Google Chromecast Review: Smaller, Faster, and Still Totally Worth It

Two year ago the Google god in the sky afford unto us a $ 35 dollar sign media - streaming dongle , and lo , it was good . Pretty good anyway , and it got good with software updates , but it still has immure propensity . Well , it ’s 2015 sister , so what ’s the young Chromecast get ? Less lag ! And … that ’s moderately much it . But honestly , that might be enough .

What Is It?

It ’s an HDMI dongle that plugs into your TV and lets you stream video and audio from hundreds of sources including Netflix , HBO Go , Hulu Plus , Pandora , and many others , including some games . It ’s also only $ 35 . You moderate it via your phone , tablet , or computer , and yes it work with both Android and iOS .

Why Does It Matter?

Because the original Chromecast was great and has a freehanded user cornerstone . The Modern version impart dual - band ( 2.4 GHz and 5 Gc ) , which cuts down on lag and buffering . Basically , it ’s quicker .

Design

It ’s a cute , little , 2 - in diameter plastic disc with a built - in HDMI cable . The original version looked like a with child USB thrust and had a rigid male HDMI connector at one final stage . That useful coming made it so it did n’t fit too nicely in some television . Google include a short adapter cord with it , but this desegregate intent is right smart better . The back of the disc is magnetized , so the ending of the HDMI cable will hold fast to it should you be … walking around ? Waiving it in the atmosphere ? I do n’t really get laid why you need it , but it ’s kind of nerveless .

On the blunt end of the platter ( opposite the HDMI cable television ) is a micro USB porthole , which you ’ll need to have plugged in to power the gimmick . The puck comes in three colors : Black , “ Lemonade , ” and “ Coral ” which , fine . Sure . Whatever . But these thing are plump to be hide out behind 99 percent of the TVs they ’re attached to so …

Using It

It ’s fundamentally exactly like using the original Chromecast , except faster . You first link up it to your home wifi web ( which you attain via the Chromecast app on your phone ) , and it only direct a duad minute . From there , any of the apps / services you have that are Chromecast - enable will have a little icon show up . You just tap it , and the video is beamed over to your television set . On your laptop computer , once you establish the Chromecast extension in your web internet browser , that same picture appears when you ’re watching YouTube , Hulu , Netflix , etc . It ’s elementary enough that some of my less tech - savvy relatives got the hang of it within 20 minutes , which honestly really says a lot .

One thing that ’s new is the Chromecast app . primitively it was just for geminate devices but now it move as a hub of sort . It also leverage all of Google ’s hunt - smart and becomes a in full working and thoughtfully position - out content hub .

Not only does it show you recommended content available to cast in the apps you have on your phone , but if you explore for , say , Minority Report , it ’ll let you choose whether you want the movie or the TV show . Pick which one you want , and then it will show you all of your options for watching . It will show you if it ’s detached on Netflix , two bucks on Google Play , or useable on an app you have n’t yet install . It ’s fast and very commodious .

Starship Test 9

At the launching event I got to try gaming on the new Chromecast with the Mario Kart - esque Angry Birds Drive . We enable multiplayer mode , created a biz , join , and then the TV became a split - screen race with our phone act as a outback guidance roulette wheel ( call back Nintendo Wii ’s wheel ) . We were on a super engorged connection , and so framerates were n’t as smooth as you ’d go for , but the response time was low enough that I could steer through turn and around obstacle without a problem .

So while the Modern app is a big deal , it also work with the original version of Chromecast , so really , there ’s only one rationality to consider upgrading : Speed . While it was impossible to do any interchangeable benchmarking because of web fluctuations , I can cover anecdotally . After several days of testing on different wireless local area internet networks and using dissimilar services I can confidently state that the fresh Chromecast is quicker than the original . I would n’t say it ’s like night and day , but I would say that it ’s definitely noticeable . You select a picture , and it starts playing quicker , plain and simple . Sometimes I ’d say it was twice as quick , sometimes it was just a 20 percent speed bump . But the chief thing is it was definitely never slower .

Like

It ’s quicker than the honest-to-goodness variation and the new app is great . The built - in HDMI cable is a nice touch . Really , though , it just works really well , it ’s promiscuous to expend , and it ’s only $ 35 .

No Like

Google still does n’t have a remote control for Chromecast , which make it the only pennant I can suppose of that does n’t have one . You have to utilise your phone , tab , or computer , which can be a pain in the rear , especially if you have to enter a password first . Amazon Instant Video does n’t work with Chromecast , and while that ’s Amazon ’s fault not Google ’s , you still lose . Ditto iTunes , but I do n’t think anyone expect that , right ?

The app still trip up here and there , especially when it passes you over to a third - party app like HBO Go ( though that may be HBO ’s buggy Android app ) , and screen - casting website from your microcomputer can be hit or miss .

Should You Buy It?

If you do n’t already have a Chromecast , then yeah , you should . $ 35 is so flash for a gimmick as capable and simple to use as this . But if you already have the original Chromecast , is it worth upgrade ? I ’d say that depend on how your current scheme is execute . If you ’re recover the lag and buffering vexatious , then yes , the $ 35 is worth it . If your organization seems to run away pretty swimmingly , then you credibly do n’t require to bother .

in person , I ’m bribe the young one and giving my old one to a Quaker . profits - win .

[ Chromecast ]

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