I just set up an $20 Onn 4k with Google TV. My other Onn's are Android TV, they don't have this pblm below.
When Channel Surfing with the Up/Down rocker it will change channels for about three channels,
then on the next channel I get the spinning circle, Log does not show any problem.
It does this whether using the device Favorites collection or any of my Channel Collections.
If Instead I go thru the same channels via going back to the Guide each time, no problem, it can play any ch.
If I switch the Video Decoder to Software, it works correctly when Channel Surfing.
Thankfully I had seen this comment below on another thread regarding the Google Streamer device.
Can we fix this please, Thanks.
...
"I can only get Channels to reliably work on the new Google Streamer if I switch the Video Decoder to "Software". When Hardware or Hybrid is selected, the selected channels often do not start playing. I can go to the server and see in Status that the channel is tuned, but nothing plays. I'll use Software for now and hope a fix is coming eventually."
why not just leave it in software? its not hurting anything...
Yes it doesn't seem to be a problem,
it's just that everybody always says use Hardware, So I never think about using Software, glad I found the comment.!!
But yes it works, and CoPilot AI says Software is more forgiving
...
Decoders play a big role in streaming quality, affecting smoothness, clarity, and performance. Here's how they influence your experience:
Software Decoders:
Can struggle with high-resolution videos (like 4K) if your CPU isn’t powerful enough.
Might cause buffering or lag if your device is under heavy load.
Can support more video formats, making them versatile.
Hardware Decoders:
Deliver smoother playback with less buffering since they use dedicated processing power.
Offer better efficiency on battery-powered devices (like smartphones and laptops).
Might be limited in supported formats, meaning some videos may need software fallback.
Try watching Hockey with software ....
Just watched hockey HD on Onn Android, Hardware, Onn GoogleTV, Software, Onn GoogleTV Hardware.
All report Native Resolution as 720, same channel used on all.
All on same TV, Samsung, no HDR.
Onn Android Hardware: Smooth, Bright, sharp as 720 should be. Perfect.
Onn GoogleTV Software: Crawler at bottom is not smooth, dropping frames, not as bright, too soft for 720.
Onn GoogleTV Hardware: Crawler at bottom not smooth. dropping frames, not as bright, too soft for 720
.
I think Google TV is just not so good, are these the results you would expect?
Update:
Watched a little more when the game was over. No fast action. Two guys talking.
Onn Google TV: I don't see the jitter on the crawler with Hardware or Software.
Still seems a little soft but not as bad
Maybe I'm just foling myself!!! LOL 
720P is not too bad imagine watching 1080 ugly with software.
Google TV is Android TV, just with a different home screen.
The issue is that those devices are essentially loss-leaders, the same as Amazon Fire devices. They are sold for dirt cheap with sub-par hardware, solely to get your data for marketing purposes and to shove ads in your face. (Why do you think Walmart bought Vizio when they already had their own Onn brand and deals with TCL: it was for their screen tracking data!)
Google is not a search company, it is not an email company, it is not a hardware company, it is not a software company. Google is an advertising and data sales company.
All true…… but the Onn Android version clearly outperforms the GoogleTV version.
Not sure why at this point.
I was actually shocked.
And also please see the comment I quoted up top about GoogleTV on the Google Streamer device.
This could perhaps be a CDVR issue.
Maybe the GoogleTV code is not quiet ready for primetime.
Plus I inquired about Headware decoder vs Software on CoPilot AI.
And it did reply that some users reported problems on GoogleTV devices on Plex and Channels DVR.
So you used internet search copy-pasta, which could be using data from over 9 months ago, which is irrelevant now, and is just as useless as getting the info from your sister's mother-in-law's brother's uncle's step-niece, who thinks they vaguely remember how things work.
Are your problem devices running Android 14? It has some issues with playing h.264. I know the onn devices are still on 12.
Android 12.
All my devices are Onn AndroidTV
except the troublesome one I just bought which is GoogleTV not Android 12.
Also Firestick 4k’s but I prefer the Onn
Because of Channel Up Down rocker.
LOL, I knew I’d get blasted for that AI crap😂
And I don’t trust it, it’s biased BS in some cases.
I rarely use it actually But I have gotten decent helpful answers.
All please see Bobby Vaughn’s attch above.
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