Chromecast w/ Google TV - not seeing any value

redrum22 on 09/05/2022 - 17:00

Have a Sony75" X9000H 4K tv. Cancelled Foxtel awhile ago so been accessing the apps for my subscription services (Kayo, Binge, Amazon Prime) and free to air apps (e.g. 7, 9, 10) via my tv UI.

Having no previous experience with Chromecast, bought one recently, mainly as I was under the assumption it would provide a better UI and centralise how I could browse these apps/services. I'm not finding that to be the case and it feels like a wasted purchase.

Firstly, the centralised 'For You' is stupid. What good is it if it only supports a few apps (only 9, but none of the other free to air apps??????). On top of this, the voice commands only support the services that work with 'For You'? So I could voice command channel 9, but not 7 or 10?

I tried installing Freeview via the Downloader app, but that doesn't seem to work either. When I launch it, it loads for a couple of seconds and crashes.

What I'm left with is browsing apps the exact same way via Chromecast as I would via my TV android UI.

Where's the value in this device?

Electrical & Electronics Google Media Player

Comments

  • Hybroid on 09/05/2022 - 17:01
    +19

    Where's the value in this device?

    Devices that do not have Android TV already.

  • Shadowsfury on 09/05/2022 - 17:11
    +5

    I find it a bit faster than the default UI of my Hisense TV, plus a few of the voice commands and hooking up to Google Home. Mostly happy with the purchase

    • tallkid123 on 09/05/2022 - 17:19

      Same for me and the addition of another remote that my wife can use seperately from my standard samsung remote is just a bit more convenient.

  • spackbace on 09/05/2022 - 17:22
    +2

    Personally I use an Nvidia Shield Pro for the living room TV. Bedroom TV isn't 'smart' so CC w/ GTV is a no-brainer

  • BewareOfThe Dog on 09/05/2022 - 17:38

    I thought the same, however, I also now use an Amazon Fire Stick on the TV outside (though admittedly I bought it for jailbreaking etc, but was not successful)

  • lunchbox99 on 09/05/2022 - 18:09
    +8

    So you bought a device that mostly duplicates what your tv already did natively then wonder what value it has? Wow.

    • redrum22 on 09/05/2022 - 20:04

      Spot on, but you seemed to have missed the part of my post where I had different expectations of the device, this after reading various articles about the value it can still add to a smarttv

      • Presence on 09/05/2022 - 20:09
        +1

        Why didnt you read any of the hundreds of online review and Youtube videos?

        • redrum22 on 09/05/2022 - 20:27

          "after reading various articles about the value it can still add to a smarttv"

          Where's the confusion for you?

  • solidussnake on 09/05/2022 - 19:04
    +2

    Probably because your TV has it all built in….

    • plmko on 09/05/2022 - 19:59
      +2

      Sometimes you gotta let people take the fall before a lesson is learnt.

    • redrum22 on 09/05/2022 - 20:07

      Sure, that's what I said. But as the point of my post stated, that's not what I was expecting. Based on the comments my takeaway is I haven't missed anything here and I'll return the device. Easy

  • cheaplee on 09/05/2022 - 22:34

    I bought it as Hisense UI didn't support Disney. Maybe it does now, I don't know. I find the voice search is useful when looking for something specific, but I wouldn't have bought it just for that

  • Domingo on 09/05/2022 - 22:38
    +1

    On a TV with a different OS (Hisense, LG etc) it's more useful/practical.

    It can also be useful if you have a separate sound system and program the up/down volume buttons on the Chromecast remote for those.

    For your scenario if you haven't noticed the OS to be any more snappy then there is probably no benefit.

  • st1ng on 10/05/2022 - 11:25

    What good is it if it only supports a few apps (only 9, but none of the other free to air apps??????).

    The CCwGTV definitely supports all five FTA networks catchup apps (ABC iView, SBS OD, 7plus, 9now and 10play) as well as all four Foxtel apps (Foxtel Go/Now, Kayo, Binge, Flash). It also had all the major streaming platforms available. As long as the app has a Android TV version that is available from the Australian Play Store, it will install

    Where's the value in this device?

    For you, absolutely nothing. The one thing I love about my new Sony TV is that it has Google TV built in, so there is no advantage of the new Chromecast. For my old dumb TV, the CCwGTV was worth every cent I paid for it.

  • [Deactivated] on 10/05/2022 - 13:15

    I have a dumb 60" LG FHD plasma in my bedroom. The picture is just too good for me to replace it. I did have a Fetch Mini connected to it (which was interconnected to a Fetch Mighty in the living room) but I wasn't able to get Binge on it. So, I replaced the Fetch Mini with Chromecast with Google TV which has enabled me to stream awesome series like GOT and TWD. 👍

  • auswill on 30/05/2022 - 10:33

    I have 2 x Android TV - Bauhn and EKO. The Bauhn is kinda slow but most of the time quite usable. The EKO on the other hand is super slow and laggy - also keeps crashing out of apps. Do you think adding the Chomecast with Google TV would be worth it?

    • [Deactivated] on 31/05/2022 - 11:40

      Yes definitely. The Chromecast with Google TV is snappy and I haven't found any issues with apps crashing. The search by voice function is a bonus.

      • auswill on 31/05/2022 - 20:40

        Thanks for your reply. Both current tvs have the google assistant voice but its unusable. Im gonna get 1 next time its on sale.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join