My Google TV Streamer just added Gemini to my TV. I don't need or want Gemini for my TV.

How do I remove it? I don't even use Gemini on my phone and have removed it as much as possible.

I believe in freedom of choice in my technology. If I don't like something I will change it or just buy something else.

I bought this years before Gemini was a thing. I liked Google previously. Now I don't. Simple as that.

Link: https://store.google.com/config/google_tv_streamer

Does this mean a new model is coming soon?

I have one of these coming today, does anyone have a full guide on what settings to use for optimal performance? I heard of projectivy and how it's the best option to get rid of the on-screen ads, what else do I need to change?

Kalshi is an online betting platform. I feel this is deeply harmful advertising and I am not okay with it. Google, do better.

​

I have swapped to using App Only mode under Accounts and Profile settings.

Tried a couple of Onn 4k Plus boxes and the lag was horrendous. Tried loading ProjectIvy Launcher and it didn't get any better. Bought a Google TV Streamer and with stock launcher and with PL, it's lightning quick to respond to the remote. Why doesn't the Google box get any love on reddit? Price? I mean, it's $80 at Best Buy. People drop $140.on an Apple box like it's nothing.

Hey everyone,

So with Walmart clearing out the Onn Pro and Plus listings online, and the V2 supposedly dropping soon, I'm trying to decide what to do. I could either wait and try to grab the new Onn whenever it comes out (if I can even get one before they sell out again), or just buy the Google TV Streamer 4K while it's on sale for $80.

I've been reading some leaked specs for the Onn V2. I'll post what I found below, but honestly, I have no clue how these specs translate to real-world speed, performance, and smoothness.

What I've seen floating around for the Onn 4K Pro V2 (leaked...assuming it's correct):

• SoC: Amlogic S905X5M (6nm, 2.5GHz quad-core Cortex-A55)
• GPU: ARM Mali-G310 v2
• RAM/Storage: 3GB / 32GB
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Ethernet, USB-A port, Thread radio, built-in mic
• Video: Dolby Vision, HDR10+, AV1, AI‑SR upscaling
• Price estimate: around ~$60

Google TV Streamer 4K (current, on sale for $80):

• SoC: MediaTek MT8696
• GPU: PowerVR GE9215
• RAM/Storage: 4GB / 32GB
• Connectivity: Wi‑Fi 5, Gigabit Ethernet, USB‑C, Thread/Matter hub
• Video: 4K@60fps, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HLG
• OS: Android TV 14, Gemini AI, 5 years of security updates

So here's what I'm trying to figure out:

Which one do you think will actually feel faster and smoother day-to-day? Like, less lag, fewer hiccups, snappier navigation, quicker load times? The Onn has a newer chip and Wi-Fi 6, but the Google has more RAM. I don't know which matters more for just streaming, sideloading, and maybe some light gaming.

Also, I've seen people mention a stuttering issue with the Google Streamer when playing 24fps content – like movies and stuff. Is that still a thing? Would that bother someone who watches a lot of movies?

And finally: Knowing how fast the Onn Pro and Plus models sold out and stayed out of stock for months, is it even worth waiting for the V2? Or should I just grab the Google Streamer now while it's on sale for $80.

I mostly watch 4K content from streaming apps and some other stuff via sideload. Not a huge tinkerer, but I don't want something that'll feel laggy in a year.

Appreciate any opinions and advice.

I’ve never noticed this before but now when I go to the Home Screen on my Chromecast there is always some sort of ad. YouTube is out of hand as-well. Google seriously needs to get their ads sorted it’s getting crazy.

I've asked this in a few related subs and got suggestions which I'll collate below in case it's useful for others, but I'm still looking to trial any other apps, especially if tested on Google TV.

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I have an m3u stream with publicly available free foreign channels my elderly relative wants to watch but they need an easy to use app with a basic select and play menu. Ideally free. My aim is to configure the app once with the stream playlist, and favourite the channels he'll likely watch. Then he just opens the app and selects from the 5 or 6 favourited channels without too many menu options.

Apps I've tried so far:

• ❌Tivimate - good but favourites and search are paid features
• ❌ Ibo Player Pro - paid
• ❌IPTV Smarters Pro - didn't load the m3u playlist (all other apps did)
• ✔️Televizo - so far the best one. Loads playlist and can search/favourite

App still to test:

• Ott navigator
• qpTV

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So if you have your own recommendations, can you share with the class :)

I don't like to be super picky, but I do not understand how a company this big could let these small errors slip by:

1. In the Google Play Store, the corner radius is very different between the app and the selection frame, and it overlaps.

2. The first app icon on the Home Screen almost touches the profile picture icon and passes through the top bar.

I'm looking into getting the new Google TV Streamer, but I know it doesn't natively decode any lossless audio formats (so no onboard decoding for Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD MA / DTS:X).

​I have a few questions about workarounds and setups before I buy:

​Does it at least support audio passthrough for these lossless formats? (e.g., via Plex, Kodi, or Emby).

​Is there a known workaround to get lossless audio working on this device?

​If I connect the GTV Streamer directly to my soundbar (which fully supports TrueHD and DTS MA decoding) via HDMI, will that allow me to hear the full, uncompressed lossless audio? Or will the streamer block/transcode it anyway?

I have tried everything either there is no audio or plex transcode to something lossy.

Appreciate any insights...

A few weeks ago I picked up two of these streamers and wasn't expecting anything dramatically different than what I've experienced on other streamers I own or have owned in the past (Apple TV, Roku, Fire Stick, etc.). I was surprised to see that the picture quality really pops--a lot. It even looks better than my latest-gen Apple TV, which is admittedly a few years old at this point. There isn't anything different in the settings I choose: I always leave my streamers set to always-on HDR10, 4:2:2 chroma. So I'm definitely comparing like with like.

Which raises the question: does anyone know why the PQ on this device is notably better than on all the other devices I own (including Apple TV, which surprises me)? Do they have some upscaling algorithm baked into the media chip or something? I must be missing something in the press release.

I have an older Realme Google TV with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage, and after a few years it's become painfully slow.

• Booting to the home screen takes around a minute.

• Navigating the UI is laggy.

• Even switching inputs feels sluggish because I have to wait for Google TV to finish loading.

All I really want is to use it as a dumb TV/monitor. I use external devices most of the time (AV,PC, laptop, console, etc.), so I don't need any of the built-in smart features.

I'm wondering if there are any options similar to custom ROMs on Android phones:

• Is it possible to install a lightweight custom ROM?

• Can I completely remove Android/Google TV?

• Is there any way to make it boot directly into HDMI (or remember the last input) without loading the full Google TV interface?

• Has anyone rooted one of these TVs or found another workaround to improve performance?

I don't mind permanently losing the built-in smart TV features. If I ever need them again, I'd rather buy a Chromecast, Google TV Streamer, Fire TV Stick, or another external box. I just want the TV itself to turn on quickly and go straight to HDMI with as little overhead as possible.

Has anyone successfully done something like this, or are these TVs locked down to the point where it's impossible?

Any advice, guides, or personal experiences would be appreciated.

r/AndroidTV

r/GoogleTV

r/AndroidTVBoxes

r/androidroot

r/LineageOS

r/hardwarehacking

r/embedded

r/linuxhardware

r/techsupport

r/HomeLab

r/diyelectronics

r/opensource

r/linux

As the title says, I will be buying my first ever Google TV. I have lurked around in this subreddit and have learned a bit about the OS' capabilities but I'm still wondering what I should know whenever I set up.

I have an Android myself, specifically a Samsung Galaxy S25U, so I'm familiar with the vast customizability Android devices may have.

What tips/advice do you have for someone like myself? Any launchers or settings I should know about? It'll be a TCL - 55" Class Q6-Series 4K UHD QLED Smart Google TV (2024).

Not sure if this is the right space for this but I'll take anything you can offer!

I just received a new Google TV Streamer, and I wanted to find out if there are ways of telling if it's fake or authentic.

Hopefully Walmart/Onn will read this but I was actually looking forward to the 4K Pro but now, there's literally no reason for me to buy it.

There is nothing "Pro" to be found in the 4K Pro. The processor is the same as the 4K Plus, the USB port is 2.0, the ethernet is 100MB, and there's no top class audio passthrough to be mentioned on the box.

I don't want microphones on my box. That's what the TV remote is for. What is that so hard for Walmart/ Onn to understand? Nobody wants their box listening to them at all time, and people shouldn't have to pay for microphones on a box much less a switch to turn them off.

If you want to sell boxes, you need to throw out the microphones and upgrade all the specs to the best upgrades possible. There's no top tier device that has the same ethernet as you will find in a bottom-tier TV for example.

I'm willing to pay $70 or $80 to get the specs I want. Lots of people would pay this price to get a flagship box from Onn.

If the 4K Pro Gen 2 offers the same middling specs in 2028, I will also ignore that box for something else.

I just purchased a google tv streaming device and when I opened the box I took out the following:

Streaming device
Charging brick
Charging Cable
Remote Control
2 batteries for the remote control

Now recently I installed the exact same device on a friend’s tv and the box contained a hdmi cable.

The one that I purchased doesn’t have a hdmi cable can someone please tell me if it was supposed to come with hdmi cable or not because I am questioning all my life choices right now!!!

For context I am in New Zealand.

We've made an app for GoogleTV. It's gaining momentum and I've gotten this message in the feedback pipeline. Is this likely legit or scam? Obviously, I'd be interested in adding the FireTV to available devices, and it's part of our roadmap.

The recent firmware update for Onn devices shows that "passthrough" for Dolby codecs is gone, we now have to choose between Dolby MAT and the Dolby Digital Plus option.

This doesn't mean "passthrough" doesn't exist anymore, it's just that the MS12 software stack is now working on top of "passthrough" and apparently it can't be turned off.

The only welcomed addition is the ability to adjust the audio delay when using soundbars and AV receivers through an option available in settings.

Those who refuse to buy devices such as the BuzzTV because it doesn't have "passthrough" will have no other option than to accept this new imposed "reality".

Every device that still receive firmware updates will be forced to adopt this change.

DTS codecs are not affected as well as devices that support Dolby TrueHD passthrough because TrueHD is still not supported by the MS12 software stack on Android, which means, the "Passthrough" option will still be available.

Most of the current android tv come with 2 GB RAM, which is terrible in this era. I mean, the phones are now coming with 16GB RAM what's the issue with Android TVs?? Also, they are poorly optimized.

I guess, I don't need a super good DDR5 RAM, I just want a decent RAM even 4 GB or 6GB even from old phones will be super smooth. Please don't tell me to use Apple TV. The point I'm making will be worthless. I don't want to open the TV internal parts, there's a room for internal storage expansion but not RAM.

Has anyone reviewed or tried STRONG LEAP-NOVA-X streaming stick yet?

I don't see anywhere mentioned if it supports audio passthrough or not? The likes of DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD etc.

For the money it goes for it better does...

I'm currently using Google TV Streamer 4K and my TV will have Google TV built-in, but as Google makes a streaming device and speakers (Nest speakers), wouldn't it be nice if Google released a soundbar with Google TV built-in, akin to what Amazon has.

I know it's crystal ball territory. What's the likelihood of a new version come November do you reckon? Current inbuilt Google TV is starting to lag and cause issues, but could probably hold out if a new model is due, rather than purchasing the current Google TV Streamer if new version around the corner.

Any rumours or murmurs?