When a company showcases a new product, we rarely get a good look at the back. It’s understandable, since ports and cables aren’t exactly glamorous. The new Google TV Streamer, while looking more like a router than its Chromecast predecessor, offers a small but delightful surprise: a dedicated button on the back for finding a lost remote.
This feature is a game changer, especially for those who constantly misplace their remotes. Pressing the button triggers a chirping sound from the new Google TV voice remote, making it easy to locate. This is a feature that Roku has been offering for a while, and it’s fantastic to see Google finally implementing it.
The technology behind it is simple: a small speaker in the remote and a dedicated button on the streamer. It’s a two-part solution that eliminates the need for app-based tracking or voice commands. This simple addition puts Google TV in direct competition with the best streaming device on the market, the Apple TV 4K, which currently lacks this feature.
Here’s to hoping other streaming giants like Apple and Amazon adopt this quality-of-life feature in their future devices. While you might not use it often, this little addition can be a lifesaver when you’re in a bind.
