The Google Chromecast - My New Favourite Android Toy.

This is slightly unusual for me in the respect that this review is not of a mobile phone, but since the release of the nexus 5 last year nothing has had my attention more than the Chromecast.

My streaming method for the last 6 years has been my trusty PlayStation 3, to be honest it has only been any good to me in the last couple of years mainly thanks to Netflix. I've had many failed attempts with streaming from computers to the PS3. This when I chose the bedroom for the chromecast's home. It was to revive an ancient T.V with a HDMI port and not much else. After receiving it as a present for my birthday, I went about plugging it in, which to be fair is the simplest of tasks. Chromecast into HDMI port then USB cable into Chromecast and wall socket. The other part is to download a app on you android device which basically sets up the Chromecast to work with your WIFI network and to give it a name.

As much as I loved it when I first started loading apps that were Chromecast compatible I found them to be few and far between ( current list available to me ). Thankfully in recent days Google has opened the SDK to the public, which should open the floodgates on the amount of apps that can utilise the Chromecast. 

Apart from the usual apps like YouTube and Google Play Music and Movies there are a couple more apps that I would recommend to make the most of the Chromecast.

AVIA

You need Avia if your looking to stream media from your phones memory. One of my first frustrations and admittedly my fault for not researching properly, was that Android doesn't let you do this from your devices software. I'd hope in the future this these features are included in Android and don't need 3rd party apps. To unlock the apps full potential to use with Chromecast you have to pay £2.99 for the privilege 

Casting from Chrome tabs on Chrome browser with Google Cast.

I always forget about this feature. Its basically a Chrome app that you install into your browser that lets you cast from your computer. It means that you don't have to do everything of your phone.

This is early days still for the Chromecast and I look forward to what clever and useful ideas developers come up with.

Do you use the Chromecast or have you put your money into Apple TV or Roku? I'd be very interested to here you thoughts on the Chromecast. 

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