It's surprisingly difficult to put a web browser on TV. It's difficult for regular people - the best option is often just plugging in a laptop - and it's been ridiculously difficult for the tech...

Inexpensive and simple; Supported apps work well; Chrome tab casting is very useful

App support limited to Netflix; YouTube; and Google Play; Tab casting video drops frames; No central playback controls

Google Chromecast was a surprise addition to the company's range of own-brand hardware, a $35 streaming stick that, wounds licked after the Google TV and Nexus Q fiascos, promises a cheap and simple way to get browser and streaming content on your big-screen TV.

Google's launch of the iOS- and Android-compatible video dongle Chromecast ($35) made news last week despite sharing a stage with a new Nexus 7 tablet and Android operating system update. Billed as the

Low cost; cross-platform: works with Android, iOS, Chrome OS, Mac and Windows; lets you put nearly any online video on your TV; small form factor, very portable

Low cost; cross-platform: works with Android, iOS, Chrome OS, Mac and Windows; lets you put nearly any online video on your TV; small form factor, very portable,

No iOS setup at launch, but Google says it's coming; crashes and errors if your Wi-Fi network isn't fast enough; native app support limited to Netflix, YouTube, Google Play Music and Google Play Movies & TV at first, but an SDK will let developers add support to more apps

For $35 , Chromecast is an easy purchase to make, especially if you have a Netflix subscription already in place, or watch video in Google's Chrome browser. It's clearly early days, and our hope is that, besides adding new content sources, the rough spots mentioned above get ironed out.

Affordable

Blurry video

Google takes a tilt at the loungeroom. Costing just US$35, it's not a box that sits under your TV, but a dongle that plugs into the back of it, into a spare HDMI port. It then allows you to wirelessly sling – or "cast" – videos and web pages from your phone, tablet or computer to the big screen.

Google announced its Chromecast media streaming device last week and immediately caused quite a stir amongst technology enthusiasts. Not only was the Chromecast seemingly easy to use, but its low $35 price point made it attainable by virtually anyone.

Google Chromecast is a small dongle that upgrades any TV to a "smart TV". It allows you to stream Netflix, YouTube, and Google Play Movies directly to your TV screen no matter how old it is (as long as it has HDMI).

Functional and simple; Chrome tab mirroring useful; Full picture quality when cloud streaming; Android & iOS support; Low price; Great prospects in Chromecast

Only Netflix; YouTube & Google Play Movies app support; Mirroring requires powerful PC/Mac but tops at 720p; Local media streaming not optimal yet; stutter & audio sync issues; No device-to-device streaming

It's hard not to find Chromecast HDMI Streaming Media Player appealing, especially when factoring in the web browser capabilities to its ease of use, portability and price. But for those looking to "throw" any/all of their mobile apps on to a TV screen, Chromecast's limited app support shows that it...

Automated user-free updates; HDMI extender; cheap ($35

Requires external power supply (in my experience

Google launched their new $35 dongle at the July 24th event where they also unveiled their new Nexus 7 along with Android 4.3. Among the major announcements, the tiny little dongle that goes by the name of "Chromecast" was the talk of the tech industry for a while.