Our favorite streaming device just got a major update.
Like initially teased by Google in December, Chromecast with Google TV now supports the Apple TV app on its platform. Other Google TV-powered devices will also receive support for the app, including the 2020 televisions from Sony and TCL when they hit the market later this year. Google also said the app will appear on additional Android TV devices in the coming months, but has not worked out which specific devices would be included.
The addition of the Apple TV app for Chromecast devices is huge – it means old Apple users can now access all the content they bought through the platform on their Chromecast with Google TV. In addition, people with an Apple TV + subscription can now also stream Apple’s originals on the Google device.
Apple TV was one of the last major streaming apps to be missing from the Chromecast with Google TV, and the addition makes it a strong contender as a cheaper alternative to Apple’s own set-top boxes. The interfaces are markedly different, with Google TV putting a much greater emphasis on recommendation and discovery. But in terms of specifications, and especially for the regular streamer that doesn’t need a lot of on-device storage, Google TV checks most of the same boxes for premium features – and it costs a quarter of what the Apple TV 4K box does.
Apple originals will now appear in Google TV search results and content recommendations, and will also be added to the watchlist. In addition, the Google Assistant can now play Apple titles. These features are now available in the US, but will be rolled out to users around the world in the coming months, the company said.
The best budget streaming device just keeps getting better.
G / O Media can receive a commission