What is the Chromecast key? How does Chromecast TV work? JeChange presents this innovation proposed by Google and explains how and for what purpose to use it.
The arrival of smartphones and touchscreen tablets, relatively recent, has revolutionized the way many users consume digital content, notably with an explosion in mobile video viewing. However, nothing yet matches the comfort and user-friendliness of a display on a living room television… Hence, Google Chromecast was launched.
Google launched Chromecast at the beginning of 2014 to bring these two worlds together. The principle of this HDMI key is simple. It consists of streaming content accessible from your smartphone or tablet to your television. But does the product meet the expectations and needs of Internet users?
What Is Google Chromecast?
The Google Chromecast is a gadget whose appearance is strongly reminiscent of a traditional USB key. Most newbies tend to confuse them. There’sThere’s nothing to see, though. Google’sGoogle’s little dongle is also called a dongle.
It is plugged not into a USB port but into an HDMI port—that of your living room television. Once installed, it communicates via your home Wi-Fi network with your smartphone, digital tablet, or computer. It can broadcast content available on these devices to your TV screen.
The Chromecast, therefore, acts as a simple content broadcaster from a portable device (or a computer) to a television, as demonstrated by its relatively simple technical configuration: in addition to its Marvell processor, which ensures minimal computing power, the key embeds a Wi-Fi module, a RAM of 512 megabytes and finally two gigabytes of internal memory (which cannot, however, be used for personal storage purposes).
The Price Of Google Chromecast
Google markets the Google Chromecast directly with other resellers for around €35.
How Does Chromecast TV work?
The Chromecast key first needs a specific power supply, which its HDMI connection cannot provide. You will, therefore, need to connect it to your television’s USB port or a socket with a USB adapter. The latter is supplied with the key.
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You should then download the Chromecast application for free on your smartphone or tablet. Please note that the key is compatible with Android and iOS devices (from version 6.0). In one case, the application will be downloaded from the Google Play Store. In the other case, it will be available on the App Store.
By opening the application, your smartphone will detect the Wi-Fi signal emitted by Chromecast and can synchronize with the key. From then on, the key is installed, and a small specific icon will appear at the top right of your screen each time you can “cast” content on your television.
Compatible Applications And Uses
The Chromecast stick is not a universal caster. This implies that its use is limited to a few applications made compatible by their developers. However, their list tends to grow longer and allows for more possible services for this minor, versatile key:
Google’s various streaming services, starting with YouTube, Google Play Music, and Google Play Movies, naturally ensure full compatibility with the Chromecast key. If you benefit from a good bandwidth, it is possible to help from the most extensive library of free videos on your big screen at an utterly satisfactory level of definition.
Several video-on-demand services, including CanalPlay and Netflix.
Many streaming or replay apps from major television channels. Among others, Pluzz from France Télévisions, MYTF1, or 6play.
SFR TV is compatible With Orange TV.
Finally, note the possibility of streaming content from an equipped computer. It requires the Google Chrome browser and its Google Cast extension. Therefore, you can display an Internet page directly on your television using this method. This is likely true with all the associated content (photos, videos, etc.) despite a specific latency in the display.
What Chromecast Is Not
Contrary to popular belief, and unlike the Apple TV, the Chromecast application does not by default allow you to practice ” mirroring,” reproducing your smartphone or video screen in real-time—tablet on your television. Once the content to be viewed is selected, the application indicates the file to download to the key. From then on, the key worked autonomously and ensured its broadcasting on the television screen.
This configuration is not without some advantages. So, once the video is launched on the television, you remain free to use your smartphone for an entirely different purpose. The only downside is returning to the Chromecast application to act on the broadcast (pause, for example…).
The Chromecast key has no storage space and does not include any native applications. For its operation, it remains entirely dependent on a smartphone, a tablet, or a computer with a Wi-Fi connection.
An Ideal Accessory For Specific User Profiles
Beyond those who want to enjoy the Internet’s gigantic video content on their television, the Chromecast proves to be a particularly profitable investment for two categories of users:
Owners of a non-connected television equipped with an HDMI port will see this as an excellent opportunity to benefit from improved features without purchasing a new device. In this situation, the price Google charges ensures excellent value for money. The added weight will be less noticeable if you already have a connected television with access to YouTube or other online services.
Many ADSL Internet/TV/telephone box subscribers receive a low speed, oscillating between 1 and 1.5 megabits per second. This prevents them from using the TV decoder included in their offer in good condition.
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