Excellent device, I rate it highly. Got mine from this deal https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/589846 for $89.10. It's fairly easy to get Good Guys Commercial access if you work for the government or have a union membership of some kind.
Google Chromecast with Google TV $91 + Delivery (Free C&C) @ The Good Guys Commercial (Membership Required)
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Last edited 10/01/2021 - 13:45 by 2 other users
Last edited 10/01/2021 - 13:45 by 2 other users
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Agree, it's still a chromecast after all. The TV has built in chromecast & Android TV apps as well, but haven't bothered setting that up really, given I've got the GTV there's no point.
I just casted a YouTube vid from desktop and it works fine (handy when sitting at the desk like you say) I also don't have pc speakers only headphones, but being in the same room sometimes use the soundbar bluetooth (that audio way out of sync).
For whatever reason, casting from PC never autoplays the next vid, just stops. Known issue.
@G-rig: Just tested and it doesn't autoplay… Miracles 🤣
I normally switch before the end of the clip haha
Flaky shit like this is why I switched to Apple TV’s instead of Android TV.
You haven't even used one of these, have you?
what is google tv? do i have to pay a monthly subscription similar to netflix and disney+ if i get this?
No, it's just a device that gives you access to all the various video and music streaming apps, both subscription based and FTA and diplays them in a pleasant and easy to use interface.
Got it, thanks!
I have a smart hisense tv with YouTube Netflix stan Disney all built into it already. And I have chromcast in addition too.
Is Google tv gonna add anything more?
I have the mi box 2, is this a big improvement & worth buying?
Go for NVIDIA shield
Yeah but it's more than double the price.
Closer to over three times the price!
As for the MiBox 2 vr this. I prefer this but comes down to what features you are looking for.
I have 2 x Mi boxes (mdz-16-ab) and this Google device and I would say that there is no upgrade here. Both devices are great and on par with each other from a usability standpoint, specs clearly would differ of course. I prefer the Mi box remote as I am less inclined to accidently press any buttons, if you own this Google device you probably understand what I mean.
Google TV is much the same as Android TV. Google TV is itself an apk so you can sideload it to the Mibox and have Google TV on that device if you want to try it out or if you prefer GTV on the Mibox. I have not tried this out yet, but I read it somewhere.
On another note: I had issues connecting the Google TV device to the 5ghz wifi.This is a common problem. You can easily resolve the issue by changing the wifi channel to 24 (or try 26, 28) via your gateway webserver (192.168..)
The Google TV also supports Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, 8GB ram (4 useable storage for apps etc) and a later version of Android (9.0?)
I actually like the remote, having Bluetooth you don't need to even point it at the telly. The vol rockers are handy on the side.
Like you say they are pretty similar it just depends what other google products you have or features you want, and if you need to upgrade. Native google would be better than sideloading it I assume. Technically the Roku ultra would be good but not really popular in AUS.
The Mibox is a Bluetooth remote also. It's more the ergonomics/form factor of the GTV remote which may take getting use too.
Edit: channel is not 24, it's 48. Try channels around this value.
Great device so I can use vpn apps while watching Disney+ via hotstar.
Only Con: very less memory to install games. May be they want me to subscribe google stadia :(
Amazon Fire TV stick is still cheaper.
Yes, the Amazon one is $59, but I got it for $49 from JB when it was on sale. Seems like a better deal than the Chromecast to me.
I have an Amazon US account. Had prime on there. Now in Aus, and the whole thing seems to have stuffed up my account. The fire stick is absolutely unusable with a weird error, which Amazon chat support are clueless about and unable to resolve. Got to do with the Country on my Amazon account being different. Try as I might, can't get it resolved. Good One Support is (marginally) better - they call back so you can troubleshoot on the line.
Bought one for my mum since her smart TV was a bit old and slow. She wanted to watch Disney plus but her TV never kept the Disney app logged in. She loves this device. Ever taught her the voice function.
I’ve noticed this chromecast has a nice global search for what you have available in your paid apps. Does the Nvidia shield have this same functionality?
I really like this. Swapped out a regular chrome cast for this one. Main reason was the remote but the interface is great too.
I bought the Chromecast with TV using the Latitude Pay $20 off deal around the boxing day from the good guys. It was a great device which I don't need to switch apps from Netflix to PrimeVideo, everything can be done in the same interface.
I have two of these.
And generally quite happy with the experience.Just 2 niggly criticisms.
1… Spams you with suggestions you didn't pay for/subscribe to. You can't even turn off the Disney+ suggestions. I kinda understand it spamming Google Movie content, but Disney?2… I have previous gen Chromecasts and you didn't need or have a remote to perform setup. This gen REQUIRES the remote for setup. Didn't seem like a big deal, but I took the dongle on a weekend away, but forgot the remote, rendering it useless.
I always carry this on my trips, Instead of setting up again, I simple use my samsung s10e to share the internet(wifi) and i make sure the wifi name/password are same as my home, so its always ready to connect without me using any effort.
Yes. This works because you're using your own network. At air bnb I sometimes use their wifi
Like said, on samsung phone you can share your connected wifi, so I connect to hotel wifi and I share the wifi to my chromecast using mobile Hotspot(not mobile data)
You can find more info here.I turn off mobile data on my phone and still works.
Better instructions
You can uninstall the Disney app
I have uninstalled that app.
It doesn't stop the Disney suggestions. It suggests content regardless of whether you have that app, or do not subscribe to a service.Yeah, mine displays Disney+ recommendations as the upper spash screen background. They pay Google handsomely for that privilage I'm sure
Google TV remote app may work for the basics, not sure about original setup
That's right you need the real remote for network changes.
@telljoolz
You can turn off services by scrolling down to the very bottom of the home screen. I literally just noticed this and remembered your comment.
Really dig this device, can pair with AirPods without an adapter and suffer no lag, and we’re talking gen 1 AirPods so the newer ones would have no problem.
Google TV is fast, was initially annoying with all the suggestions and crap but I turned all that off so the main Home Screen just has my apps, I’m sure as time goes on people will offer hacks so we can customise it perfectly but for what is essentially a dongle, I don’t think you can go wrong.
However, I’m not suffering any wifi dropouts like some people do experience, my Vodafone tv did though and that’s in a box waiting to be taken back to Vodafone as soon as I can be bothered. Maybe next week.
Thanks I wasn't aware you could pair bluetooth headphones with it. Have been looking for a workaround to use wireless headphones with a dumb TV for a while now with no lag
For those who find the home screen ad-riddled, there's an alternative that skips it and shows a cleaner screen. The instructions linked below also detail button remapping on the remote too.
https://www.techdoctoruk.com/tutorials/use-custom-launcher-o…I did this and thought I bricked the device so beware, a hard reset fixed it pretty quickly but I did have to go through the entire setup again. I would recommend putting it into app only mode Settings > Accounts & Sign in > your account > apps only mode.
I hope these some sort of native customisation coming to it but having said that, Google has no reason to do that.
Still though, good, quick box, especially for Emby.
I would recommend putting it into app only mode Settings > Accounts & Sign in > your account > apps only mode.
I found that it disables voice search (via the Google Assistant button), which I do find handy and was the reason I went with the overhaul.
What are some things you use the voice search for?
@fredblogs: Mainly to play stuff without navigating Netflix.
For example, if I say "Play the IT Crowd", it will show the slash screen right before playing an episode.
Great little device but still waiting for dolby vision& dolby atmos contents on Disney+ & amazon prime.
I've bought a USB C dock that has Ethernet, USB and power on it. I'm having trouble using Kodi with an external drive. I plugged in a drive tried using it as either extended internal data or USB drive. Formatted inside the Google device.
In Kodi, I then selected the external drive as. Location to download my … Linux iso… to using a torrent app..and it immediately fails. Not sure why?
Any suggestions?
can I sideload apk apps on this device that are not directly available on play store?
Yes.
Just like any android phone, you'll need to enable developer options. Also, some apps won't work well as they're not natively supported for this Chromecast.
how does this play with Plex (or PlexKodiConnect)? Would 4K HDR (direct stream via plex) be too far a bridge to cross?
I've never tried 4K HDR, but I use Plex all the time with mine (1080p content) with zero issues. Though I've read that the wifi speeds are fast enough for 4K, so I guess it should be fine?
its not the wifi I'm worried about, rather, all the codec BS
On reflection because its 1x1 antenna maybe the bandwidth isn't sufficient either lol (for a big untouched rip anyway like those 50Gb+ ones)
Is there actually benefit of getting a chromecast if you have a fairly new smart TV e.g. Sony 8000 x90h
i definitely would buy again if I got another tv. cuz I can use audio instructions on my Google home to play stuff on TV and switch it on or off
Sony TV already can do this. I have both a Sony X95G and Google TV used on a dumb tv. No need for the Google TV on the Sony.
My android TV couldn't power off the tv, and other devices in home such as bedroom fan, lights etc.
May have been due to Android 5.0
I've turned mine into a multimedia device. Changed the launcher, connected a USB hub, an SD card, connected my PS4 controller and have been playing emulators on it.
PS: beware, if you use an SD card to extend its internal storage, it will keep dropping out and you have to manually connect it again. That doesn't happen if you use a USB flashdrive though.
Great device. I've bought the LAN wired adaptor, which I received last week. That makes the connection more stable for my home, highly recommended.
The lack of frame-rate switching makes it super annoying for me. I have one but don't use it exclusively because I have to constantly change the refresh rate when switching from netflix to kayo, or when watching something like the crown, which is 50hz. So I also have a chromecast ultra set to 50hz which I use for these things. The Apple TV 4k is, apparently, excellent in this regard.
Have seen the settings, why do you have to change from 4k @ 60Hz in the chromecast settings?
Because anything that's 25 or 50fps will look really bad (like Kayo/Optus Sports/most Aussie TV channels/some titles on Netflix like The Crown). And from memory changing it doesn't seems to work too well anyway, as there is still stuttering on Kayo.
Ah ok makes sense. Just wondering how you find out which apps/shows look good or bad or what to set it on? I assumed you just set it on the max and the apps would sort it out or auto fall back if not enough bandwidth etc.
Have been watching Iron Fist on Netflix, it's HDR but man, that grainy filter effect is done to the max, especially on backgrounds. I did notice Atmos came on part way through the second season which was nice :)
@G-rig: If it judders (looks like it's skipping/missing a frame every second) then the frame rates are mismatched between the source video and the device.
You would think they would use auto frame rate matching… but for some reason the chromecast doesn't. From what I understand the Apple TV 4k is the only streamer that does it reliably.
@MisterTee: Cheers will have to keep an eye out for that. I have really only been using the Youtube, Netflix, Prime and catchup apps like 7+, iview etc. Can't say I've noticed it but the audio can get out of sync somewhere between the device-soundbar-tv via ARC. Launching the app first helps instead of clicking on a show from the homescreen, as does powering things off/on again. Not sure if it's related but another observation. Also could be this tv,cables, many variables. Plenty of places are out of sync on big screens when go out to a pub or something.
Anyone able to offer any advice on whether this is worth it if you have a TV with Android TV already? Context is I have a Hisense 65RG with Android TV installed, and, well, it's garbage. When it works, it works fine, but the lag on the TV UI is just absolutely unbearable. I can get around it at times by just casting to the TV, but then I feel like I'm missing out on the benefits of just using a remote to navigate.
Have contemplated either this or an Apple TV (as my partner and I both have iPhones, so might be some benefit there)
I'd imagine your TV wouldn't be as fast as this. Unsure what SOC the Hisense uses, but the ChromeCast works great, is snappy, quick to launch and navigate. It replaced a full media PC I had set up to watch Plex and Netfilx through. Now I just the ChromeCast, install the Plex App and away I go. For the price, if you stream to a TV, it is almost a no brainer.
Go for this device….these are way better and smoother. Frustration free
Anyone know why the sound would stop every so often (like for half a second, Netflix)? Got it plugged into a soundbar then to an Eko 65".
The only other small annoyance is the input selector seems to struggle using the Google Remote, but probably as eko isn't in the tv list in the Google Remote setup. All other CEC type functions work, I think it's probably to do with the TV. That and the tv displays the text as 1080p sometimes (turning off Google TV and on again usually fixes it)
Be nice if there was some real-time display in the Google TV for display and audio decoding etc, frame rates etc?
Still beyond me why the GTV falls back to 1080p (and no Dolby Atmos), seems to require a reboot or power cycle of the soundbar it's connected to fairly often. The input selection button seems to struggle and have to use the tv remote.. Probably more of a TV problem as the EKO isn't in the tv list for the remote buttons. Still works just not 100% like proper brands.
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Casting is still a huge feature of it and the fact is when using YouTube app natively it's only half decent still. Plus when using your phone or laptop browsing the web and just want to cast a video you come across it fails miserably. I have done that and still get Stan options…. I am far from non tech savvy.
Agree you need to go into each app otherwise audio sync is off.