Streaming products are everywhere, and then there are game consoles and smart TVs as well. They're definitely not all the same, and Chromecast stands out from the bunch. What started off as an inexpensive and easy way to stream has evolved into something so much better. Chromecast took its cool product and made it even better, showcasing it in its sleek, casing. The black is so handsome but we love the splashy fun colors, too. Besides its handsome/pretty looks, Chromecast brings some new features, and a new app that will make it easier than before.
It has a smaller HDMI connector and contorting cable to make it easier for tight spaces in hard-to-reach ports. It allows for a cleaner look on side-mount HDMI ports, too. Chromecast can get power directly from a standard outlet or a compatible USB port on the back of your TV. A trio of antennae pulls in the a strong Wi-Fi signal. The Chromecast is also now 802.11ac compatible, and it will connect to 5GHz access points. Connection stability and streaming should improve considerably.
We love the new app. It's the star of the show. Google’s software upgrade works with all Chromecast devices (new and old). "What’s On," presents a selection of titles from your smartphone apps; "Devices" allows you to easily switch between Chromecasts; and "Get Apps," lets you directly download all Chromecast-compatible streaming apps. In the settings for each device, the app now makes it easy to add your own photos from services like Facebook and Google accounts to mix in with the many gorgeous background photos Chromecast serves up.
The best and coolest of the new Chromecast app is it cross-platform search. You can search for content via text or voice across any of your Chromecast streaming apps. Search by genre, actor, movie name, or series' name. Their much more expensive competitor's streaming sticks have it, but Chromecast does it for a lot less.
