It even includes an IR blaster, letting you control IR-ready devices that other wireless remotes cannot. We'll nitpick the remote's flaws a bit down below in the "What We Don't Like" section, but in general it gets the job done beautifully. I'd say it's a bit better than the Amazon Fire remote (thanks to the dedicated Netflix button), but it's still a far cry from what Roku delivers. It has a clicky control pad like Amazon and Roku, dedicated buttons for specific streaming services, a dedicated mute and home button, as well as volume controls right on the remote itself. Speaking of the remote, Google did a great job of borrowing what works on remotes from its competitors. The remote is a great addition-even if it needs some work The Google Chromecast with Google TV's remote is slick, but it has just enough buttons to satisfy most uses. Google seems to have settled for putting a dedicated button on the remote, which is very convenient if you use YouTube TV and reprogrammable if you do not. The one service Google features more prominently than others is its own YouTube and YouTube TV, though it doesn't dominate the interface the way Apple, Roku, and Amazon do with their own offerings. Despite Google being the largest provider of ads on the planet, its latest offering is relatively low on ads, instead focusing on shuttling you to the apps you want. The addition of a remote and a full menu system and user interface makes it much easier to use the Google Chromecast in a home with people who are less tech savvy or don't have their own separate devices (like kids).Ĭompared to Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV, the user interface is refreshingly simple. It's easy to use, fast, and has access to nearly all the apps you could ask for. And yet, it took seven years for Google to marry them. Two very popular products you'd think would go great together. On the hardware side, it had the Chromecasts. Google's product strategy has always been "throw things against the wall and see what sticks," but particularly in the TV space. The Google TV experience is a long overdue addition The Google Chromecast with Google TV interface puts content front and center, but doesn't favor Google's apps too heavily. You can still use it like previous Chromecasts, but it no longer requires another device to be useful. This is entirely different, offering a full-blown Android TV experience, complete with a remote, menu, apps, file management, and an app store. Instead, when watching content on another device (like your phone), a Chromecast logo would appear that you could tap to "cast" the content onto your TV screen. Previous Chromecast models worked the same way, but once you connected it to your Wi-Fi and plugged it in, there wasn't much else you could do with it by itself. It has a USB-C port for power that you have to plug into a wall outlet or power strip (your TV's USB ports likely don't provide enough power), and it connects to your internet via Wi-Fi. Operating System: Android TV OS (Google TV)Īudio Formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos (pass-through)Ĭonnectivity: HDMI out, Bluetooth, 802.11ac (2.4GHz / 5GHz) Wi-Fi, USB-C for powerĭimensions: 2.4 in x 6.4 in x 0.5 x (W x L x H)Īs you'd expect, the latest Chromecast plugs directly into the HDMI port on the back of your TV. Here are the Chromecast with Google TV's specifications according to Google: You'll find the same operating system on some of the best TVs out there. The Google Chromecast with Google TV is a standalone streaming box, running a rebranded version of Android TV that Google has dubbed Google TV. Google seems to have been paying attention to its competitors' missteps, though it makes some of its own mistakes along the way. The idea of a box that just streams video from the internet is no longer weird, and Google has the benefit of its own hardware optimizations and seeing the mistakes being made by its competition. It's not the first time Google has tried this type of standalone design, but it enters a much more mature streaming market. This is a much more traditional streaming device, clicker and all. This new model keeps the Chromecast branding, but totally changes the user experience. In some ways, it's interesting to see Google pivot from its well-established "Chromecast" designs, which are largely geared toward tech-savvy consumers that occasionally want to send some content from their phone to their TV. Updated July 25, 2022: This post has been updated to reflect the latest information and software updates. Google's latest Chromecast is one of the best streaming devices you can buy, period.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |