[Closed] Chromecast or alternative

Chromecasts work for me, im bought into the way of the Google

Have a chromecast and barely use it, recently got an amazon fire stick and rate it much more.  Not sure how good it'll be without a prime membership though.

The roku is meant to be good as well.

I have Prime membership - so could go to the Fire Stick.

Can you stream from other devices with it?

I don't think so, but then I'm fairly rubbish with technology, I'll ask the kids in the morning 🙂

I found that the chromecast kept disconnecting from the app I was streaming from regularly, really like the idea of them just got fed up with it.  Tried to cast some photos off the phone the other week. It was painful, in the end used the app on the tv, it seems to work far better! Not sure it likes local content as opposed to web based content.

Nvedia have just launched a new device which has a couple of rave reviews.

Have tried/had Chromecast, firestick, Nvidia shield and Roku. The most 'tv' like experience is the Roku. Has all the catch up services as well as Netflix etc and the interface isn't as in your face as the fire stick.

Can be had for a similar price and has a remote so doesn't need a phone/tablet/laptop to cast from like a Chromecast.

I'd get a Roku but I'm not sure how good the casting is.

You can certainly cast some stuff to FireTV stick but it may be app dependent.

Aye the Nvidia, or however it's spelt, device looks good. Wish it had come out a couple of months earlier, it's a touch pricey mind...

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/feb/26/nvidia-shield-tv-review-the-best-android-tv-box-with-brilliant-ai-upscaling?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Add_to_Firefox

We used a Chrome cast a few years back, connection was flaky to say the least.

Tried Firestick, better, but did suffer with the Amazon/Google war making it difficult to watch YouTube. Other bonus was a dedicated handset, as opposed to using a phone/tablet to navigate.

Currently using the Roku express, really good, can stream Amazon Video, Netflix, Now TV.

Got three Chromecasts.... Work great for me.
Good that the prime app now send to Chromecast now.

I'm using an ethernet adapter for the Chromecast, makes it a lot more reliable.

Can be handy to mirror the screen from a phone/tablet. It is an easy way to view stuff stored locally, eg photos. Or any other apps that don't support casting, Google Maps can be fun.

Can't your sky box work with netflix and prime already?

2 chromecasts here and yes, they work very well.

That said,I do like a bit of tech and would like to try out a Roku. Just because.

The most useful smart device we have the the Roku premiere plus. Last gen with Ethernet so we don't have to wirelessly watch.
Not sure why they've gone to wireless only.

Firestick is great, no idea what jimster means re YouTube, app sits on interface same as everything else I watch.

Never tried hooky telly such as IPTV, I really should for 40 quid a year.

Thanks all.

Looks like Disney+ will be available on Amazon Fire, so as I already have Prime I might be more tempted to go the Amazon route.

Plus the remote will make it easier for the kids to use.

Is it worth getting the ethernet adapter and bypassing the wi-fi?

Is it worth getting the ethernet adapter and bypassing the wi-fi?

Ours has worked fine for a year over wi-fi, so unless you have particularly poor wifi I wouldn't say it was necessary.

Firestick is great, no idea what jimster means re YouTube, app sits on interface same as everything else I watch.

This was two or three years ago when Amazon and Google had a few compatibility issues on both Kindle and Firestick, one of our Firestick's died and we replaced it with the Roku, not looked back since.

I can happily report that I can stream stuff from my phone to the fire stick 🙂 YouTube has been on the fire for a while now.

Might take the disney+ plunge here as well...

I hate the fire stick tbh, it's much better to just control things with your phone than a crappy remote and on screen UI.

You can cast prime stuff to chromecast these days.

Basically your phone + individual apps is the best remote you can get.

Firestick casting is rubbish.

If you're not bothered about casting then the Roku sticks are the best imo - they give most 'tv control' like experience in that you can use the supplied remote. The user interface is fast and slick as well.

Nowtv sticks are much the same thing if you just use the free functionality. The interface is somewhat more cluttered by all the nowtv upselling.

Fire stick interface is horrible so I'd avoid that.

So plumbed the Fore Stick in today.
Went with a wired network connection as the WiFi has been a bit flakey of late.

Managed to download a couple of apps - Red Bull TV, Netflix etc.

Will see how it goes - navigation isn't the most intuitive but I'm sure I'll suss it out.

Thanks for all the comments & advice.