YouTube TV subscribers get an additional tab on the home screen just for that. This only takes a minute or so to set up if you want to do it, and I didn't run into any major issues to report in doing so. It's not new for the streaming device space (There are voice remotes for Roku, Apple TV, and Fire Stick devices, too), but it's greatly appreciated.Īs an aside, the remote can be programmed to control your TV's volume, power, and inputs. Despite that, I came to really appreciate the Assistant features on the Chromecast because sometimes it's an easier solution than manually searching for a movie. Maybe it makes some people feel like they live in Star Trek, but it just makes me feel like a doofus. I genuinely dislike talking to devices via voice assistants, no matter which brand it is. Speaking of which, the new Chromecast can also link up with your other Google Nest devices to play music from connected smart speakers as well as adjust the temperature on your smart thermostat. This could be anything from playing a specific show on Netflix to displaying a connected Nest Cam or weather forecast on the TV. If you don't want to bother with casting or navigating a UI, just say the thing you want to do into the microphone and the Chromecast makes it happen. I'll get to the new UI in a second, but that Assistant button is one of the many things that make the new Chromecast really sing. This dongle is made to disappear behind your TV. There are also dedicated buttons for YouTube and Netflix, a power button, a button for switching inputs on your TV, and perhaps most importantly, a Google Assistant toggle with an accompanying microphone. Instead of the bizarre touch panel Apple gave us, Google included a simple directional pad, a select button, a home button, and volume controls for basic usability. Apple tried to reinvent the wheel with its Apple TV remote and I'm fairly confident not a soul on this planet enjoys using it.
It's not anything revolutionary, but this is a good thing. So while Google retained all of its traditional casting capabilities for the new Chromecast, the new Google TV UI and remote are legitimate game-changers. That approach works for tons of people, but it made the Chromecast a difficult thing to buy for people who are used to the old ways of controlling a TV. In other words, older models were little fellas you plugged into an HDMI port and a power outlet, and controlled entirely with your phone because there was no remote or UI.
#Cast google chrome app software#
In the event you've been using a Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV for the past several years, let's catch up on what a Chromecast usually does and how this new one is different.Ĭhromecasts up until now have been extremely light on hardware and software demands.
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