The Good
I've had Chromecast for a couple weeks and I've got a few things on my mind. First off, Chromecast is fantastic. I've been waiting for this for a long time. Similar implementations from Google, Apple and others didnt quite get it right. Then suddenly for only $35, Chromecast shows how simple this experience should have been all along.Setup
Takes like 2 minutes. So simple. Could have saved me some time preparing for client presentations.No Ugly Remote
Instead of searching for a remote and trying to figure things out, I just use my phone or any other device. The interface is a familiar app or website.All remotes look different. Why? Because no remote ever "got it right"
Any App Can Use it
Any app can be updated to support Chromecast It even appears to be quite easy and developers are already showing some amazing progress.Set it and Forget it
It may feel like you're streaming content from you phone to the Chromecast but in reality you simply choose what to play and Chromecast streams that from the cloud. This means your device is not wasting precious battery, RAM, or CPU cycles.Cast a Tab
No app for that? No problem. You can cast ANYTHING from the chrome web browser.Note: Casting a tab wont leverage the "Set it and Forget it" feature. In fact it is rather CPU intensive.
The Bad
Interruptions
It is far too easy to interrupt a currently running cast. Any jerk connected to the WiFi network could have a field day.Even on a jerk free network, casts get interrupted entirely by accident. Current apps dont make it clear when an action will end the current cast. YouTube in particular is a bit tricky with its social queue.
Apps Could Be Better
YouTube has a whole host of problems that taint the Chromecast experience:- No social queue from desktop site. Have to use a mobile device.
- Many videos are not available on mobile. Have to use a computer.
- Cant cast the watch later playlist. That would be too easy.
YouTube is also the only app that supports Chromecast from its desktop site. Sure, I can cast any tab from the Chrome browser, but any streaming content would ideally be streamed by Chromecast its self.
Screen Burn
Chromecast will burn the 'Ready to cast' text into your screen if left idle for days. Although Google did some clever things to prevent screen burn, it can still happen. The device really should dim or blackout the screen when left idle on the standby screen. Then I could keep it ready to go all day errday.The Future
This is just the beginning. The issues I mentioned will be resolved. The already great experience will improve. More apps are on the way. The features packed into this tiny dongle will get built into new TVs and monitors.Soon we'll all be casting to any screen from smart watches and Google Glass. You can quote me on that.
