Google Chromecast is a simple and low cost device that enables you to easily enjoy online video and music on your TV. It is Google’s latest attempt to make our online media easily accessible on our larger TV screens. Google Chromecast wirelessly streams the online media on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop / desktop to your HDTV and at a price of $35 (N5,500) it is a winner.
With Google Chromecast you can easily stream content from Netflix and YouTube videos to your TV and with the popularity of the Chromecast more services are bound to join soon.
About Google Chromecast
Google Chromecast is a small device about the size of a USB internet modem or USB flash drive. It connects to your TV via HDMI port (not USB). The Chromecast connects to your Wi-Fi network and streams online video and audio on your tablet, smartphone, or laptop / desktop to your HDTV directly from the web.
For now Google Chromecast supports smartphones and tablets running Android and iOS. It also allows you to stream webpages to your TV from Google’s Chrome browser on Windows and Mac based laptops and possibly desktops. You control (play, pause, volume, etc) the media using your mobile device. Google Chromecast is powered either by connecting it to the wall mains or by connecting it to the USB port of your TV. It may also receive power directly from the HDMI port.
Using Google Chromecast
Using the Google Chromecast is very simple. Just connect it to the HDMI port on your TV and supply it power via USB or mains power. Some latest high definition TVs can supply power to the Chromecast directly via the HDMI, so in such case no other power input will be required.
Once you connect your Google Chromecast to Wi-Fi, you can stream online media on your mobile device from the web to your television. Note that your mobile device does not actually stream directly to your TV rather it enable Chromecast stream the content directly from the web source and sync it to the view on your mobile device.
So, let’s say you are watching a YouTube video on your smartphone and decide to cast it to your TV. Your smartphone does not cast its content to your TV, rather it syncs with Google Chromecast to stream the content directly from YouTube via Wi-Fi to Chromecast and then via HDMI to your TV.
This approach means your smartphone or mobile device is freed up to perform other tasks. For example, you can still check email on your device and use other apps while still streaming content to your TV.
With Google Chromecast, you can easily enjoy your favorite online HDTV—movies, TV shows, music, and more from Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, and Chrome. Services like Hulu, Pandora, and HBO Go could be supported soon.
Google Chromecast is compatible with WiFi-enabled Android 2.3+ smartphones and tablets; iOS 6.0+ iPhones, iPads, and iPods; Chrome for Mac and Chrome for Windows; and Chromebook Pixel.
