Google TV receives a major update ahead of the launch of its new streaming box  | TechCrunch

Ahead of the launch of Google TV Streamer, the company’s new set-top streaming box, the tech giant is also bringing updates to all Google TV devices. This includes a home panel that can control smart home devices, AI-powered screensavers, a new sports page, and more. 

The company announced on Monday a host of new features to enhance its Google TV platform, starting with a new home panel that acts as a control center for compatible smart home gadgets, such as lights, thermostats, and security cameras. Users can also access new doorbell notifications to see who’s at the front door without pausing what they’re watching. Additionally, if the remote is nowhere to be found, Google Assistant voice commands allow users to control their devices hands-free. 

The home panel is located in Quick Settings and opens as a feed on the right side of the screen. 

The new sports page in the For You tab is where fans can go to get all the sports content in one place, including live and upcoming games, sports commentary, YouTube highlights, as well as personalized recommendations tailored to their interests. 

Google TV is also gaining several AI capabilities, including the ability to generate custom screensaver artwork based on a provided prompt. Initially introduced for the Google TV Streamer, Google is using Gemini to power its “Overviews” feature for listings, providing concise summaries of top shows and movies, season-by-season breakdowns, and audience reviews.

Google Freeplay, the dedicated app with 150 free channels to choose from, is getting an update too. Its revamped channel guide allows viewers to quickly browse by genre and topic. 

Google TV is also expanding to include more Art TVs, including Hisense and TCL, as well as projectors like Epson, Vankyo, and XGIMI. Plus, it’s launching in more countries: Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

These updates coincide with tomorrow’s release of the Google TV Streamer, which will mark the end of Google’s lineup of Chromecast devices. Google touts over 270 million monthly active Google TV and Android TV devices.