Scott Lowe of IGN reviews Chromecast – a more reasonably-priced variation of Nexus Q. Chromecast is a wireless streaming system that lets you enjoy your favorite sites from your TV. At $35, the HDMI dongle is unbeatable.
The streaming device is simply plugged into your TV’s HDMI port. The thumb-sized dongle may look sleek as it is, but it actually requires a power connection either from a micro USB cable to your TV unit, or to a wall outlet. It’s not exactly the ideal gadget for minimalists who prefer wireless.
There are three quick steps to get started. Plug Chromecast, connect to Wi-Fi, and download the Chromecast app. Using your smartphone, laptop, or tablet, you’re ready to watch your favorite movies, music, and shows.
The entertainment advantage is obvious: you get to enjoy Netflix, Hulu Plus, YouTube, Google Play Movies, and the entire worldwide web, on your wide screen and surround audio system. You can sit back instead of hunching over small screens.
After the initial three steps, you pretty much forget about the device, and operate things the same way you use your smartphones and tablets. There are no special remotes or new technologies; it’s exactly the same way you watch, play back, change sites, and adjust volume with your phone.
Chromecast is multitasking-friendly, too. You can stream your movies while you use other apps. This is because Chromecast does the streaming directly from the internet and not from your device, so you’ll want to have a good internet plan. There are plenty of cheap high speed internet companies that can help you setup service in no time.
What challenges does Chromecast pose? Like many gadgets that work with WIFI connections, Chromecast struggles in its performance the further it gets from the router. Comparing with several WIFI-connected devices, though, Chromecast seems to have more connection issues than the others.
Then there’s the limitation on content. Though Google assures its market that the options will expand, Chromecast can only access videos from Google Play Music & Movies, Netflix, and YouTube on mobile devices. That’s not such a let-down considering that it’s unbeatably priced. Besides, mirroring on TV can be sourced practically from all internet sites at no fuss. This wireless mirroring, however, poses an issue of occasional stutter and lags between the device and TV.
Whether it’s a wise decision to buy a Chromecast depends on what you need. At a time when there are unlimited devices and choices that allow you to stream movies, videos, and music from the internet right to your TV, it’s good to weigh things before snagging the device. It’s true that it has limitations in mobile utility and content. The clutter of its wires and its appearance may not be aesthetic enough for some people. It has issues with WIFI connections in many cases, too. However, it’s a good option that provides versatility and ease of use. At $35, you don’t really need to think so much about it in terms of cost versus benefit, because it’s undeniably a winner in the affordability department!