Good things come in small packages, or at least that's the hope Google has for Chromecast. This inexpensive media streaming adapter turns any HDMI-equipped television into an app-driven smart TV, making it a seed that could grow into the company's answer to the Apple TV, Roku 3 and other rival streaming devices.
But it's an answer that's very much a work in progress even now, more than six months after it launched in the US.
That's because while the Android inventor has released its streamin
The Chromecast app list is now up to 23 including top apps like Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Pandora and HBO Go. It's is by far the cheapest way to beam these video and music services to a TV, although initiating the stream requires an Android or iOS device, or Google's Chrome browser on a PC, Mac or Chrome OS computer.
You won't find a Chromecast remote in the box or a main menu tying all of the apps together like on an Apple TV or Roku 3. All streams originate from a special "Cast" button that's built into each correlating mobile app or browser. This means Windows Phone 8 users, who don't have many options among app-filled streaming technology, won't find compatibility here either.
Media Browser is an app that streams similar content from any computer in the house, giving the Chromecast home theater PC (HTPC) granting capabilities. Its a power sorely missing from PS4 at the moment, and Google provides a cheap and quick fix for those waiting on Sony's patch.
The new apps worth a free download are BeyondPod and Revision3, both of which launched alongside the Google Cast SDK. BeyondPod offers aggregated podcast content while Revision3 adds its own blend of video content. The rest aren't very noteworthy or are extremely buggy.
As it stands, Chromecast is Google's third attempt to take over living room televisions and it's on the verge of overcoming the problems of its predecessors. But it's still unproven. Previously, the company launched the odd-shaped Nexus Q, which also faced an uphill battle for app support.
Google TV and its recently rebranded Android TV successor have had their own share of streaming problems. There are more apps for the Honeycomb and Jelly Bean-based platforms, but the hardware has always been more expensive, requiring a "buddy box" or a whole new television to take advantage of the apps.
Chromecast certainly fixes the out-of-reach hardware issue by selling for a rock-bottom price, and it's a million times easier to implement. If you can plug an HDMI cable into a television, you can use Chromecast. That's all it takes.
The good news for Google and everyone who buys into Chromecast right now is that while it still lacks a plethora of apps, it's the same exact problem that Apple TV and similarly-styled streaming boxes have faced for years. Content providers have been slow to get on board. In a few months time, Chromecast's lineup of apps is likely to be no better and no worse than its rivals.
Chromecast certainly fixes the out-of-reach hardware issue by selling for a rock-bottom price, and it's a million times easier to implement. If you can plug an HDMI cable into a television, you can use Chromecast. That's all it takes.
The good news for Google and everyone who buys into Chromecast right now is that while it still has less than two dozen apps, it's the same exact problem that Apple TV and similarly-styled streaming boxes have faced for years. Content providers have been slow to get on board. That appears to be changing with the groundswell of garage based developers gaining access to the SDK. It's only a matter of time.
Chromecast is looking less and less like an experiment by Google, which is reportedly attempting to make deals with media companies for broader TV plans. It has tried and failed in the past, but as they say, third time's a charm.
It's such an inexpensive experiment, however, that the few tricks that Google has packed into the tiny Chromecast may make it worth picking up and plugging into your TV, depending on your media streaming needs.
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