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.
Facebook Twitter

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

432 COMMENTS

  3. I’d add it to a speaker group with 3 Google Home Minis in order to turn my soundbar into a surround sound system!

  5. Being able to stream things on my non-smart TV would allow me to enjoy a lot of my online video content comfortably instead of watching them on my computer

  13. Thia would make watching TV in our basement rec room so much easier if we could use this to cast. My kids would love it!

  14. A Google Chromecast would make it easier to share family photos and videos from multiple devices over the holidays for the whole family to see.

  17. I’m a broke deaf momma with a gen 1 Chromecast that struggles to stay connected and can’t join audio groups. It would be a game changer to me to have one on each TV so me and my son could watch at the same time. The audio groups would allow me to hear my music everywhere!

  19. It’s definitely a game changer. I can control my media from my phone which is already in my hands — no more list remotes! Streaming video is where it’s at right now.

  21. My eyesight is getting poorer as I age and this would be terrific rather than trying to see teeny keys on a remote control.
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all

  22. I would be able to connect it with my Google homes throughout the house in order to stream from my phone, or watch netflix just by saying the word!

  23. The Chromecast will enable my non smart TV to get connected to internet, and explore all the endless supply of entertainment, information and interactive apps which The Chromecast app universe has to offer. This will be game changer for the entire family, and i am sure kids will love it , as will the adults…

  24. A chromecast would help out my Dad who has mobility issues arising from his Parkinson’s disease. He’d be able to handle lights and other smart home devices without having to physically do so. And he could easily listen to audiobooks. Even movies! All by voice command!

  25. The Chromecast would be a great way for me to control my TV. Since my phone is always nearby I see the Chromecast as a great streaming solution.

  27. Since my TV is not smart in the least, I Chromecast would finally make it capable I was streaming all the content I dream of.

  28. This would allow me to use voice command to automate tasks for my electronic equipment and multitask much easier and more efficiently.

  29. Honestly, I want it for my best friend and his family, I bought them one a couple years ago but the cable broke and they’ve been missing it since.

  32. I’d be able to watch my movies on the TV instead of my phone with my girlfriend. Date nights would be so much better!

  41. I love that these are now able to support Multi room audio. This would really help me enjoy all my streaming habits, and music all over.

  42. The third gen Chromecast (and the second) allow you to add a Chromecast to speaker groups. I’d be able to cast music all around the house!

  43. I don’t have any smart home devices so this won’t only help as a Chromecast but get me started on this technology path

  46. Being able to stream things on my non-smart TV would allow me to enjoy a lot of my online video content comfortably instead of watching them on my computer 🙂

  50. Traveling with chromecast, so small and easy to pack. Keep watching your series rather than bad hotel cable.

« Older Comments Newer Comments »

Comments are closed.