Chromecast with Google TV (Rock Candy) 4K

tl;dr - pros: Google Assistant, turn old TVs into smart ones, cheap, very simple setupcons: limited selection of apps, no web browser, may not work with off-brand TVs quite so wellBeen using this most days for about a month.I bought this for the older TV in my house that's in the bedroom and it's awesome to be able to effectively turn an almost 10 year-old TV into a smart TV. Super simple to set up, it only took about five minutes or less (not including finding all the apps I wanted and installing them).The remote is really simple to use and appears to be both wireless and IR, because the Chromecast is not visible at all from the front of the TV and yet it works perfectly, plus I was able to set up the TV itself to be controlled (turned on and off, turn the ... Moretl;dr - pros: Google Assistant, turn old TVs into smart ones, cheap, very simple setupcons: limited selection of apps, no web browser, may not work with off-brand TVs quite so wellBeen using this most days for about a month.I bought this for the older TV in my house that's in the bedroom and it's awesome to be able to effectively turn an almost 10 year-old TV into a smart TV. Super simple to set up, it only took about five minutes or less (not including finding all the apps I wanted and installing them).The remote is really simple to use and appears to be both wireless and IR, because the Chromecast is not visible at all from the front of the TV and yet it works perfectly, plus I was able to set up the TV itself to be controlled (turned on and off, turn the volume up and down) by the Chromecast remote - this TV is a Panasonic, you may have issues with this if you're using an off-brand TV like Veon from The Warehouse. Also as far as I can tell, you can't use the Chromecast remote to change brightness or other TV settings not mentioned above.I was a bit disappointed that there is, as yet, no support here for Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming. I was able to sideload a version of the app for Android, but it didn't work at all so I uninstalled it. Also a bummer that there's no official browser support, meaning you can't even download Google Chrome.I thoroughly recommend this for the bedroom especially, because it's cheap enough that you won't mind not using it every single day, and it's convenient for things like playing rain sounds to fall asleep to for example - I've done this several times now. You can set it to turn off the TV automatically after a period of inactivity, so there's no waking up in the middle of the night to the TV still blaring.The Google Assistant integration here is very good. Being able to change the aircon temperature, or turn it off completely, with my voice using the Chromecast remote is pretty cool, and you can do it without turning the TV on. I'm excited to get more Google Assistant devices to see how well they all play together.I love this, definitely a recommend despite its shortcomings.

Best streaming device

I've used similar streaming devices from other manufacturers, but the Chromecast is my preferred choice. It is supported by all the streaming services I use, it's responsive, and generally seems to have less issues. I'm fairly invested in the Google ecosystem - Youtube TV, android phones, etc - and this device integrates well with them all. Even if you're not, there are so many streaming apps and services available, you'll get a lot of use out of this device.Setup is pretty easy - just plug it into your tv, and follow the questions on screen. It took a little while to download updates, but nothing too bad. It will also adjust the remote to turn your TV on/off and adjust the volume. It has a huge library of TV manufacturers, so it's unlikely that you have a TV ... MoreI've used similar streaming devices from other manufacturers, but the Chromecast is my preferred choice. It is supported by all the streaming services I use, it's responsive, and generally seems to have less issues. I'm fairly invested in the Google ecosystem - Youtube TV, android phones, etc - and this device integrates well with them all. Even if you're not, there are so many streaming apps and services available, you'll get a lot of use out of this device.Setup is pretty easy - just plug it into your tv, and follow the questions on screen. It took a little while to download updates, but nothing too bad. It will also adjust the remote to turn your TV on/off and adjust the volume. It has a huge library of TV manufacturers, so it's unlikely that you have a TV that's not supported. The device itself has a USB power adapter included, which you need to use instead of plugging into a USB port on the TV. Apparently the USB port doesn't supply enough power.The only aspect I don't like is the remote control. It has dedicated Youtube and Netflix buttons - I wish there were a few more service shortcut buttons, and that all of them were able to be customized to launch the services you'd prefer. Also, the volume buttons on the side of the remote feel a little awkward to use.

Buy extra batteries!

I purchased two of these, one for myself and one for a parent. The one I bought for myself, which I went into the store to pickup, was great and worked fine out of the box. The one I bought for my parent, which was shipped, arrived with dead batteries. It was meant to be an easy install and easy to use device for my 70+ parent and the dead batteries wound up causing them a lot of stress. I walked them through the install via video call and the dead batteries were a huge problem. It's a great device overall, and they're loving it now, but if I were to do it over again I would forewarn them to pick up extra batteries. A huge benefit to this device is the ability to control the volume on the same remote. My parent is also having a lot of fun using the voice control. ... MoreI purchased two of these, one for myself and one for a parent. The one I bought for myself, which I went into the store to pickup, was great and worked fine out of the box. The one I bought for my parent, which was shipped, arrived with dead batteries. It was meant to be an easy install and easy to use device for my 70+ parent and the dead batteries wound up causing them a lot of stress. I walked them through the install via video call and the dead batteries were a huge problem. It's a great device overall, and they're loving it now, but if I were to do it over again I would forewarn them to pick up extra batteries. A huge benefit to this device is the ability to control the volume on the same remote. My parent is also having a lot of fun using the voice control. There are tons of apps to use, and they're fairly intuitive. I don't like the fact that the remote has "Netflix" and "YouTube" buttons, my parent doesn't use either and it would be really nice if these could be easily programmed and labelled with other favourites.

Cast Content with Ease!

Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD) was the perfect way for us to supplement our streaming and to breathe new life into and old tv. We use our new Google Chromecast (HD) in our master bedroom TV as it’s an older 1080P LCD panel. Our tv does include smart functions, however its sluggish at best being that it was manufactured back in 2014. Most of the features lag so badly that it’s barely usable, however Google Chromecast functions smoothly and loads quickly.Setup out of the box was as simple as plug and play; the Google Home app walks you through the entire process which probably took about 10 minutes. Most of the wait time was Chromecast making updates after setup was complete.One thing that I love about Google Chromecast is that it comes with its own remote! I ... MoreGoogle Chromecast with Google TV (HD) was the perfect way for us to supplement our streaming and to breathe new life into and old tv. We use our new Google Chromecast (HD) in our master bedroom TV as it’s an older 1080P LCD panel. Our tv does include smart functions, however its sluggish at best being that it was manufactured back in 2014. Most of the features lag so badly that it’s barely usable, however Google Chromecast functions smoothly and loads quickly.Setup out of the box was as simple as plug and play; the Google Home app walks you through the entire process which probably took about 10 minutes. Most of the wait time was Chromecast making updates after setup was complete.One thing that I love about Google Chromecast is that it comes with its own remote! I was able to pair our soundbar/surround sound setup with the remote and control everything off one remote. The Chromecast remote acts like a universal remote for all three devices, the TV, our soundbar, and the Chromecast. The remote is just the right size, in my opinion as it’s easy hold and use with one hand and overall, the voice assistant works well too!Streaming has never been easier and Chromecast seems to do it very well. It’s priced well and offers immense value; I like that you can choose between HD or 4K Chromecast depending on your needs. No need to shell out more cash if the TV you own is HD.

Chromecast with Google TV HD - Snow

I read all the reviews – the good ones and the bad and after much dithering I decided to buy a Chromecast. I was told it was very easy to install. It wasn’t.. I would describe myself as average to good at techie things but I found it pretty stressful. After 2 hours of passwords, downloading an app and fiddling around I finally got it installed.I only watch tv in the evenings so that evening I started watching a drama series. It stopped a couple of times (oops something went wrong, check your internet), then it turned off my recorder – it has never done that before so I blamed the Chromecast for that. I tried again and it would play the program for about 30 seconds then I got the oops message again. Stress levels rising.. I tried rebooting the internet and the tv, ... MoreI read all the reviews – the good ones and the bad and after much dithering I decided to buy a Chromecast. I was told it was very easy to install. It wasn’t.. I would describe myself as average to good at techie things but I found it pretty stressful. After 2 hours of passwords, downloading an app and fiddling around I finally got it installed.I only watch tv in the evenings so that evening I started watching a drama series. It stopped a couple of times (oops something went wrong, check your internet), then it turned off my recorder – it has never done that before so I blamed the Chromecast for that. I tried again and it would play the program for about 30 seconds then I got the oops message again. Stress levels rising.. I tried rebooting the internet and the tv, but that didn’t help.I put up with this for 4 nights then I phoned the Noel Leeming help desk and spent half an hour on the phone with them while they talked me thru some fixit options and in the end he advised me to return it.I returned it to Noel Leeming and they happily offered me a replacement or refund. I decided to give it another go so asked for a replacement.This time it took an hour to install – stress levels up there again. I found that I got stressed out just turning the thing on and wondering if it was going to work or not.Well – it didn’t – the same things happened. I turned it off and went to bed.I couldn’t sleep and got up about 11 o’clock and ripped the thing out of the TV and threw it in the rubbish. Went back to bed and slept peacefully.Oh and – the remote is quite small and the cover for the batteries is extremely difficult to remove.So – it’s a no from me.

Couldn't make bundling your apps any easier!

I had the opportunity to utilize Google Chromecast on my existing television and am pleased by how simple it is to set up and utilize. This device comes as an HDMI plug-in and set up is just simple and straightforward. This product gives you the freedom to choose which apps are featured, and I love that my husband and I and my kids no longer have to scroll through our TV menu each and every time we want to enter a new app. Having kids, we are constantly switching between YouTube, Disney+ and Netflix and no longer need to do so. With a voice activated remote, choosing our streaming service and programs couldn't be any easier. We love the option to stream music from Spotify on the television and that the interface is smartphone friendly. The kids love this product, ... MoreI had the opportunity to utilize Google Chromecast on my existing television and am pleased by how simple it is to set up and utilize. This device comes as an HDMI plug-in and set up is just simple and straightforward. This product gives you the freedom to choose which apps are featured, and I love that my husband and I and my kids no longer have to scroll through our TV menu each and every time we want to enter a new app. Having kids, we are constantly switching between YouTube, Disney+ and Netflix and no longer need to do so. With a voice activated remote, choosing our streaming service and programs couldn't be any easier. We love the option to stream music from Spotify on the television and that the interface is smartphone friendly. The kids love this product, and so do us parents. Simple technology can make such a big difference, and I love the ability to adapt and change set-up if need be. We will be purchasing another Google Chromecast for mt mom, who does not have a smart television. Another solid Google-based product.

Easy to use

I have a number of Google devices in my home, including security cameras, door bell, several of the home devices Evan an old chromecast audio. I really like all my Google devices with the exception of my original chromecast. That device has always seemed to underwhelm. It just didn't have the same abilities as the roku or firestick devices that I pickedup. Recently a firestick died and I wanted to replace it when I saw the Chromecast with Google TV, I thought I would give it a try because it seemed to have many of the features that I wanted that the old one just didn't have. The set up was easy and it is compatible with all my other Google devices, which is great. With the remote the screens are easy to navigate and just make it a superior product over the old ... MoreI have a number of Google devices in my home, including security cameras, door bell, several of the home devices Evan an old chromecast audio. I really like all my Google devices with the exception of my original chromecast. That device has always seemed to underwhelm. It just didn't have the same abilities as the roku or firestick devices that I pickedup. Recently a firestick died and I wanted to replace it when I saw the Chromecast with Google TV, I thought I would give it a try because it seemed to have many of the features that I wanted that the old one just didn't have. The set up was easy and it is compatible with all my other Google devices, which is great. With the remote the screens are easy to navigate and just make it a superior product over the old model. Several reviews I read before getting this went into all the technology that I did not want or need to know. Keeping it simple, it's easy to set up, easy to use and great if you have other Google devices in your home.

Flawless Plug and Play Device for Entertainment

This device is AMAZING. Easy plug and play device with a remote control that is flawless. Can easily walk around the room and the remote picks up key presses from ranges and angles of all different types. Very few buttons on the remote get the job done with simplicity. What I truly love about this device is that it has Google TV built into it. This gives the option to get LIVE TV through Google for local programming and more. You are not restricted to only Google TV. The device comes with pre built apps and/or you can also download more from the Playstore like youtube, youtube tv, netflix, apple tv, hulu, spotify, and so many more. The device goes right into the HDMI port and with the power adaptor plugged in, you are ready to go. 2 AAA batteries included for the ... MoreThis device is AMAZING. Easy plug and play device with a remote control that is flawless. Can easily walk around the room and the remote picks up key presses from ranges and angles of all different types. Very few buttons on the remote get the job done with simplicity. What I truly love about this device is that it has Google TV built into it. This gives the option to get LIVE TV through Google for local programming and more. You are not restricted to only Google TV. The device comes with pre built apps and/or you can also download more from the Playstore like youtube, youtube tv, netflix, apple tv, hulu, spotify, and so many more. The device goes right into the HDMI port and with the power adaptor plugged in, you are ready to go. 2 AAA batteries included for the remote. The device is available in other colors as well. This device is HD and they also make a 4k version as well. The voice assistant "Hey google" is also available on this device so if you have or want to setup a Google ecosystem, this device can be added to the mix, which makes it really cool and fun to have continuity between your other devices on the ecosystem. I am very pleased to have this product part of our family. Ease of use. Clarity. Longevity. Great work Google!

Good for YouTube but not free to air

I purchased this for my elderly mother so that she could stream free to air channels. Unfortunately it's too complex, and voice commands near ineffectual. Verbally asking for "SBS Documentaries" for instance results in a YouTube search for anything referring to SBS documentaries... that is, it does not take you there. Additionally, all the freeview channels are set up differently with menu layouts. Some have favourites, some don't, and none of them seem to keep your place in a show or series which as I understood was what the Chromecast was meant to do. It may do this with subscriptions, but that was not our purpose. The Google Home app that is meant to tie in with this is terrible, see Playstore reviews by others for that. If you do buy a Chromecast, install it ... MoreI purchased this for my elderly mother so that she could stream free to air channels. Unfortunately it's too complex, and voice commands near ineffectual. Verbally asking for "SBS Documentaries" for instance results in a YouTube search for anything referring to SBS documentaries... that is, it does not take you there. Additionally, all the freeview channels are set up differently with menu layouts. Some have favourites, some don't, and none of them seem to keep your place in a show or series which as I understood was what the Chromecast was meant to do. It may do this with subscriptions, but that was not our purpose. The Google Home app that is meant to tie in with this is terrible, see Playstore reviews by others for that. If you do buy a Chromecast, install it manually without trying to use the Home app. Hardware quality is fantastic, software is lacking.

Great compact device with lots of features!

This is a review of the Google Chromecast with Google TV HD version. To be honest I thought the chromecast was just a device to cast from your phone/computer to your TV. Although it does do that, it also has all the available streaming apps. Pretty much plug and play (plug it in and scan QR code) and will take maybe 3-5 minutes to setup and then another couple minutes to update firmware. Nice intuitive interface and easy to search for and install apps you want. I’m still getting used to all the features, but voice search and Google Assistant voice control seems to work well and works with google home. Picture is nice but only 1080P as this is the HD version. No issues with streaming – no bandwidth issues. The remote connects to the dongle via Bluetooth so the dongle ... MoreThis is a review of the Google Chromecast with Google TV HD version. To be honest I thought the chromecast was just a device to cast from your phone/computer to your TV. Although it does do that, it also has all the available streaming apps. Pretty much plug and play (plug it in and scan QR code) and will take maybe 3-5 minutes to setup and then another couple minutes to update firmware. Nice intuitive interface and easy to search for and install apps you want. I’m still getting used to all the features, but voice search and Google Assistant voice control seems to work well and works with google home. Picture is nice but only 1080P as this is the HD version. No issues with streaming – no bandwidth issues. The remote connects to the dongle via Bluetooth so the dongle can be out of sight and still work seamlessly. Both the dongle and remote are pretty compact and a snow white color. If you have a newer 4k tv then I would definitely recommend getting the 4k version as I read it does all the same things as this version with all the features but has 4k and Dolby vision. If you have an older tv that is only HD then this version will work great. Even if your TV is already a smart tv – I would still purchase this as this device has so many additional features than most smart tv’s and would save wear and tear on the TV. Overall Google has done a great job in creating this device as the features easily outperform my other streaming devices.