A tech review explains that standalone streaming devices such as Roku, Fire TV Stick and Chromecast can meaningfully improve on a smart TV's built-in software. Because smart TV manufacturers license operating systems from companies like Amazon, Google and Roku, performance varies widely and often degrades as the hardware ages, leading to lag and crashes. Adding a modern streaming device can restore speed and reliability at a fraction of the cost of replacing an entire television.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-19
A tech guide lays out several ways to responsibly get rid of an old but functional TV, including giving or selling it to friends, family, or via Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace, donating to charities or thrift stores, or repurposing it at home with a streaming stick like Apple TV, Roku, or Chromecast. It also warns that CRT televisions are typically rejected by thrift stores because of hazardous materials inside them.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-05
Android Authority's Robert Triggs reports that the first-generation Chromecast HDMI dongle recently got an unexpected software update, despite being eight years old. He explains he still relies on the device because it casts content faster and more reliably than his TV's built-in Google TV casting features, which suffer from lag, bloat, and audio sync issues.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-05
Google has fixed a bug in its Home app that was preventing owners of older Chromecast and Chromecast Audio devices from setting them up. The company confirmed the fix in a Reddit thread and advised affected users to update to Google Home app version 4.26 or later and retry setup. Those still experiencing issues are encouraged to contact Google support.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-09-02
Google has raised the price of its Google TV Streamer by 50%, from $100 to $150, on its own store and at retailers like Best Buy, according to 9to5Google. The company has not stated a reason, though the device is still listed at $100 on Amazon for now. The streamer, which replaced Chromecast in 2024, includes 32GB storage, 4GB RAM, and support for 4K60 HDR formats and Dolby Atmos.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-01
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