Undercutting the Roku Premiere+ by about $30, Google and Xiaomi are significantly driving the price down for anyone that wants to get into 4K streaming with HDR support. Prior to the announcements of these devices this week, the Roku Premiere+ was the new price leader for HDR lovers at $100 for the new set-top box.

Fortunately, we have 2 new competitors driving the prices down even more. Announced today, the Chromecast Ultra will debut in November at a $69.99 price point and will support both HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats. Approximately 1.8 times faster than a standard Chromecast when loading video, the Ultra will also include an Ethernet port for anyone that needs a wired connection to handle those data-heavy 4K streams.

Users will be able to stream 4K video on YouTube  Netflix and Vudu when the device launches. Google Play support for 4K movies will be coming later that month. Of course, you can still mirror content from a laptop, if you prefer to cast your video from a regular computer rather than a mobile device.

Chinese consumer electronics Xiaomi is also getting into the streaming set-top box market in a big way with the inexpensive Mi Box player. Also priced at $69.99, the new set-top box runs a variation of Google’s Android TV in order to support the most popular streaming apps like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and HBO Now.

While Google struck out with their older Android TV device (the Nexus player), Xiaomi’s aggressive play into the market undercuts all the prices. It includes 4K streaming with HDR support, a Bluetooth remote control with support for voice searching, Google Cast support for sending video to your TV screen, support for DTS and Dolby Digital Plus and gaming support with a quad-core processor. (To get equivalent features on Roku, you would have to spend $130 to get voice search on the Roku Ultra.)

Google’s Chromecast can be purchased directly through Google or stores like Best Buy. The Xiaomi Mi Box can be purchased direct from Xiaomi (when in stock) or through Walmart as the box hits stores in early October.

Chromecast Ultra, Mi Box offer 4K with HDR at just $70

Launching on Kickstarter first, the HUB by ekko is a Wi-Fi enabled system for managing wireless audio. Available in two or four puck configurations, HUB users just plug a set of headphones into one of the pucks.

Ideal for anyone living in an apartment with thin walls, multiple people can listen to the same audio source over headphones without disturbing anyone.

Of course, you could also plug a set of speakers into each puck and create a situation where you can distribute audio over Wi-Fi into mulitple rooms of your home. The volume and equalizer levels of each puck can be controlled using a smartphone app, ideal for creating a balance throughout a home or simply for increasing volume on headphones or speakers for anyone that’s hard of hearing.

Each puck has a 4.5 hour battery life and roughly a 50 foot range from the audio source. Interestingly, you can purchase mulitple HUBs and connect up to 10 people to the same audio source. It’s able to broadcast 96 kHz / 24-bit audio, basically studio quality sound to either headphones or speakers. Ideal for parents, the parental control options on the smartphone app include safe volume settings as well as real-time usage monitoring.

Besides hard-wiring the main HUB station to an audio source like a home theater receiver, users can also stream music over AirPlay or DLNA. That includes support for services such as Spotify, Pandora, Rdio, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, Amaozn Music and Google Play. Besides mobile devices, music can be streamed from Windows or Mac devices on the same Wi-Fi network.

Be aware that since this is a Kickstarter project, delivery of the HUB isn’t happening any time soon. The creators of the device are promising a July 2017 delivery date for the first round of HUB devices. These are being funded at $169 for the HUB Mini (2 pucks) and $249 for the HUB (4 pucks). There are mulitple funding levels for early backers as well.

You can check out a video about the HUB streaming device below as well as additional pictures of the HUB in action.

Check out HUB by ekko on Kickstarter

Shut Up and Take My Money: HUB Wi-Fi audio pucks for headphones

Announced just yesterday, the 2015 version of the Google Chromecast offers up both a revision in design as well as upgraded internal hardware for a faster generation of mobile devices. Specifically, Google has upgraded the original’s 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi to 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The upgraded Wi-Fi allows users to operate on the 5GHz bandwidth, a less crowded space for streaming high definition video. (Click here to see our 2013 review of the original Chromecast.)

The form factor has shifted considerably from the original, moving from a traditional USB stick design to a round puck-like design. The device has gotten more colorful as well, offering up both yellow and coral as options. Of course, when the Chromecast is plugged into an HDMI port on the back of a television, you will never be able to appreciate the color. If I had to guess, the new color options will be ideal for anyone that travels extensively with the Chromecast. Spotting a yellow or bright red Chromecast in a laptop bag or suitcase is much easier than the old black color.

Packaging is roughly the same size as the original Chromecast. In the box, you will find the new Chromecast dongle as well as a removable tray that’s hiding the power adapter and USB cable. Google decided to leave out the HDMI extender cable this time, because it’s now basically attached to the device. That HDMI cable includes a magnet that snaps onto the back of the Chromecast, ideal for traveling. The power adapter has a better design this go-around, shifting away from the side-sitting model of the old version that potentially blocked other outlets on your power strip.

Setup has been streamlined from the original version, namely the user interface that walks you through the process. A new Chromecast owner simply goes to chromecast.com/setup in order to start the process. After downloading the mobile app, setup takes approximately five minutes.

You will need to link your home’s Wi-Fi network to the device as well as watch a short intro video while the device sets up for the first time. In addition, a day-one update will load on the device, basically upgrading the software to the latest version. Similar to the old Chromecast, these updates will happen automatically when you most likely aren’t using the device.

One other big change isn’t related to the hardware; it’s the mobile app’s integration into the background wallpaper that appears on your television during downtime. You can stream in photos from Facebook, Flickr or Google Photos, for instance. Other sliders in the Backdrop section of the app allow you to change the speed at which the images change, flip weather information on or off as well as pull in a curated cache of photos from the Web; mostly art or Google Earth satellite images.

How much faster is the new Chromecast?

In order to illustrate the speed difference between the two devices, I repeated the same timing tests that I ran two years ago in my original review of the Chromecast. This test measures the point which I tap a show’s play button to start streaming and the point which the show actually starts playing on the television.

Timing Tests of the 2013 Chromecast (originally with iPhone 5 over wireless 802.11g Wi-Fi)

• Netflix: 10.7 seconds
• Hulu: 7.1 seconds (tested Oct. 2013 when Hulu was added)
• YouTube: 13.2 seconds
• Google Play Video: 9.5 seconds

Timing Tests of the 2015 Chromecast (using iPhone 6 Plus over wireless 802.11ac Wi-Fi)

• Netflix: 5.3 seconds
• Hulu: 1.9 seconds
• YouTube: 4.3 seconds (slightly longer when advertisements load)
• Google Play Video: 4.2 seconds

As you can see, the transition to 802.11ac Wi-Fi (on all devices in the streaming chain) has significantly cut the time it takes to start streaming a video. It’s also likely that improvements in software over the last two years has helped make it slightly faster to stream video to the Chromecast. Google mentioned that the new Chromecast uses data pre-loading to bring up shows faster, basically making assumptions on what you may watch next in various apps.

Scrubbing through video has also gotten faster on all compatible apps. It takes less time for a video to skip to a specific section as well as sharpen the picture quality back to a crisp 1080p stream. I also haven’t noticed any issues with buffering after playing multiple videos in Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, Google Play, HBO Go and Showtime Anytime.

So Many Video Apps!

When the 2013 Chromecast launched, one of my original complaints was a lack of third party support when it came to supported apps. The only apps supported at the 2013 launch were Netflix and three Google platforms; Chrome, YouTube and Google Play. Heck, the only way you could watch Hulu was to stream the Web version from a tab in Chrome, which was chock full of frame drops and terrible audio issues.

This has changed completely over the last two years. Since then, the Chromecast now has native support for Hulu, Pandora, HBO GO,  Showtime Anytime, Spotify, Plex, Starz Play, Watch ABC and CBS All Access as well as sports apps like WatchESPN, MLB.tv and NFL Sunday Ticket. In addition, support for Sling TV will be added in a few weeks along with support for NBA Game Time and MLS LIVE streaming.

You can check out the full list of supported apps on Google’s site here. The only standout that seems to be notably absent from the list is Amazon Instant Video, probably because Amazon is attempting to attract consumers to the Fire TV platform.

One feature that I absolutely love is background streaming while I use my iPhone for other apps. If I want to jot off a text message or check my emails, I can do that while video continues to play. I can even open up another video app, say Netflix for instance, to browse for my next show while I’m watching the latest episode of Marvel’s Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D. on Hulu. This feels more natural and seemless than it did a couple years ago.

Chromecast Gaming?

Beyond movies, television and sports, Google has added support on the gaming side for Twitch and YouTube Gaming as well as  smattering of mobile games. Twitch works really well, basically identical to video apps. Streams start playing on your HDTV within a couple seconds while the comments about the stream appear on your mobile device.

I tried out a couple mobile games, Monopoly Dash (requires Chromecast) and Just Dance Now. Monopoly Dash has a very slick integration in particular. Matches loaded quickly and games progressed quickly, ideal for short games with friends. Just Dance Now was less impressive, mainly because the freemium design of the app forces players to watch advertisements on the big screen as well as purchase the songs that are sung by popular artists. In addition, dancing with my giant smartphone in one hand was somewhat awkward.

Is the Chromecast going to make a dent in the console gaming market? No. However, it’s a mildly interesting way to stream games to the big screen in the home. If gaming developers can utilize the mobile device as an advanced controller rather than just mirroring the game, it could become popular over time with the right support. The current library is fairly unimpressive, but it’s still very early.

Should You Buy It?

If you are considering replacing an existing Chromecast, the speed benefits are clearly noticeable. You don’t have to wait as long to start watching video, assuming you also have a 802.11ac router in your home. A 802.11ac compatible mobile device would also be useful, but not necessary.  If you are someone who’s brand new to the world of Chromecast, this is definitely the version to buy. You could outfit five televisions in your home for less than $200, definitely cheaper than purchasing multiple set-top boxes.

How is it going to stack up against the other streaming sticks on the market? Roku is rumored to be releasing the Roku 4 next month and may refresh the Roku Streaming Stick line as well. Amazon already announced a Fire TV streaming stick with voice support, but the new stick is still stuck with 802.11a/b/g/n connectivity, not the new 802.11ac standard on the Chromecast. Of course, the Chromecast still has a price advantage over the other two sticks; $5 less than the Fire TV stick and $15 less than the Roku Streaming Stick. As far as deals go on the new Chromecast model, expect to see sale prices in the $30 range during November.

Click Here to Search Bens for Chromecast Deals

Google Chromecast 2015 Review: A Need for Speed

Announced today at Google’s Nexus press conference, the new Chromecast is a revision of the original model that offers up a faster Wi-Fi connection (5GHz 802.11ac) as well as data pre-fetching (basically loading content about movies / TV shows as soon as you launch an app).

The new Chromecast supports a barrage of new apps from Showtime and Sling TV as well as sports apps from the NBA and NHL. It also offers up greater support for mobile gaming—basically gaming on your smartphone or tablet while watching it on the big screen.

The new Chromecast also has a different design than the older model. Rather than using the USB stick mold, Google has opted for a round, puck-like design that’s available in three colors; black, red and yellow. It’s connected to your television via HDMI and will retail for the same price point as the last model: $35.

In addition to the Chromecast for your home theater, Google has created a second device in the Chromecast line, the Chromecast Audio. This device plugs into any speaker in your home, basically allowing you to stream music from your mobile devices. It also offers a guest mode, ideal for parties when guests want to stream their own music.

The Chromecast Audio isn’t limited to your own music collection either. You can stream music from Spotify to a Chromecast Audio device. Mostly identical in design to the new Chromecast, the Chromecast Audio will also be priced at $35. Both devices should be available today at retailers such as Best Buy and Walmart as well as the Google Play store.

Check Out the Chromecast on Google

Shut Up and Take My Money: The New Chromecast Devices

Are you binge watching right now? Friends has arrived on Netflix, the third season of House of Cards is on its way (and looks as high-stakes as ever) and Amazon is finally tracking in the world of prestigious streaming with its critically beloved Transcendence hitting awards shows left and right.

Binge watching has surpassed the honeymoon phase of memes and jokery. It’s now a bona fide part of digital culture, the claw of never-ending entertainment grasping at even the strongest deniers and succeeding at sucking them into marathon sessions of good and bad shows alike.

Accept your fate, know your weakness, and then you can focus on creating the best binge-watching atmosphere possible. Is it irrational to plan for weeks of non-activity and sloth-like behavior? Probably. Does a lack of logic dictate what people do on a regular basis? Your answer to that question is answered by whether you continue to read further. If you do, you’ll find some handy suggestion on what to take with you into your binge watching life hole.

If you already have streaming hardware, skip past the first section. If not, read on!

Must-Have Hardware

If you aren’t streaming your entertainment directly through a TV, video game console or ancient magic, the world of streaming devices isn’t so heavily populated that you should cower in fear like old people did when cell phones were invented. In fact, there are really only a few notable competitors out there. The first device comes from perhaps the most notable competitor of all, in all things, everywhere.

Chromecast

Google’s tiny little streaming device plugs directly into any HDMI port and does one of two things. It either accesses the traditional catalog of streaming services available through most devices, or it simply mirrors the image of whatever device you might be using (computer, phone, tablet, etc.) directly onto the big screen. Both options require interfacing with an outside device, which diminishes the convenience factor just a bit. On the other hand, Chromecast wins the category for most adaptable. It’s the most likely device to be able to put whatever you want on screen. Here’s our review of it.

Roku 3

On the other side of the spectrum are the Roku devices, which run all on their own and even comes with a button stick (remote controller). You won’t need another device to make it work. Just wi-fi, and pretty much any Roku device is going to run any moderately popular streaming application. Far less technical, for sure, but the convenience of that comes at a steeper price tag than the Chromecast. Here’s our review of the Roku 3. Roku also has its own streaming stick, which we reviewed, but it’s a bit limited in the mirroring department.

Amazon Fire TV Stick

Lastly but certainly not least is Amazon’s own streaming stick thingamajig. Again, we’ve reviewed this one, and we reviewed it quite well. Not only does it run games and allow voice control, it’s well integrated with Amazon’s own media streaming services (music and video). If you’re an Amazon Prime member, this is your choice, hands down. If not, it still might be your choice. It’s well-priced and it performs well, though doesn’t mirror anything.

Satiating Your Hunger

Nowhere else than in your own home do you have more control over that one inescapable necessity of life – the need to eat. It’s perhaps the greatest benefit to binge-watching that you aren’t privy to the whims of other people’s preferences or a movie theater’s severe lack of non-life-threatening goodies. That said, to deprive yourself of well-made popcorn simply because some poor high school kid isn’t making it for you behind the counter is a sin. That’s why you need to buy yourself a popcorn machine. They come in three flavors.

But if you aren’t into popcorn all that much (which would make you inhuman), there are other ways to transport the delicacies of the world into your living room without degrading their prestige with a microwave.

Relaxing in Complete Comfort

After keeping yourself alive, healthily or not, finding the utmost feng shui of comfort in front of that TV screen should take priority. And chief among comfort items are blankets and pillows. A rigorous online search happened us upon these sinfully comfy body huggers:

The Blanket that Never Lets You Go

View on Amazon

Give it enough time and your feet just might find there way out of the bottom of your blanket. Twenty minutes later your whole body feels cold, but you don’t quite register. And hour later and you’re on the brink of frostbite. If only you had this Pure Bliss Comforter from Brookstone, which pockets your feet in a reverse kangaroo pouch on the bottom.

‘Tis the Lack of Feels that Moves You

View on Amazon

It’s in the name, really, called an Indulgence Blanket. With made up terms like microweave and coral fleece being thrown around, you can expect something pretty special. It’s a queen-sized blanket with the warmth to match but the weight of a sheet. You feel it, without really feeling it. Ya know?

Head on a Cloud

View on Amazon

The 100 percent, 300thread cotton count probably means something technical to a sewing machine. To me it means my head won’t need to move for at least 12 hours, granted I’ve already made my popcorn. Then again, perhaps not. This one’s on sale at Amazon for varying rates (dependent on size) hovering around 50 percent off.

Make it Convenient

Now you’re settled and fed. It’s time to slow everything down and allow the binge to overcome you, which means upping the convenience factor of your Kevin Spacey den. Despite our best efforts as a global society, the remote control still haunts the living room. There are remedies, if not a cure.

A Blind Grab

View on Amazon

Most remote controller organizers are simply boxes with a price tag. This one has the unique feature of not being a box, but also allowing you rank you remotes by importance and access them accordingly. And that’s bottom to top, of course, as not to strain those arm muscles too much.

Automated Mood Creation Device

View on Amazon

It dims lights.

The Do Everything Button

View on Amazon

You won’t find a universal remote these days without some sort of mobile connectivity, but this is the one CNET claims as the best for 2015. It’s convenient, features buttons that actually put you somehwere worth being and, of course, interfaces seamlessly with any moderately competent Android or iOS smart phone. (You can check out the rest of CNET’s best Universal Remotes list here).

10 Essentials for Enjoying Your Next, All-Day Netflix Binge

After Google carved out a new market segment in the home theater space with the Chromecast, the rest of the industry has rushed to create similar devices for anyone that was interested in easily converting any Internet-challenged TV into a smart TV. Enter the Amazon FireTV Stick, a tiny HDMI dongle that provides all the functionality of the Fire TV media player at a fraction of the cost.

Introduced at the $19 price point to entice Prime users to preorder (through the end of 10/28/14), the regular price of the FireTV stick is still reasonable at $39. A competing product, like the Roku Stick, is priced at $49 and the Chromecast is still regularly priced at $35 (however it goes sale often in the $25 range).

The HDMI dongle also comes with a remote control, ideal for flipping between apps. Conversely, the Chromecast requires the user to use a mobile device as the remote to switch between apps and select content to watch. Interstingly, Amazon is including the voice search option that’s standard on the $99 FireTV media player, but it requires an additional $30 upgrade to buy the remote with built-in microphone. (Or you can use the mobile app for free)

If you like to download tons of apps and games, the FireTV stick is a much better option for you than competitors. In line with the FireTV media player, the user gets 8GB of storage in that tiny stick. Alternatively, the Chromecast offers 2GB and the Roku Streaming Stick offers 256MB. You are also getting a faster processor in the FireTV Stick (although not as fast at the FireTV media player) as well as more internal memory. It’s one of the only sticks that have been certified for Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 as well.

Click to Expand

All in all, the FireTV HDMI Stick is one of the better buys this holiday season as well as the fastest HDMI dongles on the home theater market. Is the FireTV media player more powerful? Absolutely. However, it’s also 2.5x the price of the FireTV Stick. You can read more about Amazon’s new home theater dongle here as well as check out more pictures of the device below:

Shut Up and Take My Money: FireTV HDMI Stick

At $50, the new Roku 3500R Streaming Stick (HDMI version) is priced between the best-in-class Roku 3 ($99) and the Google Chromecast ($35), both of which we’ve reviewed on The CheckOut (9/10 and 7/10, respectively). You might think of the Streaming Stick as Roku’s answer to the latter, as they have similar form factors, but it’s really more or less the former, crammed into a thumb drive-sized dongle.

Whereas the Chromecast is becoming a full-fledged mirroring device for your PC, phone and tablet (Android as a start) with limited streaming capabilities, the Roku Streaming Stick is a full-fledged streaming media player with limited mirroring capabilities. You can mirror (or cast) Netflix and YouTube from their respective mobile apps to the Roku stick—which is pretty cool the first time—but that’s all you can mirror (see screenshot at right). At least for now, because this functionality is expected to appear on more apps for Roku.

The Roku Streaming Stick is itself not entirely new. The 2012 MHL version (aka “Roku Ready”) is actually slightly smaller and sells for $20 more. The MHL (Mobile High Definition Link) port, which functions like HDMI, is found on newer TVs and powers the older streaming stick. The 2014 iteration drops the MHL requirement for the more-universal HDMI connectivity but now needs to be powered via USB or outlet.

Getting Started

The Roku Streaming Stick is fairly straightforward to set up. Inside the fancy packaging, you’ll find a 6-ft. microUSB to USB cable that you can plug into the included power adapter or a powered USB port on your TV. The cable could stand to be longer but since it’s universal, that’s easy enough to change.

There’s no on/off switch, so it potentially never powers down, which can be problematic (more about that later). If you do plug the Roku stick into a powered USB port, the unit will power down with the TV, but that also means it has to boot up every time you turn on the TV, and that process can take a couple minutes.

Pairing the RF remote (which comes with “AA” Duracell Coppertops) is automatic and takes a few seconds. From the top, you select language and wireless network, enter network password, then update software and restart the Roku stick. If you don’t have one, you’ll have to create a new Roku account on your computer, then link or update the Roku stick with that account and start adding channels.

The whole process takes about 10 to 15 minutes depending on how many services you have accounts with. Entering all the usernames and passwords for your different channels using the remote and on-screen keyboard can be tedious. The good news is Roku’s on-screen keyboard is better and faster than other streaming players, including the Apple TV.

Alternatively, you can download the free Roku app for your mobile device (iOS and Android) and control the stick from there. It’s fast, maybe even faster than the actual remote. And the built-in keyboard is definitely faster.

Happy Face

What does the Roku Streaming Stick offer that makes it an appealing choice for streaming aficionados? For starters, the price. As a bonus, you can get an $8 credit at M-GO—Roku’s streaming partner— with purchase through August 2014, which makes it an even better deal. And if you’re new to the M-GO service, you also get a complimentary rental.

Secondly, the convenient and attractive compactness. About the size of an old-school USB drive, it measures 3.1 x 1.1 x 0.5 inches. The Roku stick easily hides behind the back of a TV, and you can always pick up a cheap right-angle HDMI adapter so a wall-mounted TV with rear-only HDMI ports can remain flush up against the wall.

Thirdly, it’s still Roku. It still streams 1080p full HD video, has built-in dual-band Wi-Fi and boasts the same intuitive UI that Roku is well-known for. Scrolling through the channel menu is convenient because it repeats from the beginning and you can easily add channels from the player or your computer.

Roku’s excellent cross-platform search is on the Streaming Stick, so you can see which channel has the movie or show you’re looking for.

Speaking of channels, Roku’s got a ton of them (like over 1,000). Except for iTunes (see Apple TV), you’ll find just about everything good, bad and in-between: Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Video, Amazon Music (aka Cloud Player), YouTube (missing in older Rokus), Pandora, Spotify, M-GO, WatchESPN, Vudu, Redbox Instant and Plex among many, many others.

Plex is one of those lesser-known apps that’s not available on every streaming player (see Apple TV). Plex lets you stream content from your computer or networked drive. It’s a kick to watch your content via Plex complete with poster art. Plex now costs $5 after a 30-day free trial. It’s also great to watch free sports on WatchESPN (World Cup, Wimbledon), although some content is locked to your cable provider.

The remote looks basically the same as the 3rd gen Roku remotes, but lacks IR, motion control for games, and the headphone port, which some may see as a big drawback. It’s also missing ethernet and a microSD slot. However, these seem like acceptable omissions and compromises for the price point and size.

Frowny Face

As you may have seen from customer reviews on the web, the Netflix loading time is cited as one of the biggest issues of the Roku Streaming Stick. Starting up Netflix for the first time took over a minute (70 seconds). After I signed in, it took another 30 seconds to load, then it crashed after a couple minutes. The new Netflix app is beautiful, but it’s apparently too processor-intensive for this little Roku compared to the more robust dual-core CPU in the Roku 3.

In general, it takes Netflix about 25 to 28 seconds to load, while YouTube and WatchESPN are in the 10-second range. Most other apps—such as Amazon, Spotify and Plex—are in the 1- to 5-second range. In regular daily use, this wasn’t as big as an issue for me as it sounds, but it could be if all you use is Netflix.

I had some other problems with the Roku stick. It can run pretty hot, which may explain why the home screen once locked up after a week of being on and would not respond to the remote. I tried re-pairing the remote to no avail, so I had to unplug and replug the stick. That solution got it working again, but not after a couple minutes of holding my breath and waiting for the remote to automatically pair again.

Final Thoughts

Despite its limitations, I still recommend the Roku Streaming Stick, but as a second or third streaming device for a bedroom TV or guest room TV. The slow Netflix loading is currently being addressed by Roku, and the overall experience is still worthy of the Roku brand. But if you’re looking for a primary streaming player, go pick up a Roku 3 on sale. It’s still the best out there.

Check for Roku Deals on Ben’s

Roku Streaming Stick Review (HDMI Version): Size Matters Not

Just yesterday, Google announced the Chromecast HDMI dongle; a compact solution for streaming movies, television shows, YouTube videos, photos and basically anything you are browsing within Google Chrome to the main television screen in your home. While Apple has a similar technology called Airplay, Apple’s closed, proprietary ecosystem limits usage of that technology to people that own a $99 Apple TV as well as an iOS mobile device or Macbook. There have been streaming apps that perform similar functions with other set-top box media players, but nothing as inexpensive and user friendly as the Google Chromecast when it comes to hardware.

Launching at a $35 price point, users can stream video content on Netflix from their mobile device or laptop as well as YouTube videos, Google Play content on Android devices and pretty much anything within a Google Chrome Web browser tab.

It can even stream video from Hulu.com (played within a Chrome tab), assuming you have a solid laptop or desktop with relatively new hardware. For instance, my fiancée’s Samsung Series 9 Intel i5 ultrabook was able to stream Hulu.com video with just a few issues, but my old dual-core laptop created a choppy, unwatchable mess on my laptop screen and the television.

Please Insert Your Dongle

It takes about 10 minutes from unpacking the hardware to streaming video content from your mobile device or laptop. Setup through an iOS device isn’t available at this point (coming soon according to Google), but you can use a Mac or Windows computer as well as Android devices for the initial setup. After your laptop or mobile device finds the Google Chromecast on your home’s network, a code will appear on your television and you simply have to verify it on your device. After that, you need to input the password for your home’s wireless network assuming that layer of security is in use.

The package includes the Chromecast HDMI dongle, a microUSB cord for power and an optional USB power adapter if there aren’t any available USB ports on your television. Google has also included an HDMI extender to help you fit the Chromecast into a tight spot on the input panel of the television. One issue with the USB power adapter; it’s a side-sitting power plug design that can block multiple empty spots on your power strip. It’s not as annoying as the enormous Roku 3 power adapter, but still an issue on a crowded power strip used within a home theater.

Mostly Delicious Streaminess

In comparison to the Roku 3, the Google Chromecast launches video in the same amount of time as it takes to launch content within a Roku 3 application like Netflix. Within the Netflix or YouTube mobile applications, a streaming button appears in the top right corner of the app and allows you to start sending video to the Chromecast.

How quickly does that happen? Check out my timing tests when streaming video from an iPhone 5 over my home’s wireless-G Wi-Fi network:

• YouTube: 13 seconds from launching the Chromecast connection to watching a video stream, 5 additional seconds to improve the video quality of the stream to the highest level and 5 seconds to switch to another video.
• Netflix: 10 seconds from launching the Chromecast connection to watching a video stream, 6 additional seconds to improve the video quality of the stream to the highest level and 4 seconds to switch to another video.

Both the Netflix and YouTube applications are extremely responsive when performing actions such as play, pause or video scrubbing. In addition, video will continue to stream if you close the application and exit to the home screen on the iPhone.

Unfortunately, streaming video through the Chrome extension is less responsive and more problematic. For instance, Hulu.com video can be off by a couple seconds (laptop screen versus HDTV screen), the video isn’t as smooth or clear as the Hulu Plus app on a set-top box and you may hear an occasional cutout in the audio. It’s important to note that the Chrome extension is currently in beta form and could potentially improve over time. It does perform well when simply browsing the Internet.

But Should I Buy It?

The biggest drawback to purchasing the Chromecast right now is the limited application support on mobile devices. While Google has launched a SDK for developers to add streaming functionality to apps, it could be a while before we see Chromecast support in popular applications like Hulu Plus or Amazon Instant Video.

In addition, Google just yanked the promotion that offered three months of free Netflix Instant to anyone who purchased the Chromecast. Attributing it to overwhelming demand, the value proposition of the Chromecast has gotten worse.

For Netflix Instant subscribers, this purchase was a no-brainer up until today. It was basically $11 plus the standard Netflix Instant subscription rate. However, that promotion isn’t being offered on any purchases beyond 1 p.m. PT today.

Drawbacks aside, the Chromecast is definitely a useful device to have on hand when you want to share a funny YouTube video with the rest of the people in the room. In addition, guests can easily queue up their favorite YouTube videos or Web content on their device assuming they are connected to the home’s Wi-Fi. It could also be handy in extending streaming video functionality to a secondary television in an office or bedroom.

Is the Google Chromecast a clear replacement for set-top boxes like the Roku 3 or Apple TV? Absolutely not. But it can definitely improve how we share interesting media with friends and family. Hopefully over time, third party support will improve as well as the performance of the Chrome extension when it comes to video. Until then, Sad Keanu can only dream.

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Google Chromecast Review: Simply Streaming

Announced today by Google, the Chromecast is an HDMI dongle that plugs into your HDTV and provides streaming access to video and other content over your home’s Wi-Fi network.

Spiritually a successor to the Nexus Q, users will be able to stream video off Netflix, YouTube, Google Play and Chrome. In addition to the Google Chromecast dongle, the user will need Google Chrome on their personal PC or laptop in order to stream video.

Users can additionally stream video from Android smartphones and tablets as well as iOS mobile devices. Also available is a new Chromecast button within mobile applications and Google Chrome that indicates sending a video stream to the television. Google is launching a Google Cast software development kit to allow developers to add Chromecast support to their mobile applications. Beyond the Chromecast, Google likely wants to license the Google Cast streaming technology for third party devices.

While the Nexus Q had a fairly sizable price of $299, the Google Chromecast dongle clocks in at just $35. On top of the low price, Google is partnering with Netflix to offer three free months of Netflix Instant. That deal is available for both new and current subscribers. Since Netflix Instant is $7.99 per month, it’s basically like purchasing the Chromecast dongle for $11 while continuing to pay for Netflix Instant service.

We have put our money where our mouth is and ordered a Google Chromecast. Expect a review on the device in the coming weeks. If you are interested in the Google Chromecast HDMI dongle, they are selling out fast. The first batch sold out within an hour and the current ship date on the new batch is August 7.

Keep an eye on Amazon and Best Buy as well; both stores are expected to carry the Chromecast potentially as early as today. We will post it immediately on Ben’s Bargains once it’s live on either retail site. (In stock on Amazon now! Click Here)

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Check out a video of the Chromecast in action below:

Shut Up and Take My Money: Google Chromecast