What is Chromecast?

Chromecast is a series of digital media players, made by Google, which streams audio/video from computers, phones, and tablets to a television screen or audio system through Wi-Fi. “Chromecast works with iPhone®, iPad®, Android phone and tablet, Mac® and Windows® laptop, and Chromebook.”

When this simple media-streaming device is plugged into an HDMI port and configured, it will turn your ordinary television into an “app-driven smart TV”. After that, just use your mobile device to stream and control your favorite movies, music, shows, and more. You will no longer go through the hassle of using a VGA, DVI, HDMI, and Component Video port.

How to Setup the Device?

Setting up such a media-sharing device has never been faster or easier. You don’t have to be a technology wiz to complete the installation process. Once you follow and finish the four-step procedure shown below, you will be ready to cast media from any compatible app.

• 1.     Plug one end of the Chromecast into the HDMI port of your television and the other end to a power outlet.
• 2.     Turn on your TV and switch it to the proper input.
• 3.     Download the application for iOS or Android and run it to complete the required prompts.
• 4.     Finalize the installation process by entering the network and password.

For further assistance and explanation, visit the following link:

https://support.google.com/chromecast/answer/2998456?hl=en-GB

What are the Apps Supported?

With a click of a button, Chromecast gives you the ability to use your familiar mobile apps with your TV. You won’t have to log into or download anything. All you have to do is click the “Cast” button and enjoy. But one might ask, what are the apps supported by Chromecast?

By recent counts, hundreds of apps have been adapted to stream media from iOS and Android devices and the list keeps on increasing. The selection covers a broad range of apps like music, news, sports and entertainment. The most widely used seem to be video providers such as YouTube, Hulu, and Netflix.  

For a complete and comprehensive list, please visit the following links:

https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/chromecast/apps/?utm_source=chromecast.com

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_apps_with_Google_Cast_support

What's the Latest Design?

The new Chromecast device is a plastic puck that weighs 39 grams and is 51.9 mm in diameter. It comes in black, pink, and yellow. On one side, there’s a small cable that ends with an HDMI connector. The other side contains a micro USB port, a reset button, and an indicator light. The matte gray bottom side is magnetized to clamp the HDMI connector when the device is removed from the TV.

According to Google developers, Chromecast 2 is faster than the original version, which was released in 2013. The setup procedure remains simple as it was on the old device, but it loads new pages and downloads necessary updates much faster. Both devices use the same 512 MB RAM.

Although, Chromecast 2 has 1/8^th of the storage compared to the original, Chromecast was never designed to be a storage device. The difference in storage was needed for cache options. Since Chromecast 2 offers better connectivity, less storage is needed on the device to cache videos.

What's Different from Other Devices?

There are many similar casting devices to Chromecast, some of which are Apple TV, Roku 3, and Amazon Fire TV. They are all designed with the same purpose: streaming digital content on a big screen without hassle or fiddle.

While Google’s competitors use intricate interfaces to hold media content and run their devices on complex operating systems, Chromecast’s simplicity allows the user to stream media with ease. One main advantage Google has over their competitors is that Chromecast is designed for use with portable devices. There is no remote control or main menu that ties all apps together like on Apple TV or Roku 3. However, the most impressive thing about Chromecast is its price. You can buy the new Chromecast 2 for as little as 35 USD, almost a third of the price of an Apple TV.

Chromecast is the cheapest and most practical device used to stream media on your TV. It comes highly recommended, even more than its competitors. Google have in fact outdone themselves this time!