Google TV
Google TV is a smart TV platform developed by Google that integrates traditional television programming with internet services and applications. It provides an enhanced TV viewing experience by allowing users to search and access streaming media, web content, apps, and more using
Google TV: Smart TV Platform
Google TV integrates traditional TV with internet services and applications for an enhanced TV viewing experience, including search and access to streaming media, web content, apps, and more.
What is Google TV?
Google TV is a smart TV platform developed by Google that integrates traditional television programming with internet services and applications. It was launched in 2010 but has since been discontinued in 2014.
Google TV aimed to provide an enhanced TV viewing experience by combining the traditional TV watching experience with the capabilities provided by internet services and apps. It allowed users to access streaming media, web content, apps, and more directly through their televisions using a special remote control or mobile app.
Some key features of Google TV included:
- Ability to search live TV listings and streaming media libraries for movies and shows using text or voice search
- Access to apps like YouTube, Netflix, Pandora music and more through the Google TV platform
- Web browsing capabilities to access sites directly on the TV screen
- Universal search to scan live TV listings, DVR content, video services, and apps to find the desired content
Google TV worked by integrating customized hardware designed to run the Google TV software platform. This software layered on top of existing smart TV operating systems like Android and Linux to provide the enhanced features.
While Google TV aimed to reinvent and enhance the traditional TV experience, it faced challenges like complicated interfaces and limited developer support. Many of its features have since been incorporated into other smart TV platforms by Google like Android TV and Google Cast.
Google TV Features
Features
- Integrates live TV with streaming media
- Unified search across live TV, DVR, streaming services, and web
- Access to Google Play apps and games
- Chrome web browser
- Voice search with Google Assistant
Pricing
- Free
- Subscription-Based (for some streaming services)
Pros
Seamless access to streaming and web content
Powerful unified search makes finding content easy
Large selection of apps and games
Chrome browser allows full web access on TV
Cons
Limited adoption by TV manufacturers and cable providers
Performance can be sluggish
Interface can be confusing with many options
Lacks some mainstream streaming apps
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to ReviewThe Best Google TV Alternatives
View all Google TV alternatives with detailed comparison →
Top Video & Movies and Smart Tv Platforms and other similar apps like Google TV
Here are some alternatives to Google TV:
Suggest an alternative ❐
Apple TV
Apple TV+ is a streaming service launched by Apple Inc. in November 2019, marking the company's entry into the competitive world of original content streaming. Unlike some other streaming platforms, Apple TV+ exclusively features content produced by Apple's own studio, showcasing a curated selection of original movies, TV series, and...
Netflix Free Stream
Netflix Free Stream is an ad-supported streaming service that offers a subset of the Netflix content library for free. It provides access to some popular movies and TV shows from Netflix, but has a more limited selection compared to the paid Netflix service.Some key features of Netflix Free Stream:No subscription...
Hulu
Hulu is a leading subscription video on-demand service that offers instant access to thousands of TV shows and movies. It's owned by Hulu LLC, a joint venture of The Walt Disney Company, 21st Century Fox, and Comcast. Hulu allows users to watch full seasons and episodes of popular shows from...
BBC iPlayer
BBC iPlayer is an online streaming and catch-up service from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). It allows users in the UK to watch missed TV shows and other programming from BBC television channels such as BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC Four as well as BBC News and BBC...
VUDU
VUDU is an on-demand video streaming service owned by Walmart that offers a large library of movies and TV shows available for rent or purchase. Launched in 2004, VUDU was one of the first major video-on-demand services offered in the United States.The VUDU library contains over 150,000 titles across a...
Kanopy
Kanopy is an on-demand video streaming platform focused on providing access to a large library of independent, classic cinema, and documentary films through partnerships with public libraries and universities. The service allows library card holders and students to access Kanopy's collection of over 30,000 films for free.Some key features of...
USTVNow
USTVNow is a free online streaming service that provides live streams of over 45 popular broadcast and cable TV channels from the United States. It offers major networks like ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and The CW, as well as popular cable channels like ESPN, CNN, AMC, Lifetime, Cartoon Network, and...
TV+
TV+ is a popular over-the-top streaming software that offers access to live TV channels, a large on-demand video library, and unlimited cloud DVR storage to record your favorite shows. It provides an intuitive and easy-to-use interface that works seamlessly across smart TVs, media streaming devices, smartphones, tablets, and web browsers.With...
Crave
Crave is an easy-to-use video creation and editing software designed to make compelling video content fast. It's made specifically for entrepreneurs, marketers, business owners and creators who want high quality video content without needing advanced technical skills.With Crave, you can choose from dozens of professionally designed video templates covering different...
Movies Anywhere
Movies Anywhere is a digital movie locker platform launched in 2017 through a collaboration between five major Hollywood studios - Walt Disney Studios, Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal Pictures, and Warner Bros. It allows users to consolidate their purchased digital movies from participating studios and retailers into one unified...
Huawei Video
Huawei Video is a video streaming platform created and operated by Chinese technology company Huawei. It was launched in China in 2016 and has since expanded to several other Asian markets including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.The Huawei Video service is designed primarily for users of Huawei smartphones and...
WOW Presents Plus
WOW Presents Plus is a streaming service offering a wide range of drag, LGBTQ+, and reality programming. It features original series, documentaries, films, and more from producers World of Wonder, the team behind popular shows like RuPaul's Drag Race.The service includes exclusive premieres of new World of Wonder shows before...
BigPond Movies
BigPond Movies is an Australian video on-demand service owned and operated by Telstra Corporation. It offers a large catalogue of new release and classic movies as well as TV shows that users can rent or purchase to watch instantly online or download to smartphones, tablets and other devices.The service first...
Quibi
Quibi was a short-form mobile video platform service that launched in April 2020. It was founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman with the goal of creating a new entertainment platform for premium short-form video content designed specifically for viewing on smartphones.The key features of Quibi included:Episodes and videos that...
WatchAsap
WatchAsap is an ad-supported streaming platform that offers free access to thousands of movies and TV shows without a subscription. It's a good alternative for those looking to cut costs but don't mind seeing some ads.The collection focuses primarily on older and more obscure titles that have entered the public...
Plasma Bigscreen
Plasma Bigscreen is an open source smart TV platform built on the KDE Plasma desktop environment. It is designed to provide a user-friendly interface optimized for large screens, living room use, and interaction via remote controls.Some key features of Plasma Bigscreen include:A visually appealing graphical interface using large text and...
Archos Video Player
The Archos Video Player is a highly optimized video player built specifically for Archos devices like tablets and smartphones. It has been developed by Archos to take full advantage of the hardware features of Archos products to provide smooth, high-quality video playback.The player has a simple yet elegant user interface...
N3tfl1x
N3tfl1x is an industry-leading on-demand video streaming platform launched in 2007, offering subscribers unlimited access to an ever-expanding library of award-winning films, popular TV series, documentaries, comedy specials and more. It has revolutionized home entertainment across 190 countries by introducing a more intuitive way for people to enjoy entertainment in...
MovieRill
MovieRill is a free, open-source media server software that allows you to easily manage and stream your personal media library to all your devices. It provides a beautiful and intuitive user interface that makes it simple to browse, organize and play your videos, music and photos.Some key features of MovieRill...
Shout! Factory Tv
Shout! Factory TV is a free, ad-supported streaming video service featuring a vast collection of cult classic films, comedy shows, animation, live concerts, and more. It offers thousands of hours of content spanning decades of pop culture history.The service provides on-demand access to a deep catalog of classic TV shows...
Snagfilms
Snagfilms is an ad-supported video-on-demand service offering free access to thousands of independent documentary and narrative films. It was launched in 2007 with the goal of making high-quality independent films accessible to wide audiences.The Snagfilms library contains over 6,000 titles across a diverse range of genres and topics. The site...
Flixxo
Flixxo is a decentralized video platform and torrent client that runs on blockchain technology. It aims to provide an alternative to centralized video sharing sites like YouTube by giving content creators more autonomy and allowing them to be rewarded directly by their viewers.Some key features of Flixxo include:Decentralized network based...
Stan.
Stan is an open-source probabilistic programming language used for Bayesian statistical modeling and data analysis. It allows users to specify statistical models using an intuitive modeling language, then automatically generates efficient C++ code to perform Bayesian inference. Some key features and benefits of Stan include:- Flexible modeling language to specify...
TruTV
truTV is an American basic cable channel that is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It first launched in 1991 as Court TV, a channel devoted to coverage of law and crime-related programming such as legal news, true crime documentaries, legal dramas, and live murder trials. In 2008, the channel rebranded...
TbFlix
TbFlix is a free and open-source torrent streaming web application built with Node.js, React, and WebTorrent. It allows users to stream torrents directly from their web browser without requiring torrent downloads or external media players.Some key features of TbFlix include:Intuitive UI for browsing, searching, and streaming torrentsStreams video, audio, and...
Shudder
Shudder is an on-demand video streaming service developed and operated by AMC Networks. Launched in 2015, Shudder focuses specifically on the horror, thriller, and suspense genres—offering users access to a curated selection of frightening films, series, and original content.With a library of over 6,000 titles that includes popular recent releases,...
TvOS
tvOS is the operating system developed by Apple Inc. that runs on Apple TV devices. It was first released in September 2015 to power the fourth generation Apple TV.tvOS provides the core interface and functionality for apps that run on Apple TV. This includes features like:A home screen to access...
Project Forward
Project Forward is an open-source project management and agile planning software application. It is designed to help teams organize, plan, and manage projects in an agile manner.Some of the key features of Project Forward include:Lightweight and intuitive user interface for task managementCustomizable workflows and boards to support agile frameworks like...
MovieReam
MovieReam is an open source media server and streaming platform that allows you to easily manage and access your personal media library from anywhere. It provides a user-friendly web interface for library organization, supports automatic metadata retrieval, and allows streaming to a wide range of devices.Some key features of MovieReam...
La Cinetek
La Cinetek is an online platform for streaming classic, international, and art house films. The service features a carefully curated selection of influential movies handpicked by acclaimed directors from around the world. With over 1,500 titles, La Cinetek offers films that often go overlooked or are difficult to find on...
Watch Mill Creek
Watch Mill Creek is an ad-free streaming service specializing in public domain movies and TV shows. Launched in 2021, it gives viewers access to a vast library of classic films, cult favorites, retro cartoons, and vintage television.The service offers over 1,500 films and series to stream on demand, with no...
MovieBoxd
MovieBoxd is a feature-rich media server application designed to help you manage your personal video library. It catalogs your collection with detailed metadata like plot summaries, posters, backdrops, ratings, and more automatically downloaded from various online databases.Once your media is imported into MovieBoxd, you can browse through an attractive GUI,...
SushiStream
SushiStream is a live streaming and video hosting platform designed for content creators to broadcast live streams and upload pre-recorded video content. It provides an easy-to-use interface and tools for creators to manage and monetize their content.The platform allows creators to go live instantly and broadcast to their followers in...
Reklist
Reklist is a dedicated productivity app focused entirely on helping users organize information and collaborate on tasks using interactive, shareable lists. It provides a simple yet robust list-making interface to streamline workflows and projects.Some key features of Reklist include:Real-time collaboration - Multiple users can work simultaneously on the same lists...
Frenvid
Frenvid is a free and open-source video editing software available for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. It provides a basic but capable feature set for non-linear video editing focused on the needs of novices and hobbyists.Some of the key features of Frenvid include:Trimming, cutting and splicing video clips on...
Filmrise
Filmrise is an ad-supported on-demand video streaming service that offers a wide selection of movies, TV shows, and original content to watch for free. It features a library of over 30,000 titles across different genres like action, comedy, drama, horror, thriller, sci-fi, crime documentaries, and more.Some of the movies available...
