So you have a flat screen TV that’s been kicking around for a few years and still work well – but you can’t get all of the streaming services that newer TVs can?

I feel your pain – for my bedroom TV anyway. I’ve been rocking an older (2015) LG LED TV that was one of the last great 3D TVs (remember those?).

It’s not 4K, but is HD and for folk like us that still have older TVs living their best lives and don’t want to part with them, Google has a cost-effective solution.

Google Chromecast with HD TV is specifically designed for teles that don’t match up to 4K but still give a decent enough picture and resolution.

Recently I reviewed the 4K model, now Google have one for HD specifically.

Plugging directly in to a spare HDMI port you will need to login with your Google account. If you have the Google Home app on your smartphone it’s even way easier.

Providing your smartphone is connected to your home WiFi the Google Home app will pick up the Google HD TV unit and copy all of your account info over.

Simple and straight forward.

The Google Chromecast HD TV comes with its own push button or voice control remote. If your HD TV has a ARC3 HDMI port I suggest that you use that, as the Chromecast unit is smart enough to be able to control most functions on your TV, such as volume and power.

Also included is a lengthy USB power cable and AC power adaptor.

The Google Chromecast HD TV will transform your aging but still good tele in to an Android TV. Suddenly you’ll have all of the streaming services such as Netflix, YouTube, Prime, Disney+ and more.

You can browse the Google App store and add others in if you wish and if you have Google apps on your phone, or using an Android phone you can cast media from your smartphone to the TV in an instant.

You can even sync up an Xbox One controller wirelessly to the Google HD TV, install a compatible game from the App store and boom, wireless gaming in no time.

The Google Chromecast HD TV breathes new life in to older teles, and for less than $100 NZD you’ll have the smarts to the likes of a current model smart TV.

There’s no need for an expensive TV upgrade with the Google Chromecast HD TV.

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The post Google Chromecast TV HD Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

By now most homes have a flat screen, smart TV.

But not all Smart TVs are the same.

Some are built on Google’s webOS, while others, especially cheaper brands have their own OS (Operating system) and unable to offer the Android experience, run apps from Google Play and sync up with your smart phone.

This is where Google’s Chromecast comes in.

Google have released a new model of their ultimate Smart TV experience adding 4K support – and a remote.

Powered by USB-C A/C adaptor and plugging in to any of the HDMI inputs on your tele, there’s a bit of a setup before you’re streaming like a pro.

Now, it’s fairly seamless, but you will need to use the Google Home app on your smart phone.

You’ll utilise your Google account (or sign up for one) and after the Chromecast is connected to your WIFI it will do a few updates and app installs and boom – an instant webOS smart TV.

From plug to play it’s about 7 minutes.

As mentioned, the new Google Chromecast comes with its very own remote. This is a first for Chromecast which had ultimately relied either on your TV remote, for compatible models, or your Android based phone for navigating around streaming services, apps and marathoning your fav series and movies.

Builtin is Google TV, which basically organises all of your favourite films and series from differing services in to one place.

Also a Chromecast staple is YouTube, if you’re streaming a YouTube vid on your phone you can cast it over to your TV (hence the name ‘Chromecast’).

Google also upped their visuals by way of 4K / 60 fps and Dolby Vision. Sure you are going to need a native 4K TV to actually get that full 4K experience, if you do not have a high res screen, not too worry, the Chromecast will optimise the visuals to best fit your TVs capabilities.

Downstairs in my living room I already have a newer webOS Smart TV, but upstairs In the bedroom I have a near to 10 year old Smart TV. One of the last 3D TVs.

Even on this older (2015) LG Smart TV, which is not 4K, it was sharp and crisper than I’d expected it to be.

I was also surprised to find that some of the options on the Google Chromecast remote operated the veteran LG TV’s functions.via ARC3 on the HDMI port.

The Google Chromecast remote has voice operation via Google Assistant. I was rather impressed when I said ‘Hey Google start Netflix’ and boom, my older tele turned on and Netflix loaded up.

So even if you’re rocking an older TV you’ll likely get the full smart home, automated experience.

WebOS is essentially Android – thus you can download pretty much any entertainment app and even games that are designed to be played via a remote or smart phone as a controller.

A Google Chromecast is like a set-top box, but without the ‘set-top’ bit. The actual device is small enough to fit in your pocket, so hides itself reducing any clutter around your screen.

If you’ve still got that older flat screen tele hanging in there, or even a newer one that is not webOS, for just over a $100 (NZD) you can unleash all of the streaming apps, cast media from smart devices and delve in to Google TV’s offerings and suggestions in an instant and, now, in 4K.

The post Google Chromecast 4K Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The screen time battle just got hotter in New Zealand.

Big in the States and a staple home consumer brand; TCL are manufacturers of whiteware, small appliances, smart TVs and even mobile phones.

TCL have bought their range of smart TVs down under and STG was sent a review unit for their 55 inch 55P6US which released in 2018 as one of their flagship tele’s.

Built with Google’s Android operating system and designed for Netflix the UHD 55 inch screen is super thin with very little top and side bezels, the exception being at the bottom of the screen where the overly large power indicator light can be found.

A stunning 4K experience is had from the 55P6US and pure wide cinematic sound, with adjustable sound preferences with Dolby Audio and DTS builtin. Using the TCL 55P6US for general terrestrial TV Channels, Freeview, Gaming, Video streaming and via a USB connected hard drive is a seamless eye candy fest. The 55P6US has enough intuition to scale the picture accordingly as per what’s on screen. This said you can also tailor the picture to suit yourself aswell.

The 55P6US has x3 HDMI inputs, x1 USB 2.0 and x1 USB 3.0 inputs, AV In,, Aerial, SPDIF, Ethernet (CAT5) and 3.5mm headphone socket at the rear of the unit. There has been some but not alot of thought gone in to the attention of hiding or being able to manage the cabling and all ports are a little tricky to get to.

The two small angled feet are easily removable – should you decide to mount the 55P6US on the wall, and asides from the wide birth that you would expect from a 55 inch TV, being so thin it has a minimal footprint on any entertainment unit.

PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch all looked superb with fluid graphic feedback. The Switch, not yet having native 4K games still looked superb as it aimed to upscale.

The 4K TCL 55P6US is especially built for Netflix – so much so that there is a direct click through on the remote control. One click to Netflix and you’re ready to zone out and tune in.

When comparing the $1199.00 NZD on promo (usually $1599.00 NZD) 55P6US to the higher priced Samsung’s and Sony smart TV’s, Android based or otherwise, it made me wonder why the latter’s were so pricey.

You get all of the bells and whistles with the TCL 55P6US as you do with any of the other high end sets.

Being Android based, you have the ability to pair up with any Android based device in your home. If you have the Google Hub connections, you can control the TCL 55P6US as you would control your smart lights, via App, via Voice, even remotely when you’re on the go.

I am very much looking forward to seeing what TCL do for their 2019 models.

TCL Android smart TV’s, top shelf quality without the huge price tag.

The post TCL Android Smart TV Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.