The Google Chromecast devices (especially with Google TV) are a fantastic way to add some additional functionality to your television, whether it is a smart one or a dumb one. At the very least, you get the ability to more easily cast from other devices to your TV; and at most, you get the entire Google TV interface and the powers it comes with.
It seems that there’s a Chromecast successor in the works, and when I say successor, I mean it in the most distinct form. It will apparently put the Chromecast name to bed while also bringing a drastic new design to the forefront. Let’s talk about it.
Adieu To The Chromecast And Bonjour To The Google TV Streamer
The Chromecast name is one that’s been around for a very long time and has cemented itself as a recognizable household name. For some reason or another, it seems like Google thinks that it is time to move on from “Chromecast”; maybe because the “Chrome” association might be a tad confusing. Either way, according to 9To5Google, the tech giant is set to ditch Chromecast and welcome the Google TV Streamer.
I’ll admit that Google TV Streamer is certainly more explanatory a name, and you’ll instantly understand what the device is about when you see its name (let’s admit it, if the Chromecast was a new product, it’d be hard to understand what it was for). However, I do think there’s a lot of “oomph” lacking in that new name. It’s rather basic and there’s little character to it.
I can’t tell whether this means that the Chromecast will be phased out entirely, but it does seem that the Google TV Streamer will serve as a solid successor to 2020’s Chromecast with Google TV 4K. The basic Chromecast without Google TV might still be sold.
The Dongle Design Is Also Expected To Go, To Be Replaced By A Set-Top Box Look
The Chromecast was also well-known for its little dongle design that would hang from the back of your TV. It was incredibly compact and you really don’t need to have any extra space underneath your TV to be able to use one of those. Of course, the compact form does somewhat limit what can be packed into it.
With the new name also comes a new design, and it looks like the dongle is set to go and an actual streaming box will take its place. From a marketing perspective, this is probably better for Google because the Chromecast wouldn’t market itself to your visitors from behind your TV. This will be forced into a more obvious spot, which will certainly help with word-of-mouth sales. A bigger form should mean better thermals too.
Rather interesting is how you will get HDMI and power ports on the back, as expected, but it also seems like it might come with a USB-C port and an ethernet port as well. That’s certainly another advantage of a bigger form factor and could make using this device a lot more enjoyable than previous Chromecasts have been.
