Streaming media from the internet to your TV is currently only available through the following ways: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Apple TV, a Roku box or through Smart TVs. Google has now come up with a cheaper and simpler alternative with the Chromecast. The device is currently on sale in the US for only $35, a fraction of the price of an Apple TV.
It hasn’t officially been launched in the UK yet but the corresponding Chromecast app went live on the UK Google Play Store last week.
The ‘dongle’ uses the HDMI port of an HD TV and operates via WiFi connectivity. The viewer sends media across through any device that can run the app, irrespective of its make.
By selling the device cheap and making the app accessible, Google is doing everything in its power to expand its user base as much as possible. TV shows recently became available through the Play Store, selling at £1.89 per episode in standard definition.
The Chromecast device should be available in the UK before Christmas where it will have to compete with a whole host of other ‘smart’ devices for TVs, but on price and accessibility it is very likely to do well.