Google's
Chromecast and Roku's Streaming Stick have both been around for a while
now. When Roku was first released, more recently, it touted itself as
having a huge number of channels, something Chromecast didn't. But
gradually, Google has been catching up. Gizmag decided to compare the
two.
I've used both the Chromecast and the Roku Streaming Stick for some time now. That I'm not a massive TV viewer undoubtedly makes that a sign of our increasingly fragmented over-the-top content market. Access to the handful of things I do like to watch has ended up being spread across a variety of different delivery channels and devices.
By Stu Robarts
I've used both the Chromecast and the Roku Streaming Stick for some time now. That I'm not a massive TV viewer undoubtedly makes that a sign of our increasingly fragmented over-the-top content market. Access to the handful of things I do like to watch has ended up being spread across a variety of different delivery channels and devices.
Nonetheless, I'm always intrigued to see what the each new device has
to offer and, invariably, each has something – or a combination of
things – that the others don't. Chromecast and Roku are two of the
better known over-the-top devices available, and yet each goes about the
business of delivering its content in a different way. So without
further ado, let's see how they stack up against each other.
Approach
Of the two devices, Roku takes a more traditional approach to bringing
content to your TV. Both it and the Chromecast are plugged into the
appropriate input on the back of a TV (an HDMI port with a USB port used
for power). As with cable or satellite boxes, games consoles or DVD
players, though, a remote control is provided to navigate Roku's
on-screen interface. The user selects the app or channel that they want
to watch and the content is then streamed to the TV from the internet.
Chromecast, on the other hand, turns that approach on its head. The
apps or channels are not selected on-screen, but rather Chromecast is
built into the services themselves. So, whereas to watch a video on
YouTube via Roku the user would select the YouTube app via Roku's
on-screen menu and then find the video they want to watch, with
Chromecast they would navigate to the video on YouTube via a desktop
browser or a YouTube mobile app and click the Chromecast icon next to
the video to stream it on the TV. Your laptop, smartphone or tablet is,
essentially, your remote control and the Web is your menu.
That, I'm sure you'll agree, is pretty grandiose stuff; the idea that
wherever you are on the Web and whatever service you're using, it may be
"cast" to your telly. To some extent, Google has ensured that this is
actually the case by adding an extra, ever-present Chromecast extension
to its Chrome browser that will cast any web page to the TV, but it's a
bit hacky and there are distinct performance issues, which we'll come to
later.
The blue-sky at which Google is aiming, has every user with a
smartphone in their hand and every app on that device being compatible
with Chromecast. So long as they're connected to the same Wi-Fi network,
users could then throw the content from any app onto their telly
without leaving the app itself. Chromecast is, effectively, invisible.
Hardware
There's not a great deal of difference between the two pieces of
hardware. They are both small Wi-Fi-connected dongles that plug into an
HDMI port on your TV. Both need to be powered and both can use a
neighboring USB port to do so. The Roku device also comes with a mains
adapter for power, should that be to the user's preference.
Interface
The Roku interface is about as straightforward as you can get. Simple
menus and big block graphics dominate, all navigated via the four-way
arrow controller on the device's remote. It's a bit laggy and very
purple, but the big home button on the remote means you can always find
your way back to the start should you get lost, if getting lost is even
possible.
Chromecast's "interface" is less straightforward. Really, all it
comprises is the discrete Chromecast button that shows up next to a
video. You need to know that the website or mobile app you're using
supports Chromecast to be sure that icon should appear. Google is
perhaps banking on Chromecast becoming so ubiquitous that it will be
compatible with virtually every relevant service, or at least all the
major services. If so, it's a long game to play, but, should it come
together, then Chromecast would have the most ubiquitous and, arguably,
best interface of any such device.
Content
Both Chromecast and the Roku Streaming Stick are platforms on which to
watch existing third-party services. Enablers, if you will. You'll find
nothing on either that you can't find elsewhere. Both, therefore, have a
vested interest in ensuring that they can provide access to the most
popular services and, therefore, you're able to access the likes of
YouTube, Netflix and BBC iPlayer via both.
Things rather diverge at that point. Roku's channels become
increasingly niche and obscure. Examples include the Vatican Channel,
Pranks, a channel about aliens and UFOs and, I kid you not, the US Weed
Channel – "a network of internet video streaming content created to
entertain and educate the general public about Cannabis." This is not to
take anything away from any of those channels, but to point out that
all of this content is available on the Web and much more of its ilk.
With Roku there's the sense that these specific channels have somehow
been specially created for your viewing pleasure, which simply isn't the
case.
Chromecast meanwhile has far fewer official apps, or more accurately,
services with which it's integrated. Notable ones other than those
already mentioned include Google Play Music, TV and Movies, Plex, Vevo
and Wuaki. Chromecast's wild card is that its Chrome browser extension
means you can cast the contents of any browser tab to your TV.
Theoretically, you can stream any Web page and the video content
therein.
Performance
Both devices have varied performance. I've had virtually no problems
streaming content from the official apps on either. The one issue I've
with Roku in this area was when it had trouble handling the transition
between the content and ads on one of its services. This may well have
been a third-party issue though. Both seem to stream video from their
official apps flawlessly and in good HD quality. Each has a significant
problem of its own, however.
For Roku this is simply the the speed and clunkiness of its interface
and apps. While it's simple to navigate your way around, it may take you
some time. As I mentioned in my review of the device, the loading time
can be painstakingly slow and the apps are then reliant on everything
working at the third party's end. When it works, it's great; when it
doesn't, it can make for a frustrating experience.
Chromecast's big issue is that the hacked-up Chrome extension, which
should step into the breach to cast a browser tab when there is no
integration with a particular service, works in a different way to the
official integration. When using an officially integrated service, your
computer or mobile device tells the Chromecast dongle where the content
can be found online and the dongle connects to it directly. The
extension, meanwhile, sends the content to the dongle over your Wi-Fi
connection, adding in an extra point of failure and a great deal more
lagging, dropped signal and loss of quality. The extension can surely
only be viewed by Google as a band-aid until enough services are
properly integrated.
Price
In the US, Chromecast retails for US$35 and the Roku Streaming Stick
for $50. Roku, of course, comes with a remote control, which inflates
that price a little.
Verdict
I'm loathe to give a verdict one way or the other here. Personally, I
prefer the Chromecast – and I think it will continue to improve. That
said, the Roku Streaming Stick is simpler and will better suit people
used to browsing content via a TV rather than online. In the big scheme
of things, though, neither is as good as they could be and I expect
that's probably the case right across the over-the-top content market at
present. All you can do is try to work out which device most fits your
needs.
By Stu Robarts
Product pages: Chromecast, Roku Streaming Stick
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