According to 9to5Google, who has apparently had eyes on a document directly from Google itself, a new Chromecast with Google TV device is being prepared for mass production and release. Apparently, this “Android-powered device” is codenamed Boreal (Boreal means “of the north or northern region, or very cold perhaps like a Hailstorm) and is directly […]
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Google just changed how White Noise plays on smart speakers and now it’s less useful
Something strange is going on in the silent hours of the night as Google’s Nest speaker “white noise” feature has all of a sudden completely changed how it operates. According to many smart homeowners on the Nest Community forum, when saying “Hey Google, play white noise”, they’re now met with audio that’s much more muffled […]
Continue ReadingAndroid 11 on Nvidia Shield TV devices is breaking a bunch of apps among other issues
Who would have thought that a new Android version update for the Nvidia Shield TV and Shield TV Pro would end up breaking things? The new push to Android 11 brings with it per-use file permissions (scoped storage), so many users are now reporting things like apps that aren’t able to access the internal storage, […]
Continue ReadingGoogle TV was never just about television, it was about the future of the living room
After revealing that it now has over 110 million monthly active devices for Google TV and Android TV combined, with over 30% of those being added in just the past six months or so, Google has now revealed some of its plans for the future of the platform. While sitting down with the Director of […]
Continue ReadingNvidia Shield TV update 9.0 gives you Android 11, 4K gaming with GeForce NOW, more
This morning, Nvidia posted on its blog that the 9.0 update for Shield TV owners is inbound. The update includes a slew of new features and fixes, that we’ll go over. Most notably and most exciting though, is the bump up to Android 11 – something that users have been waiting for for some time […]
Continue ReadingIt’s not your fault: Setting timers with Google Assistant on smart displays is busted right now
Google Assistant is great…when it works. Generally, failed attempts to command your personalized helper can be chalked up to not speaking loud enough or clear enough for it to comprehend you. Other times, it’s due to you not using the right hotwords or phrases to get the reaction you want. Today, it’s not your fault […]
Continue ReadingGoogle TV and Android TV together now have 110 million monthly active devices
Since its launch, Google TV has seen an explosion of growth. The simplified, user-friendly interface that invites you to watch and save TV shows and movies and together with Android TV – its predecessor – are now sitting at a cool 110 million monthly active devices across the board, according to a statement the company […]
Continue ReadingGoogle removes group volume control on speakers due to Sonos infringement ruling
Since Sonos and Google went to court during the preliminary injunction in May, the companies have been warring over whether or not Google stole Sonos’ speaker tech for multi-room wireless volume control for device groups. Until now, you could group together two or more Google Home devices that output audio and control the volume between […]
Continue ReadingSigning into Youtube on your TV is now easier than ever thanks to your phone
In a recent Youtube Help post, a Team Youtube community manager detailed its efforts to make signing into the service on your television more seamless. Normally, you’d have to pull up the login screen and utilize the frustratingly slow keyboard with your Chromecast with Google TV or Android TV OS remote. The issue with this […]
Continue ReadingGoogle announces major improvements to Android Better Together at CES 2022
During the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, Google announced some major improvements to its Better Together initiative for Android, Chrome OS, headphones, speakers, smart home devices, and more. As the number of connected devices in our houses and in our lives increases, the company has found that they’re not actually as connected as they could be. […]
Continue ReadingCync launches a smart thermostat, 2K camera, and loads of smart bulbs at CES 2022
Cync, powered by Savant Systems, Inc. (previously called C by GE) just appeared in person at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show, and in an effort to expand its offerings to become your all-in-one, go-to smart home solution announced several new products. New devices add temperature control, outdoor security and more colorful lighting options to the […]
Continue ReadingSamsung Gaming Hub will bring Stadia, GeForce NOW, and more together under one roof
As a part of the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Samsung has announced something called the “Samsung Gaming Hub” for select 2022 TV models under its brand. Powered by its Tizen operating system, the Hub is a new game streaming platform that brings together the best of NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Google Stadia, and Utomik – […]
Continue ReadingGet the Nest Mini and a GE Smart Plug for just $15 while you still can
I’m not going to beat around the bush with this one. Right now, over at Lowe’s, you can get your hands on the Nest Mini (read past the link button to see why that matters) and a GE Smart Plug for only $15. The deal is listed to end at some point today, but you […]
Continue ReadingThe Nest Hub Max could be the next device to run Google’s mysterious Fuchsia OS
Nearly half a year ago, Google’s mysterious Fuchsia OS began rolling out to first-generation Nest Hub devices as the primary operating system, replacing Cast OS. At the time, it really didn’t mean much when it appeared on firmware version 1.52.260996, and to this day, it still doesn’t – at least, not yet. For now, the […]
Continue ReadingThe original Google Home Mini is no longer available on the Google Store
The original Google “Home” Mini that was launched in 2017 has now been taken off of the Google Store, as first discovered by 9to5Google. To clarify, the “Nest” Mini is still available as it’s the newest iteration of the miniature smart speaker, touting a modern pin power adapter, a wall-mount, and a better speaker (2x […]
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