I have a rapidly aging Apple TV 4K that feels like it’s having more bad days than good these days, and it has me really hoping that a refreshed model is on the way. Rumors have been flying, but I’ve been burned time and time again, and it’s left me with something that’s closing in on 10 years old. Things have gotten dire enough for me to go back to my Google TV interface on my TV, but I don’t think I’m going to stick with that.
One of the big reasons that I’m such a fan of my Apple TV 4K is that the interface is completely free of ads. It’s the cleanest look you can get from any streamer, and it feels like a miracle in today’s world. Google TV offers something called Apps only mode that you can toggle on, and while it sort of mimics what the Apple TV 4K has going for it, it’s not the same.
Yes, it does a good job of showing my installed apps and removing a bunch of the bloat that I don’t need, but it still keeps advertisements. That’s to be expected, I suppose, but it’s still disappointing that I can’t fully capture the Apple TV 4K experience. What’s frustrating is I don’t even have any other Apple products besides the Apple TV 4K. It’s just the best TV streamer around, and I don’t think it’s particularly close.
Google TV trivia
challenge
How well do you know Google’s smart TV platform?
From its origins to its quirkiest features — put your Google TV knowledge to
the ultimate test.
HistoryFeaturesHardwareStreamingAndroid
In what year did Google officially launch Google TV as a replacement for Android TV?
Correct! Google TV was unveiled in 2020 alongside the Chromecast with
Google TV. It replaced Android TV as Google’s primary smart TV platform, bringing a more content-forward
interface built around recommendations.
Not quite. Google TV launched in 2020, debuting with the Chromecast with
Google TV dongle. It was a significant redesign over Android TV, focusing heavily on personalised
content discovery across multiple streaming services.
Which Google hardware product was the first to ship with Google TV out of the box?
Correct! The Chromecast with Google TV was the debut device for the
platform in 2020. It replaced the older Chromecast Ultra and introduced a dedicated remote control — a
first for the Chromecast line.
Not quite. The Chromecast with Google TV was the first device to run
Google TV when it launched in 2020. Unlike older Chromecasts, it came with a physical remote and a full
on-screen interface for browsing content.
What is the name of the personalised content hub on Google TV that aggregates
recommendations from multiple streaming services?
Correct! The ‘For You’ tab is Google TV’s personalised homepage, pulling
in content recommendations from all your connected streaming apps. It’s designed to reduce the time you
spend hunting for something to watch.
Not quite. The ‘For You’ tab is the personalised discovery section of
Google TV. It aggregates recommendations from across your subscribed streaming services, making it
easier to find new content without jumping between individual apps.
Google TV is built on top of which underlying operating system?
Correct! Google TV is actually a software experience layered on top of
Android TV, not a completely separate operating system. This means devices running Google TV still
benefit from the Android TV app ecosystem.
Not quite. Google TV is built on top of Android TV, essentially acting
as a new interface and discovery layer over the existing platform. Apps built for Android TV are fully
compatible with Google TV devices.
Which of the following streaming services was notably absent from Google TV at
launch due to a licensing dispute?
Correct! Amazon Prime Video was not available on Google TV at launch due
to an ongoing dispute between Amazon and Google. The two companies had a complicated relationship, with
Amazon also blocking YouTube from its own Fire TV devices for a period.
Not quite. Amazon Prime Video was the notable absentee at Google TV’s
launch. Tensions between Amazon and Google had led to a broader dispute that affected app availability
on each other’s platforms, including YouTube on Fire TV.
What built-in Google assistant feature allows users to search for content across
apps using only their voice on Google TV?
Correct! Google Assistant is deeply integrated into Google TV, letting
users search for movies, shows, actors, and genres with their voice. It can also control smart home
devices and answer general questions without leaving the TV interface.
Not quite. Google Assistant is the voice search and control feature
built into Google TV. Users can press the microphone button on the remote and ask for specific titles,
genres, or even cast members to find content quickly.
Which chip powers the 4K HDR version of the Chromecast with Google TV?
Correct! The Chromecast with Google TV uses the Amlogic S905X3
processor, paired with 2GB of RAM. It supports 4K HDR playback including Dolby Vision and HDR10+, making
it a capable streaming device at its price point.
Not quite. The 4K Chromecast with Google TV is powered by the Amlogic
S905X3 chip with 2GB of RAM. Despite its compact dongle design, it handles 4K HDR content including
Dolby Vision with ease.
Before Google TV (2020), Google had a much earlier smart TV venture also called
‘Google TV’. In what year did that original Google TV platform launch?
Correct! The original Google TV launched in 2010 in partnership with
Sony and Logitech. It was an ambitious but troubled platform that struggled with limited content, poor
app support, and was eventually discontinued in favour of Android TV in 2014.
Not quite. The first Google TV platform actually launched back in 2010,
partnering with Sony for smart TVs and Logitech for the Revue set-top box. It was ahead of its time but
ultimately failed and was replaced by Android TV in 2014.
Your Score
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Thanks for playing!
Google TV can’t hold a candle to Apple TV
Nobody can do it
Of the major streamers, I’d say Google TV is the one I use the least. I have a Roku Ultra in my bedroom, I have a Fire TV in my spare room, and I have an Apple TV 4K in my living room. My living room TV uses the Google TV interface, but my Apple TV 4K is used in its place. I didn’t actually know about the Apps only mode until I started digging around, so that came as a pleasant surprise to me. I like seeing companies try to make the user experience better, even if it falls short. For a lot of people, I think the Google TV Apps only mode is a great addition, but not for people who’ve seen the light.
Apple TV 4K doesn’t have ads of any kind, so even when all my apps are put nicely into a row like Google TV offers, it doesn’t compare. Google TV still showed me a big sponsored ad, which, while it didn’t come in the way of any scrolling, the fact that it was there in the first place means it can’t compare to Apple TV’s offering.
In a sea of ads, Apple TV 4K stands alone, and I’m not sure how it’s being done. The Apple TV 4K is the only device with no ads at all, and that means your home screen can be set up any way you want it without being ruined by an eyesore. Other interfaces might get close, but they still fall a little short. Things like Google TV’s Apps only mode are definitely a step in the right direction, and I’ll never get mad at a company offering a little bit more for owners. Unfortunately, it just falls short for me because I know what I can find on my Apple TV 4K. I’m just going to go back and wish for a new Apple TV 4K, all the while hoping it’s going to come in at a reasonable price instead of being over $200. I don’t have a lot of hope for that, but it’s hard to imagine it coming in at that price and being at all appealing to me.
It’s still time for a new Apple TV
I’ve been waiting for a long time
My Apple TV 4K still gets the tvOS updates, but nothing of note comes with them. That’s a clear sign that it’s time for me to move on, but I don’t want to move on to old hardware, which is exactly what the 2022 Apple TV 4K is. It’s already the longest gap between models that we’ve seen, so we’re in no man’s land at this point. We could very easily be looking at a five-year gap, and it could be even longer.
Rumors have constantly said a new Apple TV 4K was right around the corner, but that corner has come and gone so many times now that I don’t know what to believe. I definitely want to upgrade mine, but I feel like it’s more likely that I’ll move my 2024 Roku Ultra into my living room before I add a new Apple TV 4K. There are just so many things I’d rather spend the money on instead of a third-gen model at this point, so I’m stuck in a weird spot. I’m going to keep using my Apple TV 4K until the wheels come off, but I fear the wheels are already quite loose.
