Google Chromecast the Most Popular Streaming Device in 2015

[Poke]

They are a really good device..

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/...-Most-Popular-Streaming-Device-in-2015-136464

Google Chromecast was the most popular streaming video device sold last year, according to a new report by Strategy Analytics. According to the firm, Chromecast nabbed a 35% market share of the 42 million streaming devices shipped last year, in large part thanks to the low price tag and portability of the device. Globally, the report notes that 220 million streaming devices were sold in 2015, 84 million in the fourth quarter alone.

In terms of total streaming devices shipped all time Apple still leads the industry at 37 million Apple TV set tops sold, though Chromecast is closing the gap at 27 million since its introduction in 2013.


Compare that to 20 million Roku streaming set tops sold so far, and 10 million Amazon Fire TVs and Fire TV sticks.

According to the report, most households continue to use a variety of different devices to get their streaming video fix.

"Our research shows that US broadband homes own an average of 2.3 such devices giving them multiple means by which to stream video and audio content to the TV," says Strategy Analytics analyst Chirag Upadhyay. "While some consumers will have a favoured method, we find that most households are switching between different devices depending on the user and type of content being consumed."

 

[harshness]

They are a really good device..

They are only as good as the device that feeds them.

The non-stick streamers do what they do without tying up your phone/tablet/computer.

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

I would say out all all the streaming devices Chromcast is the worst one out there. Its only popular because of the price.

It can't do streaming on its own, and relies on a separate device to send to it. And many things which are available on other platforms still can not be streamed to a Chomecast.

As they say you get what you pay for.

 

[Poke]

Yeah I have never had any issues with mine but with Smart TV's taking over most folks can use their TV's to do similar things now.

 

[andy_horton]

I had issues with Sling TV with it. Called Sling multiple times and discovered it was the Chromecast that was the problem. Went back to the old standby roku. No trouble at all now.

 

[harshness]

Yeah I have never had any issues with mine but with Smart TV's taking over most folks can use their TV's to do similar things now.

If the goal, as it is with a lot of Apple TVs, is simply to put device (or notebook) content on the TV, the Chromcast is an option. If the goal is streaming services, it is a bit of a Rube Goldberg solution and that's just silly.

There are other sticks out there that cost less and have a lot more brains but as a class (and as Scott notes), real streaming boxes are typically a much better value (unless you simply haven't been able to justify owning the device that you're using to drive the stick any other way).

 

[Hall]

I would say out all all the streaming devices Chromcast is the worst one out there. Its only popular because of the price.

It can't do streaming on its own, and relies on a separate device to send to it. And many things which are available on other platforms still can not be streamed to a Chomecast.

As they say you get what you pay for.

I saw this headline elsewhere and found it hard to believe. It is the cheapest so that's no doubt why it's popular. On the other hand, I'll bet a lot of people buy them and then return them because of what I consider shortcomings (requiring another device to feed it, like you say).

I just bought a second Roku and went for the stick this time.

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

 

[harshness]

It is the cheapest so that's no doubt why it's popular.

You can find Miracast dongles on a much-maligned auction site for well under $10 brand new and delivered to your door if cheap is the criteria. Even Amazon offers quite a few knock-offs for less than the Chromecast asking price.

 

[Bruce]

Bought one because of the price, used it for about a week put it away in a drawer, that was about a year ago, love my Rokus.

 

[Hall]

You can find Miracast dongles on a much-maligned auction site for well under $10 brand new and delivered to your door if cheap is the criteria. Even Amazon offers quite a few knock-offs for less than the Chromecast asking price.

You're comparing no-name and/or knock-offs (that are only available online) to mainstream brands and devices ?? Just to "prove" that the Chromecast isn't the cheapest....

 

[harshness]

You're comparing no-name and/or knock-offs (that are only available online) to mainstream brands and devices ?? Just to "prove" that the Chromecast isn't the cheapest....

I'm simply suggesting that Google is printing money with the Chromecast. They've put a catchy name on the device and attributed great powers to it that are mostly a function your device or computer and they support it in the marginal Google manner.

 

[dishrich]

(sorry I didn't realize I was bring up such an old post...was going to post this in the DISH forum, but figured it really belongs here...)

All I've been wanting to do, is to be able to "throw" whatever is on my Samsung S5, onto a regular HDTV, when I travel & download shows from my Hoppers onto the phone. Chromecast would work, but it has to be on a (the) same Wi-Fi network as your phone. What happens though, if Wi-Fi is simply NOT an option?

That's why I just ended up going with the Microsoft Wireless Display Adaptor V2 - it does NOT require ANY Wi-Fi & it's sole function, is to mirror your smartphone, tablet or laptop onto an HDTV. (which I also don't need to watch downloaded shows from my phone) It works with either Andriod or Microsoft laptops/smartphones/tablets. I got it & tried it out here at home first...I could NOT believe this was actually this "plug & play" easy! Plug into the TV, enable "screen mirroring" on my phone & there was DISH ANYWHERE on the HDTV. While the picture quality is not the same as a receiver connected directly to a TV, it's very good & is more than adequate for TV viewing while traveling...sure beats being having to settle for whatever "live TV" is playing!

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/microso...eceiver-dark-titanium/4974200.p?skuId=4974200

With the 120G SD card in my phone, have PLENTY of room to download shows to catch up on now.

 

[harshness]

What happens though, if Wi-Fi is simply NOT an option?

Have you tried an MHL adapter? IIRC, you also need to have a charging source connected simultaneously.

It seems like you should be able to set your phone up as a hot spot and create a network.

 

[dishrich]

Have you tried an MHL adapter?

Was going to, but having to carry a (LONG) HDMI cable when you travel...not to mention trying to use the trick-play controls on the phone (ie: commercial skip) while you have this cable dangling off it, IMHO would be a PITA!

IIRC, you also need to have a charging source connected simultaneously.

If you mean for my phone, not while using the WDA

It seems like you should be able to set your phone up as a hot spot and create a network.

Yea, if I wanted to use MY data plan...of which is a bare minimum plan at that. As I said, you don't need TO do that with this WDA dongle.

 

[osu1991]

Microsoft wireless display adapter never worked very well for me. Mines been in a drawer after trying it a few times. It's easier for me to just take a small wdtv and old 1TB pocket drive. Throw them in a ziplock bag and toss in suitcase or laptop bag.

Edit. I have a TiVo and just pull the files off there onto a drive.

 

[harshness]

Was going to, but having to carry a (LONG) HDMI cable when you travel...not to mention trying to use the trick-play controls on the phone (ie: commercial skip) while you have this cable dangling off it, IMHO would be a PITA!

If you won't network, you're going to need something plugged directly into the TV. Can you not set up some sort of Wi-fi network without an wireless Internet connection?

It is too bad that most of the media players have such a small storage capacity. Some of them are now smaller than a deck of cards.

 

[dishrich]

If you won't network, you're going to need something plugged directly into the TV.

Well of course there is...you plug the WDA dongle INTO the HDTV...then you enable screen sharing from the phone (or tablet, laptop, etc.) TO the WDA, as I described in my post - easy as it gets.
NO Wi-Fi, networking, etc. IS needed whatsoever - why would you NOT want this??? Only way this won't work, is if the TV does NOT have an HDMI port on it. (pretty rare nowadays)

What are you not understanding?

 

[dishrich]

It's easier for me to just take a small wdtv and old 1TB pocket drive. Throw them in a ziplock bag and toss in suitcase or laptop bag.

Won't work on DISH (or DirecTV) DVR's though...I'll still with ONLY having to carry my phone & the WDA stick.