![]() The Chromecast (with Google TV) comes in a very simple box with essentials: The remote is also slippery and tiny, but that is something you can get used to fairly quickly. The volume buttons, as I have come to learn, are not supported by all sound systems, which might be a bummer to some. On the negative side of things, I wish the Chromecast was cheaper in Kenya. The volume buttons also work with supported TVs or sound systems: it linked up to my Vizio soundbar fairly quick, and this has since made its (soundbar) remote useless to me, unless I am powering the system. Another benefit is the remote, which is simple, all cute with its little volume buttons on the side. The device also supports a ton of streaming platforms, but since we are limited to Netflix and Showmax and YouTube, the other services do not make a lot of sense to us thanks to that Geo-lock thing. ![]() Google Assistant works excellently, and if you like shouting commands to your TV, you are going to love the Chromecast. Quick Summaryįirst, the interface/UI is just a clear winner for me. I can end this assessment here and tell you to go buy it but that will be an injustice to you, so we are going to have to talk more. Contrastingly, Android TV looks kind of old now, although it is what most people can access via their TVs and streaming boxes (some manufacturers such as TCL have however started shipping their modern TVs with Google TV so that is a plus).Įssentially, that is what the Chromecast with Google TV is all about. My personal favourite is the interface: Google TV is cleaner, looks modern, and is easy to navigate. You cannot exactly do the same thing on Android TV. You can also add a bunch of adult profiles on Google TVs, but on Android TV, multiple users need to log in with a separate account.Īlso, if you have a lot of smart home devices, you are going to love Google TV because it supports them, and heck, you can even control them via voice using your Google TV remote. Android TV doesn’t do that well, because parental controls affect everybody since it does not have a child profile. Google TV, for instance, has a robust child profile, which makes a lot of sense because we use TVs with children in the house, and we should therefore protect them from adult content. The two platforms do mostly the same thing, but there are some key differences. It is also, a Chromecast, which means it is not a box but rather a dongle that you hook up to one of your TV’s HDMI sockets, and then to a power outlet.īut wait, wait… Google TV and not Android TV? Glad you asked. It is powered by Google TV, and not Android TV. To note, the Chromecast with Google TV is, as its name suggests, a streaming device for those who are on the Android/Google aisle of things. So, to cover for the trouble, you might as well pay the amount and get the device immediately. They sell it for KES 9500 or thereabouts, which is still higher than what you would buy it in the West, but remember, you will have to import it and we all know that exercise is not smooth. I got a unit from my good friends at Essential Kenya. The two tellys, however, are pricey because let’s be honest, they are selling you the brand name, but they have an array of other benefits too such as the lightweight software, terrific customer support, and longevity.Ĭircling back to what this story is about, let’s talk about the Chromecast with Google TV. Still, you can choose to go the Samsung or LG way: both run in-house software (Tizen and webOS) that are lightweight enough to not tax your system in terms of resource requirements. The other solution is to just buy a more expensive and capable TV, and most of us, do not have such budgets to spend on a TV. ![]() I am not trying to make a case for TV streaming boxes, but the said issue can largely be addressed by buying a good streaming box (Android TV or Firestick, among others). I have had my fair share of these issues, where a TV performs well for the first three months but gets painfully slow afterward. Basically, what manufacturers don’t tell you is that they have kept prices low by using entry-level specs, and that includes the chipset. At that price, you can get a competent 43-incher running at 1080p, but the experience will deteriorate over time. Take, for example, the cheapest Android TV in the market that costs, say KES 25000.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |