Moments in Chromecast's history

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

What Changed

  • Google is ending production of Chromecast dongles (including “Chromecast with Google TV”) and introducing the more expensive, box‑style Google TV Streamer.
  • The Cast protocol and “cast button” UX are expected to continue; many TVs and third‑party devices already implement casting.

Hardware, Pricing, and Form Factor

  • Old HD/4K Chromecasts at ~$30–50 were praised as great value; the new Streamer at $99 is widely seen as overpriced, especially given a 2021 SoC, Wi‑Fi 5, and modest CPU gains.
  • Many liked the dongle form factor: invisible behind the TV, powered by TV USB, ideal for travel/Airbnbs.
  • Others welcome a set‑top box for better thermals, more RAM, and hopefully smoother performance, noting current Chromecasts have become sluggish over time.
  • Several compare it unfavorably to Apple TV and Nvidia Shield on performance, and to Roku/Onn on price.

UX: Casting vs Smart TV Box

  • Strong nostalgia for the original Chromecast model: phone/laptop as remote, TV as dumb receiver, no login, minimal UI, guests can cast from their own apps.
  • The Google TV paradigm (apps, home screen, mandatory Google login, profiles) is seen by some as a privacy and UX regression, especially in multi‑user/guest contexts.
  • Others argue most people now prefer a remote‑driven, app‑centric device, and that rebranding away from “Chrome” reflects this shift.

Ads, Tracking, and “AI”

  • Heavy criticism of ads on home screens (Google, Fire TV, Roku) and smart‑TV tracking; some keep TVs offline and use external boxes only.
  • AI features like show/movie summaries on the new device are widely mocked as useless marketing, unlikely to run locally and mainly a pretext for more engagement/ads.

Alternatives and Replacements

  • Frequent mentions of Apple TV (performance, price premium, fewer ads), Roku (simple but increasingly ad‑heavy), Nvidia Shield (codec/HD‑audio support), Walmart Onn and TiVo Stream (cheap Android TV with Cast).
  • For multi‑room audio / Chromecast Audio replacement: suggestions include WiiM, networked receivers with “Cast for Audio,” and open‑source stacks like Snapcast or soundsync.

Open Protocols and DIY

  • Strong desire for an open, Chromecast‑like standard. Discussed options: Miracast, DLNA, DIAL, Open Screen Protocol, Matter Cast; each has limitations (battery, latency, DRM, app requirements).
  • Some plan to pivot to Raspberry Pi / HTPC solutions plus software (Kodi, Jellyfin, DLNA, etc.) instead of proprietary dongles.

Trust in Google

  • Many see this as another example of “Killed by Google,” say they’ll avoid new Google hardware, and worry about support ending and devices becoming e‑waste.
  • A minority view it as a normal rebrand/hardware refresh rather than a true product killing.