Google’s latest streaming device, the $30 Chromecast with Google TV HD, isn’t designed for home theater enthusiasts who live and breathe 4K and Dolby Atmos. But on the contrary. The device is limited to a maximum resolution of 1080p (Full HD) and lacks Dolby’s best video and audio tricks altogether. It is at least able to play HDR videos. But the target customer is clear: This product is for people who want to bring new smarts to an old TV (or monitor). Maybe you have an Airbnb that needs more entertainment. These are the use cases where Google’s new streamer — and similarly affordable entry-level options from Roku and Amazon — make perfect sense.
Though the Chromecast with Google TV has a so-so processor that sometimes lags when navigating the interface, it largely fulfills its mission of providing a good streaming experience wherever you want it. And just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean it’s incapable. Aside from the core features and included remote, you can connect a USB hub to the Chromecast HD and take advantage of external storage, connect a webcam for video conferencing, or connect a wired Ethernet connection for bulletproof streaming.
In terms of design and size, good luck spotting differences between this $30 dongle and the $50 Chromecast with Google HD 4K. The older hardware comes in multiple colors, but the HD model sticks with white. That’s really the only visual differentiator. Otherwise, both will plug into an HDMI port and come with a USB-C power adapter, as the USB ports on TVs often can’t deliver enough juice to keep them running at their best. The included voice remote is also identical, with the same keyboard shortcuts for Netflix and YouTube – plus a dedicated Google Assistant button. It’s a convenient, compact remote that you (or guests of an Airbnb) can pull down in no time.
You already know its video limitations, but for audio, Chromecast with Google TV HD supports traditional Dolby Digital so you can still enjoy surround sound. Just without the Atmos elevation channels.
Again, apart from the playback resolution, the user experience of both Chromecasts is the same. And that’s good. Despite some persistent inertia that Google is still trying to solve, Google TV remains my preferred interface for browsing TV shows and movies from several different streaming apps and internet TV services. Navigating the sections – For You, Live TV, Movies, Shows, etc. – is intuitive, recommendations are often to the point, and Google’s ads are harmless. It’s not as obvious as what you get from Roku or Amazon, Google’s only competitors at this price point. Every major streaming app is considered, although major players like Netflix have dismissed some of Google TV’s features like universal watchlist. It’s not enough to ruin my fondness for the platform, but it can be annoying.
Google TV has supported personalized profiles (and content-aware child accounts) for a while, so everyone in your home can have their own watchlist and personalized choices. Overall, everything about the Google TV feels sleek and modern, whether you’re browsing a show’s details page, performing a voice search, controlling your smart home, or catching a Nest camera feed.
I still think Google would be well served if they released a powerful streaming gadget that could really showcase this software to its fullest potential, but I haven’t had one yet Poorly Time with Chromecast HD. I was worried this would be the case, but Google’s tweaks over time (and the newer Android 12-based OS) make it perfectly bearable. Whether that holds true over time, we’ll know in a few months. What I can say now is that any performance hits are temporary and not a constant nuisance.
Explore Chromecast’s settings and you’ll find that Google lets you go either way: basic or advanced. New to Google TV with Android 12 is the Adjust Frame Rate setting. But this goes beyond other implementations I’ve seen and gets delightfully nerdy. You have three options:
Seamless
When the app requests it, your device will adjust its output to the original frame rate of the content you’re watching ONLY if your TV is capable of a seamless transition.
Not seamless
When the app requests it, your device will adjust its output to match the original frame rate of the content you’re watching. This can cause your screen to go black for a second when exiting or entering a video playback.
Never
Even if the app requests it, your device will never try to match its output to the original frame rate of the content being viewed.
I guess Google understands that home theater nerds are often so picky that a seamless transition between frame rates is really important. You also get some privacy-focused benefits with the newer software, such as: B. the ability to pause the microphone (in the handheld remote) or camera access (if you have a webcam connected). Added text scaling that allows you to adjust the size of on-screen text between 85 and 115 percent. And setup is a little quicker thanks to an on-screen QR code that can quickly drag the Chromecast onto your Wi-Fi network. Obviously these improvements won’t be exclusive to the cheaper HD Chromecast for long; Google has confirmed that Android 12 is coming to the 4K model in the near future.
The Chromecast with Google TV HD still supports its longtime namesake feature: casting. But the cloud gaming days are practically numbered – at least when it comes to Stadia. Personally, it still amazes me that Google hasn’t yet released a full-fledged Google Photos app designed for the TV screen. I would be over it. Those with smart homes would also appreciate a full Google Home app for the TV platform, but that’s still missing too.
In about a week of using Chromecast regularly with Google TV HD, I haven’t encountered any major issues or frustrations. It offers the same modern, content-focused presentation as the aging 4K hardware, but for $20 less. And it’s already discounted at several retailers, so this could prove to be a compelling impulse buy for many over the holidays.
If you’re a videophile, you probably don’t pay attention to this product. 4K TV owners should definitely look elsewhere. But for anyone who needs a streamer that’s ideal for connecting to a second TV in the kitchen, gym, second bedroom… whereverthis $30 Chromecast does the job, offering a lot more features than the original Chromecast from nearly a decade ago — and it somehow costs even less.
Every smart device now requires you to agree to a set of terms and conditions before you can use it — contracts that nobody really reads. It is impossible for us to read and analyze each and every one of these agreements. But we’ve started counting exactly how many times you have to click “Agree” to use devices when we review them, since these are agreements most people can’t read and definitely can’t negotiate.
To use Chromecast with Google TV HD, you must agree to the following:
- Google Terms of Service
- Google Privacy Policy
- Google Device Arbitration Agreement: “Any dispute regarding your Google device will be resolved by binding arbitration on an individual, not class basis […] unless you terminate by following the instructions in this Agreement.”
The following agreements are optional:
- Use Chromecast location: “Allow Google and apps with your permission on your Chromecast to use Chromecast’s Wi-Fi estimated location.”
- Send usage and diagnostic data
If you want to use the Google Assistant, you must also consent to Google collecting the following:
- App information from your devices
- Contact information from your devices: “This data may be stored and used in any Google service you are signed into to provide you with a more personalized experience. You can view and delete your data and change your settings at account.google.com.”
Streaming services also have their own terms of service and privacy policies.
Final result: at least three mandatory agreements and at least four optional agreements.
Photography by Chris Welch / The Verand
#Chromecast #Google #review #simple #entertainment
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