This thing won’t bedethroning the NVIDIA SHIELDas our pick for the best full-featured streaming rig.
But at $50, it doesn’t need to.
New Hardware
First, the Chromecast looked like an oversized USB drive, then a hockey puck.
In addition, its more flexible powers mean that it works with Bluetooth accessories (like game controllers!)
and includes a bit of local storage.
That’s a downer if the surge protector behind your TV is feeling a little full.
With More Options
But can it handle all the same stuff as the last Chromecast?
All that and more.
This may be more or less accurate, depending on how big of a Chrome/Android user you are.
That’s one point against it in ease of use versus the old Chromecast setup.
Once you get to the Home screen, you might be surprised at the layout.
The Watchlist is my favorite feature of the new Chromecast.
But I found it refreshing to focus almost entirely on content rather than content delivery.
There’s no need to add it to my home screen.
There is an option deep in the options menu to enable “App only mode.”
And I mean everything.
(Why your uncle has anything to do with this, I haven’t a clue.)
This is a major positive in usability over previous generations of both the Chromecast and stand-alone Android TV devices.
Unfortunately, it’s not as powerful as a standard universal remote.
So a truly universal remote is, sadly, out of the question.
Press and hold it, and you might give the Chromecast voice commands.
There are a couple of odd choices on the remote’s layout.
But overall, the remote is still a much-improved experience.
This is really something that should be built in, butit makes sense that it’s not.
It’s possible, but not ideal.
I did find an ideal use for the new Chromecast as a game streamer, though.
(An Ethernet adapter is available for preorderfor an extra $20.)
