We’re partnering with Mike O’Brien to show you the top three Chromecast features. We’re also giving away 5 Chromecasts (3rd gen) to people who enter our giveaway. *Giveaway expired.

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See our picks for BEST STREAMING DEVICES here:
https://www.reviews.org/tv-service/best-streaming-devices?kbid=123489

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MIKE’S TOP FEATURES:
• You can change the ambience via the app on your phone. You can customize photos to appear on your TV and much more. Mike shows you how to change the ambiance on Chromecast.
• You can sync Chromecast with Google Home and perform all sorts of commands. Mike shows how to use voice control to watch Netflix on your TV with Chromecast via the Google Home voice command feature.
• Mike shows how to cast your screen from your computer or smartphone to your TV.

We’ll be doing an in-depth review of the Chromecast soon, but as for now, these three features should help beginners to get going with their Chromecast.

Other important details.

• A Chromecast costs $35 and uses an HDMI port to connect to your TV. It also needs to be plugged into the wall for power.
• Chromecast uses your phone or tablet as a remote. It doesn’t come with one.
• Chromecast uses the apps on your phone to send (display) on the TV via a “cast” button.
• It works with Android and iOS devices
• Most streaming services are available (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, YouTube TV, HBO Now, Showtime, and Sling TV, among others, notable exceptions are Amazon video products like the Fire TV and PlayStation Vue).

How is Chromecast different for Apple Airplay?
Airplay uses a WiFi connection to mirror your content from another device to your TV. Everything on your screen is then shown on the TV.
Chromecast sends instructions to your TV and then starts streaming directly from the internet. This makes it so you can use your phone or tablet for other things while it’s “casting” to your TV and the TV isn’t showing whatever else you’re doing on your devices. For example, you could text while casting a show and that won’t be shown on your TV screen.

To playback locally stored images or videos on your TV, you may need to use a third party app like BubbleUPnP or AllCast.

The biggest difference between the older Chromecast and the Chromecast 3rd gen is the design. The new version fits easier into the HDMI spot and allows for other HDMI cords to be plugged in too.

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