Google Chromecast Review

A versatile solution at an unbeatable price. 

From the ashes of the Nexus Q — the half-baked $299 set-top box introduced at Google I/O 2012 that was discontinued before ever making it to store shelves — the Chromecast has risen. Honing the same AirPlay-style streaming capabilities, but ditching the expensive orb-like hardware in favor of a $35 HDMI dongle, the Chromecast is a simplified solution with an unbeatable price. Though certainly not without its flaws, the Chromecast is a great cross-platform wireless streaming system that will only get better with time.

Though just about every promotional image you'll find of the Chromecast showcases the dongle by itself, in reality the system requires you also connect a microUSB cable to your TV or a wall outlet adapter for power. The added wire clutter paired with the dongle jutting out from your TV makes the Chromecast a somewhat awkward, unrefined design. The setup process is otherwise a breeze. Once connected to your TV and powered on, all you have to do is download the Chromecast app for your PC, Mac, or Android device to complete the initial setup. While Google promises a dedicated app for iOS is coming, Apple tablet or smartphone users can use a web tool via Safari. From the Chromecast app or browser, all you have to do is assign your Chromecast a name (i.e. Bedroom Chromecast, etc.), enter your Wi-Fi network information, and you're good to go.
Though generally painless, there are scenarios when the Chromecast can be challenging to configure. For instance, if your TV is somewhat far or a few rooms away from your router, the Chromecast can struggle to maintain a connection. I also experienced issues when trying to connect to a secured network at IGN's headquarters in San Francisco that was otherwise accessible by any other device. Obviously, corporate networks are a less common use case and may require additional steps, but it was unusual nonetheless.

Using the Chromecast is effortless. Just open one of the supported apps on your Android or iOS device and tap the Chromecast icon that appears above the video player. Once streaming on-screen, you can use your phone or tablet to control playback or search for other content. What's most exciting about the Chromecast, is that you can even continue using other apps or games while streaming video. Unlike most AirPlay-enabled apps for iOS, Chromecast is pulling video from the internet — not directly from your device — allowing users to multitask and limit the chances of running into connection issues. There's also parity across platforms, performance-wise. Android users do have the unique the benefit of streaming from Google Play, but otherwise iOS devices functioned just as well.
The Chromecast's biggest limitation, of course, is content. Right now, the system only supports video from YouTube, Netflix, and Google Play Music & Movies on mobile. Having only rarely used Google Play's VOD service and owning a variety of other devices with which to watch YouTube and Netflix, the novelty of the Chromecast's app streaming functionality wore off quick. But Google promises more apps are on the way, and given the company's clout, I'm inclined to believe them.

But even if its mobile utility is still burgeoning, the Chromecast's PC and Mac integration alone is worth the cost of entry. By simply installing the Google Cast extension on Chrome, you can wirelessly mirror any open tab on your laptop or desktop PC to your TV. As a result, you can stream video or audio from virtually any source — HBOGo, Hulu, Spotify, Rdio, etc. The feature works pretty well, though it does occasionally suffer from stutters while playing video and the mirroring often lags between your computer and TV. Fortunately, like its promise that more apps are on the way, Google says the PC streaming feature will improve with time and has saddled the extension with a beta label.
Ultimately the question becomes whether the Chromecast suits your needs. There are a vast array of devices that bring video and music services to your TV — do you really need another? Maybe not, but then again, its capacity to stream media from apps is considerably less compelling than its browser mirroring functionality, which provides practically boundless applications. But even if you're apprehensive about the day-to-day usefulness of the Chromecast, the cost is so low that it's a relatively painless gamble.