Google brings smart home control panel to Google TV
Google has announced a series of updates for all Google TV devices, including the new Google TV Streamer.
These improvements aim to improve how users discover content and manage their smart homes.
The new Home panel on Google TV lets users manage compatible smart home devices, such as lights, thermostats, and cameras, from the remote.
The panel also allows live streaming of cameras connected to the TV, including displaying a picture-in-picture notification when someone rings the doorbell.
If the remote control is misplaced, voice control via Google Assistant is an option to manage the devices.
And when the TV is idle, it can transform into a custom art display. The enhanced ambient screen saver lets users create AI-generated designs or display memories from Google Photos.
By describing their thoughts or selecting prompts, users can create unique images, or they can ask Google Assistant to show memories.
The new Sports page in the For You tab consolidates all sports content into one place, making it easier to find live matches, upcoming events, sports commentary and YouTube highlights.
The enhanced overview of top movies and shows – powered by Gemini technology – provides summaries, audience reviews and seasonal details to help viewers choose what to watch.
Building on last year's success, Google TV now offers up to 150 free channels that can be accessed without any downloads or subscriptions.
The updated channel guide allows browsing by genre and topic, and includes new additions, such as Heartland, The FBI Files, and ION Plus.
Google TV is expanding to additional countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, and now supports up to 270 million monthly active Google TV and Android TV OS devices.
According to Google, these updates are rolling out across all Google TV devices, Chromecasts with Google TV, and external TV streaming devices starting now, with broad availability expected next week.