

 

[trevmar]

I just set up a new Galaxy Note 10.1 today (JB 4.1.2) and was surprised to see a button has appeared in the YouTube app on my Galaxy saying "Send YouTube Video to Google TV." Sure enough, it works. So there has already been some integration with Sony GTV (v3.2)

(I do not have any CC dongle)(GTV and the Galaxy are registered to the same Google account name).