For many, the first digital media player was the Google Chromecast, which helped make television sets smarter. Google has decided to discontinue the product line after more than a decade but it’s also the time to introduce something new — Google TV Streamer.

Google TV Streamer is a proper set-top box for binging content that also supports a much broader range of smart home controls, besides being able to compete with something like Apple TV.

The new device (India availability hasn’t been announced) has a different design and comes with a nippy processor that is up to 22 per cent faster, has twice as much RAM (4GB) and four times the storage (32GB). There is support for 4K streaming at 60 fps with an HDMI 2.1a port, HDR support (Dolby Vision) and spatial audio (Dolby Atmos).

Google has redesigned the voice remote, making it easier and more comfortable to hold with improved ergonomics, like a textured back for better grip and an optimised button layout to fit hands of all sizes

More importantly, it has smart home capabilities. Google TV Streamer supports the Matter protocol and features a built-in Thread border router for easily communicating with other devices in your house. It will also have Google Home panel to help adjust things like smart lights while also giving you the ability to view feeds from your security cameras and video doorbells.

Since it’s Google, expect Gemini AI features. The company has said in a blog post that the streamer can summarise or review TV episodes or even whole seasons for you and that it can build customised watchlists from recommendations for every member of your household.

“When we launched Chromecast, most TVs had few (if any) apps, streaming was unreliable and complicated and connecting your TV to your phone, tablet or laptop was clunky and hard. Chromecast was our answer to this problem, a simple and affordable way to cast your favourite online content right on your TV screen.... Since then, technology has evolved dramatically. Streaming and smart TVs abound.... We are taking the next step in evolving how streaming TV devices can add even more capabilities to your smart TV, built on top of the same Chromecast technology,” said Majd Bakar, VP of Engineering, Health & Home, Google.