Chromecast with Google TV

The $50 Chromecast with Google TV was a great launch vehicle for Google’s latest attempt at offering a streaming platform, but as it enters 2022, the affordable device’s flaws are being felt by more people. As we reported last week, Google is working on another Chromecast device, but one that’s even more on the low end — here’s why we’d rather see a “flagship.”

On Friday, we reported that Google was developing a new Chromecast device powered by Google TV. A new report today corroborates the existence of “Boreal” and reveals that it will be a lower-end streaming dongle that might launch as the “Chromecast HD with Google TV.”

Google is preparing a new device in the same family as the Chromecast with Google TV.

A week after the launch of its annual Year in Search recap video, Google is enhancing and furthering the yearly celebration with a prominent playlist on Chromecast with Google TV.

Nearly six months after its last update, the Chromecast with Google TV is getting a handful of performance improvements today.

From launch, the Chromecast with Google TV has been available with a Netflix bundle that gets you six months of access to the streaming service for just $40 more. A bug looks to be causing some of those Chromecast buyers to get another Netflix promo code for free service.

The Chromecast with Google TV offers a good user interface and experience but is rather hampered by only 8GB of storage. We, along with many others, have complained about this hardware limitation, and Google Support now offers a basic how-to on what to do “if you run out of storage on your Chromecast with Google TV.”

Google Assistant broadcasts are a very useful way to relay information to your family quickly, and it seems the company is working on expanding its reach just a bit further. It seems that Google is currently testing support for Assistant broadcasts on Chromecast with Google TV.

Although still technically running Android 10, the Chromecast with Google TV can get a taste of Android 11 via an unofficial LineageOS 18.1 port for the streaming dongle.

The Stadia for Android and Google TV app officially launches today — though we’ve been using it for a few days through a simple workaround. As part of that, the Google Store is offering a “special offer” that gives you a small deal when buying both the Chromecast with Google TV and Stadia Controller. 

Google’s decision to only include a severely limited amount of storage in the Chromecast with Google TV is already standing in the way of updating my apps.

Back in November, device settings for the Nest Hub and Hub Max in the Google Home app were updated with a cleaner design and improved organization. The Google Home settings revamp is now coming to various Nest speakers and Chromecast streamers.

The Chromecast with Google TV launched last year with a special bundle offer that delivered six months of Netflix access and the device for a cut cost, and now a similar offer is launching with HBO Max.

Owners of the Chromecast with Google TV have begun to see recommendations for Stadia games on the “For you” tab, suggesting deeper integration between the gaming service and Google’s streaming box.

The Chromecast with Google TV has quickly become one of the best streamers on the market by virtue of the new and improved interface, but it also has some darn good features and reasons to have one at the heart of your home entertainment system.