Chromecast with Google TV - where to buy in NZ?

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28 posts

Geek

#2749402 25-Jul-2021 09:01

I picked one up on 1day a few days ago. Looks like NZ doesnt have curated content supprot yet so for now the UI is just androidtv :(.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#2769191 31-Aug-2021 10:13

I have been running one since November last year, and pretty happy with it. Got it from Kogan in Australia.

One of the things I want to do is get a USB-C hub so that I can move it from WiFi to wired (as a matter of principle I try to wire video streaming where I can). Given the supply issues getting stuff from offshore, does anyone know of a decent and affordable hub, with Ethernet, that is available locally and proven to work with it?

glennb

16 posts

Geek

#2769215 31-Aug-2021 10:28

JimmyH:

I have been running one since November last year, and pretty happy with it. Got it from Kogan in Australia.

One of the things I want to do is get a USB-C hub so that I can move it from WiFi to wired (as a matter of principle I try to wire video streaming where I can). Given the supply issues getting stuff from offshore, does anyone know of a decent and affordable hub, with Ethernet, that is available locally and proven to work with it?

refer

https://www.androidcentral.com/best-usb-c-hub-chromecast-google-tv

I bought the Vemont model and it works well. it has 3x USB type A connectors and one USB-C, others in the list have more type C.

I haven't had any issues with getting online orders in reasonable time, even those form overseas.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2771180 3-Sep-2021 12:14

So - observations after 6 months of ownership....

Device works pretty well - Decodes/plays pretty much any video without breaking a sweat.

Remote is very good the only thing that annoys me is that it looks the same shape at the top and bottom. I seem to pick it up the wrong way around 80% of the time. Would have been good if they had made it less symmetrical.

Device plays happily with our sound system and TV. HDMI-CEC is working well.

Beware that while there are "android" apps for pretty much everything, it doesn't mean these apps are always available for "Android TV". Providers have to tweak their apps to cater for Android TV (I gather they don't have to do a lot) but its surprising how many apps are not available for this platform.

It has very little 'storage'. I have about 6-8 apps as well as Kodi installed and ran out of space yesterday. I dont have all the library images etc enabled in Kodi - just the file/directory and media details - It uses 120mb and is the largest app by far. But I still ran out of space. I removed a couple of apps I didnt want and it made little difference. I looked on the internet and found *a lot* of other complaints about running out of space. Seems to be a very common issue, even with users with only a handful of basic apps. Sometimes it seems either a reboot or a factory reset will help. I restarted and now have about 600mb free. Is it ever going to support an OS update? Would have been more helpful if they had included more than the 8GB of storage or at least a microSD card slot.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

gzt

17146 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2771259 3-Sep-2021 13:09

I have external usb-c hub. I used this to sideload whatsapp.

Unfortunately looks like my USB camera is not compatible with CC. I have video. No sound from mic.

Coincidentally the hub has MMC and similar reader I have not tried yet. I have maybe 15 streaming apps, no space issues yet.

JimmyH

2886 posts

Uber Geek

#2771505 3-Sep-2021 15:40

robjg63:

It has very little 'storage'. I have about 6-8 apps as well as Kodi installed and ran out of space yesterday. I dont have all the library images etc enabled in Kodi - just the file/directory and media details - It uses 120mb and is the largest app by far. But I still ran out of space. I removed a couple of apps I didnt want and it made little difference.

Yes. That's an issue and is one of the reasons I am looking at getting a compatible USB-C Hub. I understand from reviews that you can use a MicroSD card in the hub to expand the CC's storage. That and being able to wire it to Ethernet, and potentially connect a camera to it for videoconferencing etc at a future date.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2771572 3-Sep-2021 17:04

Problem being the hubs cost almost the same as the device!

Yes - I have been looking around for a hub - Not worried about the ethernet port though.

I did find this https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Compatible-Chromecast-Samsung-Smartphone/dp/B08QZGYHF2?&currencyCode=NZD

So it looks like it would pass the power through and you could attach a USB stick.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

fe31nz

1232 posts

Uber Geek

#2771866 4-Sep-2021 00:02

robjg63:

It has very little 'storage'. I have about 6-8 apps as well as Kodi installed and ran out of space yesterday. I dont have all the library images etc enabled in Kodi - just the file/directory and media details - It uses 120mb and is the largest app by far. But I still ran out of space. I removed a couple of apps I didnt want and it made little difference. I looked on the internet and found *a lot* of other complaints about running out of space. Seems to be a very common issue, even with users with only a handful of basic apps. Sometimes it seems either a reboot or a factory reset will help. I restarted and now have about 600mb free. Is it ever going to support an OS update? Would have been more helpful if they had included more than the 8GB of storage or at least a microSD card slot.

Running out of space on any Android device can often be a rogue app that is filling the space, usually with log files. Finding out which app to remove is extremely difficult as the partition where it is happening is one of the system ones that you have no access to unless you have rooted the device. On my old Samsung Galaxy S2 phone, it was one of the system's builtin WiFi programs that was doing it, but fortunately I had rooted that and was able to just delete the log files. Once you run out of space, there is no space to allow you to root the device, so you can be forced to factory reset it.

lchiu7

6476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2772118 4-Sep-2021 15:53

I bought this hub.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07QQWXM7G?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

Cost $30 (US) including shipping to NZ and GST. A bit overkill maybe but the Chromecast didn't see the ethernet port on one I got from AliExpress. Luckily I can use that on my Chromebook.

The hub is powered separately and then you plug the Chromecast power into it which then flows to the Chromecast itself It's great now the device is on Gbe and so not competing with all the others users on the 5GHz WiFi. And it seem much snappier now. And I could plug in USB drives, SD cards if I wanted to.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

lookout

626 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2778605 15-Sep-2021 08:58

Can you setup a kids profile in NZ? I noticed they say 'selected regions only'

Blurtie

468 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2778639 15-Sep-2021 10:25

Yes - I've managed to set up a kids profile on my CC without any issues..

I've managed to do it two different ways - logging on to CC with your main account and then creating a child profile from that; or creating a separate gmail account for my child and using the family link app to manage that account - which can then be added onto the CC via the settings..

I've found the family link app really useful - really handy for controlling/managing devices that my child's account is logged into(i.e. his tablet) and setting limits for the device. It also keeps a record of how much time he's spent on each app for any given day.

everettpsycho

614 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2802528 28-Oct-2021 09:48

I'm not sure on the deal with these, but the Christchurch central branch of pbtech had them on display last Friday. I have no idea if they have imported them or jumped the gun selling them locally before an official launch as they weren't listed online as being a thing they sold.

I didn't pick one up as I don't particularly need one but they were definitely there as I double checked I wasn't going mad.

Steve113

99 posts

Master Geek

#2804366 30-Oct-2021 15:54

Where is everyone buying them from these days?
I would say they are relatively compatible with the TiVo 4K Stream.

robjg63

4098 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#2804472 30-Oct-2021 17:43

everettpsycho: I'm not sure on the deal with these, but the Christchurch central branch of pbtech had them on display last Friday. I have no idea if they have imported them or jumped the gun selling them locally before an official launch as they weren't listed online as being a thing they sold.

I didn't pick one up as I don't particularly need one but they were definitely there as I double checked I wasn't going mad.

I saw them at the Queen Street branch in Auckland many months ago - must have been April/May.

They have never showed up on their website though (and still don't).

They aren't officially sold here - so I guess a bit of a grey/parallel import.

Nothing is impossible for the man who doesn't have to do it himself - A. H. Weiler

tkr001

416 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2805075 1-Nov-2021 09:47

Steve113: Where is everyone buying them from these days?
I would say they are relatively compatible with the TiVo 4K Stream.

I have been buying them here

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