Google Chromecast

I ended up calling bestbuy CS and they told me that when i go to the digital download link, it shows a code, copy that code and paste it in netflix under the promotional codes area (if you're a new member) or if you're an existing member, go to 'your account' and paste the code in the 'gift subscriptions & special offers'.


Now I signed up for a free netflix account (1 free month) + have 3 free months from this code = 4 free months of netflix ($7.99 x 4 = $31.96, product price was $38 after taxes) . Life is good people. This thing practically paid for itself!

 

Picked mine up from the Galleria BB on the way to work this morning. They were all laid out on a table with customer nametags on top. I asked and was told they were sold out after having 52 in stock.

 

My Chromecast just shipped out from Google Play. Seems like the "Ships on Aug. 7th" was just a placeholder. It shipped today.

 

F***in' A. 20 of them shipped to the store and all sold within 30 minutes. I'll just wait and order it online sometime. Even without the Netflix offer, I'd still want one.

 

I think the move to cancel the netflix promotion made the itch/want for these even greater. Pretty slick move.

 

Slick marketing move overall to only spark the rumor, then debut the product, ship it in limited quantity to break and mortar while keeping it limited stock online, then pulling it as soon as hype started catching on. The product is VERY clearly in beta mode still, it only has netflix and youtube as official signed on app providers, and I'm sure they'll do a bigger release later with more developers getting their hands on it. By that time, hype and demand in the public sphere will have built to a great high to cash in on. Great viral marketing move followed by shrewd market quantity release.

 

32gb N7's available to buy and pick up in store at BB right now.

 

Its a very low risk purchase as well. Even if this thing turns into an unsupported piece of hardware, with three free months of Netflix, it practically pays for itself.

 

I picked one up yesterday morning at BB on Fry rd. $35 w/ free 3 month subscription to Netflix.

The only locations that had them yesterday after 11:30am were Bunker Hill and Fry rd. all other shipments are en route (should be in today).

There is a 1-2 second delay from my iPhone / Mac Air when playing to the tv. I'm not sure if its my Internet provider or Chromecast, but there is a delay when using it.

I am currently using the USB power hooked in from my tv to power up the chrome. A power AC adapter is included but I have not used it.

From the YouTube vids - pandora is compatible, but I tried to Chromecast it - no option.

Setup was easy but I had to repeat each step twice for the wifi / cc to sync.

Still not bad for $35, but just expect the slight delay from your device.

 

Picked it up this morning at Best Buy (my first purchase there in years). Still has 3 months Netflix, which the receipt says is still valid until the last day of the year. Just entered the code and still works.

Don't go by me, but my guess is they set aside enough Netflix comps for remaining physical stock left.

 

Tried mine last night. Word of caution. You'd better have a strong wi-fi signal or this thing bombs out like crazy. The wi-fi antenna on it isn't very strong and i was only getting 2 bars from my router 3 rooms away whereas my phone and tablet have no issues with wifi from the same distance. I ended up having to use my Verizon hotspot in the bedroom and it worked fantastic. Worked great on the TV next to the router as well.

I tried a couple of MKVs in a chrome tab and got video but no audio. These were just 720p downloads of TV shows. Anyone have any luck with those?

 

The video had no issues playing. It was the audio. The speaker option had a line through it. I didn't check to see what audio was encoded into the MKV but since it was just Marvels Avenger Assemble I assumed it was just AC3 stereo.

 

My Best Buy still apparently has not gotten ANY in. I've gone there a couple times looking for them, including the day they were announced (was told they'd have ten coming that night), and the next day (when I was told three different stories). I ended up having a manager take down my name and was to call me when they came in. He seemed to think it'd be last weekend. I went in on Monday, and they still hadn't come in apparently, although they had one return, but couldn't sell it to me. They also had one in the back that an employee had pre-ordered.

They keep telling me different stories, but they're gonna call supposedly. First, they sold them all out. Then, all the ones they got must have been pre-orders (very doubtful), then they haven't gotten any. It's just goofy. I have a feeling the employees are snatching them all up. Maybe they're selling them for a profit, who knows. Another employee told me I should pre-order it through the website. I told him I couldn't, and he didn't know what to say.

I'm done worrying about these things, I just think this is crazy.

 

So now that this has been out for a week, any other reviews? I only have one TV that isn't a smart TV and of course it's the 72" in the den, which is where I watch 80% of TV. I do have a wireless extender upstairs which has worked wonders. Hoping this thing will work with movies from an external HD???

 

The new postman for my neighborhood is a lazy POS. Mail used to come at 3:00 PM sharp every weekday before this ******* comes in to replace the previous mailguy. Now it doesn't come in til like 6:00 PM.

 

The weird thing is I walk in last Thursday and ask if/where they have them, and 2 out of 3 employees had no idea what I was talking about.

I come back Saturday morning when the next shipment came in, pick one off the shelf and then briefly check out the tablets. Within a 5 minute span FOUR employees separately ask ME where did I get it in the store.

 

have you ever thought maybe of budget cuts the post office had to consolidate and the new guy had to cover your route plus his original one? Maybe that's why your mail comes later.

 

Didn't they cut Saturday mail because of budget cuts? Didn't know they were consolidating routes too.

Either way, got the Chromecast earlier in the evening.
This thing is a beaut. Video quality is amazing. Some buffering issues here and there, but very minimal and goes away after the first 10-15 seconds of whatever you are streaming to your TV.

Playing local media sucks and is something Google needs to address later on. The screen casting however, is very good albeit with with a half a second delay. Audio is also delayed so if you're using just your TV the syncing should be perfect.

For $35 and 3 months of Netflix this thing is an absolute steal. If you can afford the $100 Roku or Apple TV then go for it, but this thing is all I'll ever need in terms of functionality.