{"id":7283,"date":"2013-07-25T18:30:36","date_gmt":"2013-07-26T01:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bensbargains.net\/thecheckout\/?p=7283"},"modified":"2015-09-30T14:31:55","modified_gmt":"2015-09-30T21:31:55","slug":"google-chromecast-review-simply-streaming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bensbargains.com\/thecheckout\/reviews\/google-chromecast-review-simply-streaming\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Chromecast Review: Simply Streaming"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Just yesterday, Google announced<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\"Google<\/a>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.<\/p>\n

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 fianc\u00e9e’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.<\/p>\n

Please\u00a0Insert Your Dongle<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Chromecast<\/a><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Mostly Delicious Streaminess<\/h3>\n

In comparison to the Roku 3<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

\"chromecast-iphone-netflix\"<\/a>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:<\/p>\n