The Ultra version of the Chromecast brings a simple to use 4K & HDR source to your 4K HDR telly. The most important aspect is that it's a device in active development which might not be true of the 'smart TV' apps built into your telly which versions of Netflix, iPlayer etc may be languishing behind.
Looks like Argos are price matching Currys PC World who dropped their price overnight. Seems to be a lot more stock around.
37 comments
zolh
6 Sep 17#32
Expired
uk_lawyer
6 Sep 17#31
I really want to get one of these and love them, but the lack of Plex support for direct playing HEVC/h.265 files make it a non-starter for me. I may as well continue to use the built-in apps.
Love the simplicity of the Chromecast, but I just can't justify it when it doesn't do 'everything'.
evilhomeruk to uk_lawyer
8 Sep 17#36
The Chromecast Ultra does play HECV/h.265, you've just got to find a way to convince the Plex server it can. Seems that people have achieved it after a lot of experimentation with profiles etc..
Lots of people have moved to Emby as a server because of similar frustrations with Plex.
uk_lawyer to evilhomeruk
13 Sep 17#37
I did look into this, but I'd prefer to not have to mess around with profiles, etc. It should just work out of the box as the codecs are there for use with Netflix.
Guess this is a frustration more with Plex that the Chromecast itself. I gave Emby a go a year or so ago but didn't like it as much as Plex. Perhaps I'll give it another shot!
Crossbow
5 Sep 17#25
$30 (~£23) for one in some parts of the US is their hot offer :disappointed: :cry: :rage:
Voted hot. Hope they don't sell the old model anymore. Get sick of old model posted here and voted hot when it gives so poor quality picture.
Swarfega
30 Aug 17#17
The only thing you can stream is Netflix UHD content. Content on Google Play isn't even offered in UHD anywhere but the US right now. Pointless. I have an Android TV and very frustrated I can't buy UHD movies. Google sucks at releasing products and services to multiple countries.
monkey1999
30 Aug 17#10
Good price but aren't all 4 k TVs smart TVs?
commenter14 to monkey1999
5 Sep 17#23
This is far better than the insecure crap you might find inside your TV.
monkey1999 to commenter14
5 Sep 17#26
Android chromecast more secure ? Is that a wind up
josh971 to monkey1999
5 Sep 17#27
Would like to hear your side of that really monkey
monkey1999 to josh971
5 Sep 17#28
Android is open platform and the most unsafe os system out there don't get me wrong great for those apps like showbox etc
commenter14 to monkey1999
5 Sep 17#29
You're impressively far off base here. Android is developed by Google engineers, updated regularly, and offers sizeable bug bounties. Apps can only be released to the public if they pass stringent security checks.
Alternately, smart TV software is developed by cheap contractors, security is rarely even considered, and updates seldom extend beyond a couple of years.
Also, when you write "os system", you're effectively writing "operating system system".
evilhomeruk to commenter14
6 Sep 17#30
This is why I bought the Ultra. My Panasonic TV apps were from 2011 (they may have had streamed updates) but nothing new has been added for years, there are a handful dev resources in the store and it's for AJAX libs that are donkey's years out of date. Chromecast Ultra still has an active development team.
monkey1999 to commenter14
6 Sep 17#33
U obviously have a point about smart TVs after reading comments but google owned android isn't safe and for smart TV to be worse is shocking news
commenter14 to monkey1999
6 Sep 17#34
I don't know how I can convince you more about Android's safety... For one thing, it's open source, which means anyone can view its source code and suggest changes. Open sourcing software is a proven method of reducing security risks, as far more people can look at the code and spot them.
How about this: every major bank has an Android app. That means that every major bank's security department has thoroughly researched Android and come to the conclusion that it's safe for use in financial transactions. This will not be a short or easy process. It'll have been pored over with a fine-toothed comb, poked from every direction and analysed six ways until Christmas.
I've worked in cyber security for over half a decade, and my "smart" TV hasn't been connected to my home network since I bought it.
Bigfootpete
30 Aug 17#9
Active development? Isn't that called a beta version?
joedredd to Bigfootpete
30 Aug 17#13
No, that would be called Beta or Prerelease.
This is a current platform which the apps are being "actively" developed and updated for with bugs and new features added...unlike many TV's which the manufacturer controls the delivery of the app and will drop support for older model TVs.
commenter14 to joedredd
6 Sep 17#35
This should be the top comment, not the ridiculous fake info that's currently the top comment. HUKD is maybe the only place on the Internet that is so pro-smart TV. It's kind of weird, right? This thread alone has comments saying that Android is insecure, smart TVs are secure, Chromecast is a beta product... And they all have upvotes.
It's almost as if TV manufacturers want people to spend extra on their smart TVs, and are actively campaigning here to ensure that people don't realise how much better (and longer-lasting) Chromecast + a cheap dumb TV is.
alltaken123
23 Aug 17#7
Supports Atmos and Dolby Vision, You might find your TV doesn't support Atmos over ARC, one of these plugged into your AV receiver will playback the above wonderfully.
ro53ben to alltaken123
30 Aug 17#12
Depends on the source, won't do any of that from Plex.
alltaken123 to ro53ben
30 Aug 17#15
Plex will drag its heals and catch up eventually.
mfraser
23 Aug 17#5
Note this device doesn't support DTS otherwise I would've ordered one.
rev6 to mfraser
23 Aug 17#6
Not even bitstreamed?
Istanbul_Kop to mfraser
30 Aug 17#8
God, really. Shame.
Aquacadabra
23 Aug 17#4
I find some apps don't play well with casting to my ks7000 and in the past had to find other work arounds. Casting chrome tabs from a pc for example doesn't work.
darecy
23 Aug 17#2
Could be useful, however I didn't see latest 4K telly without smart thing...
Mary_Mary to darecy
23 Aug 17#3
Ive got 4k and its got a miracast thing...not sure how much i nees this in my life lol
Yeh they should all have miracast as a feature already which makes me wonder why anyone would need this for their 4k telly...
moh4mm3d to Mary_Mary
30 Aug 17#11
With Chromecast you can play anything with the option to still use your phone. So for example you can play a movie in your gallery and still use Whats app without interrupting your movie. With Mirroring whatever you do, it will come on your TV, so with the same scenario, your movie will be interrupted .
Mary_Mary to moh4mm3d
30 Aug 17#14
I've got chromecast on my bedroom so with apps it works fine and can still use my phone (which to be fair most 4k tvs have the apps preinstalled) I think it's pointless if you've got a 4K tv but then I have 2 chromecast for upstairs TVs
moh4mm3d to Mary_Mary
30 Aug 17#19
True, if you're using the same apps as your TV then its no point. However, its easy to navigate with a phone (now I'm just being picky). Its only beneficial if you want to use apps that your TV doesn't have such as Showbox. Love that app!
mean1979 to Mary_Mary
30 Aug 17#16
Miracast replicates what's on your phone, which means your battery will be rinsed over time, whereas Chromecast links to your account and then just picks up and plays videos, films, music etc, letting your phone just be a phone. That's my experience with these. Must admit the Chromecast has its issues though. I've never maintained a stable connection with it and had the first two devices on three separate WiFi boxes. Just don't think they're reliable.
alltaken123 to mean1979
30 Aug 17#18
If you enjoy using the chromecast it's well worth the £10-£15 cost of buying an Ethernet USB power adaptor. Chromecast Ultra course comes with one already. I find powerline networking ideal for streaming content via ethernet to my chromecast devices.
The fact that these devices are tucked away with such small antennas makes 4K streaming difficult in most situations.
hismum
23 Aug 17#1
Nice, I will have a friend grab me one with his staff discount
one2omg to hismum
30 Aug 17#20
Me too but my friend might get a little bit more discount than your friend... :wink:
sam_of_london to one2omg
5 Sep 17#21
How much is staff discount in Argos ? I need to find a Argos friend as well.
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Opening post
Looks like Argos are price matching Currys PC World who dropped their price overnight. Seems to be a lot more stock around.
37 comments
Love the simplicity of the Chromecast, but I just can't justify it when it doesn't do 'everything'.
forums.plex.tv/dis…14/
Lots of people have moved to Emby as a server because of similar frustrations with Plex.
Guess this is a frustration more with Plex that the Chromecast itself. I gave Emby a go a year or so ago but didn't like it as much as Plex. Perhaps I'll give it another shot!
[Deal Alert] Get a Chromecast Ultra for just $29.99 ($39 off) from RCWilley, but only with local pickup
Alternately, smart TV software is developed by cheap contractors, security is rarely even considered, and updates seldom extend beyond a couple of years.
Also, when you write "os system", you're effectively writing "operating system system".
How about this: every major bank has an Android app. That means that every major bank's security department has thoroughly researched Android and come to the conclusion that it's safe for use in financial transactions. This will not be a short or easy process. It'll have been pored over with a fine-toothed comb, poked from every direction and analysed six ways until Christmas.
As for smart TVs...
pcworld.com/art…tml
forbes.com/sit…ty/
securityaffairs.co/wor…tml
bleepingcomputer.com/new…re/
nbcnews.com/bus…611
I've worked in cyber security for over half a decade, and my "smart" TV hasn't been connected to my home network since I bought it.
This is a current platform which the apps are being "actively" developed and updated for with bugs and new features added...unlike many TV's which the manufacturer controls the delivery of the app and will drop support for older model TVs.
It's almost as if TV manufacturers want people to spend extra on their smart TVs, and are actively campaigning here to ensure that people don't realise how much better (and longer-lasting) Chromecast + a cheap dumb TV is.
Yeh they should all have miracast as a feature already which makes me wonder why anyone would need this for their 4k telly...
Must admit the Chromecast has its issues though. I've never maintained a stable connection with it and had the first two devices on three separate WiFi boxes. Just don't think they're reliable.
The fact that these devices are tucked away with such small antennas makes 4K streaming difficult in most situations.