Google Chromecast: £30 rival to Now TV Box, Apple TV and Roku Streaming Stick
The latest media streaming gadget will turn any HD TV into a Smart TV and only costs £30. We take a closer look.
Google’s Chromecast has launched in the UK.
The device, which costs £30, allows you to stream online content using certain apps on laptops, smartphones and tablets, to your TV.
So instead of huddling around a tiny screen to watch movies, TV shows and music videos, you can now transport it all onto what’s probably the biggest screen in your house.
How does it work?
Chromecast is really simple to use.
All you need to do is plug the device into a spare HDMI port on your HD TV, connect it to your Wi-Fi network and then use compatible apps on your smartphone, laptop/PC or tablet to ‘cast’ online content onto the big screen.
So the small adaptor can quickly transform any TV with a HDMI port into a Smart TV for just £30, certainly a lot cheaper than upgrading your home entertainment set.
What devices will Chromecast function with?
Chromecast works with a wide range of operating systems including Android 2.3 and higher, iOS 6 and higher, Mac OS 10.7 and higher, Windows 7 and higher and Chrome OS.
This means you’ll be able to use Chromecast with Android tablets and smartphones, iOS devices like an iPhone or iPad, Mac and Windows computers and the Chromebook Pixel.
All you’ll need is a HD TV with a spare HDMI port, a Wi-Fi connection and any of the compatible devices to act as a remote to control playback and volume or browse.
What can you watch?
Chromecast only launched last month in the UK, so there are a limited number of apps to choose from.
At the moment the only catch-up service supported for Chromecast streaming is BBC iPlayer.
In addition you can also use Netflix, YouTube, BT Sport, Google Play Movies & TV, Vevo and Red Bull TV for entertainment, which will be displayed in full 1080p HD.
There’s also RealPlayer Cloud, which allows you to send your personal video collection to your TV. And if your TV has good speakers you'll enjoy playing your favourite tunes via Google Play Music or Rdio.
Google Chrome, which is a browser, is also ‘castable’ and allows you to beam whatever you’re looking at on a computer, smartphone or tablet straight to your TV.
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Where can I get one?
The only high street shops in the UK selling the Chromecast are PC World and Currys. These two also sell it online, where you can also get it from Amazon and the Google Play store.
At the moment if you buy the Chromecast from any of these retailers you can get a £4.99 credit on Google Play. This offer ends 15th July 2014.
How it compares
Chromecast’s closest competitors in the UK are Roku’s new Streaming Stick and Apple TV.
The Roku Streaming Stick is available for £49.99. It works in a similar way to Chromecast as all you have to do is plug it into a spare HDMI port on any HD TV and link it to your Wi-Fi network to start streaming. However, rather than using a device like a tablet to control what you watch, you get a remote.
The Roku Streaming Stick isn’t as affordable as the Chromecast but it’s got a load more supported apps or 'channels' (over 1000) including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Now TV, Amazon Instant Video, Spotify, Facebook and 4OD, which might make it worth the extra cost. However, it can’t mirror devices like Chromecast does.
Apple TV is also another rival. Rather than a stick you get a small set top box to connect to your HD TV via a HDMI cable (sold separately), which you connect to your Wi-Fi network to stream content. The set top box costs a one-off £99, which includes a remote to help you navigate and the cable you’ll need to get it all going is £15.
There isn’t a great range of apps on Apple TV. There is Netflix, Sky News, Bloomberg, Red Bull TV, YouTube and Sky Sports via Now TV along with iTunes, iCloud and Podcasts. But Airplay and Airplay Mirroring make the device worthwhile.
With Apple TV Airplay you can wirelessly stream content from a Mac, PC or iOS device to your TV. While Apple TV AirPlay Mirroring allows you to display whatever is on your Mac, iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch screen on your TV. So these two functions will be able to make up for a lack of apps as they can be used as workarounds to get practically anything you want onto your TV.
However at over three times the cost of Chromecast, it’s a pricey investment and won’t work as well if you don’t own an iOS device or Mac.
Another alternative to mention is the Now TV box. It costs £9.99 and also connects to your Wi-Fi after being plugged into a HDMI port and allows you to stream using free pre-loaded apps like 4OD and BBC iPlayer. You can download more apps using the Roku Channel Store. It's a cheaper investment than the Chromecast, but you could end up spending a lot of money on it. The main feature is Sky’s Now TV app which allows you to get Sky entertainment, sport or movies for a monthly or one-off fee.
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Verdict
If you don’t already have a way to access the internet to stream apps or websites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer or YouTube on your TV, then Chromecast is an affordable and simple way to do it.
It's only real issue is the lack of supported apps for casting, which will almost certainly improve as more developers update their apps and websites to work with the device.
But if you have a Smart TV or a games console like the Playstation 4 or have already got an internet connected set-top box, you’re unlikely to benefit unless Chromecast has something your existing solution doesn't.
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