• Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • Media Info
    • Terms & Conditions for Advertisers
    • Mechanical Data

Broadband TV News

Independent. Since 2003

  • Home
  • News Line
    • Central & East Europe
    • People
  • TV
    • On Demand/VOD
    • IPTV
    • Cable
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
    • Distribution
  • Business
  • Tech
  • Columns
    • Chris Dziadul
    • Julian Clover
    • Robert Briel
  • Events
    • Events Diary
    • BTN Events
    • Events Coverage
    • Submit the details of your event
  • Features
  • Resources
    • White Papers

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: 18 April 2014 10:43

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

  • Turkey blocks Deutsche Welle and VoA
  • Canal+ Austria added to Apple TV
  • Redge Technologies extends TVN Warner Bros. Discovery contract
  • Polish pay-TV: new statistics
  • Countdown to Canal+ Sport launch

Watch Video

24i on app development and viewer recommendations – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Julian Clover speaks to 24i's Sales Director Operator Solutions, Lennart Broers, about how apps are becoming more important to pay-TV operators, and the recent acquisition of recommendations company The Filter. … [Watch Now ...]

Xperi on using AI to identify your audience – ANGA COM Roundup Video

Patrick Byrden, Xperi's VP of Business Development & Strategy, tells Julian Clover how the company is using AI to detect who is watching the TV, and providing them with more relevant content. … [Watch Now ...]

Free Ebook

eBook: Overcoming the Top 5 Challenges in Server-side IP Ad insertion

IP video is a game-changer for advertising. However, unlike traditional television, IP video is more dynamic, with new devices, formats, content and services to consider. … [Download the eBook...]

Broadband TV News

  • Subscribe
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Logos & Pictures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Advertising

  • Media Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Mechanical Data
  • Video Services

News

  • Latest
  • Central & East Europe
  • TV
  • Tech
  • Streaming
  • Cable
  • Satellite
  • Terrestrial
  • IPTV
  • Business
  • People

Events

  • Events Diary
  • BTN Events
  • Submit the details of your event
  • Media Meet & Greet

Broadband TV News

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

Connect with Us

 

Copyright © 2022 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