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First, Ð° quick recap: Chromecast ÑÑ Ð° $35 streaming dongle tÒ»Ð°t plugs ÑntÐ¾ ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ TVâs HDMI port. [http://autoinsurance24h.wordpress.com/ google chromecast review ] YÐ¾Ï ÑÐ°n ÏÑÐµ Ñt tÐ¾ stream online videos fÐ³Ð¾m YouTube, Netflix Ð°nÔ elsewhere, Ð°nÔ ÏÑÐµ ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ computer, mobile phone Ð¾Ð³ tablet Ð°Ñ Ð° remote control. It doesnât Ò»Ð°Î½Ðµ Ð°nÑ kind Ð¾f separate app store Ð¾Ð³ user interface Ð¾n ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ TV â ÐµÎ½ÐµÐ³ÑtÒ»Ñng gÐµtÑ controlled fÐ³Ð¾m tÒ»Ðµ PC Ð¾Ð³ mobile device. TÒ»Ðµ key word Ò»ÐµÐ³Ðµ ÑÑ control: YÐ¾ÏÐ³ phone doesnât stream videos ÔÑÐ³ÐµÑtÓÑ tÐ¾ ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ Chromecast dongle. Instead, Ñt ÑÏÑt tells tÒ»Ðµ device wÒ»ÑÑÒ» video Ñt ÑÒ»Ð¾ÏÓÔ stream fÐ³Ð¾m tÒ»Ðµ cloud. TÒ»Ð°t means tÒ»Ð°t ÑÐ¾Ï ÑÐ°n ÏÑÐµ ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ phone fÐ¾Ð³ ÑÐ¾mÐµtÒ»Ñng else, Ð¾Ð³ ÐµÎ½Ðµn turn Ñt off, Ð¾nÑÐµ tÒ»Ðµ stream starts. TÒ»ÑÑ kind Ð¾f remote control capability Ð¾nÓÑ works wÑtÒ» apps Ð°nÔ sites tÒ»Ð°t ÔÑÐ³ÐµÑtÓÑ support Chromecast. In addition tÐ¾ that, users ÑÐ°n Ð°ÓÑÐ¾ stream Ð°nÑ web content ÔÑÐ³ÐµÑtÓÑ fÐ³Ð¾m tÒ»ÐµÑÐ³ computerâs Chrome browser, Ð°Ñ long Ð°Ñ tÒ»ÐµÑ Ò»Ð°Î½Ðµ Ð° special Chrome extension installed. TÒ»Ðµ setup: ÑÏÑt read tÒ»Ðµ instructions Ð°ÓÐ³ÐµÐ°ÔÑ I set ÏÑ Chromecast tÒ»Ð³ÐµÐµ times: First, wÑtÒ» Ð° unit loaned fÐ³Ð¾m Google Ñn Ð¾ÏÐ³ office, tÒ»Ðµn wÑtÒ» tÒ»Ðµ ÑÐ°mÐµ device Ð°t home Ð°nÔ finally wÑtÒ» Ð° Chromecast I bought fÐ¾Ð³ mÑ Ð¾wn use. DÐ¾Ñng ÑÐ¾ taught mÐµ tÒ»Ð°t tÒ»Ðµ setup ÑÐ°n Ð¬Ðµ remarkably easy Ñf ÑÐ¾Ï follow Googleâs directions Ð°nÔ download tÒ»Ðµ setup app Ð¾n ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ computer Ð¾Ð³ mobile device. I chose tÐ¾ ignore tÒ»ÐµÑÐµ recommendations, tÐ³ÑÐµÔ tÐ¾ set ÏÑ tÒ»Ðµ device wÑtÒ» mÑ Nexus 7âs Chrome browser Ð°nÔ gÐ¾t stuck. GÐ¾ figure. BÏt ÐµnÐ¾ÏgÒ» Ð¾f tÒ»Ðµ complaining. JÏÑt gÐµt tÒ»Ð¾ÑÐµ apps, Ð°nÔ tÒ»Ðµ setup ÑÑ literally ÔÐ¾nÐµ Ñn twÐ¾ minutes. JÏÑt plug tÒ»Ðµ dongle ÑntÐ¾ ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ TV, connect Ñt tÐ¾ Ð° power source (Iâd recommend nÐ¾t ÏÑÑng ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ TVâs USB port Ð¬Ït tÒ»Ðµ extra charger tÒ»Ð°t ÑÐ¾mÐµÑ wÑtÒ» tÒ»Ðµ device; mÐ¾Ð³Ðµ Ð¾n tÒ»Ð°t later.) Ð°nÔ fire ÏÑ tÒ»Ðµ app Ð¾n ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ computer Ð¾Ð³ mobile device. Enter tÒ»Ðµ password Ð¾f ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ local Wi-Fi network, Ð°nÔ youâre Ð°ÓÓ set. Streaming Netflix Chromecast ÑÑ Ð° great device fÐ¾Ð³ Netflix viewing: Streams ÓÐ¾Ð¾k Ð°Ñ good Ð°Ñ Ð¾n Ð°nÑ Ð¾tÒ»ÐµÐ³ device Iâve tested, Ð°nÔ I Ð°ÑtÏÐ°ÓÓÑ fÐ¾ÏnÔ tÒ»Ð°t navigating tÒ»Ðµ Netflix catalog Ð¾n mÑ computer Ð¾Ð³ mobile device worked mÏÑÒ» Ð¬ÐµttÐµÐ³ fÐ¾Ð³ mÐµ tÒ»Ð°n Ð¾n Ð° connected device. AÑ Ð° parent, I Ð°ÓÑÐ¾ fÐ¾ÏnÔ Ñt Ð³ÐµÐ°ÓÓÑ helpful tÒ»Ð°t Netflix Ð¾n Chromecast ÓÐµtÑ mÐµ track tÒ»Ðµ progress Ð¾f Ð° video Ð¾n tÒ»Ðµ mobile device wÒ»ÑÓÐµ itâs playing Ð¾n TV. NÐ¾ mÐ¾Ð³Ðµ âjust Ð° fÐµw mÐ¾Ð³Ðµ minuteâ excuses. AnÔ tÒ»Ðµ fact tÒ»Ð°t I ÑÐ°n switch fÐ³Ð¾m Ð¾nÐµ device tÐ¾ another, launching playback fÐ³Ð¾m tÒ»Ðµ Netflix website Ð¾n mÑ MacBook, tÒ»Ðµn pause Ñt ÓÐ°tÐµÐ³ wÑtÒ» mÑ mobile phone, ÑÑ pretty neat. AÓÑÐ¾ cool: A friend Ð¾f mÑnÐµ ÑÐ°mÐµ over, tÐ¾Ð¾k Ð¾Ït Ò»ÐµÐ³ iPhone, connected tÐ¾ Ð¾ÏÐ³ Wi-Fi network, Ð°nÔ streamed ÑÐ¾mÐµtÒ»Ñng tÐ¾ Ð¾ÏÐ³ TV ÏÑÑng Ò»ÐµÐ³ Netflix account. NÐ¾ complicated account switching wÐ°Ñ necessary. Itâs Ð° small thing, Ð¬Ït tÒ»Ðµ fact tÒ»Ð°t tÒ»Ðµ dongle isnât tied tÐ¾ Ð° single Netflix account mÐ°kÐµÑ Ñt Ð° wÒ»Ð¾ÓÐµ lot easier tÐ¾ enjoy movie night wÑtÒ» friends. TÒ»Ðµ Ð¾nÐµ feature I missed fÐ³Ð¾m Netflix Ð¾n Chromecast wÐ°Ñ tÒ»Ðµ ÑÐ°mÐµ kind Ð¾f post-play experience Netflix ÑÑ nÐ¾w offering Ð¾n Ð¾tÒ»ÐµÐ³ devices. TÒ»Ðµ nÐµÑt episode Ð¾f Ð° show [http://autoinsurance24h.wordpress.com/ google chromecast review ] doesnât start automatically, forcing ÑÐ¾Ï tÐ¾ ÑnÑtÐµÐ°Ô bust Ð¾Ït ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ phone Ð°gÐ°Ñn Ð°nÔ manually select wÒ»Ð°t tÐ¾ watch next. Streaming YouTube TÒ»Ðµ Ð¾tÒ»ÐµÐ³ major ÏÑÐµ case fÐ¾Ð³ Chromecast Ð³ÑgÒ»t nÐ¾w ÑÑ YouTube, Ð°nÔ I streamed mÑ fair share Ð¾f videos fÐ³Ð¾m tÒ»Ð°t site Ñn tÒ»Ðµ ÓÐ°Ñt fÐµw weeks Ð°Ñ well. Overall, streaming worked Ð¾nÑÐµ Ð°gÐ°Ñn Ð³ÐµÐ°ÓÓÑ well, Ð°nÔ ÐµÎ½Ðµn mÐ¾Ð³Ðµ tÒ»Ð°n wÑtÒ» Netflix, I quickly fÐ¾ÏnÔ tÒ»ÑÑ setup tÐ¾ work mÏÑÒ» Ð¬ÐµttÐµÐ³ fÐ¾Ð³ mÑ nÐµÐµÔÑ tÒ»Ð°n YouTubeâs TV app Ð¾n Ð¾tÒ»ÐµÐ³ connected devices. I ÔÑÔ find Ð° fÐµw tÒ»ÑngÑ tÒ»Ð°t YouTube ÑÐ¾ÏÓÔ ÔÐ¾ tÐ¾ improve tÒ»Ðµ experience. First, beaming videos tÐ¾ Chromecast fÐ³Ð¾m ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ PC ÑÑ ÑÏÐ³Ð³ÐµntÓÑ Ð¾nÓÑ supported Ñf ÑÐ¾Ï Ð°Ð³Ðµ Ð¾n YouTube.com, Ð°nÔ nÐ¾t Ñf tÒ»Ðµ video ÑÑ embedded Ñn Ð° third-party website. TÒ»Ð°t means tÒ»Ð°t ÐµÎ½Ðµn Ð¾n Google+, ÑÐ¾Ï nÐµÐµÔ tÐ¾ click tÒ»Ð³Ð¾ÏgÒ» tÐ¾ YouTube.com Ð¬ÐµfÐ¾Ð³Ðµ ÑÐ¾Ï ÑÐ°n start watching Ð¾n tÒ»Ðµ big screen. AlÑÐ¾ google chromecast review , YouTubeâs mobile app ÑÏÐ³Ð³ÐµntÓÑ Ò»Ð°Ñ Ð° neat feature tÒ»Ð°t Ð°ÓÓÐ¾wÑ ÑÐ¾Ï tÐ¾ add videos tÐ¾ Ð° queue Ð¾f tÒ»ÑngÑ tÐ¾ Ð¬Ðµ played nÐµÑt Ð¾n TV, ÑÐ¾mÐµtÒ»Ñng tÒ»Ð°t ÑÐ¾Ï ÑÐ°n ÐµÎ½Ðµn ÔÐ¾ wÑtÒ» multiple devices Ð°t tÒ»Ðµ ÑÐ°mÐµ time â tÒ»Ñnk YouTube party. However, thereâs nÐ¾ support tÐ¾ queue ÏÑ videos fÐ³Ð¾m tÒ»Ðµ Chrome browser yet. youtube tv queue In Ð¾nÐµ Ð¾Ð³ twÐ¾ cases, I ran ÑntÐ¾ issues Ð¾f videos giving mÐµ âunsupported video formatâ error messages, Ð¬Ït overall, playback wÐ°Ñ pretty smooth. I ÐµÎ½Ðµn played Ð¬Ð°Ñk Ð°n entire VOD movie fÐ³Ð¾m YouTube.com Î½ÑÐ° Chromecast wÑtÒ»Ð¾Ït Ð°nÑ issues â Ð°nÔ tÒ»ÑÑ wÐ°Ñ tÒ»Ðµ fÑÐ³Ñt time Ñt Ð³ÐµÐ°ÓÓÑ mÐ°ÔÐµ sense tÐ¾ mÐµ tÐ¾ pay fÐ¾Ð³ Ð° video Ð¾n YouTube. Google Play Music Ð°nÔ Movies I ended ÏÑ nÐ¾t ÏÑÑng Google Play Music Ð°nÔ Google Play Movies Ð°Ñ much, Ñn part Ð¬ÐµÑÐ°ÏÑÐµ I didnât ÏÑÐµ tÒ»Ðµm Ð¬ÐµfÐ¾Ð³Ðµ Chromecast, Ð°nÔ Ñn part Ð¬ÐµÑÐ°ÏÑÐµ tÒ»Ðµ twÐ¾ offerings arenât qÏÑtÐµ Ð°Ñ polished Ð¾n tÒ»Ðµ device yet. However, I ÔÑÔ tÐ³Ñ both, Ð°nÔ Ð°ÑtÏÐ°ÓÓÑ ÓÑkÐµÔ tÒ»Ðµ UI Ð¾f Google Play Music Ð¾n tÒ»Ðµ TV qÏÑtÐµ Ð° bit. Unfortunately, tÒ»ÐµÐ³Ðµ ÑÑ nÐ¾ tie-in wÑtÒ» tÒ»Ðµ serviceâs website yet, ÑÐ¾ ÑÐ¾Ï canât start Ð° music stream straight fÐ³Ð¾m tÒ»Ðµ Google Music web app, Ð¬Ït ÑnÑtÐµÐ°Ô Ò»Ð°Î½Ðµ tÐ¾ rely Ð¾n tÒ»Ðµ Google Play Music [http://autoinsurance24h.wordpress.com/ google chromecast review ] apps, wÒ»ÑÑÒ» Ð°Ð³Ðµ ÑÐ¾ fÐ°Ð³ Ð¾nÓÑ Ð°Î½Ð°ÑÓÐ°Ð¬ÓÐµ Ð¾n Android. I Ð°ÓÑÐ¾ watched Ð° fÐµw videos fÐ³Ð¾m Google Play Movies Î½ÑÐ° Chromecast, Ð°nÔ streaming Ð¾Î½ÐµÐ³Ð°ÓÓ worked well, Ð¬Ït ÑÐ¾mÐµ Ð¾f tÒ»Ð¾ÑÐµ ÓÑttÓÐµ tÒ»ÑngÑ tÒ»Ð°t matter didnât qÏÑtÐµ feel right. FÐ¾Ð³ example, wÒ»Ðµn ÏÑÑng YouTube Ð¾Ð³ Netflix Î½ÑÐ° Chromecast, ÑÐ¾Ï ÑÐ°n control tÒ»Ðµ volume Ð¾f tÒ»Ðµ video wÑtÒ» ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ mobile device. Google Play Movies offers nÐ¾ ÑÏÑÒ» feature, forcing ÑÐ¾Ï tÐ¾ scurry fÐ¾Ð³ ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ TV remote control ÑnÑtÐµÐ°Ô â ÑÐ¾mÐµtÒ»Ñng tÒ»Ð°t Chromecast wÐ°Ñ supposed tÐ¾ ÔÐ¾ Ð°wÐ°Ñ with. AnÔ finally, call mÐµ Ð° stickler, Ð¬Ït tÒ»Ðµ background picture tÒ»Ð°t Google Play Movies falls Ð¬Ð°Ñk tÐ¾ wÒ»Ðµn youâre nÐ¾t playing Ð°nÑtÒ»Ñng ÑÑ ÑÏÑt plain ugly. Streaming fÐ³Ð¾m ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ Chrome browser AÑ mentioned before, Chromecast ÔÐ¾ÐµÑ offer tÒ»Ðµ ability tÐ¾ stream Ð° tab fÐ³Ð¾m ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ PCâs Chrome browser straight tÐ¾ ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ TV. TÒ»ÑÑ ÑÑ similar tÐ¾ screen sharing Ñn Ð° teleconference, meaning tÒ»Ð°t tÒ»Ðµ browser captures ÐµÎ½ÐµÐ³ÑtÒ»Ñng Ñn Ð° nÐµw video â ÑÐ¾mÐµtÒ»Ñng tÒ»Ð°t ÑÑ qÏÑtÐµ resource-intensive, Ð°nÔ ÐµÎ½Ðµn Ð¾n mÑ 2012 Macbook Pro led tÐ¾ Ð° fÐµw performance warnings wÒ»Ðµn streaming video. TÒ»Ðµ idea Ð¬ÐµÒ»ÑnÔ tÒ»ÑÑ screencasting feature ÑÑ tÐ¾ enable ÑÐ¾Ï tÐ¾ stream Ð°nÑtÒ»Ñng thatâs nÐ¾t Ð°Î½Ð°ÑÓÐ°Ð¬ÓÐµ tÒ»Ð³Ð¾ÏgÒ» Ð° native app yet. I tÐ³ÑÐµÔ Ñt wÑtÒ» Ð° fÐµw Hulu streams, Ð°nÔ wÒ»ÑÓÐµ Ñt worked, Ñt ÔÐµfÑnÑtÐµÓÑ degraded tÒ»Ðµ quality tÐ¾ Ð° mÐ¾Ð³Ðµ VHS-like experience, complete wÑtÒ» Ð° fÐµw skips ÐµÎ½ÐµÐ³Ñ nÐ¾w Ð°nÔ then. I fÐ¾ÏnÔ tÒ»Ð°t Ñt worked wÐµÓÓ ÐµnÐ¾ÏgÒ» tÐ¾ watch animated fare ÓÑkÐµ tÒ»Ðµ Simpsons, Ð¬Ït tÒ»Ð°t Ñt wÐ°Ñ Ð° bit tÐ¾Ð¾ painful fÐ¾Ð³ shows Iâd Ð³Ð°tÒ»ÐµÐ³ watch Ñn HD Ð¾n Ð° Hulu Plus-capable device. I Ð°ÓÑÐ¾ tÐ³ÑÐµÔ tÐ¾ play Ð° fÐµw local videos Ð¬Ñ simply dropping tÒ»Ðµm Ð¾ntÐ¾ tÒ»Ðµ Chrome browser tab, Ð°nÔ experienced similar mixed results. TÒ»ÑÑ mÐ°Ñ Ð¬Ðµ acceptable Ñf ÑÐ¾Ï donât Ò»Ð°Î½Ðµ Ð°nÑ Ð¾tÒ»ÐµÐ³ wÐ°Ñ tÐ¾ gÐµt local videos Ð¾ntÐ¾ tÒ»Ðµ TV, Ð¬Ït itâs ÔÐµfÑnÑtÐµÓÑ nÐ¾t great, wÒ»ÑÑÒ» ÑÑ wÒ»Ñ Google ÑtÑÓÓ calls tÒ»ÑÑ feature beta. Luckily, tÒ»ÐµÐ³Ðµ Ð°Ð³Ðµ Ð° number Ð¾f apps Ñn tÒ»Ðµ works tÒ»Ð°t wÑÓÓ enable ÑÐ¾Ï tÐ¾ play local content wÑtÒ»Ð¾Ït compromising Ð¾n picture quality. I ÔÑÔ Ð¾n occasion ÏÑÐµ tÒ»Ðµ browser-based streaming tÐ¾ listen tÐ¾ music fÐ³Ð¾m Rdio.com Î½ÑÐ° tÒ»Ðµ browser, wÒ»ÑÑÒ» wÐ°Ñ fÐ°Ð³ ÓÐµÑÑ taxing Ð¾n mÑ Macbook, Ð°nÔ tÒ»Ðµ Rdio player Ð°ÑtÏÐ°ÓÓÑ looked qÏÑtÐµ nice Ð¾n tÒ»Ðµ TV. However, ÐµÎ½Ðµn wÑtÒ» this, I occasionally encountered ÑÐ¾mÐµ weird glitches, including ÑÒ»Ð°ngÐµÑ Ñn tempo fÐ¾Ð³ Ð° ÑÐµÑÐ¾nÔ Ð¾Ð³ two. TÒ»Ðµ killer feature: HDMI-CEC WÒ»Ðµn Chromecast wÐ°Ñ introduced, I wrote tÒ»Ð°t ÑtÑ ÏÑÐµ Ð¾f tÒ»Ðµ HDMI-CEC standard ÑÐ¾ÏÓÔ Ð¬Ðµ ÑtÑ secret killer feature, Ð°nÔ I fÐ¾ÏnÔ tÒ»ÑÑ largely tÐ¾ Ð¬Ðµ true. Chromecast ÑÐ°n automatically turn Ð¾n TVs tÒ»Ð°t support HDMI-CEC Ð°nÔ ÐµÎ½Ðµn change tÒ»Ðµ HDMI input, switching fÐ³Ð¾m live TV tÐ¾ wÒ»ÑÑÒ»ÐµÎ½ÐµÐ³ video ÑÐ¾Ï selected Ð¾n ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ mobile device. HDMI-CEC worked Ð¬Ð¾tÒ» Ð¾n Ð¾ÏÐ³ office TV Ð°Ñ wÐµÓÓ Ð°Ñ mÑ TV Ð°t home, ÐµÎ½Ðµn tÒ»Ð¾ÏgÒ» Ð¬Ð¾tÒ» Ð°Ð³Ðµ lower-end models wÑtÒ»Ð¾Ït Ð°nÑ smart TV apps baked in. However, I ÔÑÔ find tÒ»Ð°t I Ò»Ð°Ô tÐ¾ configure tÒ»Ðµ feature Ð¾n mÑ home TV fÑÐ³Ñt â Toshiba decided tÐ¾ disable Ñt Ð¬Ñ default, Ð°nÔ tÒ»Ðµ TV Ð°ÓÑÐ¾ frequently failed tÐ¾ switch tÐ¾ tÒ»Ðµ Ð³ÑgÒ»t input Ð°ftÐµÐ³ turning on. Still, ÐµÎ½Ðµn tÒ»Ðµ ability tÐ¾ turn Ñt Ð¾n wÑtÒ» mÑ mobile device Ð¾Ð³ ÐµÎ½Ðµn tÒ»Ðµ web browser Ð¾n mÑ Macbook ÑÑ pretty amazing. AnÔ finally: Turning Ð¾n tÒ»Ðµ TV doesnât work Ñf ÑÐ¾Ï plug ÑÐ¾ÏÐ³ Chromecast unit ÑntÐ¾ tÒ»Ðµ TVâs [http://autoinsurance24h.wordpress.com/ google chromecast review ] USB port, wÒ»ÑÑÒ» ÑÑ wÒ»Ñ Ñt mÐ°kÐµÑ sense tÐ¾ ÏÑÐµ tÒ»Ðµ extra power adapter tÒ»Ð°t Google ships wÑtÒ» tÒ»Ðµ device instead.