Google’s Chromecast offers a budget route to a smart TV

A decade ago, the idea that tech firms like Apple and Google would be competing for the same customers would have seemed unlikely. But that's exactly what has happened, on several fronts. From mobile phones to your living room, the tech giants have expanded their scope in recent years, and these days, they have their sights firmly set on the home.

Google’s attempts to wangle its way into your living room began in 2013, when it revealed the Chromecast for the first time to the US market.

It certainly got attention. At $35, the device seemed like a cheap way to get internet on to your HDTV, bringing online video and music to the living room at about a third of the price of Apple TV.The proof was in the sales figures; shortly after its US launch, Chromecast sold out. It officially went on sale in Ireland last year, and if the number of people talking about it is any indication, it's a popular addition to the living room.

What is it?

Out of the box, the Chromecast doesn’t look like much. It looks like a standard dongle, albeit one with a HDMI connection rather than one that fits a USB port. It doesn’t have its own user interface, relying instead on apps to make it useful. There’s no remote control to lose either; your device controls all the content on the screen.

So far, so basic. But a bit of simplicity isn’t a bad thing.

The Chromecast connects to both your TV and your wifi network to allow you to send content from your mobile devices or laptop to the Google device and display it on your TV.

Setting it up is simple. Regardless of whether you are using a mobile device or laptop, there’s an app to download that will guide you through the process. Install it and follow the on-screen prompts that will guide you through connecting the Chromecast to your home network, and you are ready to start watching.

It is ideally set up for use with mobile devices. Apps compatible with the service include a small cast button that will connect your device to the Chromecast at a single tap. Support is mainly for Android and iOS devices though, with Windows Phone a little out in the cold on this one.

If you want to cast from your laptop, you will need a copy of Chrome browser and the Cast extension installed.

Anything that can play in the browser window can be cast to the TV, although the quality wil depend on a number of factors, including the robustness of your broadband connection.

It’s powered in two ways: either through connecting the device to your TV’s USB port with the included micro USB cable, or by plugging in the included USB power adapter.

There’s a couple of advantages of plugging it into the wall. First of all, because it’s not reliant on the TV for power, any updates released for the device can be sent to the Chromecast when they’re available. No more waiting around for the updates to install after you switch the TV on.

Secondly, and arguably more important, is that the Chromecast can control your TV, switching it on as soon as you start to cast. That depends on your TV being compatible with HDMI-CEC, or Anynet+, Bravia Link or one of the many other names TV manufacturers have given it.

Content

When it first launched, there were only a limited number of services that supported Chromecast. But if you are coming late to the party, you’re still coming at a good time.

Not only do video services such as Netflix and YouTube have the ability to cast from within their mobile apps, but audio services too.

Streaming service Deezer has built in support for the streaming device, and with the announcement that Google is extending Cast to audio products, that number is set to grow.

A list of Chromecast compatible apps is available online (www.google.ie/chrome/devices/chromecast/apps.html)

The Chromecast works best with streaming services that have native Cast support built in. It’s easy to just hit the cast button and watch as everything connects seamlessly.

But it’s not always that simple. Many of the apps that support Cast are for US users, and what about your own extensive library of music and video?

When Chromecast started out, content came from online sources, locking out your own video or music library stored on your laptop.

But that has changed as developers have got on board with the platform. A growing number of apps available for Chromecast has meant that you can now access content stored on your tablet, or stream video from services that haven’t yet jumped on the Chromecast bandwagon.

For mobile devices, AllCast and LocalCast both offer the ability to stream your stored content, including photos, although AllCast’s free software comes with some limitations which can be removed for a fee. LocalCast, on the other hand, is ad-supported, which can get a little irritating if you are using it regularly.

But it gets the job done, and you can also stream the audio from a video file separately to headphones, through your phone. That’s a useful feature if you need to keep the noise levels down.

Another option is Plex, which offers media-management tools but requires an account.

Using third party apps to stream may seem complicated but once you get past the initial setup, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities for your Chromecast.

Laptop users can take advantage of the Cast extension for Chrome browser, as already mentioned.

That works for both Mac and PC, although how good the content looks will depend on what you are trying to cast and the quality at which you are streaming.

It’s a delicate balance: too low a bit rate and the stream will be poor on screen; too high and you may find your broadband connection is stuttering.

What else?

There are some other useful features that have been added to the Chromecast since its launch.

For example, you can now give visitors to your home access to your Chromecast without having to hand over your wifi password.

Once it’s set to Guest mode, anyone with the Chromecast app and within range of the device can send content to your TV.

Screen mirroring is also available for most Android devices, which is a handy way to display photos or other content contained on your phone.

Any device that runs Android 4.4.2 or higher should work. Just hope that no embarrassing text messages arrive while your phone is hooked up to the TV, because anything displayed on the phone while it is in mirroring mode will be visible on the big screen too.

At its simplest, you can customise the Chromecast’s background to show your photos when it is connected to your TV and awaiting your instructions. Essentially, it turns your TV into a giant digital picture frame.

There are some limitations to Google’s streaming device. Chromecast doesn’t work natively with a virtual private network. VPNs are used for a variety of reasons.

Maybe you want to keep your web browsing anonymous for reasons of privacy. Perhaps you are accessing your account from somewhere that a particular service is blocked, or you want to remove geoblocks on content.

Regardless, you’ll need a router that supports VPNs if you want to access content through such a service, because Chromecast will not.

Overall, Google’s Chromecast is a budget way to a smart TV. Spend a bit of time with it and you can really open up its possibilities.