If you follow Google products at all, then you are well aware that Chromecast has been a huge success for Google. It’s incredibly cheap at only $35 and was immediately touted as a killer to Roku, AppleTV and any other streamer out there. Does it deliver? The short answer is: not yet.
I decided that I would not write my thoughts on the Chromecast until I had it for a while. I wanted to see what my experience was using it and how often I chose it over my PS3, XBOX 360, AppleTV or even my Smart TV for streaming content. I’ll start with the most frequent use of Chromecast in my house: Netflix.
We, like many of you, watch a lot of Netflix. I turn on Netflix in the morning as we are getting ready so there is kid friendly content playing without having to worry about inappropriate commercials or news reports talking about the most recent murder. Live TV is a parents nightmare, but that is a different story. I would typically turn on the PS3 and start Netflix, but have found myself using the Chromecast more and more because it is so easy to start it on my Nexus 7, send it to Chromecast and go about my morning. When it is time to go, I just have to turn off the TV. Done. Quick, easy and fast. The only negatives are specific to Netflix and not Chromecast. Profiles are not supported on Android tablets yet so when I use Netflix with Chromecast it is just under my profile which screws with my recommendations. I also like how Netflix will continue with the next episode of a TV show automatically on the PS3. Again, not offered on my Android app. If Netflix fixes those two things, then I won’t ever watch Netflix on anything except Chromecast again.
The other use for Chromecast in my house is for music. When my wife decrees that it is cleaning day, there is no fighting it. We all have to get busy and prepare to spend the afternoon cleaning the house and doing laundry. I get through it by having music playing. Before Chromecast, I would use the AppleTV and stream music from iTunes to my receiver. It worked fine and I enjoyed having my music playing instead of a radio, but hated dealing with that tiny remote. I already used Google Play Music more than iTunes so it was a natural transition for me to start using it with Chromecast. Much like my Netflix experience, using my Nexus 7 to control it has become much easier than fooling with a remote. I have noticed a few times where it just stops playing and I have to start it up again, but it isn’t so often that it is annoying. Other than that, it works wonderful and is a great way for me to stream my music.
YouTube also works great with Chromecast and it has become the only way that I will watch YouTube on TV. Granted, I don’t use it a lot, but we’ve wasted plenty of time watching videos of people making fools of themselves or the newest movie trailer. Finding a new video on my Nexus 7 while the other one is playing is so simple. Much better than trying to use a remote of any kind.
Now, it isn’t all rosy for Chromecast. The other feature that you might want to use is streaming from your Chrome browser on your computer. It is listed as a beta feature and that is for a good reason. It doesn’t work very well at all. I tested Hulu and it would display on the TV, but it stuttered and froze quite a bit. I know the main difference is that all the above features are not actually streaming from your device, but from the cloud. Casting a browser tab is more complicated because it depends on your computer and internet speeds and can tax your equipment if you send video. I have a Mac and send my screen to my AppleTV and watch Hulu on TV that way without any problems. Picture quality isn’t as good as a native Hulu Plus app, but it’s free. If I am using the same equipment and WiFi connection going to the AppleTV as my Chromecast, then I would think peformance should be on par, but something isn’t right with Chromecast and streaming from Chrome. Hopefully, this improves because it will be a very useful feature.
You probably have many ways to watch Netflix, YouTube or listen to music in your home right now. What makes Chromecast appealing is the ease of use and the low cost. You can have one on each TV in the house for about the same cost as an AppleTV or other streaming device. Feature for feature it won’t match up with other offerings, but I would bet most of you probably use your streamer for Netflix the majority of the time. If so, then Chromecast would be a great fit.
Perhaps the most appealing thing about Chromecast is also the one thing I can’t review and that is it’s potential. Hulu Plus now works with Chromecast and HBO GO and Pandora are rumored to be launching soon. I think we will continue to see more and more companies provide support for Chromecast and this inexpensive little device will become more and more popular.
Units were hard to find for a while, but a recent search shows it in stock at Amazon and Best Buy so it should be pretty easy to get one. With the holidays coming up, I can whole heartedly recommend Chromecast for the technology geek in your life. For $35 you just can’t beat it.
