With Chromecast, you can easily enjoy your favorite online entertainment on your HDTV—movies, TV shows, music, and more from Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, and Chrome. No more huddling around small screens and tiny speakers. Chromecast automatically updates to work with a growing number of apps.

Chromecast works with devices you already own, including Android tablets and smartphones, iPhones®, iPads®, Chrome for Mac® and Chrome for Windows®. Browse for what to watch, control playback, and adjust volume using your device. You won't have to learn anything new.

Get started in 3 easy steps: plug Chromecast into any HDTV, connect it to WiFi, then send videos and more from your smartphone, tablet or laptop to your TV with the press of a button.

So I came on Amazon to just do some shopping, and I couldn't help but notice how the Google Chromecast somehow has reviews already. I'm sorry, but no consumer has this in their hands yet (until 1-2 more days). I want to provide an honest review with an actual understanding of what and how the product works having had it for a couple weeks, without violating my NDA.

Look - you can give your "Review" once you have in your hands. Make assumptions based off an uneducated guess or incorrect information just looks stupid, I'm sorry.

What it Is:
It's a HDMI dongle that is powered by Chrome OS that is designed for Streaming.

How it Works:
You have to connect to the same Wi-Fi network for it to work. Once it's setup you'll see the Chromecast logo and a basic Home Screen with some of the first apps available for Chromecast. A lot of development is going into it, so expect to see more apps from the Google Play store work with your TV. See your phone/tablet/computer more of a remote, rather than an actual streaming device.

I only tested on the iOS side (I don't have a Droid) and I can tell you that it works very well. It is NOT like Apple's AirPlay where your screen is mirrored, but rather uses "the Cloud" to access your content. It works smoother than AirPlay because it doesn't require buffering from your device, but rather directly to the TV. The only "syncing" that occurs is the Cloud communicating to the Chromecast where you're at. For example: I'm watching a Netflix movie and I'm at 1:06:17. I hit the Square button with the wi-fi looking icon called "Cast" and it syncs it to my Chromecast. This is only different for web-browsing through the currently Beta Chrome Tab Cast, where it'll show exactly what you're looking on Chrome, onto your TV. It's less functional than straight up mirroring like the Apple TV, but it works. You can't switch between apps and have that show on the screen. This is particularly useful in web-based presentations or while you check your email and your friends are watching Netflix.

Battery Drain on Mobile Devices:
Because of the way Chromecast works, it's streaming information from the Cloud vs. from your device. I noticed very little increase in the usage of battery on my iPhone 5 and my Macbook Air running Mountain Lion OSX.

Support for Streaming Services:
Right now, Streaming Service support is limited. Netflix, Google Services (Google Play, YouTube) and Web-based Streaming is allowed. I had issues trying to load Hulu the past couple days, telling me that my browser was unsupported, but I'll update once I get a chance.

Power Adapter:
The power adapter is an optional requirement. In fact, most modern TV's with HDMI 1.4 or higher spec are supported. The Chromecast can draw power from the HDMI port it's plugged into. If your TV doesn't support that, there's also a USB cable and power adapter included in the box. I have a 2012 LG LED and a 2013 Lenovo 27" Monitor with HDMI input and the ports power it with no cable.

All in all, I feel like it's still a huge work in progress. The SDK will allow for some exciting developments, and I'm happy to say that Google has committed to support this device for quite some time. It gives me piece of mind that this won't become out of date each year.

That being said, it's only $35. What a steal for a device that really brings value to any TV.

People use boxes for streaming media still? How quaint.

You use your handheld device to navigate to some content, and then 'cast' that content onto the big screen. It's not just duplicating what's on your screen. You tablet/phone/laptop are still quite usable once you send the content to the chromecast device.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/07/google ... -launched/

This is not a box and it doesn't stream anything from your network. Swing-and-a-miss.

This is a very small box that streams from your PC or other device using a web browser.

How Chromecast, Apple TV and Roku compare

By Salvador Rodriguez
July 24, 2013, 1:44 p.m.

Google Inc. is making a splash in the world of digital TV receivers with its tiny, $35 Chromecast device.

The new Google gadget rivals the Apple TV and all Roku devices. However, each digital receiver has its benefits and downsides. Here's how the three gadgets compare.

Content
By far the most important part of any digital TV receiver is the amount of content it has access to and the quality of that content.

If you look at numbers alone, then Roku is far and away the clear winner. Its digital receivers can access hundreds of channels. These include Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora, HBO Go and a number of sports channels. There's a lot to watch and listen to on Roku, but there's also one major channel missing: YouTube. With no YouTube, you lose access to a lot of great content.

Apple TV doesn't have as many channels as Roku, but it does have basically every channel you need. It too can access Netflix, Hulu Plus, HBO Go, Pandora, a number of sports channels and YouTube. The only major missing piece here is the lack of Amazon Instant Video.

Of the three devices, Chromecast has access to the least amount of content. For now, the brand new Google device can only receive content from Google Play movies and TV shows, YouTube, Netflix and Google Music. Pandora is also coming soon.
Although Chromecast lacks content, the good news is Google plans to offer a software developer kit for the device so that more developers can enable their apps to work with Chromecast.

Price
At $35, the cheapest of the three devices is Chromecast.

The next device up is the Roku LT, which costs $49.99. This version of Roku, though, is limited. It can stream video only at 720p HD, and it's missing a useful rewind button on its remote. The Roku HD normally costs $59.99, but it's currently on sale for $49.99. It has the remote button that doesn't come with the Roku LT.

Next up is the Roku 2 XD for $79.99. This version of Roku can stream 1080p HD video, but its remote lacks motion-sensor capabilities. For that, you'll need the $99.99 Roku 3. The motion-sensor remote works with some games on Roku, including Angry Birds.

As for the Apple TV, that device costs $99.

Size
None of these devices takes up much space, but the smallest one is Chromecast.

The new Google device is about the size of a USB jump drive. It's about 2 inches long and weighs 0.07 pounds.

The Apple TV and Roku, meanwhile, are both about the size of a hockey puck. Each is about an inch tall, and their sides are less than 4 inches wide.

Device compatibility
When it comes to working with other devices, Chromecast and Apple TV are the better choices.

This doesn't stream anything from your PC or other device. Your device sends a link, Chromecast gets it from the cloud.

You're right that this isn't a direct alternative to Apple's AirPlay, because that's a screen mirror, this isn't. It is the closest similarity I can think of though.