It’s been about five years since Google first launched a little game changer they called the Chromecast, a clever device that boosts the IQ of non-smart TVs, enhancing them to work with your smartphone and smart home. This year, the tech giant released the third edition of this digital dongle. Read on to learn more about this latest version of the Chromecast, and then enter this contest for a chance to win one of your own.

Google Chromecast makes a standard TV smarter

Some people have a little devil on their shoulder tempting them to do things they know they shouldn’t while a little angel on the other shoulder encourages them to stay on the straight and narrow. The devil on my shoulder tells me I need a smart TV in my life, no expenses spared. And I can’t say I disagree with him. After all, a TV that’s connected to the internet effectively puts an endless stream of content at my fingertips. But then the angel on my other shoulder gets his two cents in, “Come on Kevin, aren’t you trying to save? You’ve got a perfectly good HD TV at home.” And I can’t disagree with him either. If only there was some kind of compromise! Enter: Chromecast. It adds smarts to standard televisions, so I can enjoy a premium smart TV experience while staying savvy about my spending.

If you’ve never heard of the Google Chromecast, then allow me to summarize. This small, Wi-Fi-connected dongle connects to the HDMI port at the back of your TV and lets you cast content from compatible apps on your smartphone to your big screen. By simply tapping the cast icon on apps such as YouTube, Netflix, and thousands more available for iPhone and Android, your smartphone essentially becomes your remote control, letting you stream live TV, movies, sports, news, and much more.

Chromecast works alongside Google Home. Simply tell Google what you want to see and your Google Assistant will communicate this message to Chromecast. Your requested content will start playing on your big screen without you even having to lift a finger! One of our colleagues, Erin Lawrence, wrote a fantastic how-to article on how to pair your Google Home to your Chromecast-enabled TV, so you can learn more about how Chromecast syncs so effortlessly with your smart home ecosystem.

And this 2018 iteration of Google Chromecast is the best one yet. It boasts improved Wi-Fi connectivity, support for 1080p resolution at 60fps for smoother video performance, and Bluetooth integration for advanced interconnectivity with your smartphone and other Google-powered smart devices in your home.

By design, all these tech updates have paved the way for Chromecast to be compatible with speaker groups. Google have recently started rolling out support for multi-room audio across their entire range of Google-powered speakers, and thanks to Chromecast, that includes your TV’s built-in speakers! Picture your next get together: a house full of friends and family charmed by a jazzy playlist that can reach the furthest corners of every room thanks to music playing in sync across all your devices. If you already have a Google Home speaker and a standard, non-smart television, the addition of a Chromecast will help you create a multi-room audio setup and a voice-controlled smart TV. What a difference a little dongle can make!

HOW TO ENTER:

You can only submit one entry for this contest. In a comment below this article, tell us what a difference this Google Chromecast would make to your home life? Would a voice-controlled TV be a game changer for you? Would streaming content revolutionize your downtime? Would a multi-speaker audio setup change the way you enjoy music? Maybe it’s a feature not mentioned in this article? In a sentence or two, tell us one thing you like to do that this Chromecast could improve.

WHAT YOU CAN WIN:

We will randomly draw two winners. Each winner will win a Google Chromecast (third generation). The prizes are outlined in the Rules and Regulations posted below.

This contest runs from November 27th until December 11th.

Remember, you can only enter once. However, you probably know someone who would love to smarten up their home entertainment setup, so please share this contest and they too will have a chance to win one of these prizes.

Google Chromecast Contest Rules and Regulations

Good Luck.  

We frequently have many contests running at Best Buy so check out the “contests in progress” page for more great contests to enter.

 

Kevin McElligott
Kevin McElligott
Kevin cut his teeth as a journalist writing articles for trade publications in Dublin. He moved to Vancouver and honed his craft first as a copywriter, and now as an Editor at Best Buy. He enjoys cooking when he has the time, playing soccer, and just recently ran in his first marathon. Fitness is important to him, and he needs the exercise thanks to his fondness for donuts.
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432 COMMENTS

  2. I am very happy to announce the winners of this Google Chromecast contest:

    Fred T – Toronto ON
    Harold T – Penticton BC

    Keep reading blog.bestbuy.ca and get great informative articles about a wide range of topics from tech to toys, from smartphones to style. Participate on the blog by asking questions and offering your expertise to the comment sections of articles you read. And enter more contests: you never know when we will get more great products to give away.

  3. This contest is now closed. We will draw the winners soon in accordance with the rules. Return to the blog often to read great articles, learn about the latest technology, and to enter more contests. You never know when we’ll be doing another amazing giveaway!

  5. I got an older TV without “smart” capabilities. I got 1st generation chrome cast for it as a gift. I used it for few days then a software update rendered it dysfunctional. Google did not help solve the problem nor did they replace it. So I want to win this one as a retribution. PS: No voice command for me. They are spying on us with the phones, PCs, and every other “smart” device. Where should we draw the line and say enough is enough.

  6. Being able to have audio control from an adjacent room or to the rec room downstairs would be a game changer in how I now listen to music and watch TV.

  7. I have a 1st-generation Chromecast, connected to my TV through an HDMI switch, but my mom could use a 3rd-gen (or even a 2nd-gen, with the short HDMI cord rather than a rigid dongle like the 1st gen) on her TV, to watch my standalone Crave account – which unlike my Netflix account, she can’t access on her Bell Fibe PVR, which only supports adding Crave to her Fibe TV subscription. Or my brother could use it on his TV for Netflix and Crave, rather than his PC.

  8. A Google Chromecast would enable the whole family to enjoy online content seamlessly. Currently we have to plug our computer up to our tv via USB but this would enhance our viewing lives extremely well. Thank-you.

  9. The Chromecast would be a key ingredient in our house for a wider range of content to be streamed with added convenience. Its one more peice we need in our attempt to have a complete smart home!

  18. Voice control would improve my TV watching experience, because sometimes the buttons on the remote don’t seem to work properly.

  19. I don’t have any one of these, so having a device that is controlled by voice would definitely be a game changer for me!

  23. I ‘m interested in the multi-speaker set-up. I believe it would change the value of our systems we now have.

  24. There’s a hole in the wall of my rented apartment to get the HDMI cable connected to my computer and the TV so, I can stream from Toronto Public Library’s Naxos and hear it while I’m working in the kitchen. Listening to music is one way to keep the flow & rythm going, especially when I’m still not fully awake. I tried to use the internet function on the PS3 but, I couldn’t get the play function to work. I was told that a Cjromecast can get this done minus the hole (that I will have to patch once I end my tenancy) and the cables. I was looking for a longer HDMI cable so, it could reach my computer as it kept falling on the floor. I have a mini desktop so, taking it outside to where the TV is, is not terribly feasible nor easy to set-up, disconnecting the peripherals and finding an outlet to plug it in to power it up.

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