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A new update to your Chromecast with Google TV will allow you to “Tinderly” swipe left or right to improve content suggestions. Doing so trains Google’s machine learning algorithms to present you with movies and shows that are more to your liking. Once you receive the update, which should be rolling out right about now, you can find the new “content preferences” option in the settings menu. Upon selecting it, you will be able to sift through a stack of cards that have been curated for you using Google magic.
This feature is likely inspired by the ability to do the exact same thing via Google Search on your phone when type in “good movies to watch”. The swipe enabled card stack has existed there for just over a year, but it makes a lot more sense to feature it on the new Chromecast as it’s a more central location for content consumption.
Other ways to improve your content suggestions include several features that came with your new Chromecast with Google TV out of the box. Rating shows, marking things as watched after you’ve consumed them, adding titles to your watch list, and then removing them after you’ve finished with them all help Google understand your interests. It can be easy to think of these tools as things that exist simply for your personal reference but make no mistake, they are powerful ways to tweak suggestions.
Lastly, you can visit the settings menu to find a list of services that your Chromecast can sync with. Be sure to toggle on the ones you subscribe to and toggle off the ones you aren’t interested in. When you receive the device, these are not set to your preferences, so it’s a good idea to take a moment and tweak them. I will say that even though I’ve done this, I still receive recommendations for services that I don’t subscribe to. However, although there are some things it can do better, we’re thoroughly impressed with the Chromecast with Google TV and will continue to recommend ways that you can get the most out of it.
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