![]() ![]() £48.99 Buy now Chromecast with Google TV (2020) review: VerdictĪll of which brings us to the big question: should you buy one of Googleâs new Chromecast streamers? My answer to that question would have to be, probably not. And, of course, you can use it to stream music, radio and podcast services such as Spotify, Tidal, Deezer and TuneIn Radio. Meanwhile, free-to-watch domestic services include My5, ITV Hub and BBC iPlayer but not All 4, which will disappoint fans of the Great British Bake Off. You can stream Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube and Disney Plus. That means most, but not all, the important services are covered. Essentially, this is the same as you get on any other Chromecast: if Android TV supports it or you can cast from the app on your phone, then you can watch that content on this Chromecast. Which brings me onto the content that you can find on the Chromecast. Chromecast with Google TV (2020) review: Content In comparison, Rokuâs streaming sticks give you multiple pay-for options in search and compare prices for you, too. I searched for Sing, which is available to rent on both Google Play and Prime Video and the search only returned the Google Play choice, despite the movie being available to rent for less on Amazonâs service. ![]() Iâm also not a fan of the way the search results default to Google Play for pay-for streaming purchases, giving no indication that other streaming services might have cheaper options. Search for something that isnât available to stream â The Abyss, for instance â and Google Assistant throws up a baffling screen, briefly describing the film, providing links to the director, cast and crew but at no point saying âIâm sorry, that show isnât available to streamâ. Itâs great most of the time, but not entirely perfect yet. ![]() content bought previously via Google Play). The other four screens organise content into Movies, Shows, Apps and Your Library (i.e. The one that appears when you first turn on is the âFor youâ page: a selection of TV and movies based on what youâve watched previously and what Google thinks you might be interested in, including a handy âContinue watching sectionâ. The front end is split between five main home screens. A big image sits at the top of the screen with horizontally scrollable carousels offering various categories of content situated below it. In appearance, it looks pretty similar to umpteen other streaming platforms. The all-new Google TV user interface is perhaps whatâs most interesting here, however. Google Chromecast with Google TV (2020) review: Google TV I found I had to be careful not to block this with my thumb when holding it in a natural position. The volume up/down buttons are found on the right edge of the remote and the microphone is positioned, rather strangely, at the bottom, between the power and source switch buttons. This is built on top of the Android TV OS you may be familiar with from Sony Bravia and Hisense TVs or Nvidiaâs streaming boxes, and it allows you to browse content on your TV without having to find it first on your phone or tablet.Īs far as physical controls go, thereâs a circular control at the top that functions as a five-way D-pad (left, right, up, down, select) and, underneath that, buttons for back, home, Google Assistant (voice search and control) and mute.īelow this is another cluster of buttons: two shortcuts to YouTube and Netflix, a power button and a source switching button. Google always resisted throwing in a remote before because, by including a remote control, youâd also need a user interface to browse.Īnd, so, thatâs the other big new feature: the Chromecast now has a UI to go with that remote control, called Google TV. READ NEXT: Roku Streaming Stick+ - the ultimate media streaming stick Chromecast with Google TV (2020) review: What you need to know This year, however, thatâs all changed: the new Chromecast with Google TV finally comes with a remote control you can lose down the side of the sofa. It was cheap and simple but you had to have a phone, tablet or laptop from which to cast content. In the box, all you got was the Chromecast dongle, a USB cable and sometimes a power adapter. But despite introducing several new versions in the intervening years, the basic premise has remained unchanged. The Google Chromecast streaming stick took a moribund industry and made it cool again when it first launched back in 2013. ![]()
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