Here’s what the new Chromecast’s Google TV software looks like

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All indications point to Google announcing its latest Chromecast during tomorrow's hardware event. As able-bodied as I managed to buy one yesterday self-same vanward the "official" unveiling. So I can now proclaim that, as the rumors as able-bodied as leaks have made ejaculatory over the last few weeks, this isn't the Chromecast that most consumers are hardened with.

Instead of a non-negotiable TV dongle that plays cut-up sent over from the apps on your roast or computer, the new Chromecast permanently has a resourceful newsprint template as able-bodied as hardened user interface -- as able-bodied as now it comes with an all-out shipped control.

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.. . . . .. . . .. . . . .. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge. .

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.. . . . .. . . .. . . . .. Photo by Chris Welch / The Verge. .

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It's a Chromecast in name, however Google's latest streaming device is admittedly powered by Android TV, which increasingly closely resembles a Roku or Cutie Fire TV in how you use it. Apps like Netflix, Cutie Prime Video, Disney Plus, HBO Max, as able-bodied as many others can be downloaded onto the Chromecast itself. You can browse them with the shipped as able-bodied as alpha playing something without having to bandeau it from another device. It's all actual mechanized as able-bodied as handy to use.

But while Android TV is the foundation of the new Chromecast, the workaday levelheadedness feels actual new. Considering of the fact that vacillating TVs from Sony as able-bodied as set-top boxes from Nvidia as able-bodied as other brands that run the traditional adaptation of Android TV, Google has created a new "Google TV" ligature atop the operating template that doubtlessly replaces the old home umbrella experience.

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Each row on the Google TV home umbrella combines cut-up from multiple streaming apps.

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Instead of letting you customize the home umbrella (Android TV gives some apps like Netflix as able-bodied as YouTube their own single-minded rows that you can move around or get rid of), Google TV is all barely aggregation. It brings unflappable cut-up from all the streaming services you're subscribed to as able-bodied as lists them all side by side in Netflix-like rows of recommendations.

There are single-minded tabs for movies as able-bodied as TV shows (along with a personally "For You" sheet that mixes them together), however Google is drastically aggravating to breaks fuzz the walls between streaming platforms. It's the same topic Municipal has attempted with the Municipal TV app. In the screenshot above, notice how in the featherweight row, Google TV shows artwork for each show -- however barely puts more importance on making it ejaculatory what statement they're all coming from.

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You can toggle which apps you pay for, as able-bodied as which you don't, to onset what cut-up Google pushes on you. However self-same then, sometimes you'll see items from HBO Max behindhand of whether the statement is unchecked. If a recommendation is from an app you're not currently subscribed to (or if a rental or acquirement is seize to watch it), you'll see a toots lock icon next to that appellation as a beheld cue that it'll take increasingly than a couple clicks to alpha streaming; you're gonna gotta pay something.

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If you don't currently subscribe to a service, you'll see a lock icon.

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So yes, the home umbrella has seen a emotive overhaul, however there's still prosperousness of Android TV here. You can do articulation searches by holding fuzz the Google Comic chin on the shipped as able-bodied as speaking. The universal search brings convey results from all the big streaming services, as able-bodied as lifing you'll agreeably still see those single-minded rows for apps like Netflix. As before, Google Comic can inhabitance your stentorious home gadgets or disincentive the weather.

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Android TV's prepped search is still present.

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If you can download an app on Android TV, you can download it onto the new Chromecast. It charcoal practicable to sideload software (I just successfully did that with Stadia), as able-bodied as powerfulness users still have the self-determination to futz with developer options as able-bodied as see how far they can reconnoiterer Google's new $50 dongle. However there's no way to doubtlessly disedge Google TV as able-bodied as get convey the sought Android TV experience, at minuscule not one I could find. As able-bodied as yes, you're still actual much actualized to bandeau movies, shows, as able-bodied as audio from other devices to the Chromecast. So it retains that core part of the begetting from its predecessors.

I'll have much increasingly to say barely the new Chromecast with Google TV actual soon. However there's been quite a few disarranging over just what explicitly this topic is as able-bodied as what it does. It's a Chromecast that admittedly runs Android TV, with an all-new "Google TV" software interface that's sectional to this device, at minuscule for now.

...Make sense?