 |
| Google Chromecast - Unlimited Entertainment! |
All of us have television sets in our homes but mostly not Smart TVs or interactive TVs. Having a Smart TV in your living room is a dream come true as it opens up the world of internet and the vast information highway. You are no longer slave to what your cable / DTH operator dishes out.
The only hiccup (and a big one too) is that Smart TVs tend to cost a packet. Not everyone may be able to invest a huge amount to own a Smart TV. Alternatively, we may feel that such an exaggerated price is not truly worth paying for its features. Typically, on an estimate, a Smart TV tends to cost double the price of a normal LED TV. It is therefore easy to understand the hesitation in putting down a huge amount for making a 'buy' decision. The life span of the LED panel of a Smart TV is another key factor to weigh in. The LED panels of Smart TVs are advertised to last for decades with normal usage. However, the reality is a good percentile of LED panels fail quite early in just a few years. If it is within warranty period, then you are lucky but if it is even 1 day after warranty, then you are in big trouble.
We speak from personal experience as our Samsung Smart TV bought at Rs.43,500/- failed in hardly 3.5 years. The warranty of only 1 year was useless on such a high value product. Even worse, companies claiming long life span for their LED panels didn't take responsibility for the failure when it failed early nor did they provide reasonable quote for necessary repairs. Samsung quoted us Rs.18,749/- for replacement of the panel. We approached Samsung Senior Management directly through their email address for a resolution but none bothered. These incidents naturally deter customers from purchasing high value products that do not give commensurate returns or are not longstanding.
Don't be fooled in to thinking that this is Samsung specific. Most companies are like that. Simply put, customers who are either innocent or naive are left in the lurch by such companies when their LED Smart TVs fail early. Fortunately, a good Samaritan and an independent TV technician did requisite repairs costing us under Rs.5,000/-.
Given the background, it would be wonderful if we had an alternative that could transform our 'dumb' Television sets in to "Smart' televisions or at least, close to it rather than buying a Smart TV at exorbitant cost with no real guarantees of its life span. Thankfully, such solutions are now available in India and Google Chromecast is one of them. Interestingly, Chromecast is not really a new entrant and has been in vogue for several years though it is only in recent years that it has been introduced in the Indian market. Definitely, a boon for us given that price of Smart TVs is still on the higher side and need to settle down far low than they are currently being sold for. The Chromecast device is colorful and is one of the most reliable streaming dongles even after all these years.
This nifty, aesthetic, portable and wondrous device is from the house of Google known for many innovations. It is available at a cost effective price under Rs.3,000/- in few online / offline stores like FlipKart, Croma and Reliance Digital. It may be available at an even lower price if you factor special offers relating to like credit / debit cards, first purchase, coupons, year-end sales et al. Just think of that - you no longer need to invest huge amounts on a Smart TV. Your standard TV set can be transformed to a Smart TV through this device. Also if the LED panel fails, at least you won't have to deal with an expensive purchase around Rs.40,000+ going bust, not to mention the high cost of repairs just because it is a Smart TV. The repairs for the LED panels of a standard set are considerably lower than for that of a Smart TV.
How does Google Chromecast make TVs smart? It works on Do It Yourself (DIY) principle. The device plugs into your TV’s HDMI port while other end connects to USB port for power to unit.
With it connected, you can stream on... opening a window to the world of media and entertainment. Simply use your device and TV to easily stream TV shows, movies, songs, games and more through apps like Netflix, YouTube and Google Play. Chromecast works with iPhone, iPad, Android phone and tablet, Mac, Windows laptop and Chromebook. This is also A better way to get video and more to your TV. With Chromecast, your device is the 'remote'. It’s easy to control the TV from anywhere in your home. You can keep using your device without interrupting what’s playing or draining your battery. All you need to do is tap the Cast button to see content on the big screen. Even better, open the apps you already know – no new logins or downloads required. Basically, Unlimited entertainment, on your schedule.
In a nutshell, there is a lot that you can do with your Chromecast, your standard TV, Smart Mobile Phone / Tablet / PC / Mac and internet, WiFi like -
- Turn your TV into a picture frame.
- Customise your TV screen with Google Photos, Facebook, headline news and more.
- Discover new entertainment.
- Use the Google Home app to find the latest on new apps, offers and features.
- Mirror your Android screen.
- Stream what you see on your Android device on your TV.
- Mirror any website.
Some strong positives of Google Chromecast include -
- Window to the world of media and internet
- Full standard 1080p resolution
- New Chromecast app promises to add tons of new functionality, like universal search and fast play, improving the way you'll find content and cutting the time it takes to get the stream started
- Transforms your TV to a slideshow picture frame
- Mirror any website
- Works seamlessly with your Smart Mobile Phone / Tablet / PC / Mac
- Your Smart Phone is your remote - no need for separate remote
- Easy and quick setup with reset button (if required)
- New and improved 802.11ac Wi-Fi antenna (supports 2.4GHz/5GHz) - creates near seamless streaming environment with less lag and buffering time than almost anything, even full size set-top boxes on the market
- Latest version of Chromecast is smarter, faster and better than it's ever been
- Supports H.264 1080p, H.264 720 x 480, MPEG-4, VP8 video and AAC-LC, AC3, eAC3 (Dolby Digital Plus), FLAC, MP3, PCM/WAV, Vorbis audio files
- Supports multiple Operating Systems (Android, iOS, Max OS X and Windows)
- Aesthetic , stylish and eye candy design
- Assortment of colours - Black, Coral (Red) and Lemonade (Yellow)
- Way cheaper than competitors like Amazon Firestick, Roku and Apple TV
- Small form factor
- 1 Year Warranty
When you buy a Chromecast, it comes with a well designed box and includes Chromecast unit, power cable and power adapter. The device weighs hardly 40 gms. In conclusion, this is a wonderful gadget to add to your repertoire at a great price!
https://www.mouthshut.com/UrbanHermits
https://www.mouthshut.com/UrbanHermits
No comments:
Post a Comment