My 21 year old daughter has an apple computer and iPhone. Do I need to get her an apple TV or Chromecast?
I have a Chromecast (it's a lot cheaper and I'm happy with it), but will she find this restrictive with Apple devices?
TIA!
Apple TV or Chromecast?? Please give advice for Christmas present
rdchristy2 on 20/11/2015 - 09:04
Comments
Posted twice
Definitely the Apple TV. The Chromecast is okay, but the Apple TV is going to be much better for someone using Apple products. You can get the previous generation one for under $100, or get the new one with the apps, but you'll be spending more.
I have both but like the chromecast better. It depends what you would really want to do with it. I find Google play movie rentals good, but the main thing I use chromecast for is Netflix. Being able to control everything on my iPhone is great.
I would honestly just buy her a chromecast and gift a subscription to Netflix as well.
But you can do that on the Apple TV (3rd and 4th generations) too, as well as easily stream your own content through iTunes. Chromecast can also do this, but you need to use something like Plex and it is finicky about naming conventions. The Apple TV can be used independently of your iOS devices, as well as with them, whereas the Chromecast must always be used in conjunction with a device, it's not a standalone one.
There is also an ez-cast app you can download that can improve the chromecast functions. Yeah, what you're sayings technically true, but it really depends what you intend to do with it. It's its just movie and music rentals/purchases I'd rather a chromecast for cost and remote control.
Apple TV is good for AirPlay mirror for games and the newest model can play better games, but I don't have that model so can't comment much about it.
There is also nexus player which I also own. It find it the best as you can install Kodi out of the box and contains chromecast functions too
How about playing Windows game? can it stream that too?
Yeah but that app sucks.
@televisi: no, I only know of nvidia shield that can stream PC games properly. AirPlay is only supported by Apple products.
The Apple TV can be used independently of your iOS devices
Do you mean Apple TV can be used by Android / Windows too? How about showing HD content?
I mean, you have a remote and you can use it without having to use your tablet to control it. You can control it using the remote app for iOS (but not the 4th generation one, only the previous ones), but you don't have to.
I like to have the tv on, streaming local content, or watching something from a streaming service, and play with my iPad at the same time. If my iPad drops dead because I've used it too much, and needs a charge, I can put it on charge and keep using the Apple TV.
With Chromecast, you must have some kind of device as your control. While I like being able to do this, it gets tedious when it's the only way you can actually use the Chromecast and you don't have the tablet/phone etc next to you.
stream your own content through iTunes
Yeah, but iTunes though.
Spotify finally has Chromecast support. Didn't have it until recently, which was the sole reason I switched from Spotify Premium to Google Play Music Unlimited a while back.
Ok. Thanks everyone! I think I'll get her the Apple TV. I think Gringoesai is right.. She has been brainwashed into the Church of Apple.. And non-apple will be frowned upon.. :-/
Great, the newest one looks like a big improvement over the older models. I was tempted to buy one but it was kinda expensive just to have a play with
has she got music and videos in iTunes?
if not weed her off apple!She is converted.. There was absolutely no convincing her when she bought the Apple PC.
hahahah the apple PC.
The applevesrse is so strong. I worked for an apple reseller many years ago (Ipod 1 days) and trying to convince them to buy something more expensive was a very hard sell. Now people are lining up to get their hands on their products.
Your daughters computer will interface seamlessly. You can even stream certain foxtel channels with foxtel go which is handy.
I have a Chomecast, thought I should check it out. But it frustrates me. I can use it to watch Netflix, Stan, YouTube, and the videos that Plex ALLOWS me to watch (some of my stuff it just refuses to see and I can't understand it and I just give up). Some of my purchased music (through iTunes) just won't show up in Plex either, and none of my music videos (not purchased through iTunes so it shouldn't be an issue), no matter how often I've tried to fix it. Plex will not show movies and tv shows purchased through iTunes either. Anyway, I can do all that using the Apple TV too.
If you just want ease of use, go Apple TV, it's what they're known for. You don't need to buy the newest version, you can still get the 3rd generation one for a good price and it is a good product.
Thanks. I just found 3rd Gen for $88 at Officeworks :-)
Great price, and you can't go wrong. Maybe in the future she'll be enticed by the new one (as I admit I was, but I'm not sure it was worth it really), but this is a really good item and simple to use! Even my husband can use it, and my children! Enjoy!
Haha.. Even your husband can use it?! That has sealed the deal for me! Just bought it. Thanks :-)
Wait for the second generation Chromecasts.. They will have 5GHZ band for faster streaming. I have 3 of them and they are great. I can plex all around my house on my home network from one PC.
Definitely the Apple TV. I have both (the new apple tv that was only released in october, and the chromecast from a few months ago). Especialy if you have other apple products - you can put your apple device screen (iphone, ipad, macbook) right on the tv screen.
Thanks for your advice. Do you mean the 3rd generation one? That's I just bought her. The other's were too expensive
No, I have the one just released, 4th gen. I have no idea what the other ones are like. But I'm sure even 3rd gen will be better than a chromecast.
Based on what? The fact you own apple products? The chromecast is superior in everyway. It can be used across all devices IOS/PC/Android so until apple opens up their market place, the apple product is inferior to chromecast.
I hate apple but for the sake of the "Utopian" appleverse just get the damm Apply TV. Easy to stream all devices that you have mentioned. I have chromecast and think its superior and have an apple work phone that I use with it but as she is 21 and open her present and its not Apple, you will be perceived as the Grinch.
Good luck