Google chromecast 2 review

Google introduced a few months ago the new Chromecast 2 to improve the original model, a new model that comes with several changes aimed at improving its performance and with a more powerful WiFi system with better coverage. Let's see what are the characteristics of the new Chromecast and some of the compatible services.

Chromecast 2 unboxing

The Chromecast 2 comes packed in a small box and sealed on both sides. Once unsealed, it has a cover and the box that houses the device and its accessories.

Chromecast 2 is protected by a piece of cardboard

The bundle is made up of:

Google Chromecast 2.USB power and plug connector.

Technical characteristics

The Google Chromecast 2 has a minimalist and simple disc-shaped design. Built with plastic, it includes a small led to see its status and it incorporates an HDMI cable for connection to the TV. Among its technical characteristics we find a dual-core processor at 1.2 GHz speed, 512 MB DDR3L of RAM and 2GB of internal memory. Its Wifi connectivity is very good with the 802.11 ac standard and offers excellent reception power. It also has DLNA support.

Google Chromecast 2

The Chromecast 2 has a new design with a disk shape and also incorporates an integrated HDMI cable to connect it to the TV, a change that makes it easier to install than the original model if we have little space or we have the TV hanging on the wall. The back of the Chromecast 2 is magnetized so that we can attach it to the HDMI cable if we so wish when installing it on the TV.

Installation and configuration

What do we need to install Chromecast 2?

A television or a monitor with speakers. HDMI connection. USB connector or failing a power outlet. Wi-Fi access point. Computer with Windows 7 or higher, Android 4.1 or higher, iOS 7 or higher.

For its configuration it is necessary to have a simple application (see link) that is downloaded to our Smartphone, tablet or laptop and that will allow us to send all kinds of files to our television, such as music, online programs, movies and much more. It works with many devices that we already know, being compatible with Mac, iPhone, Windows, iPad, Android tablets and Smartphones.

During the installation it will ask us: a name for our Chromecast, for example Chromecast-Salon and a Wifi access point (the one in our house) to connect to the network. During installation it will check for the latest updates in the Google repositories. This process can take about 5 to 15 minutes (depends on the speed of our internet line).

Once the Chromecast is configured we can start using it, its operation is very fast and fluid, once we give it the order to play content through our smartphone or tablet the response is immediate and in a few seconds we have the image on our television.

Some applications and services available.

Chromecast 2 offers multiple possibilities of use and every day it is compatible with more applications and services, let's see some of them many of which we already presented to you in the review of the original Chromecast. You can check the full list of services available here.

- Google Play Music: thanks to this application we can transmit music from our device to the chromecast directly, using our television as a speaker. Just touch the Chromecast button in the Play Music application and it will start playing without any problem.

- Google Play Movies: With Chromecast we will no longer have to continue watching these contents on our computer or Android system, but we can transmit them directly to our television, pressing a single button again.

- Youtube: through the YouTube application on Android or IOS we can transmit videos to our Chromecast. In addition, thanks to our Google account we can very easily create a playlist, either from the same application or from the website, so we can transmit it to Chromecast.

- Crunchyroll: an application for anime fans, we found numerous series, some of which are free (with advertising) and the rest are paid. They are usually found with the original audio in Japanese and subtitled in Spanish.

- Content of our smartphone / tablet: It is possible to reproduce all the content of our terminal through Chromecast, for this we must access the configuration menu and in the screen section it will offer us the option, commonly called "cast" or "screen of cast ”although it may vary by device. With this we manage to duplicate the screen of our smartphone or tablet and anything that is seen on it will also appear on Chromecast. In my case, when I play a video with VLC, the screen of the tablet darkens and is only seen on TV.

- Netflix: A streaming subscription with Netflix and its installation on our Android / IOS device are required. Once configured, we can transmit any type of Netflix content to our Chromecast in a few simple steps. Subscription to the application has a fairly low cost, from 7.99 euros per month.

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- Chrome (Google Cast): transfers from our computer are possible thanks to a Google Chrome extension called Google Cast, so the Chrome browser will be mandatory to establish contact with Chromecast.

- Local content of our computer: Through the Chrome browser and its Google Cast extension we proceed to do it as follows: we open a new tab, we go to "File> Open file" and select the file or files that we are interested in reproducing in our television. Once this is done, we use the extension to send the tab to our Chromecast. Although this is a workaround, it works quite well.

Final words and conclusion

Chromecast 2 is a small and simple device that functions as a Smart TV and allows us to stream our favorite content. It is operated from our smartphone or our tablet so it does not need any remote control and its use is very comfortable, in addition to searching for content we can increase / decrease volume and pause playback if we wish. It is so simple with connecting our Chromecast to a high definition television and establishing an internet connection to be able to send music, video or any other content that we want from our laptop, tablet or smartphone by pressing a single button.

Currently it can be yours for just 29.99 euros with a promotion of three months of subscription to Netflix for free and in the Google store for 39 euros. Today it is compatible with Android 4.1 or later and IOS 7 or later, in addition to Chrome for Mac, Windows and Chromebook with Wi-Fi.

ADVANTAGE	DISADVANTAGES
+ LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION.	- IT CANNOT BE TURNED OFF WITHOUT UNPLUGGING IT FROM THE POWER.
+ GOOD CONSTRUCTION.
+ EASY TO USE.
+ IDEAL FOR REUSE ON A TV WITHOUT SMARTV / ETC.
+ MANY POSSIBILITIES OF USE.
+ PRICE.