Google Chromecast: this is what you should know

Surely at some point you have heard a reference to this little gadgets of Google. A device that allows us to perform a large number of functions that can be very useful in our day to day. If you don't know him yet, don't worry. Today we tell you what it is, what it is for and some tricks and features of Google Chromecast.

What is a Google Chromecast?

This is the main question you will have right now. This equipment is a small device that connects to the HDMI port of your television (or, if it is relatively current, it may already be included inside it), with which we can:

• give a second life to a TV with nothing intelligent about it. We can connect it to the internet, play series from the main streaming services, play on a bigger screen, among many other things. It is also very useful if you have an old Smart TV that has stopped receiving software updates and you can no longer access some streaming applications such as Netflix, Disney+ or Prime Video. In that case, a Chromecast will be an ideal device for your Smart TV to be up to date again.
• In the event that you already have a Smart TV, you will have all those functionalities but without having to invest extra money in this gadgets.

If you are wondering how you can manage this equipment, it is easy, you will do everything from your smartphone, tablet or from the computer itself:

• In the case of mobile devices, the Chromecast is compatible with both Android As with iOS. Chromecast management is done from the Google Home app. There you can choose which people can send content to the Chromecast, as well as you can integrate the dongle with the rest of the devices compatible with Google Assistant.
• If you want to use it from your computer, you only need to have the Google Chrome browser installed. Therefore, it is compatible with both Windows As with MacOS.

For start using this little gadgets, you only have to connect it to the HDMI port of the TV, connect the connector to the current and follow the simple instructions that the configuration wizard will begin to display on the screen.

Types of Google Chromecast

As you may have seen if you consider purchasing one of these devices, there are different models that you can buy. Each one has its characteristics and functionalities that will depend on the use you want to give it:

chromecast

El chromecast "normal" is about the simpler version of this equipment but, of course, fully functional. There are different models of this equipment that, at the moment, carry up to the third version that was updated in 2018. With it we can play content at a 1080p maximum resolution, that is, Full HD. It is available for a price of 39 euros in the Google Store.

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For years, the Chromecast has hardly had a competitor. Today there are many other dongles for televisions that integrate an Android TV operating system for almost the same price. The basic Chromecast is still a great product, but its advantages have been greatly diminished by alternatives like Amazon's Fire TV Stick or Xiaomi's Mi TV Stick. To use the Chromecast it is necessary to use yes or yes a smartphone or a computer with Google Chrome to be able to send the content. If you don't want to rely on another device to watch content on your TV, Google brought out Chromecast with Google TV, which is a more advanced product for those who want to use Chromecast in a more convenient and organized way.

Chromecast with Google TV

For a long time, Chromecast fans have asked Google for a slightly more complex device. Google did its homework and that's how the Chromecast with Google TV. This model includes all the features of the basic Chromecast, but integrates its own Smart TV system. Google TV is a variant of Android TV with a rather interesting layer of personalization that prioritizes the user experience and personalized content recommendations.

Chromecast with Google TV is a simple dongle, but it includes everything you need to turn a regular TV into a smart one. It has its own remote control with an integrated microphone that you can use to give commands, dictate words or interact with Google Assistant. You will also be able to download any app for Android TV from Google Play. In addition to installing apps from Netflix, HBO Max, Disney, and other streaming services, you can also run games and emulators—as well as connect a controller to play. And, speaking of games, we must not forget its compatibility with Google Stadia. In general, the Chromecast with Google TV is a fairly round product. cost about $69, somewhat expensive considering that there are more affordable competing products, but none offer as interesting an experience as with Google TV.

If you are interested in this model, you can buy it directly through the google store. If you want to know a little more about this device, we leave you our video analysis on YouTube where you can see its details much more thoroughly.

Chromecast Ultra

With the Chromecast Ultra We can perform the same functions as with the "basic" but, at a higher level. With this we can reproduce content at a 4K max resolution and also we have un more powerful processor. These improvements mean that we will be able to see content with higher quality and, in addition, use the streaming game platform of Google Stadia (thanks to that higher chip power). This product is already discontinued, with the Chromecast with Google TV being its successor.

Chromecast Audio

It is a Chromecast different from the rest because, in this case, it would not be connected to the television but to any speaker with a 3.5 mm Jack port. Its function? turn it into a speaker intelligent and be able to play streaming music from other computers. However, this accessory is already discontinued by Google for a few years, although it can still be purchased from some third-party distributors and thrift stores.

Google Chromecast tricks and features

As we have been telling you from the beginning of this article, with one of these devices you will open up a wide range of possibilities and extra functions for your television. Below we will discuss everything that you will be able to do with it and, if some of these features are interesting to you and you want to go deeper, you can consult our article on how to get the most out of your Chromecast.

These are all functions that you will be able to use with one of these Gadgets:

• Send multimedia content from the main platforms of streaming.
• Share the screen of your devices.
• Play games on the TV: from games compatible with Chromecast or Google Stadia.
• Manage the TV by voice commands.
• Turn the TV on and off remotely.

On the other hand, if you have one of the new Chromecast with Google TV, you will be able to install applications through Google Play. This implies that you will have at your disposal advantages such as:

• Watch TV online through IPTV services
• Install arcade games and play from a gamepad. If you want to know a little more about this to install it on your computer, you just have to follow the same steps that we tell you in this video:

• Play games without mirroring by installing them directly on your own computer.
• Access the main streaming content platforms without using your phone or other equipment.
• Talk to Google Assistant, the company's intelligent assistant, through the remote control.
• Consult information about the films and series that appear to us: platform on which we can see, synopsis, score on scales known as rotten tomatoes.
• Create a collection of favorite content so that, when we don't know what to see, go to it and have the complete list.

This is everything you need to know about the Google Chromecast. A set of functionalities that will allow you to get much more out of this small device. If you have any questions about it, do not hesitate to leave us a comment and we will try to resolve it as soon as possible.

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