Google is finally rolling out a long-awaited update that brings Android 14 to Chromecast with Google TV devices, which first landed on the newer Google TV Streamer in March.
The company originally launched the update for its now discontinued streaming sticks alongside the Streamer, only to suddenly cancel it, which meant those (the majority) who didn’t update fast enough were stuck with the older software running Android 12.
In a blog post, Google said there are two versions of the update available. Those who did get the initial upgrade to Android 14 can download a much smaller update that just adds a few new features and security updates, while those who are still on Android 12 will get the new operating system, plus those incremental upgrades.
That means new features such as Find My Remote and the ability to customize buttons on the remote control, plus the January 2025 security patch and various system optimizations and bug fixes. However, the most important and noticeable update – at least for those who don’t already have it – pertains to Android 14.
Google says Android 14 brings to Google TV a “snappier, more responsive” user experience, and users will notice that the home page and various menus have been tweaked, making them more streamlined.
The original version of the update was pulled after Google received reports that it caused some devices to not work properly, but it seems to have fixed whatever was responsible for those glitches, with users on the r/Chromecast subreddit posting positive feedback.
The update means that the Chromecast with Google TV devices achieve parity with the Google TV Streamer, which was launched last year. The Streamer is the successor to Chromecast, and the dongles have since been discontinued and much harder to come by as retailer’s stocks are depleted.
In related news, The Information is reporting that Google has decided to lay off around a quarter of the Google TV division’s staff, while reducing its budget by 10%. That report has not been confirmed by Google yet, but The Information has great sources and rarely gets these kinds of stories wrong.
The Google TV division currently consists of around 300 employees, so if the report is correct that would mean around 75 are being let go. Apparently, the money taken away from Google TV will instead be allocated to the YouTube team, which is said to be working on a major revamp that will bring the service more in-line with platforms like Netflix and Disney+.
