Oct 162018
Disclaimer: This post is brought to you by Best Buy. A FCS team member will receive compensation in the form of cash payment or a gift card. All opinions are those of the writer.
So you say you don’t own a smart TV? That’s okay – we have two TV’s that aren’t Smart TV’s. That said, we’ve turned one of the TV’s into a Smart TV using the first Google Chromecast device marketed. If you have a HDTV with an HDMI interface you can turn your TV into a Smart TV too, by streaming (casting) from your devices using the Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player.
There’s a lot of money to be saved when you use a streaming device/media player. Like – you can cut your cable bill to a minimum OR get rid of it completely. For approximately $35 – a one time purchase, you can use your phone (we use the iPad), to cast what we want to watch on YouTube and Netflix to the TV. That said, with the new Chromecast – you can do so much more!
Here are the features of the New (2018) Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player:
- All together now – Watch movies, shows, live TV, YouTube, and photos streaming on your TV from all your family’s devices.¹ (We can’t cast/stream photos using the Chromecast we have)
- Stream from your phone to TV – Plug Chromecast into the HDMI port on your TV and to power and stream your favorite entertainment right from your phone with just a tap. Watch shows, listen to playlists, and more. And while streaming, you can still use your phone as you normally do.
- Works with the streaming apps you know and love – Enjoy TV shows, movies, videos, songs, games, sports and more from over 2000 apps like Netflix, YouTube, YouTube TV, and HBO NOW. Find more at g.co/chromecast/¹
- Start streaming with just your voice – Just say what you want to watch from compatible apps and control your TV hands-free, with Chromecast and Google Home working seamlessly together.² – “Ok Google, play Stranger Things from Netflix on my living room TV.” ¹ (our Chromecast doesn’t have the ability to use Google Home).
- Upgrade your TV for less – Expand your home entertainment without buying a new TV. It’s so affordable you can get one for every TV in the house. (This was a HUGE money saver for us).
- High-speed wireless connectivity – Built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi connects to the Internet through your wireless home network (wireless router required and sold separately).
- Compatible with your existing HDTV – Easily connects to high-definition televisions with HDMI connectivity.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE
- ¹ Subscriptions are required to view some content.
- ² Google Home, Chromecast, and compatible content required to cast to a TV using Google Home.
- Web-based services and content require high-speed Internet service. Some services may require a subscription.
Now that you’ve discovered the New Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player and all it has to offer – can you see the savings to be had? Is this a device that would fit into your life? We absolutely love the older model we own; though we did have to buy an HDMI switch to make it work with our TV, but it was well worth it. Check out the New Chromecast Streaming Media Player at Best Buy.
8 Responses to “HDTV not a Smart TV? Use the New Google Chromecast Streaming Media Player to Make That TV Smart”
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My favorite part – “Start streaming with just your voice”. While it has a lot of good features, that is the one that sold me….now I have to get one.
We’d love to know how you feel that it works using the voice feature. My son’s iPad doesn’t care for my voice at all. Some of the words it types out blows my mind.
It sounds great. I like that it will work with your HDTV and might let you cut that cable bill.
I know a lot of people that would absolutely love this, thanks for sharing! It will make a great gift idea!
You’re very welcome. That’s how ours started out – a Christmas gift. Now we couldn’t live without it where the TV it’s on isn’t smart.
I pay to much for my cable almost a $100 a month that includes internet and special channels. I have the basic cable included in my rent this sounds like something I need to invest in. It would save me almost $50 a month.
Oh – $100 – you don’t want to know our bill. It’s close to $200 with Internet. It’s crazy. That said, you should check out the Chromecast. We love, love, love ours.
Looks like it can do a lot. However, I’d need to get a TV first.