Google has also opened the API to allow developers to interface with the dongle more readily, so it should only be a matter of time before the current short list of official partners grows. Even more if you use a VPN service to get around geo-restrictions. ![]() That’s a lot of content when you really think about it. The advantage of these two scenarios is that basically anything playing through Chrome is ready to cast. Apps that are officially supported can be controlled directly from a smartphone or tablet, providing you a similar experience wherein you can watch and browse simultaneously. Using the app on Android or iOS, you could cast a video, while browsing and searching for others, or even using other apps entirely, without affecting playback. Netflix, Songza, Rdio and Crackle all have native support on the device, with YouTube essentially a de facto member of that list. This works with the mobile Chrome browser found on mobile devices as well, along with certain apps. You can also mirror the browser entirely, making it possible to do basic surfing that way, too. Once set up, load up a streaming video from a site, click the cast icon and the video moves over to the TV. It’s easy to do on a Chrome browser, and the process also installs the Cast extension so that you see the casting icon on the top right or bottom right of the browser. At $60, the Streaming Stick is more expensive than the Chromecast, though you are getting more depth for the price.Īndroid and Chrome browser users will like the integration with the Chromecast, which requires a minimal setup. Unlike the Chromecast, Roku includes a remote control, albeit without the great headphone jack the Roku 3’s remote had. That’s nothing to scoff at, given there are over 750 channels available in Canada, with many other “private” channels offered by developers, packed into something pocket-sized. The primary function here is to bring the Roku experience to you in a form factor separate from the company’s traditional streaming boxes, like the Roku 3, for example. Plug it into your TV’s HDMI port, use either the AC adapter or the TV’s USB port and you’re good to go. The Roku Streaming Stick (HDMI version) is new to both countries and follows a similar installation. ![]() It can be powered by a microUSB cable that is either plugged into the included AC adapter or into a USB port on the TV itself. It’s an HDMI dongle that plugs into your TV, connects to your Wi-Fi network and is able to “cast” content from compatible devices over to the big screen wirelessly. since last year, so the product itself is not new, and there is nothing inherently unique or different in the version that launched in Canada. ![]() Google’s Chromecast has been out in the U.S. While they seem to be an apples-to-apples comparison, they diverge in some key areas that should impact your buying decision. Streaming content to your TV has been getting increasingly easier as different types of solutions have come to market, and given the timing of the launch of both Google’s Chromecast and Roku’s Streaming Stick, it’s apt to compare them.
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