Chromecast with Google TV - where to buy in NZ?

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Geek
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#2632695 9-Jan-2021 11:22

My experience with Dick Smith for this Chromecast order is: shipped on 8 Dec and delivered on 18 Dec. Guess I got lucky. Maybe there's a huge backlog at NZ Customs over Christmas period which hopefully gets cleared by end of next week.

bongojona

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#2632773 9-Jan-2021 12:46

There have been some complaints about Kogan's Dick Smith

https://i.stuff.co.nz/business/123878753/dozens-of-complaints-against-dick-smith-as-customers-wait-months-for-refunds

jonathan18

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#2632782 9-Jan-2021 13:04

cannonball:

Maybe there's a huge backlog at NZ Customs over Christmas period which hopefully gets cleared by end of next week.

Going by another recent experience, I don't think that's where the hold-up is: I ordered a stylus from Lenovo on Monday (4 Jan); didn't realise until I got shipping confirmation it was coming from China. That plus that it had free shipping meant I assumed it would take a while to arrive. Got an email this morning to say it had arrived at Akld customs; and another email half an hour ago to say it had cleared customs. So if a parcel can come all the way from China and clear customs in six days, I don't have much sympathy for Kogan/DSE.

While I've read the recent articles on their non-delivery, most of these I'm pretty sure are about items not being shipped at all, as opposed to how long already shipped items take to arrive.

Quinny

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#2635849 15-Jan-2021 09:49

Dick Smith have just said will replace as still shows in customs but Australia Post cant find

robertosc

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#2635876 15-Jan-2021 10:50

I have had mine for almost a month now so I'd like to write a few lines about it, specially things that don't work so you guys can have an idea about it or compare with yours.

Here are the main apps I use: YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Plex, Spotify. I haven't tried Disney+. I'm using it on an Android TV because the TV was too sluggish, so I'll be comparing with how it was for me before.

- For some reason it doesn't display the "Movies" and "Shows" tabs like on this screenshot, only "For You" then "Apps" and "Library".

- Netflix is the only app that I can continue watching a show straight from the main screen, all others don't appear in the "resume watching" section so I have to open the app to continue watching my things.

- Entering a show via Watchlist or via voice search always takes me to the wrong episode, even when I never watched that series.

- Sometimes Google TV assistant doesn't work well. I told it to play "The Office" on Amazon Prime and it says the show isn't on Amazon Prime, but it is. It takes me to a page for that show though, and from there I can press a button to start the show on Amazon Prime, but again, it takes me to the wrong episode.

- Every time you pause something and the screensaver kicks in it takes you out of the video, you have to resume it instead of simply unpausing it. This works fine on my Android TV.

- There is no way to change the playback speed on Youtube.

- I had thought I would be able to use voice for searching within apps but the voice button summons the Google TV assistant that does a general search - if you want to use the search function in a particular app you will have to type.

- There's an annoying bug with bluetooth headphones that makes audio stutter and you have to clean the app cache every time it happens, and it happens for multiple apps. I can't compare with my TV because it doesn't have bluetooth, but probably not a bug specific to the Chromecast.

- I can't change audio volume on Spotify using my phone, only via remote control, which can be a bummer if you are having a party with multiple people streaming to Spotify on your TV. This works fine on my Android TV.

- Remote control is white and I lose it every. f-ing. time.

I feel I'm leaving some things out of this list, but I can't remember now.

Overall this device was just a speed bump to my system (Sony Android TVs were - are? - extremely underpowered and slow, I regret buying it). I thought this Chromecast was going to be an "integration device" where I could have all my current shows and movies in one screen and easily add new stuff to this screen but as you can see it is really far from being that. I think it was worth buying it, not because it's good but because my TV is too bad.

tchart

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#2635962 15-Jan-2021 11:56

I ordered mine on the 5th and its still "Processing"

Quic Broadband

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MyFriendAutism

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#2636276 15-Jan-2021 20:42

Still rockin' & lovin' my Nvidia Shield TV :)

lchiu7

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#2637529 18-Jan-2021 19:28

Just a few comments on the device myself having it work alongside an Amazon Firestick 4K.

1. It's quite slippery versus the Amazon remote and feels less robust

2. I don't like the placement of the volume buttons on the side - much prefer them on top like Amazon's remote

3. Much prefer the navigation ring on the Firestick - seems easier to find each direction and the Select button

4. Not a remote issue but when playing Prime video it never tells you if you're watching HD or HD 1080P whereas Amazon's Prime app tells you no HD, HD or HD 1010p (I guess you can let your eyes do the checking)

5. The Plex client seems to support 4K video with DD+ Atmos audio (I get some skipping but that's the WiFi network, not the player not able to play the content). The Firestick 4K cannot play this content.

Nice that's a Chromecast also so I have now removed my Chromecast from the setup which saves an input on my HDMI switch.

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.

Quinny

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#2639565 21-Jan-2021 13:37

Turned up finally so cancelled replacement. Overall works as expected but lack of a volume button on remote annoys me. Most annoying tho was they said would load info pre saved and auto-setup apps. Never happened. Better than a wi-fi Chromecast yes. Better than an ultra, not sure as waiting on the dongle as prefer not to carry lots of streams on wi-fi. Is it a Nvdia Shield, no but then they are not the same price.

allio

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#2639663 21-Jan-2021 14:34

There's a volume button on the side of the remote?

cannonball

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#2639665 21-Jan-2021 14:36

The volume button on the remote works for my Samsung TV speakers.

Dell

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cannonball

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#2639667 21-Jan-2021 14:40

Does anyone know if this Dell Universal Dock can be used on the CCwGTV? A friend has it docked to his laptop.

Dell Universal Dock - D6000 | Dell New Zealand

Will it end up frying the Chromecast? Thanks.

tchart

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#2639674 21-Jan-2021 14:54

tchart:

I ordered mine on the 5th and its still "Processing"

Mine is on the way, still exiting Oz though

tchart

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#2639675 21-Jan-2021 14:58

cannonball:

Does anyone know if this Dell Universal Dock can be used on the CCwGTV? A friend has it docked to his laptop.

Dell Universal Dock - D6000 | Dell New Zealand

Will it end up frying the Chromecast? Thanks.

Its got a displaylink chip, so really for devices that dont have display pass through on USB-C. This may cause the CC to get upset (unrecognised device etc).

Quinny

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#2639740 21-Jan-2021 16:48

allio:

There's a volume button on the side of the remote?

Umm so likely totally missed this (hangs head in shame)

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