• Central & East Europe
  • Dutch Edition
  • Features

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • Newsline
    • Platforms
      • Cable
      • Connected TV
      • IPTV
      • Satellite
      • Terrestrial
    • Technology
    • HDTV
    • Channels
    • On Demand/VOD
    • Distribution
    • Central & East Europe
    • Event Coverage
      • Calendar of Events
    • Regulation/Legal
    • Marketing
    • Columns
      • Briel On
      • Chris Dziadul Reports
      • Clover’s Week
    • People
    • Finance
  • Resources
    • White Papers
    • Download Presentations
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • About
    • Contacts
    • Our Privacy Policy – Terms and Conditions
    • Editorial Calendar
    • RSS & Social Networking
    • Mobile
    • Logos and Pictures
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Hosted Events
    • Roundtable Video
    • Roundup Video
    • Mechanical Data
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Subscribe

Briel on – First look at Chromecast

April 18, 2014 10.43 Europe/London By Robert Briel

Google promises easy connection with its new Chromecast dongle. And indeed, it is installed in minutes, if not seconds. Just plug the dongle in a HDMI slot of the TV set, connect the power supply, either to an USB port or directly to the mains with an adapter, and off you go.

After that, download the Chromecast app on any smartphone , tablet or computer (available for Android, iOS, Apple and Windows) and you are in business. After firing up the app on my iPhone, it automatically detects the Chromecast device and connects after typing in the identification code.

In order to see any content, one needs to download the various Chromecast-compatible apps on your phone or tablet. Unlike other streaming devices, Chromecast needs your mobile device (or computer) to act as a remote and host all the apps.

At this moment the number of apps is still very limited, especially in Europe. There is Netflix, YouTube, Red Bull, Viki and a few more, but so far most catch-up and on-demand services are lacking. In the UK, the BBC iPlayer is compatible, but not the international version, which can be used elsewhere in Europe.

Although choice is limited, performance is very good. After accessing, say, your Netflix account, you choose the movie or TV series you want to watch and the dingle automatically connects to the requested content – streaming it directly to the TV set in good quality.

Chromecast also offers the possibility to mirror any website to the TV set. The feature only works with Google’s Chrome browser and send the picture from the device to the TV screen. There is no direct streaming, so this results in a poor picture quality, but it does allow you to look at any website on the TV, including those with streaming video.

All in all, Chromecast is a neat little device, very cheap and cheerful, but limited in its possibilities. The choice of content is bound to grow as Google has launched a free development kit.

In comparison with other streaming devices, such as Apple TV, Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV, which are more expensive, Chromecast lags behind. But then, you can take along the dongle to anyone, stick it in another TV set and watch not only the streaming content, but also any content that is on the mobile device itself.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Related

Filed Under: Briel On Tagged With: Apple TV, Chromecast Edited: April 18, 2014 10:43

Robert Briel

About Robert Briel

Arnhem-based Robert covers the Benelux, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as IPTV, web TV, connected TV and OTT. Email Robert at rbriel@broadbandtvnews.com.

Latest News

  • 300 hours of Channel 5 content added to Sky box-sets
  • Germans ready to pay up to €23/month for video streaming
  • Love Nature launches on Sky Ticket
  • Netgem.tv to reach 12 UK fibre ISPs
  • Ampere: Amazon’s Premier League coverage boosts fan reach by a third

Feature

White Paper: The Plume Adaptive WiFi™ Advantage

For consumers, Wi-Fi is the internet. They count on it to access and run their digital lives. Which means, for Internet Service Providers (ISPs), delivering flawless Wi-Fi is the critical foundation for building a successful smart home strategy and developing a wider services platform. Get it right and the rewards are abundant, get it wrong […]

Watch Video

About Us

Broadband TV News covers is the Industry’s No.1 Information Provider bringing news, analysis and comment on the delivery of digital television, around Europe and the World.

Broadband TV News

PO Box 499
Cambridge
United Kingdom
CB1 0AH
news@broadbandtvnews.com

Editions

  • Central & East Europe
  • Broadband TV Nieuws
  • Channels
  • Columns
  • Features
  • White Papers

Subscribe

Join over 40,000 readers to our Daily and Weekly emails. Complete the simple form to get the latest issue delivered direct to your inbox.

Click Here

Advertise with Broadband TV News

Broadband TV News offers a range of commercial possibilities from banner advertising to white paper hosting. Keep your brand at the front of buyer's minds.

Contact: Chris Griffin Commercial Director Tel: +44 7590 522475

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2019 Broadband TV News LLP · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OK