For years, when I thought about smart home tech, my TV wasn’t at the top of the list. Sure, it connects to the internet, but could it really be a central part of my connected home? My view shifted recently, thanks to an unexpected discovery with the Google TV Streamer, transforming my entertainment screen into a true smart home control center and giving me a surprising amount of peace of mind.
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I’ve often written about my reluctance to buy smart TVs with built-in operating systems, preferring to use external devices to make a TV “smart.” This approach offers more control and flexibility. What I didn’t anticipate was how crucial one specific feature, available only on Google’s external streaming hardware, would become for my daily life.
The Subtle Differences That Matter
When Built-In Just Isn’t Enough
My most recent smart TV purchase, a TCL model from Prime Day 2024, came with Google TV built-in. I finally set it up in my basement this past March after some unforeseen renovations. As I started using it, I noticed the user interface (UI) looked almost identical to the Google TV experience on my other TV, which uses a separate Google TV Streamer.
A smart television screen with red 'buy' icons crossed out, symbolizing a user's initial hesitation about integrated smart TVs.
However, there was a key difference I initially didn’t register, but soon found myself desperately wanting: the Google Home smart home panel was missing from the built-in TV.
It wasn’t until I started spending more time working in my cooler basement that I truly felt the absence of this feature. Living in a rural area, I don’t get much unexpected traffic, so any deliveries or impromptu visits from friends and family often catch me off guard. Without a way to easily check my front door from downstairs, I’d constantly be startled.
Comparing the user interfaces of Google TV and Android TV side-by-side, highlighting visual similarities and subtle differences.
Realizing this critical gap, I moved my Google TV Streamer from my living room TV to the basement. While I rarely used the Google Home panel when it was upstairs, its utility became immediately apparent in my new basement setup.
Despite some ongoing issues with Google’s broader smart home ecosystem, the integrated Google Home panel on its streaming platform is what truly elevates the Google TV Streamer, solidifying its place among the best streaming devices available today. Ironically, this very distinction—features withheld from devices running Google’s software but not its proprietary hardware—also highlights the fragmentation within Google’s smart home portfolio, causing unnecessary confusion for users.
So Many Options, But One Made All the Difference
Your Smart Home, Right on Your Screen
If you haven’t seen it, the Google Home panel on Google TV is essentially a scaled-up version of the Google Home app found on your smartphone. It offers direct access to all devices linked to your Google Home account, displaying a familiar home page with your favorited devices and, crucially, live views from your smart cameras.
A Google TV Streamer device positioned next to a modern television, with its remote control resting nearby, illustrating a typical setup.
This specific feature was the game-changer that prompted me to move the Streamer to my basement. While it’s convenient to adjust lights from my TV, it’s usually quicker to use my voice with a smart speaker or my phone. However, having a live feed of my front door from my Nest Video Doorbell (2nd gen, wired) right on my TV screen while I’m working in the basement is incredibly valuable.
I can have my computer on my desk, some background videos streaming on YouTube, and a constant, small live feed of my front door pulled up. This setup has saved me countless trips upstairs and significantly reduced those jarring moments when someone unexpectedly arrives.
The Google Home app icon surrounded by various smart home gadgets like a speaker, light bulb, and thermostat, representing a connected smart home ecosystem.
Finally, a Feature That Makes Sense
Unexpected Utility in the Right Place
When the Google Home panel initially launched with the Google TV Streamer, I thought it was a neat concept with potential for someone, just not me. In my living room setup, with a large window facing the driveway, I didn’t need my doorbell camera to see who was outside. The other smart home controls also seemed less appealing than using my voice or phone.
A close-up view of the Google Home panel interface displayed on a television screen via a Google TV Streamer, showing smart device controls and camera feeds.
It wasn’t until I found myself missing the feature in my basement that its true value clicked. The accessibility to my home’s cameras isn’t just about my personal peace of mind while working; my family also benefits when we spend time downstairs. We often use the video and live stream feed in the same way I do for work or just for general awareness.
Another fantastic, built-in feature is the automatic doorbell notification that pops up on the TV. I can simply select it to view the live feed without any manual setup—a significant win for Google, especially compared to the custom routines I’ve had to create to make my other smart home devices work together seamlessly.
The Google TV Streamer, with its robust features including the crucial Google Home panel, truly redefines how your TV can integrate into and enhance your smart home experience.
